On Introducing the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act

Floor Speech

* Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act.

* The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act is bipartisan legislation that extends and makes modest adjustments to the Child Welfare Services and the Promoting Safe and Stable Families programs that both expire September 30th of this year. Although only a small part of all federal child welfare funding, these programs help ensure that children can remain safely with their own parents or be supported by other caring adults when necessary.

* The bill reflects agreements between Republicans and Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, as well as with our colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee, for reauthorizing these programs. The bill is bipartisan and bicameral, and draws on the findings of several hearings we have had in the Human Resources Subcommittee this year on child welfare issues. Further, this bill does not increase spending or raise the deficit. When the American people ask us to work together across party lines to craft meaningful legislation that is fully paid for, this is the type of bill they have in mind.

* In addition, this bill would renew authority for the Department of Health and Human Services to approve child welfare waivers. These waivers have been a valuable tool for States seeking to test new ways of helping children at risk of abuse and neglect, and the renewal of this authority will allow innovation to continue.

* This bill adds important transparency and accounting requirements, and does not increase spending or deficits. This bill also requires that States establish common data standards to improve information sharing, which will improve the efficiency of the programs while allowing States to better coordinate services for children and families.

* I thank the Ranking Member on the Human Resources Subcommittee, Mr. Doggett of Texas, for introducing this legislation with me, and for his efforts to move it forward and thus better serve children and families across the country.

* I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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