WATCH: Chairman Scott Leads House Passage of Bill to Help Lift Millions of Americans Out of Poverty
WASHINGTON – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during today’s floor debate on H.R. 5129, the Community Service Block Grant Modernization Act of 2022.
View Chairman Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube.
“Today, the Community Action Agencies, or CAAs form a network of more than 1,000 organizations that meet the unique needs of communities to help lift low-income individuals and families out of poverty.
“For decades, Community Action Agencies have been central pillars to our communities. They administer programs, such as Head Start, to provide quality early childhood education for low-income children and support their families; Meals on Wheels to support seniors experiencing hunger and isolation; and LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program that helps people keep up with their utilities. In fact, it is the only federal program whose broad mission is to address poverty conditions, allowing Community Action Agencies to tailor services for the low-income individuals in their communities. And they do this with the goal to give a hand up, not a hand out.
“Community Action Agencies’ work is made possible by the Community Services Block Grant, or CSBG. Unfortunately, the CSBG program has not been reauthorized since 1998—creating uncertainty in the program.
“The bipartisan Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act of 2022 reauthorizes CSBG for 10 years—the longest period in history—and improves the statute to help agencies expand their work and reduce poverty across America.
“This includes increased authorization levels and raising the CSBG program’s income eligibility threshold to expand access to their services. This will put CSBG on solid footing, so the program continues to meet the complex and changing needs of low-income individuals and communities without changing local control to this important program.
“I want to thank the gentlelady from Oregon, Ms. Bonamici, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Thompson, the gentlelady from Minnesota, Ms. McCollum, the gentlelady from New York, Ms. Stefanik, the gentleman from California, Mr. DeSaulnier, and the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Comer for championing this bipartisan legislation.”
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