[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 20, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SUPPORTING H.R. 2866--THE REDUCING BARRIERS FOR RELATIVE FOSTER PARENTS 
                                  ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2017

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, on June 8th, I joined my 
colleague Rep. Lloyd Smucker, in introducing H.R. 2866--the Reducing 
Barriers for Relative Foster Parents Act. This bipartisan bill 
encourages states to update their licensing requirements for foster 
parents in order to ensure that relatives have the ability to become 
foster parents.
   Under current law, states have tremendous flexibility to set their 
own rules and guidelines for licensing foster homes. Unfortunately, 
many states have outdated regulations that make it difficult for family 
members to become foster parents. For example, some states fail to 
notify family members when relative children enter the foster care 
system. In other states, children can be removed from a family member's 
home and thrown into the foster care system if the relative adult does 
not have a separate bedroom for the child.
   H.R. 2866 would require that the Department of Health and Human 
Services create model licensing requirements. States then must either 
adopt the HHS requirements, or provide an explanation for why the 
licensing requirements are not ideal for the state. My home state of 
Alabama has updated, family-friendly licensing standards, so compliance 
with HHS's standards will be simple. However, families residing in 
states with antiquated standards would face fewer barriers when trying 
to become a foster parent.
   Many studies prove how beneficial placement with family members can 
be for foster children. According to Generations United, children in 
the care of family members experience higher stability, permanency, and 
positive mental health outcomes. Furthermore, allowing children to stay 
with their family members gives children the opportunity to maintain 
strong connections to their community.
   I was very pleased that my bill was unanimously supported in the 
Ways and Means Committee, and I look forward to its passage through the 
House this evening.

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