Utah Department of Social Services, Evan E. Jones, Jr... Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Neil Peterson.. MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, Area Agency on Aging-Region 3, Norwich, Conn., Linda Eckert, letter.- Billingham, William, Eastern Connecticut State College, mailgram... Bograd, Harriet M., Teacher Center, Inc., New Haven, Conn., statement.. Bridgeport, Conn., Mayor John C. Mandanici, telegram. Bruce, E. Adele, Town of Greenwich, Conn., Board of Social Services, letter forwarded by Congressman McKinney-- Connecticut Association for Community Action, Stephen Press, letter... Connecticut Association for Human Services, Murray B. Meld, letters___ Eastern Connecticut State College, William Billingham, mailgram_ Mattatuck Community College, Donald D. Donihue, letter.... South Central Community College, W. De Homer Waller, letter.. Title XX Advisory Board, George W. Wilkinson, telegram.. Dick, Mary Douglas, National Legal Aid and Defender Association, Eckert, Linda, Area Agency on Aging-Region 3, Norwich, Conn., letter.. Falcone, Frederick P., Neon, Inc., mailgram forwarded by Congressman Greater Norwalk (Conn.) Community Council, Arthur J. Goldblatt, letter. Greenwich, Conn., Town of, Board of Social Services, E. Adele Bruce, Gunderman, Kenneth, Thames Valley (Conn.) Council for Community Hearn, Gordon, School of Social Work, Portland State University, letter. JYC Senior Center/Northeast, Bernard R. Marks, statement_ Manson, John R., Connecticut Department of Corrections, mailgram... Marchak, Nicholas, United Way of Greenwich, Inc., letter.. Marks, Bernard R., JYC Senior Center/Northeast, statement. Meld, Murray B., Connecticut Association for Human Services, letters. National Legal Aid and Defender Association, Mary Douglas Dick, Neon, Inc., Frederick P. Falcone, mailgram forwarded by Congressman Page McKinney New Haven (Conn.), University of, Phillip Kaplan, telegram. New York City Resident Advisory Council, Harold H. Pinkney, statement. Teacher Center, Inc., New Haven, Conn., Harriet M. Bograd, statement.. United Way of— 143 143 143 143 144 146 129 132 148 149 Greenwich, Inc., Nicholas Marchak, letter__ 149 149 150 Waller, W. DeHomer, Connecticut South Central Community College, letter.. 133 Wilkinson, George W., Connecticut Title XX Advisory Board, telegram.. 134 FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES ACT FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1976 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, The subcommittee met at 10: 20 a.m., purusant to notice, in room B-316, Rayburn House Office Building, James C. Corman (acting chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. CORMAN. The Subcommittee on Public Assistance, House Ways and Means Committee, will come to order. We are pleased to welcome Secretary Mathews this morning to help us wend through the problem of title XX. There may be some complications in this field that have not arisen in the last 7 or 8 years, but I don't know what they could be. It seems to me that every possible complication has occurred. I think perhaps this is a reflection of two things: First of all, the population which concerns us is extremely difficult to deal with. If it wasn't there would be no need for this kind of service. The second point is whether or not governments at all levels are willing to spend enough money to reach our stated objectives. If we can simplify the way we spend the money-keeping in mind the fundamental purposes of title XX-and if we can be candid enough to admit that what we need is more, and not less money, I think perhaps we can work together. Mr. Rangel? Mr. RANGEL, No, Mr. Chairman. Mr. CORMAN. Mr. Secretary, I realize you have another commitment. We will be pleased to have you stay as long as it is convenient for you, and leave your more than adequate staff behind when you go. STATEMENT OF HON. DAVID MATHEWS, SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, ACCOMPANIED BY WILLIAM A. MORRILL, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PLANNING AND EVALUATION; STEPHEN KURZMAN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR LEGISLATION; MICHIO SUZUKI, ACTING COMMISSIONER, PUBLIC SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Secretary MATHEWS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The opportunity you have given us to make some suggestions about title XX programs is much appreciated. As you have indicated, I do have a group of health experts coming in from across the country to try to help us in designing some new programs in health that I will have to meet with shortly, but I thought I might comment on the general policy decisions. Mr. CORMAN. Excuse me, Mr. Secretary. [Off the record.] Mr. CORMAN. All right. Secretary MATHEWS. I would first like to comment on the general administrative policy. Then, Mr. Suzuki, who has almost made a career out of title XX, along with Mr. Morrill and Mr. Kurzman, will be more able than I to answer your particular questions. I appreciate this opportunity to discuss with this subcommittee the administration's proposed financial assistance for Community Services Act which was introduced by a member of this committee as H.R. 12175, introduced in the Senate as S. 3061. I need not remind the members of this subcommittee who had so much to do with the shaping of title XX over the past 2 years ago that we-the executive branch, the Congress, the States and the voluntary sector have traveled very many miles over some very rough roads to arrive at the present state of the Federal-State social services program relationship. But as should be evident to all of us, the enactment of title XX almost, but not quite, brought us to the state of that relationship that many of us would like to see tomorrow. The title XX block grant proposal now before this subcommittee would, we believe, resolve the lingering issues of State rights and responsibilities versus the most appropriate Federal role which title XX, as signed into law in January 1975, left somewhat up in the air. Indeed, the central principle underlying this proposal is that the social services program, title XX, should be, and is a partnership among multiple levels of Government requiring each to perform those functions most appropriate and suitable to it. Title XX did not go far enough, in our judgment, in devolving to the States and localities responsibilities which they should have. We believe that the States have demonstrated in the social service programs that they can well decide how to allocate their resources so that local needs are best met. Also, the first year's experience with title XX has shown that citizen involvement in the program is a strong and positive way to achieve an accountable program. Some have asserted that States and localities do not have the commitment or the ability to run social programs adequately and must be forced into good practices by the Federal Government. Recent experience with title XX, with the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, and with the Housing and Community Development Act has belied the central thesis of these critics. Some recent history is helpful to place this proposal in perspective. For 2 years, the social service program under title IV-A and VI was in a state of uncertainty and flux. The Department had attempted during that time to promulgate several sets of regulations which would have clarified the Federal intentions for this program, focusing services more on the goal of self-support, and targeting the moneys toward welfare recipients. These changes were opposed by many States and interest groups as too limiting. These groups did not accept the administration's priorities, and instead sought Federal |