[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 65 (Thursday, May 12, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Begich):
  S. 961. A bill to create the income security conditions and family 
supports needed to ensure permanency for the Nation's unaccompanied 
youth, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Reconnecting 
Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act to improve training, educational 
opportunities, and permanency planning for older foster youth and 
reduce homelessness among our young people.
  This year approximately 3.5 million people, including 1.5 million 
children in the United States will experience homelessness at some 
point. That is one out of every 50 kids. For children who were in the 
foster system the chances of becoming homeless are even greater. Every 
year approximately 30,000 children age out of the foster care system--
many with no family and nowhere to go. These children were placed in 
the foster system at absolutely no fault of their own and too often 
they leave the system without a place to call home.
  We have a responsibility to take care of our young people and make 
sure families have the resources they need to be able to keep a roof 
over their heads. I developed this legislation after hearing troubling 
stories from teenagers in Massachusetts. For example, I heard from one 
15-year-old who has been in multiple foster care placements and is 
expected to eventually age out of the system. He told me ``. . . I feel 
the age 18 is too young, some of us don't always have somewhere to go . 
. . if this bill gets passed it will greatly help a lot of people in so 
many different ways . . . I thank you for giving us the opportunity to 
help us better ourselves and letting us know that we are heard in this 
world and someone cares deeply and truly about us.'' That is why I am 
introducing the Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act. This 
legislation will help ensure that regardless of where in the country a 
foster child lives, they will not face the prospect of becoming a 
homeless teenager by allowing them to remain in care until their 21st 
birthday and improving permanency planning.
  It provides support for States to work together to decrease barriers 
that prohibit cooperation across State lines for placing foster 
children in loving homes outside their state of residence. It provides 
support for programs that improve family relationships and reduce 
homelessness among youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or 
transgender. This legislation ensures that children in foster care 
receive Social Security benefits they qualify for due to the death of a 
parent or a disability.
  The bill makes significant improvements to the Temporary Assistance 
to Needy Families, TANF, program such as enhancing efforts to connect 
families with education, training and housing resources. It also 
increases the time frame for young parents to qualify for TANF benefits 
if they are in an education or training program. Finally, it provides 
more flexibility for states to work with young families to become 
compliant with TANF requirements.
  This legislation is supported by over 40 organizations, including the 
American Bar Association, the National Coalition for the Homeless, 
National Network for Youth, and Voice for Adoption. I thank my 
colleagues Senator Murray and Senator Begich for their support and co-
sponsorship of this bill. It is my hope that we can move forward in a 
bipartisan manner. I ask all of my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.
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