Press Releases

Today, Senators Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) joined Representatives Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), and Tom Marino (R-Penn.) in applauding the passage of bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will make it easier for foster youth to succeed academically.

U.S. Representative Tom Marino (R-PA) issued the following statement with colleague U.S. Representative Karen Bass (D-CA) in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to sign into law legislation that will ban American adoptions of Russian children.

The bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth held its first-ever “Shadow Day on Capitol Hill” where Members of Congress hosted current and emancipated foster youth from across the nation in Washington in an effort to help them understand the inner workings of the House of Representatives, learn about the legislative initiatives related to foster care, and share their stories with policy makers.

Today, the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth held the second stop of its nationwide listening and learning tour in Broward and Miami-Dade counties to gain a better understanding of Florida’s state and local child welfare system. Hosted by U.S. Reps. Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.) and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Caucus co-chair U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) was invited by the Members to learn first-hand how Florida’s system may provide ideas for potential positive federal policy modifications in order to improve outcomes for children in the system.

On the heels of its inaugural Listening Tour stop in Los Angeles, the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-Chairs, composed of U.S. Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Tom Marino (R-Penn.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) and Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) announced the newly created entity to the public and its plan to examine several legislative proposals including the proposed over-prescribing of psychotropic medications to youth in the foster care system.

In an effort to address many of the ongoing issues foster youth face, the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth launched a national listening tour in Los Angeles this week.

President Barack Obama signs Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act with guests in the Oval Office, Sept. 30, 2011.