Opening Statement of the Hon. Wally Herger, M.C., California, and
Chairman, Subcommittee on Human Resources

Hearing on Bush Administration Budget Proposals

July 11, 2001

The President has made a number of proposals that fall under the jurisdiction of this Subcommittee, and which would be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. These include programs to promote responsible fatherhood, to better protect children at risk of abuse and neglect, and to mentor children of prisoners, to name a few. Today's hearing will help us learn more about the President's proposals and how we can work with the Administration to better protect children and assist young families on the path to self-support.

I want to highlight one proposal -- mentoring children of prisoners. In our country today, one and a half million children have a parent who is incarcerated. Studies show these children are more likely to be arrested or incarcerated themselves, to drop out of school, to run with gangs, and to abuse drugs. To his credit, the President has proposed new funding for private programs that link such children with positive adult role models while their own parent is in jail. The programs also help children maintain contact with an imprisoned parent, so that when the parent leaves prison, he or she can better reconnect with the child. Given the number of children affected and the likelihood this sad cycle will repeat itself if nothing is done, I hope we can all agree to support the President's proposal.

The President issued a budget blueprint sketching out this and his other proposals in February, which means this hearing has been in the planning stages for some time. For several months, we have been waiting for the Senate to act on the nomination of Dr. Wade Horn to be Assistant Secretary for the Office of Family Support at HHS. However, his nomination is one of a number held up in the Senate, and we must press on with our business.

Fortunately, we have an excellent pinch-hitter in the Acting Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget, Dennis Williams. Mr. Williams has worked on these issues at HHS since 1984. We are pleased he can share with us his lengthy experience and perspective. We welcome him to the Subcommittee and look forward to his testimony.