1994 GREEN BOOK (14th edition) Overview of Entitlement Programs Background Material and Data on Programs within the Jurisdiction of of the COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ---------- ONE HUNDRED THIRD CONGRESS SAM M. GIBBONS, Florida, Acting Chairman ---------- Janice Mays, Chief Counsel and Staff Director Deborah G. Colton, Deputy Staff Director Franklin C. Phifer, Jr., Counsel to the Acting Chairman This document was prepared by the majority staff of the Committee on Ways and Means and is issued under the authority of Acting Chairman Sam M. Gibbons. This document has not been reviewed or officially approved by the Members of the Committee. July 15, 1994 ------------------------------------------------------------------ LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ---------- Committee on Ways and Means U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C., July 15, 1994 Hon. Sam M. Gibbons, Acting Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Chairman: Since 1981, the Committee on Ways and Means has published the annual ``Green Book,'' which presents background material and statistical data on the major entitlement programs within the Committee's jurisdiction: Social Security, Medicare, Unemployment Compensation, Trade Adjustment Assistance, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Child Support Enforcement, Supplemental Security Income, the Title XX Social Services Block Grant program, Child Welfare, Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Child Care programs. While initially intended for the use of the Members of the Committee and their staffs, this document has become a valuable resource for Members of Congress, Congressional staff, government officials at the Federal, State and local level, academicians, public policy analysts, as well as the general public. On behalf of the staff, I am pleased to transmit to you and the other Members of the Committee on Ways and Means, the 1994 edition (the 14th edition) of the Green Book. The Green Book integrates a description of each program within the jurisdiction of the Committee with current data regarding the population served by the program, an analysis of interactions with other major programs, and historical background information. The staff wishes to express its appreciation to the many individuals and organizations who contribute annually to the publication of the Green Book. At the risk of failing to mention some individuals, the staff wishes to recognize the following organizations and individuals for their contribution to this year's edition of the Green Book. 1. The Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress and the following individuals: Melvina Ford, Section 18; Molly Forman, Sections 12 and 18; Tom Gabe, Appendices A, G, and H; Janet Kline, All the health sections; Bill Krouse, Section 18; Ann Lourdeman, Section 18; Carolyn Merck, Section 15; Jennifer Neisner, Sections 7, 10, and 18; Richard Price, All the health sections; Joe Richardson, Section 18; Carmen Solomon, Sections 6, 10, 11, and 18; Karen Spar, Section 14; Anne Stewart, Sections 12 and 18; Jim Storey, Section 7 and Appendix F; 2. The Congressional Budget Office and the following individuals: Wayne Boyington, Appendix J; Karin Carr, Appendix J; Leslie Griffin, Appendix J; Richard Kasten, Section 16; Carla Pedone, Section 18; Murray Ross, Appendix H; Frank Sammartino, Section 16; Bob Williams, Section 16 and Appendix H; 3. The Department of Health and Human Services; 4. The Department of Labor; 5. The Social Security Administration; 6. The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce; 7. The Prospective Payment Assessment Commission; 8. The Physician Payment Review Commission; 9. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; 10. The staff of the Railroad Retirement Board; 11. The staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation; and 12. The staff of the House Budget Committee. Many members of the Committee's majority staff made a major contribution to the preparation and publication of this document. Richard Hobbie, Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Human Resources, edited the 1994 Green Book and Joseph Grant of the Subcommittee on Oversight staff assisted him. Victoria Jacobs of the Subcommittee on Human Resources staff coordinated and managed the production of the 1994 Green Book. Other members of the Committee's majority staff who deserve special recognition are: Yvette Chocolaad, Corrie Hess, and Sherri Wood of the Subcommittee on Human Resources staff, Kathryn Olson and Katherine Rourke of the Subcommittee on Social Security staff, Helene Krasnoff, Ellen Magrini, Kathleen Pakos, and Kristen Panerali of the Subcommittee on Health staff, Kathleen O'Connell of the Tax staff, Mary Jane Wignot of the Subcommittee on Trade staff, and George Whittle. Any suggestions which improve this document are welcomed and will be reflected in subsequent editions of this publication. Sincerely, Janice Mays, Chief Counsel and Staff Director. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PREFACE ---------- The staff of the Committee on Ways and Means, with assistance from many individuals at the Congressional Research Service, the Congressional Budget Office, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, the Social Security Administration, the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce, the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission, the Physician Payment Review Commission, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Railroad Retirement Board, the Joint Committee on Taxation, and the House Budget Committee, has prepared this document for the members of the Committee to use in evaluating the programs under the Committee's jurisdiction, and analyzing possible revisions to such programs. This year's edition of the Green Book emphasizes descriptive information, and contains a new section-by-section index in the back to facilitate the locating of subtopics. This document is divided into 18 sections and 10 appendices: The majority of the sections describe programs within the jurisdiction of the Committee. One section describes other major Federal assistance programs not within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means and one section describes tax expenditures and other tax provisions related to retirement, health, poverty, employment, and disability. These sections present summary tables indicating the relative size and recent growth of the individual programs, and extensive information on program eligibility, payment, financing, participant characteristics, interactions with other programs, and history. The appendices provide background data on topics indirectly related to these programs. The appendices include: health status, utilization, and expenditures of the elderly; national health expenditures and health insurance coverage; Medicare reimbursement to hospitals and physicians; data on unemployment and employment; demographic and economic characteristics of families with children and the elderly; poverty and antipoverty effectiveness; economic, population, immigration, income and fiscal data; and, budget tables.