Supporting America's Children and Families Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) for yielding and his work on this very important piece of legislation. I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare, as well as the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare, for their work on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 9076, the Supporting America's Children and Families Act.
One pillar of this bill reauthorizes the title IV-B program, which underpins much of the child welfare system and provides funding to States for community-based and prevention-oriented programs and services. At the time we are reauthorizing, we take that opportunity to learn how we can improve. The improvements that are included today in that reauthorization will make a difference in the lives of many children and families throughout the country.
I am very pleased that included in this package are four bills that I introduced after receiving input from providers and others in my community and district. After hearing from individuals and witnesses in hearings about this package, it will include policies to allow IV-B dollars to support kinship families, reduce the administrative burden on State and Tribal child welfare agencies, support caseworkers, and gather data on the effectiveness of post-adoptive services.
The other pillar of this bill would ensure that States can utilize contractors to support their child welfare programs, which is a vital flexibility that the two counties that I represent, Lancaster and York Counties in Pennsylvania, take advantage of to ensure steady child support payments.
H.R. 9076 aims to provide vital resources to families in need with the goal of preventing them from needing the foster care system in the first place and helping to maintain healthy families, which are the cornerstone of our society.
Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.
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