Find and Protect Foster Youth Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1146, the Find and Protect Foster Youth Act, as amended.

This bill builds on existing HHS guidance to ensure that States understand their grave responsibilities when youth go missing from foster care. It would require HHS to determine whether States are in full compliance with the law and guidance and also to identify best practices and provide technical support to States so that they can do better by our youth.

Our committee worked closely with HHS to update the original guidance and then advanced, last year, the bipartisan House companion bill, H.R. 2426.

Taking a child into foster care is a last resort, something that we should do only if a child cannot live safely at home even with services or support. Once a State takes custody of a child, they must keep that child safe and act in the child's best interest. There is no higher obligation than keeping a child safe in our care.

We know that children who run away from foster care are not safe. They are disproportionately likely to be homeless or to fall prey to sex traffickers and other predators. They often struggle with mental health challenges or substance abuse.

To our shame, many youth who run away from foster care also were not safe before they ran away. They ran away because they were placed in an unsafe home or separated from siblings and other family members.

This amended version of S. 1146 addresses that issue by requiring HHS to study and learn more about how to prevent the situation that causes youth to flee.

In crafting this bipartisan additional study requirement, I was fortunate to consult Bryan Samuels and the able team at Chapin Hall in my city of Chicago. Their deep expertise and prior work on this topic informed our thinking.

I take great pride in our committee's bipartisan work to strengthen families and protect vulnerable foster youth over the years, including the landmark Family First Prevention Services Act and the strong bill to reauthorize and invest in child welfare services that we are also considering today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the Find and Protect Foster Youth Act and continue to work together to advance thoughtful legislation to help our most vulnerable youth and families.

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Brown).

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith and Chairman LaHood for their work and their assistance in moving this bill that would require HHS to determine whether States are in full compliance with the law when youth go missing from foster care, and also to identify best practices and provide technical support to States so that they can better serve these young people in our care and need our help.

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