After Passing House, Unanimous Senate Approval Sends Legislation to the President’s Desk
Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet celebrated Senate passage of the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act. The bipartisan legislation, which had already passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a strong bipartisan vote, reauthorizes and improves child welfare programs that promote family unity and the safety and well-being of children. The legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that every kid in America grows up in a loving and supportive home. This legislation cuts through bureaucracy and provides a critical, flexible investment for the welfare of our nation’s children,” said Bennet. “I’m grateful for my colleagues’ strong bipartisan support to pass this legislation so communities in Colorado and throughout the country continue to have the flexibility they need to keep kids safe and families together.”
“Creating a safe, healthy, and supportive environment at home is the first step to helping Texas children thrive,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would make strategic and evidence-backed improvements to ensure a 360-degree support system is in place for children in foster care nationwide.”
This legislation would reauthorize Title IV-B of the Social Security Act for five years and improve its child welfare programs by:
- Increasing funding by $75 million a year;
- Expanding evidence-based services to prevent child abuse and neglect;
- Increasing access to training for caseworkers and improving recruitment and retention efforts to address caseworker shortage and bolster the workforce;
- Reducing administrative burden;
- Providing grant funding for the Court Improvement Program to support child legal proceedings;
- Streamlining access to funding, including for Indian tribes; and
- Strengthening support systems for relatives and family transitions, including children entering into kinship diversion, exiting foster care, or transitioning to an adopted family.
The text of the bill is available HERE.