[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 134 (Friday, October 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             KEEPING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SAFE ACT OF 2002

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                               speech of

                        HON. JAMES C. GREENWOOD

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
adoption of H.R. 5601, The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act. I am 
pleased that after the House passed a similar version of this bill in 
the Spring with overwhelming support, we have the opportunity to make 
this critical legislation a reality.
  The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, in combination with other 
federal child welfare statues, assists in our national efforts to 
protect children from abuse and neglect. The Act requires that the 
Federal-State child welfare system supports and improves the 
infrastructure of child protective services, develops statewide 
networks of community-based family support and child abuse prevention 
programs, and supports demonstration projects to determine how best to 
improve the well being of abused or neglected children.
  The bill continues to provide important Federal resources for 
identifying child abuse, neglect, and family violence, and for 
supporting effective methods of prevention and treatment. It also 
continues local projects with demonstrated value in eliminating 
barriers to permanent adoption and addressing the circumstances that 
often lead to child abandonment.
  I believe this bill strikes a successful balance between providing 
appropriate treatment services, such as a plan of safe care for infants 
affected by illegal substance abuse, and accountability, such as the 
report that the Secretary of Health and Human Services must submit 
describing the extent to which States are implementing the policies 
outlined in the bill.
  I want to thank Congressmen Pete Hoekstra and Tim Roemer in this 
effort, Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Select 
Education, as well as Chairman Boehner and ranking member Miller of the 
full Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
5601, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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