WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) today released the following statement after the House passed five bipartisan bills to improve our nation’s child welfare system:

“Today, we took important bipartisan action toward improving our child welfare system and helping ensure more children grow up in a safe, stable home – rather than in foster care. By moving these meaningful bills, we continue the work started by so many advocates, foster parents, and most importantly, foster youth. Thank you to all of the Members for their leadership as we continue our larger effort to make American families and communities even stronger.”

The House passed the following bills:

• Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act (H.R. 2742), sponsored by Reps. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Danny Davis (D-IL)
• Reducing Barriers for Relative Foster Parents Act (H.R. 2866), sponsored by Reps. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) and Terri Sewell (D-AL)
• Improving Services for Older Youth in Foster Care Act (H.R. 2847), sponsored by Reps. John Faso (R-NY) and Karen Bass (D-CA)
• Supporting Families in Substance Abuse Treatment Act (H.R. 2857), sponsored by Reps. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Judy Chu (D-CA)
• Partnership Grants to Strengthen Families Affected by Parental Substance Abuse Act (H.R. 2834), sponsored by Reps. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Kristi Noem (R-SD)

CLICK HERE to learn more about each bill.

CLICK HERE to see the organizations in support of today’s action to strengthen families and to improve the child welfare system.