[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 16, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1376-H1389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STRONGER CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 485) to reauthorize the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 485
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 ``Stronger Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--GENERAL PROGRAM
Sec. 101. Repeal of findings.
Sec. 102. Repeal of Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect.
Sec. 103. National clearinghouse for information relating to child
abuse.
Sec. 104. Research and assistance activities.
Sec. 105. Grants to States, Indian Tribes or tribal organizations, and
public or private agencies and organizations.
Sec. 106. Grants to States for child abuse or neglect prevention and
treatment programs.
Sec. 107. Miscellaneous requirements.
Sec. 108. Reports.
Sec. 109. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 110. Monitoring and oversight.
Sec. 111. Electronic interstate data exchange system.
Sec. 112. Technical and conforming amendments.
TITLE II--COMMUNITY-BASED GRANTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT
Sec. 201. Purpose and authority.
Sec. 202. Eligibility.
Sec. 203. Amount of grant.
Sec. 204. Application.
Sec. 205. Local program requirements.
Sec. 206. Performance measures.
Sec. 207. National network for community-based family resource
programs.
Sec. 208. Definitions.
Sec. 209. Rule of construction.
Sec. 210. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 211. Study and report.
TITLE III--ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES
Sec. 301. Purpose.
Sec. 302. Report and guidance on unregulated custody transfers.
Sec. 303. Information and services.
Sec. 304. Study and report on successful adoptions.
Sec. 305. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE IV--AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS
Sec. 401. Technical and conforming amendments to other laws.
TITLE I--GENERAL PROGRAM
SEC. 101. REPEAL OF FINDINGS.
Section 2 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5101 note) is repealed.
SEC. 102. REPEAL OF ADVISORY BOARD ON CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT.
Section 102 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5102) is repealed.
SEC. 103. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR INFORMATION RELATING TO
CHILD ABUSE.
Section 103 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5104) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``early learning
programs and'' after ``including'';
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(C)--
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in clause (iv), by adding ``and'' at the end; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(v) the number of child fatalities and near fatalities
due to maltreatment, as reported by States in accordance with
the uniform standards established pursuant to subsection (d),
and any other relevant information related to such
fatalities;''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Uniform Standards for Tracking and Reporting of Child
Fatalities Resulting From Maltreatment.--
``(1) Regulations required.--Not later than 24 months after
the date of the enactment of the Stronger Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act, the Secretary shall develop and
issue final regulations establishing uniform standards for
the tracking and reporting of child fatalities and near-
fatalities resulting from maltreatment. As a condition on
eligibility for receipt of funds under section 106, the
standards established under this paragraph shall be used by
States for the tracking and reporting of such fatalities
under subsection (d) of such section.
``(2) Maintenance of state law.--Notwithstanding the
uniform standards developed under paragraph (1), a State that
defines or describes such fatalities for any purpose other
than tracking and reporting under this subsection may
continue to use that definition or description for such
purpose.
``(3) Negotiated rulemaking.--In developing regulations
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit such
regulations to a negotiated rulemaking process, which shall
include the participants described in paragraph (4).
``(4) Participants described.--The participants described
in this paragraph are--
[[Page H1377]]
``(A) State and county officials responsible for
administering the State plans under this Act and parts B and
E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et
seq., 670 et seq.);
``(B) child welfare professionals with field experience;
``(C) child welfare researchers;
``(D) domestic violence researchers;
``(E) domestic violence professionals;
``(F) child development professionals;
``(G) mental health professionals;
``(H) pediatric emergency medicine physicians;
``(I) child abuse pediatricians, as certified by the
American Board of Pediatrics, who specialize in treating
victims of child abuse;
``(J) forensic pathologists;
``(K) public health administrators;
``(L) public health researchers;
``(M) law enforcement;
``(N) family court judges;
``(O) prosecutors;
``(P) medical examiners and coroners;
``(Q) a representative from the National Center for
Fatality Review and Prevention; and
``(R) such other individuals and entities as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.''.
SEC. 104. RESEARCH AND ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES.
Section 104 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5105) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) Topics.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with
other Federal agencies and recognized experts in the field,
carry out a continuing interdisciplinary program of research,
including longitudinal research, that is designed to provide
information needed to improve primary prevention of child
abuse and neglect, better protect children from child abuse
or neglect, and improve the well-being of victims of child
abuse or neglect, with at least a portion of such research
being field initiated. Such research program may focus on--
``(A) disseminating evidence-based treatment directed to
individuals and families experiencing trauma due to child
abuse and neglect, including efforts to improve the
scalability of the treatments and programs being researched;
``(B) developing a set of evidence-based approaches to
support child and family well-being and developing ways to
identify, relieve, and mitigate stressors affecting families
in rural, urban, and suburban communities;
``(C) establishing methods to promote racial equity in the
child welfare system, including a focus on how neglect is
defined, how services are provided, and the unique impact on
Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian
communities;
``(D) improving service delivery or outcomes for child
welfare service agencies engaged with families experiencing
domestic violence, substance use disorder, or other complex
needs;
``(E) the extent to which the number of unsubstantiated,
unfounded, and false reported cases of child abuse or neglect
have contributed to the inability of a State to respond
effectively to serious cases of child abuse or neglect;
``(F) the extent to which the lack of adequate resources
and the lack of adequate professional development of
individuals required by law to report suspected cases of
child abuse and neglect have contributed to the inability of
a State to respond effectively to serious cases of child
abuse and neglect;
``(G) the extent to which unsubstantiated reports return as
more serious cases of child abuse or neglect;
``(H) the incidence and outcomes of child abuse and neglect
allegations reported within the context of divorce, custody,
or other family court proceedings, and the interaction
between family courts and the child protective services
system;
``(I) the information on the national incidence of child
abuse and neglect specified in clauses (i) through (xi) of
subparagraph (J); and
``(J) the national incidence of child abuse and neglect,
including--
``(i) the extent to which incidents of child abuse and
neglect are increasing or decreasing in number and severity;
``(ii) the incidence of substantiated and unsubstantiated
reported child abuse and neglect cases;
``(iii) the number of substantiated cases that result in a
judicial finding of child abuse or neglect or related
criminal court convictions;
``(iv) the extent to which the number of unsubstantiated,
unfounded and false reported cases of child abuse or neglect
have contributed to the inability of a State to respond
effectively to serious cases of child abuse or neglect;
``(v) the extent to which the lack of adequate resources
and the lack of adequate education of individuals required by
law to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect have
contributed to the inability of a State to respond
effectively to serious cases of child abuse and neglect;
``(vi) the number of unsubstantiated, false, or unfounded
reports that have resulted in a child being placed in
substitute care, and the duration of such placement;
``(vii) the extent to which unsubstantiated reports return
as more serious cases of child abuse or neglect;
``(viii) the incidence and prevalence of physical, sexual,
and emotional abuse and physical and emotional neglect in
substitute care;
``(ix) the incidence and prevalence of child maltreatment
by a wide array of demographic characteristics such as age,
sex, race, family structure, household relationship
(including the living arrangement of the resident parent and
family size), school enrollment and education attainment,
disability, grandparents as caregivers, labor force status,
work status in previous year, and income in previous year;
``(x) the extent to which reports of suspected or known
instances of child abuse or neglect involving a potential
combination of jurisdictions, such as intrastate, interstate,
Federal-State, and State-Tribal, are being screened out
solely on the basis of the cross-jurisdictional
complications; and
``(xi) the incidence and outcomes of child abuse and
neglect allegations reported within the context of divorce,
custody, or other family court proceedings, and the
interaction between family courts and the child protective
services system.'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``paragraph (1)(O)'' and
inserting ``paragraph (1)(J)'';
(C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) Reporting requirements.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 4 years after the date of
the enactment of the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report that contains the
results of the research conducted under paragraph (2).
``(B) National incidence.--The Secretary shall ensure that
research conducted, and data collected, under paragraph
(1)(J) are reported in a way that will allow longitudinal
comparisons as well as comparisons to the national incidence
studies conducted under this title.''; and
(D) by striking the second paragraph (4);
(2) in subsection (b), by amending paragraph (2) to read as
follows:
``(2) Areas of emphasis.--Such technical assistance--
``(A) shall focus on--
``(i) implementing strategies that can leverage existing
community-based and State funded resources to prevent child
abuse and neglect and providing education for individuals
involved in prevention activities;
``(ii) reducing racial bias in child welfare systems,
including how such systems interact with health, law
enforcement, and education systems;
``(iii) promoting best practices for families experiencing
domestic violence, substance use disorder, or other complex
needs; and
``(iv) providing professional development and other
technical assistance to child welfare agencies to improve the
understanding of and to help address the effects of trauma
and adverse childhood experiences in parents and children in
contact with the child welfare system; and
``(B) may include the identification of--
``(i) various methods and procedures for the investigation,
assessment, and prosecution of child physical and sexual
abuse cases;
``(ii) ways to mitigate psychological trauma to the child
victim;
``(iii) effective programs carried out by the States under
titles I and II; and
``(iv) effective approaches being utilized to link child
protective service agencies with health care, mental health
care, and developmental services and early intervention to
improve forensic diagnosis and health evaluations, and
barriers and shortages to such linkages.'';
(3) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (3); and
(4) by striking subsection (e).
SEC. 105. GRANTS TO STATES, INDIAN TRIBES OR TRIBAL
ORGANIZATIONS, AND PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCIES
AND ORGANIZATIONS.
Section 105 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5106) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (11);
(B) by striking paragraphs (1) through (6) and inserting
the following:
``(1) Prevention services.--The Secretary may award grants
under this subsection to entities to establish or expand
prevention services that reduce incidences of child
maltreatment and strengthen families.
``(2) Traumatic stress.--The Secretary may award grants
under this subsection to entities to address instances of
traumatic stress in families due to child abuse and neglect,
especially for families with complex needs or families that
exhibit high levels of adverse childhood experiences.
``(3) Promoting a high-quality workforce.--The Secretary
may award grants under this subsection to entities to carry
out programs or strategies that promote a high-quality
workforce in the child welfare system through---
``(A) improvements to recruitment, support, or retention
efforts; or
``(B) education for professionals and paraprofessionals in
the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse
and neglect.
[[Page H1378]]
``(4) Improving coordination.--The Secretary may award
grants under this subsection to entities to carry out
activities to improve intrastate coordination within the
child welfare system. Such activities may include--
``(A) aligning information technology systems;
``(B) improving information sharing regarding child and
family referrals; or
``(C) creating collaborative voluntary partnerships among
public and private agencies, the State's child protective
services, local social service agencies, community-based
family support programs, State and local legal agencies,
developmental disability agencies, substance use disorder
treatment providers, health care providers and agencies,
domestic violence prevention programs, mental health
services, schools and early learning providers, religious
entities, and other community-based programs.
``(5) Primary prevention.--The Secretary may award grants
under this subsection to entities to carry out or expand
primary prevention programs or strategies that address family
or community protective factors.
``(6) Neglect due to economic insecurity.--The Secretary
may award grants under this subsection to entities to carry
out programs or strategies that reduce findings of child
neglect due in full or in part to family economic insecurity.
``(7) Education of mandatory reporters.--The Secretary may
award grants under this subsection to entities for projects
that involve research-based strategies for innovative
education of mandated child abuse and neglect reporters, and
for victims to understand mandatory reporting.
``(8) Sentinel injuries.--The Secretary may award grants
under this subsection to entities to identify and test
effective practices to improve early detection and management
of injuries indicative of potential abuse in infants to
prevent future cases of child abuse and related fatalities.
``(9) Innovative partnerships.--The Secretary may award
grants under this subsection to entities to carry out
innovative programs or strategies to coordinate the delivery
of services to help reduce child abuse and neglect via
partnerships among health, mental health, education
(including early learning and care programs as appropriate),
and child welfare agencies and providers.
``(10) Reducing child abuse and neglect due to the
substance use disorder of a parent or caregiver.--The
Secretary may award grants under this subsection to entities
to carry out activities to reduce child abuse and neglect due
to the substance use disorder of a parent or caregiver.'';
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(12) National child abuse hotline.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may award a grant under
this subsection to a nonprofit entity to provide for the
ongoing operation of a 24-hour, national, toll-free telephone
hotline to provide information and assistance to youth
victims of child abuse or neglect, parents, caregivers,
mandated reporters, and other concerned community members,
including through alternative modalities for communications
(such as texting or chat services) with such victims and
other information seekers.
``(B) Priority.--In awarding grants described in this
paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants
with experience in operating a hotline that provides
assistance to victims of child abuse, parents, caregivers,
and mandated reporters.
``(C) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant
described in this paragraph, a nonprofit entity shall submit
an application to the Secretary that shall--
``(i) contain such assurances and information, be in such
form, and be submitted in such manner, as the Secretary shall
prescribe;
``(ii) include a complete description of the entity's plan
for the operation of a national child abuse hotline,
including descriptions of--
``(I) the professional development program for hotline
personnel, including technology professional development to
ensure that all persons affiliated with the hotline are able
to effectively operate any technological systems used by the
hotline;
``(II) the qualifications for hotline personnel;
``(III) the methods for the creation, maintenance, and
updating of a comprehensive list of prevention and treatment
service providers;
``(IV) a plan for publicizing the availability of the
hotline throughout the United States;
``(V) a plan for providing service to non-English speaking
callers, including service through hotline personnel who have
non-English language capability;
``(VI) a plan for facilitating access to the hotline and
alternative modality services by persons with hearing
impairments and disabilities;
``(VII) a plan for providing crisis counseling, general
assistance, and referrals to youth victims of child abuse;
and
``(VIII) a plan to offer alternative services to calling,
such as texting or live chat;
``(iii) demonstrate that the entity has the capacity and
the expertise to maintain a child abuse hotline and a
comprehensive list of service providers;
``(iv) demonstrate the ability to provide information and
referrals for contacts, directly connect contacts to service
providers, and employ crisis interventions;
``(v) demonstrate that the entity has a commitment to
providing services to individuals in need; and
``(vi) demonstrate that the entity complies with State
privacy laws and has established quality assurance
practices.''; and
(2) by striking subsections (b) and (c) and inserting the
following:
``(b) Goals and Performance.--The Secretary shall ensure
that each entity receiving a grant under this section--
``(1) establishes quantifiable goals for the outcome of the
project funded with the grant; and
``(2) adequately measures the performance of the project
relative to such goals.
``(c) Performance Report Required.--
``(1) In general.--Each entity that receives a grant under
this section shall submit to the Secretary a performance
report that includes--
``(A) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the project
funded with the grant relative to the goals established for
such project under subsection (b)(1); and
``(B) data supporting such evaluation.
``(2) Submission.--The report under paragraph (1) shall be
submitted to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
``(d) Continuing Grants.--The Secretary may only award a
continuing grant to an entity under this section if such
entity submits a performance report required under subsection
(c) that demonstrates effectiveness of the project funded.''.
SEC. 106. GRANTS TO STATES FOR CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
(a) Development and Operation Grants.--Subsection (a) of
section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5106a) is amended to read as follows:
``(a) Development and Operation Grants.--The Secretary
shall make grants to the States, from allotments under
subsection (f) for each State that applies for a grant under
this section, for purposes of assisting the States in
improving and implementing a child protective services system
that is family-centered, integrates community services, and
is capable of providing rapid response to high-risk cases, by
carrying out the following:
``(1) Conducting the intake, assessment, screening, and
investigation of reports of child abuse or neglect.
``(2) Ensuring that reports concerning a child's living
arrangements or subsistence needs are addressed through
services or benefits and that no child is separated from such
child's parent for reasons of poverty.
``(3) Creating and improving the use of multidisciplinary
teams and interagency, intra-agency, interstate, and
intrastate protocols to enhance fair investigations; and
improving legal preparation and representation.
``(4) Complying with the assurances in section 106(b)(2).
``(5) Establishing State and local networks of child and
family service providers that support child and family well-
being, which shall--
``(A) include child protective services, as well as
agencies and service providers, that address family-
strengthening, parenting skills, child development, early
childhood care and learning, child advocacy, public health,
mental health, substance use disorder treatment, domestic
violence, developmental disabilities, housing, juvenile
justice, elementary and secondary education, and child
placement; and
``(B) address instances of child abuse and neglect by
incorporating evaluations that assess the development of a
child, including language and communication, cognitive,
physical, and social and emotional development, the need for
mental health services, including trauma-related services,
trauma-informed care, and parental needs.
``(6) Ensuring child protective services is addressing the
safety of children and responding to parent and family needs,
which shall include--
``(A) family-oriented efforts that emphasize case
assessment and follow up casework focused on child safety and
child and parent well-being, which may include--
``(i) ensuring parents and children undergo physical and
mental health assessments, as appropriate, and ongoing
developmental monitoring;
``(ii) multidisciplinary approaches to assessing family
needs and connecting the family with services, including
prevention services under section 471 of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 671);
``(iii) organizing a treatment team with the goal of
preventing child abuse and neglect, and improving parent and
child well-being;
``(iv) case monitoring that supports child well-being; and
``(v) differential response efforts; and
``(B) establishing and maintaining a rapid response system
that responds promptly to all reports of child abuse or
neglect, with special attention to cases involving children
under 3 years of age.
``(7) Educating caseworkers, community service providers,
attorneys, health care professionals, parents, and others
engaged in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of
child abuse and neglect, which shall include education on--
``(A) practices that help ensure child safety and well-
being;
[[Page H1379]]
``(B) approaches to family-oriented prevention,
intervention, and treatment of child abuse and neglect;
``(C) early childhood, child, and adolescent development,
and the impact of adverse childhood experiences on such
development;
``(D) the relationship between child abuse and domestic
violence, and support for non-abusing parents;
``(E) strategies to work with families impacted by
substance use disorder and mental health issues (and, when
appropriate, be coordinated with prevention efforts funded
under section 471 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
671));
``(F) effective use of multiple services to address family
and child needs, including needs resulting from trauma;
``(G) efforts to improve family and child well-being;
``(H) support for child welfare workers affected by
secondary trauma; and
``(I) supporting families and caregivers to combat and
prevent unsubstantiated, unfounded, or false reports,
including through education on the rights of families and
caregivers.
``(8) Creating or improving data systems that allow for--
``(A) the identification of cases requiring prompt
responses;
``(B) real-time case monitoring that tracks assessments,
service referrals, follow-up, case reviews, and progress
toward parent and child goals; and
``(C) sharing basic identifying data with law enforcement,
as necessary.
``(9) Improving the general child protective system by
developing, improving, and implementing safety assessment
tools, providing that such tools, protocols, and systems
shall not authorize the separation of any child from the
legal parent or guardian of such child solely on the basis of
poverty, or without a judicial order, except in the case of
imminent harm.''.
(b) Eligibility Requirements.--
(1) State plan.--Paragraph (1) of section 106(b) of the
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b))
is amended to read as follows:
``(1) State plan.--
``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary a State
plan that--
``(i) specifies how the grant will be used, and the State's
strategic plan, to treat child abuse and neglect and enhance
community-based, prevention-centered approaches that attempt
to prevent child abuse and neglect while strengthening and
supporting families whenever possible; and
``(ii) meets the requirements of this subsection.
``(B) Coordination and consultation.--
``(i) Coordination.--Each State, to the maximum extent
practicable, shall coordinate its State plan under this
subsection with its State plan under part B of title IV of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) relating to
child and family services and, in States electing to provide
services under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.) relating to foster care prevention
services, its State plan under such part E.
``(ii) Consultation.--In developing a State plan under this
subsection, a State shall consult with community-based
prevention and service agencies, parents and families
affected by child abuse or neglect in the State, law
enforcement, family court judges, prosecutors who handle
criminal child abuse cases, and medical professionals engaged
in the treatment of child abuse and neglect.
``(C) Duration and submission of plan.--Each State plan
shall--
``(i) be submitted not less than every 5 years; and
``(ii) if necessary, revised by the State to inform the
Secretary of any substantive changes, including--
``(I) any changes to State law or regulations, relating to
the prevention of child abuse and neglect that may affect the
eligibility of the State under this section; or
``(II) any changes in the State's activities, strategies,
or programs under this section.''.
(2) Contents.--Paragraph (2) of section 106(b) of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(2) Contents.--A State plan submitted under paragraph (1)
shall contain a description of the activities that the State
will carry out using amounts received under the grant to
achieve the objectives of this title, including--
``(A) an assurance in the form of a certification by the
Governor of the State that the State has in effect and is
enforcing a State law, or has in effect and is operating a
statewide program, relating to child abuse and neglect that
includes--
``(i) provisions or procedures for an individual to report
known and suspected instances of child abuse and neglect,
including a State law for mandatory reporting by individuals
required to report such instances;
``(ii) procedures for the immediate screening, risk and
safety assessment, and prompt investigation of such reports
of alleged abuse and neglect in order to ensure the well-
being and safety of children;
``(iii) procedures for immediate steps to be taken to
ensure and protect the safety of a victim of child abuse or
neglect and of any other child under the same care who may
also be in danger of child abuse or neglect and ensuring
their placement in a safe environment;
``(iv) methods to preserve the confidentiality of all
records in order to protect the rights of the child and of
the child's parents or guardians, including requirements
ensuring that reports and records made and maintained
pursuant to the purposes of this Act shall only be made
available to--
``(I) individuals who are the subject of the report;
``(II) Federal, State, or local government entities, or any
agent of such entities, as described in clause (xi) of this
subparagraph;
``(III) child abuse citizen review panels;
``(IV) child fatality review panels;
``(V) a grand jury or court, upon a finding that
information in the record is necessary for the determination
of an issue before the court or grand jury; and
``(VI) other entities or classes of individuals statutorily
authorized by the State to receive such information pursuant
to a legitimate State purpose;
``(v) provisions and procedures requiring that in every
case involving a victim of child abuse or neglect which
results in a judicial proceeding, a guardian ad litem, who
has received education appropriate to the role, including
education in early childhood, child, and adolescent
development, and domestic violence, and who may be an
attorney or a court appointed special advocate who has
received education appropriate to that role (or both), shall
be appointed to represent the child (who, for purposes of
this section, shall have any age limit elected by the State
pursuant to section 475(8)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 675(8)(B)(iii)) in such proceedings--
``(I) to obtain first-hand, a clear understanding of the
situation and needs of such child; and
``(II) to make recommendations to the court concerning the
best interests of such child;
``(vi) the establishment of citizen review panels in
accordance with subsection (c);
``(vii) provisions and procedures to require that a
representative of the child protective services agency shall,
at the initial time of contact with the individual subject to
a child abuse or neglect investigation, advise the individual
of the complaints or allegations made against the individual,
in a manner that is consistent with laws protecting the
rights of the informant;
``(viii) provisions, procedures, and mechanisms--
``(I) for the expedited termination of parental rights in
the case of any infant determined to be abandoned under State
law; and
``(II) by which individuals who disagree with an official
finding of child abuse or neglect can appeal such finding;
``(ix) provisions addressing the professional development
of representatives of the child protective services system
regarding the legal duties of the representatives, which may
consist of various methods of informing such representatives
of such duties (including providing such education in
different languages if necessary), in order to protect the
legal rights and safety of children and their parents and
caregivers from the initial time of contact during
investigation through treatment;
``(x) provisions for immunity from civil or criminal
liability under State and local laws and regulations for
individuals making good faith reports of suspected or known
instances of child abuse or neglect, or who otherwise provide
information or assistance, including medical evaluations or
consultations, in connection with a report, investigation, or
legal intervention pursuant to a good faith report of child
abuse or neglect;
``(xi) provisions to require the State to disclose
confidential information to any Federal, State, or local
government entity, or any agent of such entity, that has a
need for such information in order to carry out its
responsibilities under law to protect children from child
abuse and neglect;
``(xii) provisions requiring, and procedures in place that
facilitate the prompt expungement of any records that are
accessible to the general public or are used for purposes of
employment or other background checks in cases determined to
be unsubstantiated or false, except that nothing in this
section shall prevent State child protective services
agencies from keeping information on unsubstantiated reports
in their casework files to assist in future risk and safety
assessment;
``(xiii) provisions and procedures for requiring criminal
background record checks that meet the requirements of
section 471(a)(20) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
671(a)(20)) for prospective foster and adoptive parents and
other adult relatives and non-relatives residing in the
household;
``(xiv) provisions for systems of technology that support
the State child protective services system and track reports
of child abuse and neglect from intake through final
disposition;
``(xv) provisions and procedures requiring identification
and assessment of all reports involving children known or
suspected to be victims of sex trafficking (as defined in
section 103(12) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(12)));
``(xvi) provisions, procedures, and mechanisms that assure
that the State does not require reunification of a surviving
child with a parent who has been found by a court of
competent jurisdiction--
``(I) to have committed murder (which would have been an
offense under section 1111(a) of title 18, United States
Code, if the offense had occurred in the special maritime
[[Page H1380]]
or territorial jurisdiction of the United States) of another
child of such parent;
``(II) to have committed voluntary manslaughter (which
would have been an offense under section 1112(a) of title 18,
United States Code, if the offense had occurred in the
special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United
States) of another child of such parent;
``(III) to have aided or abetted, attempted, conspired, or
solicited to commit such murder or voluntary manslaughter;
``(IV) to have committed a felony assault that results in
the serious bodily injury to the surviving child or another
child of such parent;
``(V) to have committed sexual abuse against the surviving
child or another child of such parent; or
``(VI) to be required to register with a sex offender
registry under section 113(a) of the Adam Walsh Child
Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (34 U.S.C. 20913(a)); and
``(xvii) an assurance that, upon the implementation by the
State of the provisions, procedures, and mechanisms under
clause (xvi), conviction of any one of the felonies listed in
clause (xvi) constitute grounds under State law for the
termination of parental rights of the convicted parent as to
the surviving children (although case-by-case determinations
of whether or not to seek termination of parental rights
shall be within the sole discretion of the State);
``(B) an assurance that the State has in place procedures
for responding to the reporting of medical neglect (including
instances of withholding of medically indicated treatment
from infants with disabilities who have life-threatening
conditions), procedures or programs, or both (within the
State child protective services system), to provide for--
``(i) coordination and consultation with individuals
designated by and within appropriate health-care facilities;
``(ii) prompt notification by individuals designated by and
within appropriate health-care facilities of cases of
suspected medical neglect (including instances of withholding
of medically indicated treatment from infants with
disabilities who have life-threatening conditions); and
``(iii) authority, under State law, for the State child
protective services system to pursue any legal remedies,
including the authority to initiate legal proceedings in a
court of competent jurisdiction, as may be necessary to
prevent the withholding of medically indicated treatment from
infants with disabilities who have life-threatening
conditions;
``(C) an assurance or certification that programs and
education conducted under this title address the unique needs
of unaccompanied homeless youth, including access to
enrollment and support services and that such youth are
eligible for under parts B and E of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq., 670 et seq.) and meet
the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.); and
``(D) a description of--
``(i) policies and procedures (including appropriate
referrals to child welfare service systems and for other
appropriate services (including home visiting services and
mutual support and parent partner programs) determined by a
family assessment) to address the needs of infants born with
and identified as being affected by substance use or
withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure, or
a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, including a requirement
that health care providers involved in the delivery or care
of such infants notify the child protective welfare service
system of the occurrence of such condition in such infants,
except that--
``(I) child protective services shall undertake an
investigation only when the findings of a family assessment
warrant such investigation; and
``(II) such notification shall not be construed to--
``(aa) establish a definition under Federal law of what
constitutes child abuse or neglect; or
``(bb) require prosecution for any illegal action;
``(ii) the development of a multi-disciplinary plan of safe
care for the infant born and identified as being affected by
substance use or withdrawal symptoms or a Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder to ensure the safety and well-being of such
infant following release from the care of health care
providers, including through--
``(I) using a risk-based approach to develop each plan of
safe care;
``(II) addressing, through coordinated service delivery,
the health and substance use disorder treatment needs of the
infant and affected family or caregiver as determined by a
family assessment; and
``(III) the development and implementation by the State of
monitoring systems regarding the implementation of such plans
of safe care to determine whether and in what manner local
entities are providing, in accordance with State
requirements, referrals to and delivery of appropriate
services for the infant and affected family or caregiver;
``(iii) policies and procedures to make available to the
public on the State website the data, findings, and
information about all cases of child abuse or neglect
resulting in a child fatality or near fatality, including a
description of--
``(I) how the State will not create an exception to such
public disclosure, except in a case in which--
``(aa) the State would like to delay public release of
case-specific findings or information (including any previous
reports of domestic violence and subsequent actions taken to
assess and address such reports) while a criminal
investigation or prosecution of such a fatality or near
fatality is pending;
``(bb) the State is protecting the identity of a reporter
of child abuse or neglect; or
``(cc) the State is withholding identifying information of
members of the victim's family who are not perpetrators of
the fatality or near fatality; and
``(II) how the State will ensure that in providing the
public disclosure required under this clause, the State will
include--
``(aa) the cause and circumstances of the fatality or near
fatality;
``(bb) the age and gender of the child; and
``(cc) any previous reports of child abuse or neglect
investigations that are relevant to the child abuse or
neglect that led to the fatality or near fatality;
``(iv) how the State will use data collected on child abuse
or neglect to prevent child fatalities and near fatalities;
``(v) how the State will implement efforts to prevent child
fatalities and near fatalities;
``(vi) the cooperation of State law enforcement officials,
court of competent jurisdiction, and appropriate State
agencies providing human services in the investigation,
assessment, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse and
neglect;
``(vii) the steps the State will take to improve the
professional development, retention, and supervision of
caseworkers and how the State will measure the effectiveness
of such efforts;
``(viii) the State's plan to ensure each child under the
age of 3 who is involved in a substantiated case of child
abuse or neglect will be referred to the State's child find
system under section 635(a)(5) of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1435(a)(5)) in order to
determine if the child is an infant or toddler with a
disability (as defined in section 632(5) of such Act (20
U.S.C. 1432(5)));
``(ix) the State's plan to improve, as part of a
comprehensive State strategy led by law enforcement,
professional development for child protective services
workers and their appropriate role in identifying, assessing,
and providing comprehensive services for children who are sex
trafficking victims, in coordination with law enforcement,
juvenile justice agencies, runaway and homeless youth
shelters, and health, mental health, and other social service
agencies and providers;
``(x) the services to be provided under the grant to
individuals, families, or communities, either directly or
through referrals, aimed at preventing the occurrence of
child abuse and neglect;
``(xi) the State's efforts to ensure professionals who are
required to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect
are aware of their responsibilities under subparagraph (A)(i)
and receive professional development relating to performing
such responsibilities that is specific to their profession
and workplace;
``(xii) policies and procedures encouraging the appropriate
involvement of families in decisionmaking pertaining to
children who experienced child abuse or neglect;
``(xiii) the State's efforts to improve appropriate
collaboration among child protective services agencies,
domestic violence services agencies, substance use disorder
treatment agencies, and other agencies in investigations,
interventions, and the delivery of services and treatment
provided to children and families affected by child abuse or
neglect, including children exposed to domestic violence,
where appropriate;
``(xiv) policies and procedures regarding the use of
differential response, as applicable, to improve outcomes for
children; and
``(xv) the State's efforts to reduce racial bias in its
child protective services system.''.
(3) Limitations.--Paragraph (3) of section 106(b) of the
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b))
is amended--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Limitation''
and inserting ``Limitations'';
(B) by striking ``With regard to clauses (vi) and (vii) of
paragraph (2)(B),'' and inserting the following:
``(A) Disclosure of certain identifying information.--With
regard to subparagraphs (A)(iv) and (D)(iii) of paragraph
(2),'';
(C) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``;
and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Public access to court proceedings.--Nothing in
paragraph (2) shall be construed to limit the State's
flexibility to determine State policies relating to public
access to court proceedings to determine child abuse and
neglect, except that such policies shall, at a minimum,
ensure the safety and well-being of the child, parents, and
families.''.
(4) Definitions.--Paragraph (4) of section 106(b) of the
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b))
is amended--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Definitions''
and inserting ``Definition'';
(B) by striking ``this subsection'' and all that follows
through ``means an act'' and inserting the following: ``this
subsection, the term `near fatality' means an act'';
(C) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period; and
[[Page H1381]]
(D) by striking subparagraph (B).
(c) Citizen Review Panels.--Section 106(c) of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(c)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``Exceptions.'' and
all that follows through ``A State may'' and inserting
``Exception.--A State may'';
(2) in paragraph (4)(A)--
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``and
where appropriate, specific cases,''; and
(B) in clause (iii)(I), by striking ``foster care and
adoption programs'' and inserting ``foster care, prevention,
and permanency programs''; and
(3) by amending the first sentence of paragraph (6) to read
as follows: ``Each panel established under paragraph (1)
shall prepare and make available to the State and the public,
on an annual basis, a report containing a summary of the
activities of the panel, the criteria used for determining
which activities the panel engaged in, and recommendations or
observations to improve the child protective services system
at the State and local levels, and the data upon which these
recommendations or observations are based.''.
(d) Annual State Data Reports.--Section 106(d) of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(d)) is
amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (13) to read as follows:
``(13) The annual report containing the summary of the
activities and recommendations of the citizen review panels
of the State required by subsection (c)(6), and the actions
taken by the State as a result of such recommendations.'';
(2) in paragraph (15), by striking ``subsection
(b)(2)(B)(ii)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(2)(D)(i)'';
(3) in paragraph (16), by striking ``subsection
(b)(2)(B)(xxi)'' and inserting ``subsection
(b)(2)(D)(viii)'';
(4) in paragraph (17), by striking ``subsection
(b)(2)(B)(xxiv)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(2)(A)(xv)'';
(5) in paragraph (18)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subsection
(b)(2)(B)(ii)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(2)(D)(i)'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``subsection
(b)(2)(B)(iii)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(2)(D)(ii)'';
and
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``subsection
(b)(2)(B)(iii)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(2)(D)(ii)'';
and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
``(19) The number of child fatalities and near fatalities
from maltreatment and related information in accordance with
the uniform standards established under section 103(d).''.
(e) Allotments.--Section 106(f) of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(f)) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Limitation.--For any fiscal year for which the amount
allotted to a State or territory under this subsection
exceeds the amount allotted to the State or territory under
such subsection for fiscal year 2021, the State or territory
may use not more than 2 percent of such excess amount for
administrative expenses.''.
SEC. 107. MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS.
Section 108 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5106d) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by inserting ``Indian tribes, and
tribal organizations,'' after ``States,'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as
subsections (d) through (f), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Protecting Against Systemic Child Sexual Abuse.--
``(1) Reporting and task force.--Not later than 24 months
after the date of the enactment of the Stronger Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act, each State task force
established under section 107(c) and expanded as described in
paragraph (2) shall study and make recommendations on the
following, with a focus on preventing systemic child sexual
abuse:
``(A) How to detect systemic child sexual abuse that occurs
in an organization.
``(B) How to prevent child sexual abuse and systemic child
sexual abuse from occurring in organizations, which shall
include recommendations to improve--
``(i) practices and policies for the education of parents,
caregivers, and victims, and age appropriate education of
children, about risk factors or signs of potential child
sexual abuse; and
``(ii) the efficacy of applicable State laws and the role
such laws play in deterring or preventing incidences of child
sexual abuse.
``(C) The feasibility of making available the disposition
of a perpetrator within an organization to--
``(i) the child alleging sexual abuse or the child's
family; or
``(ii) an adult who was a child at the time of the sexual
abuse claim in question or the adult's family.
``(2) Task force composition.--For purposes of this
subsection, a State task force shall include--
``(A) the members of the State task force described in
section 107(c) for the State; and
``(B) the following:
``(i) Family court judges.
``(ii) Individuals from religious organizations.
``(iii) Individuals from youth-serving organizations,
including youth athletics organizations.
``(3) Reporting on recommendations.--Not later than 6
months after a State task force makes recommendations under
paragraph (1), the State maintaining such State task force
shall--
``(A) make public the recommendations of such report;
``(B) report to the Secretary on the status of adopting
such recommendations; and
``(C) in a case in which the State declines to adopt a
particular recommendation, make public the explanation for
such declination.
``(4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
``(A) the terms `child sexual abuse' and `sexual abuse'
shall not be limited to an act or a failure to act on the
part of a parent or caretaker;
``(B) the term `organization' means any entity that serves
children; and
``(C) the term `systemic child sexual abuse' means--
``(i) a pattern of informal or formal policy or de facto
policy to not follow State and local requirements to report
instances of child sexual abuse in violation of State and
local mandatory reporting laws or policy; or
``(ii) a pattern of assisting individual perpetrators in
maintaining their careers despite substantiated evidence of
child sexual abuse.''.
SEC. 108. REPORTS.
(a) Scaling Evidence-Based Treatment of Child Abuse and
Neglect.--Section 110 of the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106f) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 110. STUDY AND REPORT RELATING TO SCALING EVIDENCE-
BASED TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT;
STUDY AND REPORT ON MARITAL AGE OF CONSENT;
STUDY AND REPORT ON STATE MANDATORY REPORTING
LAWS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a study that
examines challenges to, and best practices for, the
scalability of treatments that reduce the trauma resulting
from child abuse and neglect and reduce the risk of
revictimization, such as those allowable under sections 105
and 106.
``(b) Content of Study.--The study described in subsection
(a) shall be completed in a manner that considers the
variability among treatment programs and among populations
vulnerable to child abuse and neglect. The study shall
include, at minimum:
``(1) A detailed synthesis of the existing research
literature examining barriers and challenges to, and best
practices for the scalability of child welfare programs and
services as well as programs and services for vulnerable
children and families in related fields, including healthcare
and education.
``(2) Data describing state and local providers'
experiences with scaling treatments that reduce the trauma
resulting from child abuse and neglect and reduce the risk of
revictimization.
``(3) Consultation with experts in child welfare,
healthcare, and education.
``(c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives a report that contains the results of the
study conducted under subsection (a), including
recommendations for best practices for scaling treatments
that reduce the trauma resulting from child abuse and neglect
and reduce the risk of revictimization.
``(d) Study and Report on Marital Age of Consent.--
``(1) Study.--The Secretary shall study, with respect to
each State--
``(A) the State law regarding the minimum marriage age; and
``(B) the prevalence of marriage involving a child who is
under the age of such minimum marriage age.
``(2) Factors.--The study required under paragraph (1)
shall include an examination of--
``(A) the extent to which any statutory exceptions to the
minimum marriage age in such laws contribute to the
prevalence of marriage involving a child described in
paragraph (1)(B);
``(B) whether such exceptions allow such a child to be
married without the consent of such child; and
``(C) the impact of such exceptions on the safety of such
children.
``(3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives a report containing the findings of the study
required by this subsection, including any best practices.
``(e) Study and Report on State Mandatory Reporting Laws.--
``(1) Study.--The Secretary shall collect information on
and otherwise study State laws for mandatory reporting of
incidents of child abuse or neglect. Such study shall examine
trends in referrals and investigations of child abuse and
neglect due to differences
[[Page H1382]]
in such State laws with respect to the inclusion, as
mandatory reporters, of the following individuals:
``(A) Individuals licensed or certified to practice in any
health-related field licensed by the State, employees of
health care facilities or providers licensed by the State,
who are engaged in the admission, examination, care or
treatment of individuals, including mental health and
emergency medical service providers.
``(B) Individuals employed by a school who have direct
contact with children, including teachers, administrators,
and independent contractors.
``(C) Peace officers and law enforcement personnel.
``(D) Clergy, including Christian Science practitioners,
except where prohibited on account of clergy-penitent
privilege.
``(E) Day care and child care operators and employees.
``(F) Employees of social services agencies who have direct
contact with children in the course of employment.
``(G) Foster parents.
``(H) Court appointed special advocates (employees and
volunteers).
``(I) Camp and after-school employees.
``(J) An individual, paid or unpaid, who, on the basis of
the individual's role as an integral part of a regularly
scheduled program, activity, or service, accepts
responsibility for a child.
``(2) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of
enactment of the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives a report containing the findings of the study
required by this subsection, including any best practices
related to the inclusion, as mandatory reporters, of
individuals described in paragraph (1).''.
(b) Report on Child Abuse and Neglect in Indian Tribal
Communities.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General, in
consultation with the Indian tribes from each of the 12
regions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, shall study child
abuse and neglect in Indian Tribal communities for the
purpose of identifying vital information and making
recommendations concerning issues relating to child abuse and
neglect in such communities, and submit to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on
Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Education
and Labor and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives a report on such study, which shall
include--
(A) the number of Indian tribes providing primary child
abuse and neglect prevention activities;
(B) the number of Indian tribes providing secondary child
abuse and neglect prevention activities;
(C) promising practices of Indian tribes with respect to
child abuse and neglect prevention that are culturally-based
or culturally-adapted;
(D) information and recommendations on how such culturally-
based or culturally-adapted child abuse and neglect
prevention activities could become evidence-based;
(E) the number of Indian tribes that have accessed Federal
child abuse and neglect prevention programs;
(F) child abuse and neglect prevention activities that
Indian tribes provide using State funds;
(G) child abuse and neglect prevention activities that
Indian tribes provide using Tribal funds;
(H) Tribal access to State children's trust fund resources,
as described in section 202 of the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116a);
(I) how a children's trust fund model could be used to
support prevention efforts regarding child abuse and neglect
of American Indian and Alaska Native children;
(J) Federal agency technical assistance efforts to address
child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment of American
Indian and Alaska Native children;
(K) Federal agency cross-system collaboration to address
child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment of American
Indian and Alaska Native children;
(L) Tribal access to child abuse and neglect prevention
research and demonstration grants under the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.); and
(M) an examination of child abuse and neglect data systems
to identify what Tribal data is being submitted, barriers to
submitting data, and recommendations on improving the
collection of data from Indian Tribes.
(2) Definitions.--In this subsection--
(A) the term ``Alaska Native'' has the meaning given the
term in section 111 of the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106g); and
(B) the terms ``child abuse and neglect'' and ``Indian
tribe'' have the meaning given the terms in section 3 of the
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101
note).
SEC. 109. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 112(a) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5106h(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``to carry out'' through ``fiscal year
2010'' and inserting ``to carry out this title $270,000,000
for fiscal year 2022''; and
(B) by striking ``2011 through 2015'' and inserting ``2023
through 2027''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (2)(A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--Of the amounts appropriated for a fiscal
year under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make available
30 percent of such amounts, or $100,000,000, whichever is
less, to fund discretionary activities under this title.''.
SEC. 110. MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT.
Section 114(1) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5108(1)) is amended--
(1) in each of subparagraphs (A) and (B), by striking
``and'' at the end; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) include written guidance and technical assistance to
support States, which shall include guidance on the
requirements of this Act with respect to infants born with
and identified as being affected by substance use or
withdrawal symptoms, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, or Fetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, as described in clauses (i) and
(ii) of section 106(b)(2)(D), including by--
``(i) enhancing States' understanding of requirements and
flexibilities under the law, including by clarifying key
terms;
``(ii) addressing State-identified challenges with
developing, implementing, and monitoring plans of safe care;
and
``(iii) disseminating best practices on implementation of
plans of safe care, on such topics as differential response,
collaboration and coordination, and identification and
delivery of services for different populations, while
recognizing needs of different populations and varying
community approaches across States; and
``(D) include the submission of a report to the Committee
on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act that contains a description of the
activities taken by the Secretary to comply with the
requirements of subparagraph (C); and''.
SEC. 111. ELECTRONIC INTERSTATE DATA EXCHANGE SYSTEM.
Title I of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42
U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 115. ELECTRONIC INTERSTATE DATA EXCHANGE SYSTEM.
``(a) Interstate Data Exchange System.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall consider the recommendations included in the
reports required under paragraph (8)(A) and subsection (b)(2)
in developing an electronic interstate data exchange system
that allows State entities responsible under State law for
maintaining child abuse and neglect registries to communicate
information across State lines.
``(2) Standards.--In developing the electronic interstate
data exchange system under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall--
``(A) use interoperable standards developed and maintained
by intergovernmental partnerships, such as the National
Information Exchange Model;
``(B) develop policies and governance standards that--
``(i) ensure consistency in types of information shared and
not shared; and
``(ii) specify circumstances under which data should be
shared through the interstate data exchange system; and
``(C) ensure that all standards and policies adhere to the
privacy, security, and civil rights laws of each State and
Federal law.
``(3) Limitation on use of electronic interstate data
exchange system.--The electronic interstate data exchange
system may only be used for purposes relating to child
safety.
``(4) Pilot program.--
``(A) Implementation.--Not later than 6 months after the
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall begin implementation of a
pilot program to generate recommendations for the full
integration of the electronic interstate data exchange
system. Such pilot program shall include not less than 10
States and not more than 15 States.
``(B) Completion.--Not later than 30 months after the date
of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall complete the pilot program described in
subparagraph (A).
``(5) Integration.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services may assist States in the integration of this system
into the infrastructure of each State using funds
appropriated under this subsection.
``(6) Participation.--As a condition on eligibility for
receipt of funds under section 106, each State shall--
``(A) participate in the electronic interstate data
exchange system to the fullest extent possible in accordance
with State law (as determined by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services) not later than December 31, 2027; and
``(B) prior to the participation described in subparagraph
(A), provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services an
assurance that the child abuse and neglect registry of such
State provides procedural due process protections with
respect to including individuals on such registry.
``(7) Prohibition.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services may not access or store data from the electronic
interstate data exchange system, unless the State to which
such data pertains voluntarily shares such data with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services.
[[Page H1383]]
``(8) Reports.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall prepare and submit to Congress--
``(A) not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this section, a report on the recommendations
from the pilot program described in paragraph (4); and
``(B) not later than January 31, 2026, a report on the
progress made in implementing this subsection.
``(9) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the funds
appropriated under section 112 for a fiscal year--
``(A) for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023, $2,000,000
shall be reserved to carry out this section; and
``(B) for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027,
$1,000,000 shall be reserved to carry out this section.
``(b) Working Group.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall convene a working group to study and
make recommendations on the following:
``(A) The feasibility of making publicly available on the
website of each State definitions and standards of
substantiated child abuse and neglect for the State.
``(B) Whether background check requirements under this Act,
the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), and part E of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.) are complementary or if
there are discrepancies that need to be addressed.
``(C) How to improve communication between and across
States, including through the use of technology and the use
of the electronic interstate data exchange system established
under subsection (a), to allow for more accurate and
efficient exchange of child abuse and neglect records.
``(D) How to reduce barriers and establish best practices
for the State to provide timely responses to requests from
other States for information contained in the State's child
abuse and neglect registry through the electronic interstate
data exchange system established under subsection (a).
``(E) How to ensure due process for any individual included
in a State's child abuse and neglect registry, including the
following:
``(i) The level of evidence necessary for inclusion in the
State's child abuse and neglect registry.
``(ii) The process for notifying such individual of
inclusion in the State's child abuse and neglect registry and
the implications of such inclusion.
``(iii) The process for providing such individual the
opportunity to challenge such inclusion, and the procedures
for resolving such challenge.
``(iv) The length of time an individual's record is to
remain in the State's child abuse and neglect registry, and
the process for removing such individual's record.
``(v) The criteria for when such individual's child abuse
and neglect registry record may be--
``(I) made accessible to the general public;
``(II) made available for purposes of an employment check;
and
``(III) be shared for the purposes of participation in the
electronic interstate data exchange system described in
subsection (a).
``(2) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this section, the working group convened
under paragraph (1) shall submit a report containing its
recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and
Labor of the House of Representatives.
``(3) Construction.--There shall be no requirement for any
State to adopt the recommendations of the working group, nor
shall the Secretary of Health and Human Services incentivize
or coerce any State to adopt any such recommendation.''.
SEC. 112. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Technical Amendments.--The Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.), as amended by the
preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended--
(1) by striking ``Committee on Education and the
Workforce'' each place it appears and inserting ``Committee
on Education and Labor'';
(2) in section 103(c)(1)(F), by striking ``abused and
neglected children'' and inserting ``victims of child abuse
or neglect''; and
(3) in section 107(f), by striking ``(42 U.S.C. 10603a)''
and inserting ``(34 U.S.C. 20104)''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 103.--Section 103(b)(5) (42 U.S.C. 5104(b)(5))
is amended by striking ``section 106(b)(2)(B)(iii)'' and
inserting ``section 106(b)(2)(D)(ii)''.
(2) Section 105.--Section 105(a)(11) (42 U.S.C. 5106(a)(11)
(as redesignated by section 105(1)(A) of this Act) is
amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``section
106(b)(2)(B)(iii)'' and inserting ``section
106(b)(2)(D)(ii)'';
(B) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) in clause (i)(II), by striking ``section
106(b)(2)(B)(iii)'' and inserting ``section
106(b)(2)(D)(ii)'';
(ii) in clause (i)(IV), by striking ``section
106(b)(2)(B)(iii)(II)'' and inserting ``section
106(b)(2)(D)(ii)(II)''; and
(iii) in clause (ii), by striking ``clauses (ii) and (iii)
of section 106(b)(2)(B)'' and inserting ``clauses (i) and
(ii) of section 106(b)(2)(D)'';
(C) in subparagraph (D)--
(i) in clause (i)(I), by striking ``section
106(b)(2)(B)(iii)(I)'' and inserting ``section
106(b)(2)(D)(ii)(I)'';
(ii) in clause (ii)(I), by striking ``section
106(b)(2)(B)(ii)'' and inserting ``section 106(b)(2)(D)(i)'';
(iii) in clause (ii)(II), by striking ``section
106(b)(2)(B)(iii)'' and inserting ``section
106(b)(2)(D)(ii)(I)'';
(iv) in clause (iii)(I), by striking ``section
106(b)(2)(B)(i)'' and inserting ``section 106(b)(2)(A)(i)'';
(v) in clause (iii)(IV), by striking ``section
106(b)(2)(B)(iii)'' and inserting ``section
106(b)(2)(D)(ii)''; and
(vi) in clause (v), by striking ``section
106(b)(2)(B)(iii)'' and inserting ``section
106(b)(2)(D)(ii)'';
(D) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``section
106(b)(2)(B)(ii)'' and inserting ``section 106(b)(2)(D)(i)'';
and
(E) in subparagraph (G)(ii), by striking ``clauses (ii) and
(iii) of section 106(b)(2)(B)'' and inserting ``clauses (i)
and (ii) of section 106(b)(2)(D)''.
(3) Section 114.--Section 114(1)(B) (42 U.S.C. 5108(1)(B))
is amended by striking ``clauses (ii) and (iii) of section
106(b)(2)(B)'' and inserting ``clauses (i) and (ii) of
section 106(b)(2)(D)''.
(4) Table of contents.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act is
amended--
(A) by striking the items relating to sections 2 and 102;
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section 114 the
following:
``Sec. 115. Electronic interstate data exchange system.'';
and
(C) by striking the item relating to section 110, and
inserting the following:
``Sec. 110. Study and report relating to scaling evidence-based
treatment of child abuse and neglect; study and report on
marital age of consent; study and report on State
mandatory reporting laws.''.
TITLE II--COMMUNITY-BASED GRANTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT
SEC. 201. PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY.
Subsections (a) and (b) of section 201 of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116) are amended to
read as follows:
``(a) Purpose.--The purposes of this title are--
``(1) to establish and maintain support for community-based
family strengthening services and statewide systems-building
approaches to the extent practicable, to ensure the
development, operation, expansion, coordination, and
evaluation of quality services, initiatives, programs, and
activities to prevent child abuse and neglect; and
``(2) to promote improved access for diverse populations
with demonstrated need, including low-income families, racial
and ethnic minorities, families with children or caregivers
with disabilities, underserved communities, and rural
communities, to family strengthening services in order to
more effectively prevent child abuse and neglect.
``(b) Authority.--The Secretary shall make grants under
this title on a formula basis to the entity designated by the
State as the lead entity (referred to in this title as the
`lead entity') under section 202(1) for the following
purposes:
``(1) Providing programs, activities, and initiatives to
help families build protective factors linked to the
prevention of child abuse and neglect, such as knowledge of
parenting and child development, parental resilience, social
connections, time-limited and need-based concrete support,
and social and emotional development of children, that--
``(A) are accessible to diverse populations, effective, and
culturally appropriate;
``(B) build upon existing strengths;
``(C) offer assistance to families;
``(D) provide early, comprehensive support for parents;
``(E) promote the development of healthy familial
relationships and parenting skills, especially in young
parents and parents with very young children;
``(F) increase family stability;
``(G) improve family access to formal and informal
community-based resources, including health and mental health
services, time-limited and need-based concrete supports, and
services and supports to meet the needs of families with
children or caregivers with disabilities; and
``(H) support the additional needs of families with
children with disabilities, including through respite care.
``(2) Fostering the development of a continuum of
preventive services to strengthen families through State- and
community-based collaborations and both public and private
partnerships.
``(3) Financing the start-up, maintenance, expansion, or
redesign of core services described in section 205, where
communities have identified gaps and decided to prioritize
the establishment of such services, to the extent practicable
given funding levels and community priorities.
``(4) Maximizing funding through leveraging Federal, State,
local, public, and private funds to carry out the purposes of
this title.
``(5) Developing or enhancing statewide and local networks
to operate, expand, or enhance community-based family
strengthening services, initiatives, and activities
[[Page H1384]]
that promote child, parent, family, and community health and
well-being and prevent child abuse and neglect.
``(6) Promoting the development of, and coordination with,
existing community coalitions of networks of family
strengthening services that utilize culturally responsive
providers in order to enhance child, family, and community
well-being and prevent child abuse and neglect in all
families.
``(7) Financing public information activities that focus on
parent and child development and child abuse and neglect
prevention.
``(8) To the extent practicable--
``(A) promoting the development and implementation of a
statewide systems-building strategy to address the unmet
needs identified in the inventory described in section
204(3), including the participation of public and private
stakeholders, community-based organizations, legislators,
parents and other relevant stakeholders, and State agencies,
including the child welfare agency, the public health agency,
housing agency, and the State education agency, to scale
evidence-based, evidence-informed, and promising programs
that expand access to family strengthening services and
reduce the numbers of children entering the foster care
system;
``(B) developing comprehensive outreach strategies to
engage families with various risk factors, including families
who have experienced trauma or domestic violence, parents
with substance use disorder, and families with children or
caregivers with disabilities; and
``(C) providing capacity-building supports to local
programs to improve desired outcomes for children and
families, such as--
``(i) technical assistance, including support for local
programs to collect outcome data that helps improve service
delivery;
``(ii) professional development; and
``(iii) peer support networks, including through developing
a problem-solving forum.''.
SEC. 202. ELIGIBILITY.
Section 202 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5116a) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) the Governor of the State has designated a lead
entity to administer funds under this title for the purposes
identified under the authority of this title, including to
develop, implement, operate, enhance, or expand community-
based family strengthening services designed to prevent child
abuse and neglect;''; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the
following:
``(D) the Governor of the State has given consideration to
the capacity and expertise of all entities requesting to be
designated under subparagraph (A);''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) has demonstrated ongoing meaningful partnerships with
parents in the development, operation, and oversight of
State- and community-based family strengthening services
designed to prevent child abuse and neglect;'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``community-based and
prevention-focused programs and activities designed to
strengthen and support families'' and inserting ``community-
based family strengthening services designed'';
(C) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the
following:
``(C) has the capacity to provide operational support (both
financial and programmatic), professional development,
technical assistance, and evaluation assistance, to
community-based organizations;''; and
(D) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the
following:
``(D) will integrate efforts with individuals and
organizations experienced in working in partnership with low-
income families, racial and ethnic minorities, families with
children or caregivers with disabilities, sexual and gender
minority youth, victims of domestic violence, and with the
child abuse and neglect prevention activities in the State,
and demonstrate a financial commitment to those activities;
and
``(E) will take into consideration access for diverse
populations and unmet need when distributing funds to local
programs under section 205.''.
SEC. 203. AMOUNT OF GRANT.
Section 203 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5116b) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Reservation.--For the purpose of making allotments to
Indian tribes and tribal organizations and migrant programs,
the Secretary shall reserve 5 percent of the amount
appropriated under section 210(a) for each fiscal year,
except that, if making such reservation would cause the total
amount allotted to States under this section for a fiscal
year to be less than such total for fiscal year 2021, the
Secretary shall reserve 1 percent of the amount appropriated
under section 210(a) for the year for such purpose.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Limitation.--For any fiscal year for which the amount
allotted to a State under subsection (b) exceeds the amount
allotted to the State under such subsection for fiscal year
2021, the State's lead entity may use not more than 10
percent of such excess amount for administrative expenses.''.
SEC. 204. APPLICATION.
Section 204 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5116d) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``specified by the Secretary as essential to carrying out the
provisions of section 202, including'' and inserting ``and
assurances required in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 202
and types of information specified by the Secretary as
essential in carrying out the provisions of section 201(b),
including'';
(2) in paragraphs (1), (2), and (4), by striking
``community-based and prevention-focused programs and
activities designed to strengthen and support families'' and
inserting ``community-based family strengthening services
designed'';
(3) in paragraph (3) by striking ``community-based and
prevention-focused programs and activities'' and inserting
``community-based family strengthening services designed'';
(4) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and prevention-focused
programs and activities designed to strengthen and support
families to prevent child abuse and neglect;'' and inserting
``services and statewide strategies designed to strengthen
and support families to promote child, family, and community
well-being and prevent child abuse and neglect;'';
(5) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
``(6) a description of the State's capacity and commitment
to ensure the meaningful involvement of parents who are or
have been consumers of preventative supports, including the
involvement of parents of diverse populations, such as low-
income families, families with children or caregivers with
disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, and members of
other underrepresented or underserved groups, family
advocates, and adult victims of child abuse or neglect who
can provide leadership in the planning, implementation, and
evaluation of the programs and policy decisions of the
applicant agency in accomplishing the desired outcomes for
such efforts;'';
(6) by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph (15);
(7) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (11) as
paragraphs (8) through (12), respectively;
(8) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
``(7) a description of the process and criteria the lead
entity will use to identify and select communities in which
to build a continuum of family strengthening services,
including an assurance that the process will ensure access
for all families, including families in communities with high
rates of child abuse and neglect relative to other
communities in the State;'';
(9) by striking paragraph (9), as so redesignated, and
inserting the following:
``(9) a description of outreach activities that the lead
entity and local grantees will undertake to maximize the
participation of low-income families, racial and ethnic
minorities, families with children or caregivers with
disabilities, sexual and gender minority youth, victims of
domestic violence, homeless families and those at risk of
homelessness, and members of other underserved or
underrepresented groups;'';
(10) by striking paragraph (10), as so redesignated, and
inserting the following:
``(10) a plan for providing operational support,
professional development, and technical assistance to
grantees, other State and local programs and providers,
families, and other entities involved in strengthening
families and preventing child abuse and neglect;'';
(11) in paragraph (11), as so redesignated, by striking
``and its members (where appropriate)'' and inserting ``of
community-based family strengthening services and statewide
initiatives''; and
(12) by striking paragraph (12), as so redesignated, and
inserting the following:
``(12) a description of the actions that the applicant
entity will take to inform systemic changes in State
policies, practices, procedures, and regulations to improve
the delivery of community-based family strengthening services
designed to promote child, family, and community well-being,
and to prevent child abuse and neglect;
``(13) a description of how the lead entity will
incorporate research evidence in its process for selecting
community-based family strengthening services;
``(14) an assurance that, in issuing regulations to improve
the delivery of community-based family strengthening services
designed to promote child, family, and community well-being,
and to prevent child abuse and neglect, the State will--
``(A) take into account how such regulations will impact
activities funded under this Act; and
``(B) where appropriate, attempt to avoid duplication of
efforts, minimize costs of compliance with such regulations,
and maximize local flexibility with respect to such
regulations; and''.
SEC. 205. LOCAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
Section 205 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5116e) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 205. LOCAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
``(a) In General.--Grants from the lead entity made under
this title shall be used to
[[Page H1385]]
develop, implement, operate, expand, and enhance community-
based family strengthening services designed to prevent child
abuse and neglect that--
``(1) assess community assets and needs and develop a
strategy to create a comprehensive continuum of effective
services that strengthen and support families to prevent
child abuse and neglect, through a planning process involving
parents, local and public agencies, local nonprofit
organizations and service providers, and private sector
representatives in meaningful ways;
``(2) develop or enhance existing place-based family
strengthening services, other parenting support services, and
connections and coordination among key family services in the
community by reaching spaces familiar to such families; and
``(3) help families build protective factors that support
child and family well-being and help prevent child abuse and
neglect, including knowledge of parenting and child
development, parental resilience, social connections, time-
limited and need-based concrete support, and social and
emotional development of children.
``(b) Local Consideration.--In awarding grants, the lead
entity shall consider, consistent with the needs of the State
and community, how the grantee--
``(1) demonstrates the ability to form collaborations
across a range of services or initiatives and the commitment
to engage in long-term planning and strategic development for
community-based family strengthening services as well as
provide on-going problem solving support;
``(2) involves parents, including parents of children with
disabilities, diverse racial and ethnic groups, and members
of other underrepresented or underserved populations, in the
development, implementation, oversight, and evaluation of
services;
``(3) addresses the need for place-based services and the
need to reach families in hard-to-reach areas through
approaches that provide core family strengthening services;
``(4) promotes improved access to family strengthening
services for diverse populations and ensures that the
services address identified needs of all families; and
``(5) demonstrates an understanding of the sources of child
and family trauma and the strategies that mitigate the impact
of and prevent adverse childhood experiences.
``(c) Local Uses of Funds.--Grant funds from the lead
entity shall be used for community-based family strengthening
services designed to prevent child abuse and neglect, which
may include the following:
``(1) Developing a strategy based on supporting a
comprehensive continuum of preventive, family-centered
services that strengthen and support families to prevent
child abuse and neglect, especially to young parents, to
parents with young children, and to parents who are adult
victims of domestic violence or child abuse or neglect,
through public-private partnerships.
``(2) Addressing the needs of families in hard-to-reach
areas by creating access to place-based family strengthening
services.
``(3) Performing an assessment of community needs,
including by partnering, at the option of the grantee, with
an organization that already has performed a needs assessment
(such as a Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting
program under section 511 of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 711) or a Head Start program under the Head Start Act
(42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.)).
``(4) Supporting outreach for services, including by
coordinating with existing family strengthening services such
as home visiting and other early intervention programs.
``(5) Providing, promoting the development or enhancement
of, or connecting families to, core services that include--
``(A) parenting support and parent education programs,
including services that help parents and other caregivers
support children's development;
``(B) parent leadership skills development programs that
support parents' personal growth as leaders in their families
and communities;
``(C) mutual support groups for parents, children, and
parent partners;
``(D) respite and crisis care; and
``(E) referrals to optional community and social services,
including--
``(i) domestic violence services;
``(ii) screening and referrals to early intervention;
``(iii) voluntary home visiting programs;
``(iv) health and mental health services, including
referrals for information on the State Medicaid plan under
title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et
seq.);
``(v) early care and learning programs including child care
and Head Start programs and Early Head Start programs under
the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.);
``(vi) nutrition programs, including the special
supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and
children established under section 17 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) and the supplemental nutrition
assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
``(vii) education and workforce development programs,
including adult literacy, child development, wellness, and
family socioeconomic mobility programs; and
``(viii) services and supports to meet the needs of
families with children or caregivers with disabilities, such
as early intervention services for infants and toddlers with
disabilities and their families, as early intervention
services are defined in section 632 of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1432).
``(6) Providing leadership in mobilizing local public and
private resources to support the provision of community-based
family strengthening services designed to prevent child abuse
and neglect.
``(7) Developing and maintaining meaningful partnerships
with parents relating to the development, operation,
evaluation, and oversight of the programs and services.
``(8) Coordinating with other community-based family
strengthening services designed to prevent child abuse and
neglect in the development, operation, and expansion of
networks where appropriate.
``(d) Priority.--When awarding grants, a lead entity shall
give priority to effective community-based efforts that serve
low-income communities and are focused on comprehensive
approaches to serving young parents or parents with young
children.''.
SEC. 206. PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
Section 206 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5116f) is amended--
(1) in paragraphs (1), (5), (6), and (8), by striking
``community-based and prevention-focused programs and
activities designed to strengthen and support families'' and
inserting ``community-based family strengthening services
designed'';
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``meets'' and inserting
``meet'';
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``including core and
optional services as described in section 202'';
(4) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) shall demonstrate how they have addressed unmet needs
identified by the inventory required under section 204;'';
(5) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
``(4) shall describe the number of families served,
including families with children or caregivers with
disabilities, and the involvement of a diverse representation
of families in the design, operation, and evaluation of both
community-based family strengthening services and networks of
such services;'';
(6) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
``(7) shall describe--
``(A) the number of programs funded disaggregated by urban,
suburban, and rural community type;
``(B) the number of children and families served under each
such program disaggregated by urban, suburban, and rural
community type; and
``(C) the number of programs that partner with outside
entities and the services such outside entities provide;'';
(7) in paragraph (8)--
(A) by striking ``leadership of'' and insert ``partnership
with''; and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``;
and''; and
(8) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) shall describe the extent to which there is evidence
to support the effectiveness of activities conducted under
this title for the program's intended purpose, or, in
instances where such evidence is not available, shall
describe barriers and challenges to developing evidence of
effectiveness.''.
SEC. 207. NATIONAL NETWORK FOR COMMUNITY-BASED FAMILY
RESOURCE PROGRAMS.
Section 207 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5116g) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``such sums as may be necessary'' and inserting ``not more
than 5 percent''; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``community-based and
prevention-focused programs and activities designed to
strengthen and support families'' and inserting ``community-
based family strengthening services designed''.
SEC. 208. DEFINITIONS.
Section 208 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5116h) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs
(2) and (1), respectively, and transferring paragraph (1) as
redesignated to appear before paragraph (2) as redesignated;
and
(2) by striking paragraph (1) (as so redesignated) and
inserting the following:
``(1) Community-based family strengthening services.--The
term `community-based family strengthening services' includes
organizations such as family resource programs, family
support programs, voluntary home visiting programs, respite
care services, parenting education, mutual support groups for
parents, children, parent partner programs, and other
community programs or networks of such programs that provide
activities that are designed to prevent child abuse and
neglect.''.
SEC. 209. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
(a) In General.--Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 209 as section 210; and
(2) by inserting after section 208 the following:
``SEC. 209. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
``Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit
grandparents, kinship care providers, foster parents,
adoptive parents, or any other individual in a parenting role
from
[[Page H1386]]
receiving or participating in services and programs under
this title.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act is
amended by striking the item relating to section 209 and
inserting the following:
``Sec. 209. Rule of construction.
``Sec. 210. Authorization of appropriations.''.
SEC. 210. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 210 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5116 et seq.), as redesignated by section 209 of
this Act, is amended--
(1) by striking ``There are'' and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--There are'';
(2) by striking ``to carry out'' through ``fiscal year
2010'' and inserting ``to carry out this title $270,000,000
for fiscal year 2022'';
(3) by striking ``2011 through 2015'' and inserting ``2023
through 2027''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Treatment of Non-Federal Funds in Certain Fiscal
Years.--For any fiscal year for which the amount appropriated
under subsection (a) exceeds the amount appropriated under
such subsection for fiscal year 2021, the Secretary shall
consider non-Federal funds and in-kind contributions as part
of the State contribution for the activities specified in
section 204(4).''.
SEC. 211. STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) Study Relating to New Prevention Programs.--
(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall complete a study, using data reported by States
to the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section
206 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42
U.S.C. 5116f), as amended by this Act--
(A) to determine how many families and children in the
first 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act are
served annually through programs funded under title II of the
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116 et
seq.); and
(B) to compare the number of such families and children
served annually in the first 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act to the number of such families and
children served in fiscal year 2021.
(2) Contents.--The study required under paragraph (1) shall
include the following for each of the first 3 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act:
(A) An examination of how many families received evidence-
based programming under title II of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116 et seq.).
(B) An examination of the extent to which local programs
conduct evaluations using funds provided under such title and
the findings of such evaluations.
(C) An examination of whether findings of effectiveness in
evaluation studies vary by urban, suburban, or rural
community type.
(D) An examination of whether programs partnering with
other entities are more effective than those that do not
partner with other entities.
(E) An examination of barriers to implement evidence-based
programming or to conduct evaluations in instances where such
activities do not occur.
(b) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report
that contains the results of the study conducted under
paragraph (1).
TITLE III--ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES
SEC. 301. PURPOSE.
Section 201 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and
Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5111) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``congressional
findings and declaration of purpose'' and inserting
``purpose'';
(2) by striking subsection (a); and
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``(b) Purpose.--'';
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting
``sexual and gender minority youth'' after ``particularly
older children, minority children,''; and
(C) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``services and,'' after
``post-legal adoption''.
SEC. 302. REPORT AND GUIDANCE ON UNREGULATED CUSTODY
TRANSFERS.
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption
Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5111 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 201 the following:
``SEC. 202. REPORT AND GUIDANCE ON UNREGULATED CUSTODY
TRANSFERS.
``(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that:
``(1) Some adopted children may be at risk of experiencing
an unregulated custody transfer because the challenges
associated with adoptions (including the child's mental
health needs and the difficulties many families face in
acquiring support services) may lead families to seek out
unregulated custody transfers.
``(2) Some adopted children experience trauma, and the
disruption and placement in another home by unregulated
custody transfer creates additional trauma and instability
for children.
``(3) Children who experience an unregulated custody
transfer may be placed with families who have not completed
required child welfare or criminal background checks or
clearances.
``(4) Social services agencies and courts are often unaware
of the placement of children through unregulated custody
transfer and therefore do not conduct assessments on the
child's safety and well-being in such placements.
``(5) Such lack of placement oversight places a child at
risk for future abuse and increases the chance that the child
may experience--
``(A) abuse or neglect;
``(B) contact with unsafe adults or youth; and
``(C) exposure to unsafe or isolated environments.
``(6) The caregivers with whom a child is placed through
unregulated custody transfer often have no legal
responsibility with respect to such child, placing the child
at risk for additional unregulated custody transfers.
``(7) Such caregivers also may not have complete records
with respect to such child, including the child's birth,
medical, or immigration records.
``(8) A child adopted through intercountry adoption may be
at risk of not acquiring United States citizenship if an
unregulated custody transfer occurs before the adoptive
parents complete all necessary steps to finalize the adoption
of such child.
``(9) Engaging in, or offering to engage in, unregulated
custody transfer places children at risk of harm.
``(b) Report to Congress.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall provide to the Committee on Education
and Labor of the House of Representatives, the Committee on
Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the Committee
on Finance of the Senate, and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on
unregulated custody transfers of children, including of
adopted children.
``(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include--
``(A) the causes, methods, and characteristics of
unregulated custody transfers, including the use of social
media and the internet;
``(B) the effects of unregulated custody transfers on
children, including the lack of assessment of a child's
safety and well-being by social services agencies and courts
due to such unregulated custody transfer;
``(C) the prevalence of unregulated custody transfers
within each State and across all States; and
``(D) recommended policies for preventing, identifying, and
responding to unregulated custody transfers, including of
adopted children, that include--
``(i) amendments to Federal and State law to address
unregulated custody transfers;
``(ii) amendments to child protection practices to address
unregulated custody transfers; and
``(iii) methods of providing the public information
regarding adoption and child protection.
``(c) Guidance to States.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
specified in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall issue
guidance and technical assistance to States related to
preventing, identifying, and responding to unregulated
custody transfers, including of adopted children.
``(2) Elements.--The guidance required under paragraph (1)
shall include--
``(A) education materials related to preventing,
identifying, and responding to unregulated custody transfers
for employees of State, local, and Tribal agencies that
provide child welfare services;
``(B) guidance on appropriate pre-adoption education and
post-adoption services for domestic and international
adoptive families to promote child permanency; and
``(C) the assistance available through the National
Resource Center for Special Needs Adoption under section
203(b)(9).
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) State.--The term `State' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States.
``(2) Unregulated custody transfer.--The term `unregulated
custody transfer' means the abandonment of a child, by the
child's parent, legal guardian, or a person or entity acting
on behalf, and with the consent, of such parent or guardian--
``(A) by placing a child with a person who is not--
``(i) the child's parent, step-parent, grandparent, adult
sibling, legal guardian, or other adult relative;
``(ii) a friend of the family who is an adult and with whom
the child is familiar; or
``(iii) a member of the Federally recognized Indian tribe
of which the child is also a member;
``(B) with the intent of severing the relationship between
the child and the parent or guardian of such child; and
``(C) without--
``(i) reasonably ensuring the safety of the child and
permanency of the placement of the child, including by
conducting an official home study, background check, and
supervision; and
``(ii) transferring the legal rights and responsibilities
of parenthood or guardianship under applicable Federal and
State law to a person described in subparagraph (A).''.
SEC. 303. INFORMATION AND SERVICES.
(a) National Resource Center for Special Needs Adoption.--
Section 203(b)(9) of
[[Page H1387]]
the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform
Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5113(b)(9)) is amended by inserting
``not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of
the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act,
establish and'' before ``maintain''.
(b) Placement With Adoptive Families.--Section
203(b)(11)(C) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and
Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5113(b)(11)(C)) is
amended by striking ``such children'' and inserting ``the
children and youth described in the matter preceding
paragraph (1) of section 201''.
(c) Pre-Adoption Services.--Section 203(c)(1) of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of
1978 (42 U.S.C. 5113(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``post''
and inserting ``pre- and post-''.
(d) Services.--Section 203(c)(2) of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42
U.S.C. 5113(c)(2)) is amended by inserting ``and the
development of such services,'' after ``not supplant,
services''.
(e) Elimination of Barriers to Adoption Across
Jurisdictional Boundaries.--Section 203(e)(1) of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of
1978 (42 U.S.C. 5113(e)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``with, States,'' and inserting ``with
States, Indian Tribes,''; and
(2) by inserting ``, including through the use of web-based
tools such as the electronic interstate case-processing
system referred to in section 437(g) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(g))'' before the period at the end.
SEC. 304. STUDY AND REPORT ON SUCCESSFUL ADOPTIONS.
Section 204 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and
Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5114) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 204. STUDY AND REPORT ON SUCCESSFUL ADOPTIONS.
``(a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study (directly
or by grant to, or contract with, public or private nonprofit
research agencies or organizations) on adoption outcomes and
the factors (including parental substance use disorder)
affecting those outcomes.
``(b) Report.--Not later than the date that is 36 months
after the date of the enactment of the Stronger Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act the Secretary shall submit a
report to Congress that includes the results of the study
required under subsection (a).''.
SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 205(a) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5115(a)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``fiscal year 2010'' and inserting ``fiscal
year 2022''; and
(2) by striking ``fiscal years 2011 through 2015'' and
inserting ``fiscal years 2023 through 2027''.
TITLE IV--AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS
SEC. 401. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS.
(a) Head Start Act.--Section 658E(c)(2)(L) of the Head
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9858c(c)(2)(L)) is amended by striking
``will comply with the child abuse reporting requirements of
section 106(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)(2)(B)(i))'' and inserting
``will comply with the child abuse reporting requirements of
section 106(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)(2)(A)(i))''.
(b) Victims of Crime Act of 1984.--Section 1404A of the
Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. 20104) is amended by
striking ``section 109'' and inserting ``section 107''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Stronger Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act, or Stronger CAPTA.
One of the most basic responsibilities as public servants is to
protect children from physical and emotional trauma of child abuse and
neglect.
Unfortunately, at the beginning of the last decade, we saw a
disturbing rise in rates of child maltreatment, which coincided with
the devastating opioid epidemic. Now the COVID-19 pandemic is not only
reaffirming the urgent need to address the growing crisis, but also,
across the country, families are coping with severe financial and
emotional challenges. State child protective services agencies, which
have been chronically underfunded, are also struggling to help families
while keeping caseworkers safe.
Stronger CAPTA is a bipartisan solution we need to prevent child
abuse and neglect from happening in the first place and to provide
better treatments to address child abuse when it takes place.
This legislation provides States with the resources they need to
expand locally driven prevention strategies, which will help strengthen
families and improve child protective services. It also invests in
child protective services so that they can ensure that caseworkers will
have the resources to both help children and keep themselves safe. The
legislation also streamlines communications between child protective
services across the country so that critical information is not lost
across State lines.
Such a system would have likely saved the life of Heaven Watkins, an
11-year-old girl from my community, who tragically died because local
child protective services had no way of knowing that her parents had a
history of child abuse in another State.
Finally, Stronger CAPTA builds on our bipartisan commitment to
keeping families together when it is in the best interest of the child.
Madam Speaker, we must do everything in our power to ensure that our
Nation's children learn and grow in healthy environments. That is why,
last Congress, both Democrats and Republicans worked together to pass
Stronger CAPTA with broad bipartisan support. Our bipartisan effort to
pass this bill again this year demonstrates that, no matter our party
affiliations, we can all agree that Congress must do everything we can
to support children and families.
To that end, I thank the subcommittee chair, Ms. Bonamici; and
ranking subcommittee member, Mr. Comer, for their leadership on this
key priority for our committees.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Stronger Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Virginia, and I
yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today as a partner in important work to prevent
and treat child abuse through the bipartisan Stronger Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act, or Stronger CAPTA.
Child abuse and neglect are heartbreaking, immoral, and inexcusable.
No child should ever have to endure pain and suffering at the hands of
a parent or caregiver, yet, unfortunately, such behavior continues to
affect millions of children across the country.
This bill, Stronger CAPTA, is focused on doing what Congress can do
to see that no child experiences the dreadful impacts caused by neglect
and abuse. This legislation is the result of bipartisan collaboration
among members of the Committee on Education and Labor and will
strengthen Federal efforts to recognize, prevent, and treat child abuse
and neglect nationwide.
While we have a variety of perspectives represented on the committee,
I believe this compromise will benefit children and families and
maintain important protections for parents and faith-based providers of
care to families.
Importantly, Stronger CAPTA not only protects children, but it also
maintains and strengthens parental rights. While there are certainly
instances where intervention is necessary, this legislation includes
important safeguards to limit unsubstantiated or false reports and
provides education to child protective service workers about the rights
of parents and families.
The first priority of the Federal Government should always be to
protect and respect the family unit, while fostering an environment for
both parents and children to thrive. Stronger CAPTA gives a holistic
view of child abuse and neglect, providing States with resources
designed to strengthen families and keep children with those who love
them most.
CAPTA was originally enacted in 1974, to support the development of
programs aimed at prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution,
and treatment of child abuse and neglect.
[[Page H1388]]
Stronger CAPTA seeks to continue this important work while putting more
emphasis on prevention so that abuse and neglect can be stopped before
it happens.
Madam Speaker, the need to pass this legislation and send it to the
President's desk is urgent. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, heightened stress, school closures, loss of
income, and social isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have
increased the risk for child abuse and neglect.
The rate of child maltreatment has ticked up in recent years,
devastating families and communities across the country and
underscoring the necessity to open America's schools safely. Without
teachers interacting with students every day, an entire line of defense
against neglect and abuse is lost.
Additionally, due to the increased demand on their services, State
child protective service agencies are struggling to respond to the
growing number of reports they receive each year.
That is why we are here. Stronger CAPTA will help States address the
recent and devastating rise in child abuse and neglect by improving the
quality of child protective services and building networks of
prevention services designed to strengthen American families.
It improves collaboration between States regarding accountability,
supports the development of strategies and best practices for reducing
rates of abuse and neglect linked to parents' substance abuse disorder,
and ensures that no child is removed from a family solely because of
their economic situation or without a judicial order, except in cases
of imminent harm.
Furthermore, the bill seeks to prevent and treat child abuse by
engaging the community. We want to prevent abuse before it ever
happens, and one of the best ways to accomplish that goal is to ensure
that communities and parents work together in the planning,
implementation, and evaluation of prevention services.
I believe every Member of this body wishes to live in a world where
laws like Stronger CAPTA are not necessary. Unfortunately, we do not
live in such a world, but it is reassuring that during times of extreme
political divisiveness, we can come together for the greater good.
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the hard work done on both sides of the
aisle to author this bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting some of
our most vulnerable citizens. Protecting America's children from abuse
and neglect is something we can all agree is of paramount importance,
and I am glad we could work together on such a meaningful initiative.
Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the Stronger CAPTA, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath), a distinguished
member of the Committee on Education and Labor.
Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for yielding. I
appreciate it.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 485, the Stronger
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.
Children are our future teachers, doctors, police officers, and
Members of Congress. It is our responsibility to ensure that they can
live, learn, and grow up in a safe environment.
In fiscal year 2020, in my home State of Georgia, it actually ranked
second in the country for the number of calls to child abuse hotlines.
That is why I was so proud to introduce an amendment in the Committee
on Education and Labor last Congress with my colleague, the gentlewoman
from New York (Ms. Stefanik), that would establish a national child
abuse hotline. I am excited that same language was once again included
in this year's Stronger CAPTA legislation.
Madam Speaker, our bill will create a grant program for a national
child abuse hotline, for the establishment and operation of a 24-hour
hotline for victims of child abuse. Their families and caregivers,
parents, youth, mandated reporters, and any other concerned community
member can call or text the national child abuse hotline when looking
for immediate help and support during moments of crisis and moments of
doubt.
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk factors that lead to
child abuse, as millions are experiencing elevated levels of stress due
in part to job and income loss, or even the loss of a loved one. Before
the pandemic, teachers, social workers, and members of the community
who regularly interacted with children and youth were able to identify
the instances of child abuse and record them and report them
accordingly. However, as we maintain social distancing to keep
ourselves and our loved ones safe, it is much harder for those
individuals, who once interacted with our youth, to identify such
abuse.
That is why we must continue to invest in child abuse and prevention
services, such as the national child abuse hotline that Congressman
Stefanik and I have included in Stronger CAPTA.
{time} 1600
We do not yet know the full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic
will impact our children, but we need to make sure that we are fully
prepared to take care of them no matter what.
As my esteemed colleague, Representative Foxx, has just made mention
of, we know that additional stressors with COVID-19 pose more conflicts
in our homes, and thereby adding additional opportunities for child
abuse. Now is not the time to reduce funding or support for these well-
needed services. Our Nation's children need us now more than ever.
And I am so grateful, even though I no longer have my child with me,
I am so grateful to be able to encourage my colleagues to stand and
support this well-meaning legislation so that I can take part in saving
the lives and protecting children that may not even be my own.
Stronger CAPTA is bipartisan legislation that provides critical
protections and resources to families and children across our Nation to
prevent and end child abuse. With the passage of this bipartisan
legislation, we are just one step closer to saving our children's
lives. Stronger CAPTA is important, not only for my home State of
Georgia, but for the Nation.
Together we must ensure the safety of our Nation's children, they are
our future. If we, as a Nation, do not protect the most vulnerable in
the least of these, then who are we? Who are we in the eyes of the
Nation? And who are we in the eyes of the world? Together we must
ensure the safety of our Nation's children.
Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues, both Republicans and
Democrats, to support this very vital, well-meaning and important
legislation.
Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, no child should ever have to endure the pain of abuse
or neglect by a parent or caregiver, and that is why today's work is so
important.
By passing today's bill, we are focused on protecting the most
vulnerable citizens among us and give them a voice here in Congress.
The bipartisan Stronger CAPTA bolsters prevention efforts and
streamlines current assurances and requirements so States can focus on
serving and providing treatment to children rather than spending more
time filling out paperwork.
Child abuse and neglect has no place in America's homes, and it is my
hope that today's legislation will significantly reduce the number of
children who must cope with the devastating impacts of abuse and
neglect.
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for
their hard work on this critical legislation. Again, I urge a ``yes''
vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of
my time.
Madam Speaker, I, once again, want to thank Ms. Bonamici and Mr.
Comer, as well as Ms. Stevens, Ms. Stefanik, Ms. Schrier, Mr. Johnson,
and Ranking Member Foxx for their leadership in advancing this bill.
Stronger CAPTA will make significant improvements in existing law by
authorizing record levels of funding for prevention as well as treating
child abuse, increasing accountability to make sure States are using
the money effectively, and closing gaps in the law that will put
vulnerable children in danger.
[[Page H1389]]
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in
strong support of the CAPTA reauthorization measure that is before the
House today.
I want to thank Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Foxx for their
leadership and for the bipartisan work on this legislation that has
brought us to this point.
This measure provides an overdue but critical reauthorization of
programs authorized under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(CAPTA). These changes would, among others, address child abuse and
neglect related to families impacted by substance use disorders, racial
bias in the child protective services system, and improving efforts to
combat child sexual abuse.
The bill also contains language based on my Family Poverty is Not
Child Neglect Act, which aims to stop families from being ripped apart
not because of neglect or abuse, but for issues rooted in poverty. In
these situations, services to help families and support them and their
children are a much better approach than family separation.
I appreciate the support from the chairman and bipartisan support and
efforts of Rep. Susie Lee and Rep. Bob Good to ensure this language was
included in the bill.
I also worked with Rep. Joseph Morelle and Rep. Van Taylor to include
the Study and Report on Marital Age of Consent examining the prevalence
of forced child marriages in the United States and their impact on
children's safety and well-being.
I am pleased that we are taking steps to refresh and strengthen our
efforts, with states and local authorities, to protect our children. I
urge my colleagues to vote yes.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 485.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question
are postponed.
____________________