U. S. CONGRESS. HOUSE. COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS JAMIE L. WHITTEN, Mississippi, Chairman EDWARD P. BOLAND, Massachusetts TOM STEED, Oklahoma *JOHN M. SLACK, West Virginia ROBERT N. GIAIMO, Connecticut TOM BEVILL, Alabama BILL D. BURLISON, Missouri JOSEPH D. EARLY, Massachusetts CHARLES WILSON, Texas LINDY (MRS. HALE) BOGGS, Louisiana ADAM BENJAMIN, JR., Indiana NORMAN D. DICKS, Washington MATTHEW F. MCHUGH, New York BO GINN, Georgia WILLIAM LEHMAN, Florida JACK HIGHTOWER, Texas JOHN W. JENRETTE, JR., South Carolina MARTIN OLAV SABO, Minnesota JULIAN C. DIXON, California BENNETT M. STEWART, Illinois SILVIO O. CONTE, Massachusetts ROBERT C. MCEWEN, New York J. KENNETH ROBINSON, Virginia CLAIR W. BURGENER, California GEORGE M. O'BRIEN, Illinois CARL D. PURSELL, Michigan KEITH F. MAINLAND, Clerk and Staff Director *DECEASED. (II) DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1981 MONDAY, MAY 5, 1980. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WITNESSES WILLIAM J. DRIVER, COMMISSIONER IRA GOLDSTEIN, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF POLICY, OFFICE OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE ROBERT M. ROTHENBERG, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF PROGRAM BUDGET, OFFICE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES JOHN TODD, PRINCIPAL DEPUTY TO DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INCOME SECURITY POLICY MS. ALAIR TOWNSEND, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR BUDGET Mr. NATCHER. The committee will come to order. We have before the committee at this time Mr. William J. Driver, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Mr. Driver, it is a distinct honor and privilege to have you before the committee in your capacity as the new commissioner. We of course want to wish you the best of everything in your assignment. As I understand, you have a statement you would like to present to the committee. But before you do that, tell us who you have there at the table with you. Mr. DRIVER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I will. On my right Ms. Alair Townsend, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget; Mr. Ira Goldstein, Director of the Office of Policy in the Office of Family Assistance, and on my left Bob Rothenberg, Director of the Division of Program Budget in the Office of Financial Resources at Social Security. Mr. NATCHER. The matter that we have before the committee today, Mr. Driver, is the budget request for $2.2 billion for lowincome fuel bills and you have a statement. We will be pleased to hear from you. Mr. DRIVER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I would ask that my full statement be submitted for the record and I will refer to it in my opening comments. Mr. NATCHER. That will be fine. Mr. DRIVER. Thank you. This is the first time that an energy assistance program has been presented to you which has a statutory authorization. This authori C$507 |