Congress to consider funding ACA's proposed SUCCEED program - American Camping Association's proposed $115 million Summer Camping for Child Enrichment, Education, and Development program - Legislative Report - Column

Over the past few months, there has been a great deal of activity in the ACA legislative arena. A number of important bills that directly affect camps are advancing, though as of press time, a great deal of work remains to be complete by Congress. Major issues include:

The SUCCEED Program

ACA has been very active in seeking federal funding for camp programming directed at at-risk youth. In March 1994, the ACA Executive Committee voted to pursue a legislative initiative on the federal crime bill, which would utilize federal funding to send disadvantaged, at-risk youth to camp. SUCCEED -- Summer Camping for Child Enrichment, Education, and Development, was drafted by David Gray and John Miller to advance this agenda.

The proposal calls for $15 million to fund an ACA-administered national program placing children from public, Indian, and publicly assisted housing in camps. I has the support of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

ACA has used its membership network to make several direct contacts with Senato Joseph Biden, D-Del., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. While Biden supports the SUCCEED concept, he is, as of this writing, reluctant to earmark specific funding for the program. His preference is to authorize competitive grant funding for generic broad-based community coalitions, who in turn could pursue youth diversion programming such as SUCCEED.

In the interim, the outcome of the crime bill is itself uncertain. Major political wrangling over racial justice provisions and gun control have raised serious threats of filibuster and procedural blockades. Funding for the program envisioned by the crime bill is also an uncertainty at this time.

With these considerations in mind, ACA is pursuing a parallel course by seeking a smaller program supported by federal agencies, local housing authorities, and corporate sponsors. Initial meetings have had positive results, and negotiation are underway. As of this writing, ACA has been requested to develop an administrative budget between $250,000 and $500,000. Unlike the crime bill proposal, this route does not require direct Congressional involvement, and envisions funding availability on October 1, 1994, for the 1995 camp season.

FICA

With the announced retirement of Senator George Mitchell, D-Maine, efforts have shifted to Senator Moynihan, D-N.Y., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, to encourage his support for the FICA initiative. Broadcast faxes and letters have gone out to ACA-accredited camps and to the New York State Camp Directors Association, requesting calls and letters. Efforts are also continuing to encourage Senator D'Amato, R-N.Y., to request Senator Moynihan's support.

Of the two legislative bills considered most viable for inclusion of the FICA initiative, one remains pending in conference -- the so-called "nanny" bill, which addresses employment of domestic workers.

Clean Water Reauthorization

The Senate has passed a clean water reauthorization bill opposed by environmental groups. The bill, S. 2019, would eliminate a much criticized Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate to add contaminants to water testing standards each year, regardless of established need. The bill would als give small systems, serving less than 10,000 persons, greater discretion in testing.

At the same time, an amendment offered by Senator Barbara Boxer D-Calif., and supported by environmental groups, would mandate that EPA specifically consider contaminant effects on children, pregnant women, and other "vulnerable" populations when setting water quality standards. This language is likely to have the effect of reducing overall permissible contaminant levels.

The House has been slow to act, and has yet to refer S. 2019 to the Energy and Commerce Committee. A separate reauthorization bill, H.R. 3392, is pending at the subcommittee level, though no hearings have been held.

Health Care

The health care issue has been slowly advancing in both the House and Senate. The major bills under consideration are H.R. 3600, S. 1757, and H.R. 3960.

The House Ways and Means Committee has bypassed President Clinton's plan for regional purchasing cooperatives. The committee is, however, supporting universal coverage, and has voted to create Medicare Part C, to cover the poor, elderly, uninsured, and some workers in small firms.

Of particular interest to camps, the House Ways and Means Committee's plan woul dictate that:

* No employer contribution would be required for full-time student employees, providing they are covered under their parents health care plan;

* No private plan contributions would be required for seasonal workers if the work less than four months per year.

The Senate bill is not expected to include an employer mandate, would cover onl 95 percent of Americans by the year 2002, and would be financed by a combinatio of spending cuts and taxes.

Though all these issues remain in a constant state of flux, Congress seems to b moving in a direction away from employer-funded mandates, away from universal coverage, and toward a long-term phase-in of a new federal entitlement program.

Product Liability

The cost of litigation and insurance premiums, which affects us all, pushed product liability reform to new heights this year -- but not quite high enough. For the first time, the Senate commenced debate on a comprehensive national reform bill. But on June 29, the Senate failed by three votes to cut off a filibuster supported by the Trial Lawyers of America and consumer groups. The bill would have standardized liability lawsuit procedures, reduced the number o cases that go to trial, as well as the amount of damages awarded. Proponents have vowed another try in 1995.

Federal Register Available On-Line

ACA has subscribed to a new Government Printing Office service -- the Federal Register on-line. This new system permits faster, more efficient, same day access via computer to daily notices of regulations and public comment periods.

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