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LEGISLATIVE ALERT
© Child Welfare League of America. The content of these publications may not be reproduced in any way, including posting on the Internet, without the permission of CWLA. For permission to use material from CWLA's website or publications, contact us using our website assistance form.
May 21, 2002
Immediate Action Needed
Support Medicaid/SSBG Funding in Supplemental Appropriations Bill
On Thursday, May 23, the United States Senate will vote on the FY 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. A bipartisan consensus state fiscal relief package has been developed with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) to provide $8.9 billion in temporary funding for Medicaid and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) to states. Working with the National Governors Association and other national organizations, CWLA supports adding this temporary fiscal relief package to the FY 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Bill and needs your help to make this happen.
ACTION REQUIRED: Call your U.S. Senators. Ask your Senators to support adding the consensus state fiscal relief package to the FY 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. You can reach all Senate offices through the Capitol switchboard at 202/224-3121.
BACKGROUND
Many of our member agencies have brought to us their concerns about the bleak fiscal situation states throughout the country are facing. Forced into the untenable position of having to make major cuts in order to balance their budgets, states need fiscal relief now. If no help is forthcoming from Congress, many important programs for children and their families, such as Medicaid, education, and social services programs, face deep cuts.
The bipartisan consensus state relief package would provide $8.9 billion in relief to states. This bipartisan package includes:
- A temporary one percentage point increase in the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for all states for 18 months;
- A hold harmless provision that would help states whose FMAPs would otherwise decline in 2002 and 2003; and
- The addition of $4.4 billion to the Social Services Block Grant for the current fiscal year and may be spent in FY 2003.
MESSAGE
Ask your Senators to add the bipartisan consensus state relief package to the FY 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Bill to be considered by the Senate on Thursday, May 23.
For more information, call CWLA Government Affairs at 202/942-0278 or contact Liz Meitner, Vice President of Government Affairs, at emeitner@cwla.org.
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