“We have a responsibility to make sure programs are meeting the current needs of families and children that need it most. This reauthorization modernizes Title IV-B child welfare and increases accountability.”

As prepared for delivery.

“Title IV-B of the Social Security Act provides critical resources to protect the safety and well-being of children in foster care and gives states, tribes, and territories flexibility to invest in prevention services to keep vulnerable families together whenever possible. 

“Unfortunately, this program’s authorization expired in 2021 and the program has remained largely unchanged since 2008. We have a responsibility to make sure programs are meeting the current needs of families and children that need it most. This reauthorization modernizes Title IV-B child welfare and increases accountability. 

“Right now, there are nearly 400,000 children in foster care and over 20,000 who age out of foster care each year. 

“The Ways and Means Committee has worked over the last year to conduct a top-to-bottom review of America’s child welfare system. We have held four hearings and numerous meetings with stakeholders to better understand where there are gaps and how to bring this program up to date to better serve America’s children. 

“I represent one of the poorest Congressional districts in the country, and before I came to Congress, I practiced family law and saw firsthand how our child welfare system can put undue strain on families. That is why I particularly appreciate the opportunity to have worked with Representative Gwen Moore in introducing legislation – included in this bill – that prevents child services from taking children away from their families simply because they live in poverty. I think about the families separated in Missouri over the years not because of abuse or neglect, but because they could not afford to pay a bill or buy new clothes for their kids. It is not right, and this bill corrects that. 

“The bipartisan legislation before us today is the result of those efforts. It will not only help address the needs of children in foster care but also support early intervention to help families stay together. The Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act, introduced by the Chair and Ranking members of our Work and Welfare Subcommittee, Darin LaHood and Danny Davis, reauthorizes Title IV-B for five years and makes significant reforms to modernize the program.

“Specifically, this bill:

• Reduces administrative burden by dialing back paperwork and reporting requirements that are hamstringing caseworkers.
• Streamlines funding to improve access for Indian tribes.
• Helps to prevent abuse and neglect and ensures that children are not separated from their parents solely on the basis of poverty.
• Addresses the caseworker crisis by improving access to training.
• Strengthens the support systems for the 2.5 million grandparents and relatives who provide kindship care to children who might otherwise enter foster care.
• And, improves outcomes for youth transitioning from foster care into adulthood. 

“This bill also includes important legislation from Representative Hern of Oklahoma that would strengthen the tools available to states and tribes to ensure millions of families receive the child support they are owed. That bill would prevent the IRS from blocking state child support agencies from using contractors to administer their Child Support Enforcement program. 

“Representative Hern’s bill, the Strengthening State and Tribal Child Support Enforcement Act, will harmonize federal laws so states can continue carrying out necessary child support payment collections and allow tribal child support agencies to directly access the same tools. This bill avoids additional significant costs that would be incurred by both states and tribes should the IRS policy go into place as it is scheduled to do on October 1. I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation.”