On May 23, 2024, the Senate passed S.Res.706, a Resolution recognizing May as National Foster Care Month. The long title of the resolution is, “Recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges of children in the foster care system, and encouraging Congress to implement policies to improve the lives
This week is Congress’s last week in session before the beginning of the Memorial Day recess next week. Both chambers are working hard to make this a productive time – there are multiple hearings happening in both the House and Senate and several bills to be introduced this week. On May 16, 2024, the new
The Trevor Project released its 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, which amplifies the experiences of more than 18,000 LGBTQ+ young people ages 13 to 24 across the United States. The survey finds: 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year — including 46%
On May 7, 2024, the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law published a review of state implementation of Federal guidance on the collection of child support from families involved in Title IV-E foster care. On July 29th, 2022, the Children’s Bureau released a Dear Colleague letter highlighting a new question and answer
On April 22, 2024, the Children’s Bureau published the annual report to Congress detailing Title IV-B spending. This report to Congress provides national totals of planned spending by service category for the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services program and planned and actual spending by service category for the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program.
The Biden Administration has published a number of new regulations in the past few weeks, moving at a very quick pace. The Congressional Review Act allows Congress to disapprove of a final rule, but the resolution must be introduced within a specific time frame: during a 60-days-of-continuous-session period beginning on the day Congress receives the
On May 10th, 2024, the House Ways and Means Committee held a Field Hearing on “Empowering Native American and Rural Communities,” in Arizona, the first Ways and Means Committee hearing ever to be held on sovereign Tribal land. Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) opened the hearing and outlined the issues being discussed, particularly child support, child
On May 1, 2024, House Agriculture Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) unveiled an initial summary of the House Republican Farm bill, which encompasses important nutrition programs. A follow-up summary with additional detail was released on May 10th, providing more specific information about the various titles. Legislative text has not been released but is expected sometime this
On May 3, 2024, the Senate HELP Committee hosted a hearing entitled, “What can Congress do to address the severe shortage of minority health care professionals and the maternal health crisis?” Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) stated that the US health-care system is inefficient and ineffective. The US spends twice as much per capita on healthcare
On May 7, 2024, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), and Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN) reintroduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act to remove barriers to higher education for homeless and foster youth and help ensure they can pursue a higher education and
