The House Education and the Workforce Committee approved, 28-20, a bill (H.R. 3030) to reauthorize the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) through 2009. Calling the CSBG a “valuable program,” Committee Chair John Boehner (R-OH) praised H.R. 3030, saying that it “makes some improvements by ensuring quality and accountability without radically altering the structure of the program.”
Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA) agreed with the importance of CSBG programs, saying that they “minimize the effects of poverty and maximize self-sufficiency.” However, he expressed his concern about a faith-based provision that would allow faith-based groups to consider religion in their hiring practices, stating that he would oppose the bill unless the language was removed.
The committee spent most of the mark-up heatedly debating the issue, which they have tackled during other several other reauthorizations this year. Three separate amendments on the issue were considered. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) offered an amendment that would have prohibited faith-based organizations from discriminating in hiring practices based on religion. The amendment was defeated, 22-24.
“While faith-based organizations have a long history of participating in CSBG, prior to the 1998 reauthorization, the law never allowed the use of federal funds to discriminate when hiring staff,” argued Rep. Woolsey.
Republicans countered that the provision was in accordance with the 1964 Civil Rights Act (P. L. 88-352), with Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) saying, “This [the Woolsey amendment] could turn the clock back.”
A second-degree amendment to the Woolsey amendment also was defeated, 22-23. Offered by Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ), the amendment would have prohibited recipients of funding from discriminating based on “religion, religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to participate in religious practice.”
Rep. Andrews contended that his amendment codified regulations released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on September 30. “I think the regulations are positive,” he said, adding that his amendment “tracks language in existing statute,” including the Children’s Health Act (P.L. 106-310) and the 1996 welfare reform law (P.L. 104-193).
Noting that the Andrews amendment “mostly mirrors” the regulations, Rep. Boehner asserted that the amendments adds “a refusal to hold a religious belief or a refusal to participate in religious practice,” language not included in the regulations. “It’s not quite an apples to apples comparison,” he said.
Rather, Rep. Boehner offered an amendment that would prohibit faith-based organizations from discriminating against a beneficiary on the basis of religion or a religious belief. The amendment, which was adopted by voice vote, would codify the HHS regulations released the previous day.
Prior to approving the measure, the committee adopted, by voice vote, a substitute amendment making mostly technical changes. However, bill sponsor, Rep. Tom Osborne (R-NE), noted that the amendment made four substantive changes: Community Action Agencies (CAAs) would be required to successfully meet local and state goals in order to continue receiving funding; states would be required to take swift action against low performing programs; technical assistance and training programs would be enhanced by developing reporting systems; and the goals and purposes of the programs would be modified to ensure that services and funding reach the most impoverished individuals.
First created in 1981, the CSBG provides funds to states and Indian tribes to implement programs aimed at reducing poverty. Grantees may use the funds to provide services that address employment, education, income management, housing, nutrition, emergency services, and health. Under current law, 90 percent of CSBG funds must be passed through to eligible entities, often referred to as CAAs.
H.R. 3030 would reauthorize the CSBG at current levels through 2009. The bill also adds provisions aimed at improving the quality and accountability of the programs by implementing goals and performance measures.
