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Committee on Ways
and Means For Immediate Release Presidential Action Improves Legislation Introduced by WASHINGTON -- Children and families will benefit under a new federal law signed today by President Bush that will dramatically increase the funds available for adoption, foster care and post-adoption services. Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources, praised the presidential action on a bill that he introduced on September 10, 2001. The bill, H.R. 2873, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001 passed the House unanimously two months later on November 13. “Children and families involved in, or at risk of involvement in, the foster care system will now receive improved and expanded services,” Chairman Herger said. “The legislation was agreed to unanimously in both chambers of Congress, which signals its broad bipartisan support. I’m proud to have helped deliver it to the President’s desk.” The legislation supplies support in three areas. First, it reauthorizes, amends, and expands the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program, adding an additional $200 million authorization to the current $305 million in annual mandatory funding. The Safe and Stable Families program provides grants to States and Indian Tribes for family support, family preservation, time-limited family reunification, and adoption promotion and support services. Additionally, the legislation creates a new $67 million annual matching grant program to support mentoring networks for children of prisoners, and a new $60 million program of education and training vouchers worth of up to $5,000 per year for youths aging out of foster care. |