[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 23, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
        Cardin, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Cochran):
  S. 3231. A bill to provide for the issuance and sale of a semipostal 
by the United States Postal Service to support effective programs 
targeted at improving permanency outcomes for youth in foster care; to 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, as we recognize May as National Foster Care 
Month, we should take a minute to think about what foster care means 
for children in America. We currently have over 408,000 children in our 
foster care system due to abuse or neglect by their biological 
families, with 107,000 as eligible for adoption. Every year nearly 
28,000 of these children age out of our foster care system with no 
place to call home. On average, foster children spend over 3 years in 
the system and around 16 percent languish in the foster care system for 
over 5 years. These numbers are a stark reminder that we must do more 
to connect children in our foster care system with a safe, loving, and 
permanent home.
  I have worked with my colleague Senator Grassley on a bipartisan bill 
that will provide supplemental funds to programs that directly impact 
children in our foster care system. The Families for Foster Youth Stamp 
Act will provide additional funding for the Court Improvement Program 
and the Adoption Opportunities Program by giving an easy option for 
individuals to pay a few cents more for their postage stamps if they 
choose to.
  By providing a boost in resources to the Court Improvement Program, 
states can enhance their capacity to serve children in the system, 
build upon best practices, and improve the quality of representation 
our children receive. Funds going to the Adoption Opportunities Program 
will support programs that target improvement in permanency outcomes 
for youth in foster care through adoption, guardianship, or kinship 
care. We know that youth who are served by effective programs targeting 
permanent placement options have shown to be more likely to find a 
forever family than the national average. No teenager should exit our 
foster care system alone, facing possible homelessness and without the 
type of support system that only a family can provide. The Families for 
Foster Youth Stamp Act provides a unique funding option to supplement 
programs that make a real and tangible difference in the lives of our 
most at-risk children.
  A number of organizations are supportive of this bill, including the 
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Children's 
Action Network, Children's Advocacy Institute, Child Welfare League of 
America, First Focus Campaign for Children, Foster Club, National 
Association of Council for Children, National Children's Alliance, 
National Council for Adoption, Northwest Adoption Exchange, The 
Adoption Exchange, and Voice for Adoption.
  I would like to recognize Senators Grassley, Landrieu, Cardin, Wyden, 
and Cochran as original cosponsors of this bill. I look forward to 
continued progress in developing a more effective child welfare system 
and ask all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.
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