Outside Groups: Cutting the Social Services Block Grant Harms Children, Seniors

Ways & Means Committee Democrats

3/16/16

Today, Ways and Means Republicans will vote to end the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) – a policy created under President Reagan that had Republican support for years – which plays an important role in providing child care for Americans working to stay out of poverty, preventing child and elder abuse, and helping seniors and people with disabilities to live independently.

Former Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp even supported it, until he didn’t: “Cutting funding for services that keep people in their communities and out of expensive institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes is short sighted and will lead to unnecessary suffering as well as increased spending in other federal programs.”

HERE’S WHAT OUTSIDE GROUPS ARE SAYING ABOUT HOW CRITICAL THE SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT IS TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY:

Child Welfare League of America: “We can’t tell you ..."

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