Children’s Monitor

The President’s Budget 2025

This year the President’s budget was released on Monday, March 11, 2024. The fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget begins on October 1, 2024. This is the fourth budget for the Biden Administration. Due to the unusual FY 2024 budget situation, it was delayed by one month from the statutory first Monday in February outlined under

Tax Package Still Stalled in Senate

The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, the tax bill that includes a small but significant expansion to the child tax credit, continues to be stalled in the Senate after passing the House in a 357-72 vote, a major win in a Congress that has not been marked by bipartisan agreement and has

Giving Children a Voice: Legal Representation Webinar

In the webinar entitled, Giving Children a Voice, there was a discussion regarding the benefits of client directed council among the panelists. Two of the panelists were Allison Green and Natalece Washington from the National Association of Counsel for Children. The other three were, J. Kendall Seal, Tom Jose, and Tim Keller representing the Center

National Kinship Convening Hosted in Washington, D.C.

On March 14, 2024, Think of Us in partnership with the Children’s Bureau hosted the National Convening on Kinship Care to discuss the new rule on Separate Licensing Standards for Relative or Kinship Foster Family Homes, which was finalized last fall. The convening kicked off with remarks from leadership of the Administration for Children and

The State of the Union Address 2024

On Thursday, March 7, 2024, President Biden delivered his third State of the Union Address before members of Congress, Supreme Court Justices, and invited guests. He used the opportunity to highlight policy advancements that have happened during his administration, declared that “the State of the Union is strong and getting stronger.” The President started with

Congress Passes First Set of Appropriations Bills

Congress passed the first six Appropriations bills for 2024 last week. On Wednesday, March 6th, 2024, the House voted 339-85 to advance the package to the Senate; because the bills did not go through the Rules Committee, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had to rely on significant support from House Democrats to get the 2/3 majority

House Committee Marks Up Budget Resolution

On Thursday, March 7th, 2024, ahead of the President’s State of the Union Address, the House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Speaker Johnson announced a budget resolution for FY 2025. According to Chairman Arrington’s executive summary, the goal of this budget resolution is to reduce the deficit and curtail federal spending. The House

Ways and Means Republicans Introduce TANF Bills

On March 6th, House Ways and Means Committee Republicans introduced seven bills that would amend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, addressing specific provisions. The bills would form the basis of a TANF reauthorization, which is long overdue, though they are unlikely to be supported by Democrats in either the House or the

House Committee Links Border and Foster Care

On March 5, 2024, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), joined by Work and Welfare Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood (R-IL), called for the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) to launch an investigation into how the influx of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) crossing the southwest border may be

First set of FY 2024 Funding Bills Released

On February 28, 2024, House Speaker Johnson (R-LA), Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Jeffries (D-NY) along with House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Granger (R-TX) and Ranking Member DeLauro (D-CT) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Collins (R-ME) released a statement unveiling a new

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