Since its inception in 1972. general revenue sharing has provided approximately $83 billion to State and local government. Unfortunately. the Reagan administration succeeded in terminating the program. Congress followed its lead and approved that. There were other important Federal and State and local programs that were substantially cut back between 1981 and 1990. They include the economic development assistance. community development block grants. mass transit. refugee assistance. and lowincome home energy assistance. Luckily. under both the Bush and Clinton administrations. we managed to restore some of the needed fundingI repeat. needed fundingto these programs. And still. in real dollars. funds for discretionary aid programs to State and local governments remain today 18 percent below their 1981 levels.