[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 194 (Wednesday, November 29, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7406-S7407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

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      By Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Ms. Harris):
  S. 2173. A bill to amend subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the 
Social Security Act to extend State court funding for child welfare, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2173

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Continuation of Useful 
     Resources to States Act'' or ``COURTS Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF STATE COURT FUNDING FOR CHILD WELFARE.

       (a) In General.--Section 436(a) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 629f) is amended by striking ``2012 through 2016'' 
     and inserting ``2018 through 2022''.
       (b) Program Changes.--Section 438 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     629h) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``in a timely and 
     complete manner'' before ``, as set forth''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the semicolon and 
     inserting ``, including by training judges, attorneys, and 
     other legal personnel.''; and
       (B) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4);
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking paragraph (2);
       (B) by striking all that precedes ``be eligible to 
     receive'' and inserting the following:
       ``(b) Applications.--In order to''; and
       (C) in the matter preceding paragraph (2)--
       (i) by moving the matter 2 ems to the left;
       (ii) in subparagraph (A)--

       (I) by striking ``(A) in the case of a grant for the 
     purpose described in subsection (a)(3),'' and inserting 
     ``(1)''; and
       (II) by inserting ``use not less than 30 percent of grant 
     funds to'' before ``collaborate'';

       (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(B) in the case of 
     a grant for the purpose described in subsection (a)(4),'' and 
     inserting ``(2)''; and
       (iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``(C) in the case of 
     a grant for the purpose described in subsection (a),'' and 
     inserting ``(3)'';
       (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
       ``(c) Amount of Grant.--
       ``(1) In general.--From the amounts reserved under sections 
     436(b)(2) and 437(b)(2) for a fiscal year, each highest State 
     court that has an application approved under this section for 
     the fiscal year shall be entitled to payment of an amount 
     equal to the sum of--
       ``(A) $255,000; and
       ``(B) the amount described in paragraph (2) with respect to 
     the court and the fiscal year.
       ``(2) Amount described.--The amount described in this 
     paragraph with respect to a court and a fiscal year is the 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the total of the amounts 
     reserved under sections 436(b)(2) and 437(b)(2) for grants 
     under this section for the fiscal year (after applying 
     paragraphs (1)(A) and (3) of this subsection) as the number 
     of individuals in the State in which the court is located who 
     have not attained 21 years of age bears to the total number 
     of such individuals in all States with a highest State court 
     that has an approved application under this section for the 
     fiscal year.
       ``(3) Indian tribes.--From the amounts reserved under 
     section 436(b)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall, 
     before applying paragraph (1) of this subsection, allocate 
     $1,000,000 for grants to be awarded on a competitive basis 
     among the highest courts of Indian tribes or tribal consortia 
     that--
       ``(A) are operating a program under part E, in accordance 
     with section 479B;
       ``(B) are seeking to operate a program under part E and 
     have received an implementation grant under section 476; or
       ``(C) have a court responsible for proceedings related to 
     foster care or adoption.'';
       (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``2012 through 2016'' 
     and inserting ``2018 through 2022''; and
       (5) by striking subsection (e).
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on October 1, 2017.

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