March 28, 1973
Page 9982
SOCIAL SERVICES REGULATIONS
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, many of us have expressed concern recently about the direction of the regulations proposed February 16 by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare regarding the implementation of social services programs under title IV-A of the Social Security Act.
The guidelines proposed by the administration would have severely curtained social services programs in the States. In my own State of Maine, many ongoing and worthy programs would have to terminate if the guidelines proposed on February 16 were finally promulgated. Those guidelines would mean a cutback in services to more than 74,000 people in Maine at a cost of $3.8 million in fiscal 1974.
At a recent hearing of my Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations, Secretary Weinberger promised to revise the guidelines to allow the States to use donated private funds as the States’ share in claiming Federal matching money under title IV-A programs.
I am hopeful that the guidelines will be further revised to prevent disastrous cutbacks of social services programs across the country.
Recently, Gov. Kenneth M. Curtis of Maine outlined in great detail the impact of the proposed regulations on social services programs in my State. In a letter to Secretary Weinberger, the Governor strongly protested many of the provisions of the proposed regulations. I think it would be helpful for members of the Senate to focus on the issues raised by Governor Curtis.
I ask unanimous consent that the letter Governor Curtis wrote to Secretary Weinberger be included in the RECORD at this point.
There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
STATE OF MAINE,
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,
Augusta,
Maine,
March 2, 1973.
Hon. CASPAR WEINBERGER
Secretary, Department of Health, Education and Welfare,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR SECRETARY WEINBERGER: This letter is in response to the regulations drafted by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to implement the Social Services Amendment to the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972 (P. L. 912-612).
The Maine Department of Health and Welfare has completed a comprehensive review of the impact of the proposed regulations in Maine. On the basis of this study, I strongly protest certain provisions of the proposed regulations. I am most concerned about the provisions that would:
1. Restrict target populations eligible to receive social services through a re-definition of eligibility,
2. Restrict the types of services for which Federal funding is available,
3. Prohibit the expansion or initiation of services using public money without additional tax dollars above the 1972 level, and
4. Prohibit the use of donated private funds or in-kind contributions as the State's share in claiming Federal matching money.
For specific reference to sections in the Federal Register which should be changed, please refer to Attachment I.
As presently drafted, the regulations will have a very serious and detrimental impact on social service programs. In Maine there will be a cutback in services to more than 74,000 people at a cost of $3.8 million in FY 1974.
Because the regulations will restrict eligibility almost exclusively to welfare recipients, additional incentives will be created to get on welfare or stay on welfare in order to receive essential services. The regulations will also destroy many worthwhile programs by prohibiting the use of private "seed" money and restricting the types of services which can be funded. In addition, the HEW proposals will very likely increase administrative costs by requiring repeated and complicated eligibility determinations. Finally, the states ability to expand needed services will be severely limited by the requirement that expansion or initiation of new services using public dollars must be accomplished with "new" money above 1972 levels.
Enclosed is a State-wide summary of the impact the proposed HEW regulations will have in Maine with additional detailing by major restrictions in the proposed policy. (See Attachment II)
I am asking you to take action to prevent the restrictive provisions of this proposed policy from being implemented. I also request that immediate action be taken to extend the review period to at least 90 days so that all states may have an opportunity to assess the impact of these proposed restrictions on their social service programs.
Sincerely,
KENNETH M. CURTIS,
Governor.
[Tables omitted]