Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Supports Passage of Vital Child Welfare Legislative Package

“We need to ensure that IV-B funding is meeting the needs of children and families who are interacting with the child welfare system, including children and families who are in foster care, or to support broader services like child protective services and pre-foster care family stabilization or support.  That’s why I am excited that this legislation includes a $75 million overall increase in funding, which is critical given that IV-B hasn’t seen an increase in nearly twenty years." 

Being separated from family can be a traumatic experience that affects a child the rest of their lives. H.R. 9076 moves us closer to an overall child welfare system that better supports our children and families,” said Co-Chair Gwen Moore (D-WI). 

“I am thankful to the Ways and Means Committee for including The Strengthening Tribal Families Act of 2024 as a part of H.R. 9076, because it will help Native American children stay within their tribal cultures, as compliance with the Indian Children Welfare Act (ICWA) varies amongst states and has resulted in children being separated from their families and tribes.” said Co-Chair Don Bacon (R-NE). “As a foster to adopt parent, I realize that whatever we can do to help provide stable homes for children going through the foster care system, is essential to their success. H.R. 9076 provides a complete package for foster children that will be a lasting impact for years to come.”

“With so much at stake in child protection proceedings, attorneys have a critical role to make sure that the voices of children and parents are heard, and their rights are protected,” said Co-Chair Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA). “These attorneys can facilitate communication between parties and assist the courts to make informed decisions that prioritize the well-being of the child and family as a whole. I was proud to join Rep. Tenney in introducing the Ensuring Legal Representation for Child Welfare Act to promote justice and safeguard the rights of children and parents, and I am thrilled to see it pass the House as part of today’s historic, bipartisan child welfare reform package.”

“Family is everything to Iowans, and I want to make sure that I’m doing everything in my power to help Iowans who are willing to open their home to disadvantaged children,” said Co-Chair Zach Nunn (R-IA). “When we began fostering and ultimately adopted our daughters, we knew it was incredibly important to keep them together as sisters. Now, I’m fighting to ensure every sibling in the foster system can stay together forever.”  

“Investing in our foster care system means increasing federal funding for the workers who dedicate their lives to ensuring the safety and security of those within our child welfare system,” said Co-Chair Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA). “That’s why I am thrilled by the House passage of H.R. 9076, legislation that increases IV-B funding to help meet the needs of children seeking nurturing homes and families seeking pre-foster care support. I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Congressional Foster Youth Caucus to get H.R. 9076 across the finish line and to the president’s desk to ensure our child welfare system has the resources it needs to address the needs of foster youth and families.”

“Every child deserves a place to call home. H.R. 9076 is a bipartisan effort reauthorization of vital funding for key programs, reducing administrative burdens, and investing in caseworkers. This bill puts children first and fortifies the child welfare system to be the best it can be,” said Co-Chair Nancy Mace (R-SC).

H.R. 9076 includes:

• An increase in mandatory (non-appropriated) funding for the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families program (PSSF) for the first time since 2006, raising it from $345 million per year to $420 million per year. Most of the new funding would increase the annual grants states receive for services that stabilize families to prevent foster care entry, address challenges so that children in foster care can return home, live permanently with family members, or be adopted, and support children and their families after they leave foster care.
• The bill increases funding provided directly to Indian tribes for child welfare services, guaranteeing them 3 percent of overall IV-B funding, reducing administrative burden for tribes.
• The legislation secures a $6 million increase in annual funding to support child welfare caseworkers.
• The legislation provides up to $34 million (authorized) for demonstration grants to support meaningful relationships between children in foster care and their incarcerated parents."

The Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth is a bipartisan caucus that is committed to addressing the needs of foster youth and making improvements to the child welfare system.