Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed Congressman Darin LaHood's (R-IL-16) H.R. 9076, the Supporting America's Children and Families Act, a first-in-a-generation bipartisan reauthorization and reform of child welfare programs under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, by a vote of 405-10. LaHood, who is Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Work and Welfare, introduced the legislation with Subcommittee Ranking Member Danny Davis (D-IL-07) in July of 2024.
With approximately 369,000 children currently in the foster care system nationwide, this legislation offers vital assistance to help strengthen and keep families together and support the safety and well-being of children in foster care.The Supporting America's Children and Families Act encompasses policies from 16 different pieces of legislation from both Republican and Democrat members of the Ways and Means Committee. It follows the Committee’s extensive, year-long review of the nation’s child welfare programs to identify areas where these programs could better serve children and families.
The bill is supported by 228 child welfare organizations and 26 governors. Rep. LaHood's remarks during debate on the House Floor can be viewed HERE.
"For the past year, the Ways and Means Committee has undertaken a review of the Title IV-B child welfare program, listening to stakeholders, state administrators, and those with lived experience on the most pressing challenges," said Work and Welfare Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood (R-IL-16). "The bipartisan Supporting America’s Children and Families Act, which incorporates significant bipartisan involvement from members across our committee, reauthorizes Title IV-B for five years and implements critical reforms to modernize and strengthen the program, providing essential support to America's children. I am proud that this commonsense bill passed the House and urge the Senate to take it up swiftly to save taxpayer dollars, reduce administrative burdens, expand evidence-based services to prevent child abuse and neglect, and improve outcomes for youth transitioning from foster care." "
Key policies included in the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act
- Reauthorizes Title IV-B for five years and makes reforms to modernize the program.
- Reduces paperwork and data reporting for state agencies and caseworkers by at least 15 percent.
- Strengthens support systems for the 2.5 million grandparents and relatives providing kinship care for children who would otherwise enter foster care.
- Improves access for Indian tribes by streamlining funding, as well as improving state compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act.
- Addresses the caseworker crises by ensuring caseworkers have access to technology and training that support a strong workforce.
- Improves outcomes for youth transitioning from foster care, including by allowing foster youth up to age 26 to be eligible for services and incorporating lived experience in the state planning of child welfare plans.
- Supports the expansion of evidence-based services to prevent child abuse and neglect and ensures children are not separated from parents solely due to poverty-related neglect.
- Supports adoption services by evaluating the effectiveness of pre- and post-adoption services available under Title IV-B to adopt the more than 65,000 children waiting to be adopted.
This Congress, the Committee has held four hearings on child welfare:
- Six Key Moments from Work & Welfare Subcommittee Hearing on Child Welfare
- Three Key Moments from Hearing on Supporting Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
- In Arizona, Tribal Leaders Share Difficult Challenges Facing Their Communities
- Six Key Moments: Hearing on Strengthening Child Welfare and Protecting Children
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