Congressional Record, Volume 167 Issue 189 (Wednesday, October 27, 2021)

[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 189 (Wednesday, October 27, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5937-H5940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

CONTINUED STATE FLEXIBILITY TO ASSIST OLDER FOSTER YOUTH

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5661) to extend flexible use of John H.
Chafee Foster Care Independence Program funding to address pandemic-
related challenges for older foster youth.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 5661

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

[[Page H5938]]

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Continued State Flexibility
To Assist Older Foster Youth Act''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PANDEMIC PROVISIONS AFFECTING OLDER
FOSTER YOUTH.

(a) Extension of Chafee Program Flexibility.--Section 3 of
division X of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (42
U.S.C. 677 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``and 2021'' and
inserting ``through 2022''; and
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``During the COVID-19 public health
emergency period:'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``The'' and inserting
``Through December 31, 2021, the'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``A'' and inserting
``Through fiscal year 2022, a'';
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Notwithstanding'' and
inserting ``Through fiscal year 2022, notwithstanding''; and
(E) in paragraph (4), by inserting after the paragraph
heading the following: ``Through fiscal year 2022:''.
(b) Extension of State Funding Flexibility Related to Youth
Aging Out of Foster Care.--Section 4 of such division (42
U.S.C. 671 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``2021'' and inserting
``2022''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Additional chafee funding flexibilities.--
Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of this subsection, a State to
which additional funds are made available as a result of
section 3(a) of this division may use the funds to meet any
costs referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection
incurred on or before September 30, 2022, with respect to
children who--
``(A) have attained 18 years of age;
``(B) are in foster care, or re-enter care; and
``(C) are not eligible for foster care maintenance payments
under section 472 of the Social Security Act.''; and
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ``2021'' and inserting
``2022''.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis) and the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs.
Walorski) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.

General Leave

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit all of our communities hard, but for
vulnerable youth in foster care, it was terrifying, especially for
those youth approaching the age of independence at which they lose
access to the supports that foster care provides.
When my good friend Congresswoman Jackie Walorski and I teamed up
last year to provide States with flexibility and funding to help these
youth, we hoped and expected that the pandemic would be over by now and
that these youth would be back on track, getting an education, starting
jobs, finding a place to live, and establishing independent lives.
Unfortunately, the delta variant hit hard, creating a new wave of
challenges for these youth. To the current and former foster youth who
reached out to us and our colleagues to share their stories, we hear
you, and we are committed to continuing to respect the lessons of your
lived experience in foster care.
The legislation we are considering today, the Continued State
Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act will restore and continue
key program flexibilities that allow States to provide greater
stability and certainty to current and former youth via the John H.
Chafee Foster Care Independence Program.
The bill will give States the flexibility to continue providing the
specific supports that older foster youth need to return to college,
training programs, and work. It will extend flexibilities to secure
housing, to gain independence through driving programs, and to allow
youth who would otherwise age out of eligibility for services a little
more support to weather the pandemic.
I firmly believe in the strong bipartisan partnership that
Representative Walorski and I have built over the years to help
vulnerable youth and families to improve our child welfare system.
We have a lot to do to help foster youth through this pandemic, and
this legislation to allow States to make better use of the funding we
provided is the first step.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5661, the Continued State
Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act.
America's most vulnerable foster youth face unique challenges even in
normal times, and the COVID-19 pandemic created even more obstacles to
overcome.
Nearly 20,000 youth age out of foster care every year. While the
COVID pandemic has presented difficulties for all Americans, foster
youth and former foster youth are particularly vulnerable, given that
they are most likely to be without reliable adults and other kinds of
supports in their lives.
The Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act
would allow States to keep in place important flexibilities in the
Chafee child welfare program so they can continue to support vulnerable
foster youth in Indiana and across the country.
I am grateful to Chairman Davis for his continued partnership in
building on our past reforms to help families thrive and this
committee's tradition of bipartisan action to protect young people in
our foster care system.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she
may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).
Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5661, the
Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act.
We have heard directly from foster youth that aging out of the system
comes with unique challenges, and that they are often left without
supportive services or families to help them if they fall on hard
times. This has been especially difficult throughout the COVID-19
pandemic, as older and former foster youth have experienced homeless,
been laid off from work, endured food insecurity, and navigated
negative impacts on their mental health.
But States like California have devised ways to help, like letting
foster youth who turn 21 continue receiving support and assistance
through the child welfare agency. Additionally, at the end of last
year, Congress provided States with additional funds in the year-end
omnibus specifically to help this population, many of whom were not
eligible for Federal stimulus payments. And in California, we are
working to get this funding directly to impacted youth via direct cash
payments. Unfortunately, the pandemic has made it harder to get these
funds directly into the hands of the young people who need them,
causing needless delays and hardship.
That is why I am happy to support H.R. 5661 to extend support to our
young adults and ensure that they have all of the tools they need to
make it through this unprecedented time. By extending the programmatic
flexibilities in the Chafee program, which helps current and former
foster youth prepare for independent adult living, we are keeping young
people safe and housed and also ensuring access to supportive services
for those youth affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
I have had the privilege to meet with foster youth from across the
country throughout the years, and I have been impressed with their
resilience and ability to advocate for themselves. But they don't have
to do it alone. I am proud to support this bill to help foster youth
shape a better future for themselves and our whole country.

{time} 1230

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon).
Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleagues from Indiana and
Illinois.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5661, the Continued
State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act.
We can all agree that our children and youth have suffered
tremendously during this pandemic. Foster youth

[[Page H5939]]

that aged out of the system are hurting and feel forgotten. We can come
together to support these youth through continuing States' flexibility
with the Chafee funds to assist older foster youth.
The act will allow the emergency Chafee funds flexibilities that we
implemented during the pandemic to continue through fiscal year 2022.
It will give youth the option to reenter foster care that aged out
during the pandemic, remove the living expenses cap, and expand the
educational training funds to assist them.
We hear more and more from youth that need our help. As a foster-to-
adopt parent, I know that our foster youth need our help, and we need
to make sure that we hold to our responsibility to fully support them
during this crisis. Young adults who have aged out of foster care are
the number one risk for homelessness in that age group.
Mr. Speaker, we have the opportunity here to make a difference.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman so very
much for yielding to me. I thank him and Ranking Member Walorski for
bringing this bill forward.
Mr. Speaker, our foster youth are, of course, some of our Nation's
most vulnerable. But do you know what? They are also our most
resilient. But even the most resilient needs support. That is what this
bill is all about, ensuring that those who would otherwise age out of
foster care at age 18, who chose it or need it, can continue to get
services--housing, workforce development, driving skills--through this
pandemic.
For thousands of foster youth each year, their time in foster care,
simply because they turn 18--or 21 in some States--can be a very, very
unsettling moment for them.
As a result, with little or no family support, they suddenly find
themselves grown, independent. But the reality is that the battle is
only beginning in these youths' lives. Having already suffered trauma,
including family separation, they find themselves without any type of
safety net during this particularly trying time in any person's life.
And to be sure, these are inspiring young people, but again, they need
support to help ensure brighter futures.
Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about one of these youth who I had the
pleasure to get to know. His story is full of struggles and victories,
but they are not the exception. This was Mr. ``DJay'' Joi.
I first met DJay when he shadowed me during Foster Youth Day a few
years ago. He had such a great heart, great personality, extremely
intelligent, that he quickly became a part of my own personal family.
DJay's drive and resilience helped him create a bright future for
himself. He knew firsthand the difficulties facing those aging out of
the foster care system, challenges that he shared with me.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1
minute to the gentlewoman.
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a good step. But
let's recognize and address the supports we need to provide foster
youth. We need to require all States to raise the maximum age to 21 for
those who choose to keep receiving foster care supportive services. We
need to think about permanently removing the barriers or the cap on the
use of Chafee funds for housing.
Karen Bass and I have a bill that would immediately allow former
foster youth to keep Medicaid coverage through age 26. Healthcare is a
critical need.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member, and I urge
all Members to support this great initiative.
Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence).
Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5661, the
Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act.
As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, this issue
is incredibly important to me. In my home State of Michigan, there are
approximately 13,000 children in foster care. Unfortunately, they have
been at particular risk during this COVID-19 pandemic.
This legislation would take meaningful action to ensure that States
have the opportunity to assist children in foster care by extending
pandemic-related provisions passed under the Consolidated
Appropriations Act for an additional year.
Mr. Speaker, I am confident that these flexibilities will help
States, like my own Michigan, provide foster children with the
assistance they need.
We must do everything in our power to assist and support at-risk
youth. It is necessary that we follow through on this commitment to
them.
Mr. Speaker, I often remind people: Foster children are a ward of the
State and are our responsibility.
Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Continued State
Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act.

Last month, I hosted a townhall with the National Foster Youth
Institute for current and former foster youth across the country. Their
stories of hardship broke my heart. I was not surprised, though,
because these young people are among the most vulnerable in our
society, often lacking the same social safety net that you or I could
rely on in a crisis.
Surveys throughout the pandemic have shown foster youth face elevated
financial, housing, and food insecurity; decreased educational and
workforce participation; and increased isolation. This bill before us
today extends crucial flexibilities for the Chafee Foster Care Program
that we put in place last December, allowing States to better meet the
needs of current and former foster youth.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill and help young
people access this much-needed assistance.
Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further
speakers.
I will simply say that I am very pleased that we are considering this
important legislation that would provide additional help to foster
children and give States the flexibility that they need to provide all
the assistance during this pandemic that foster children can make use
of.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my ranking member tremendously for the
bipartisanship we have been able to effect, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, in December, we worked together to take action to help
foster youth through the pandemic so they could build a stronger, more
stable future. That bill, called the Supporting Foster Youth Through
the Pandemic Act, provided much-needed additional support for foster
youth and families, at-risk pregnant women and mothers, and kinship
caregivers, including grandparents.
Mr. Speaker, the bill included $400 million in funding to assist
States in supporting foster youth transitioning to adulthood during the
pandemic. That relief has provided a lifeline for thousands of youth to
get back to school, back into jobs, and on the path of self-
sufficiency.
As COVID-19 continues to spur instability, young people with
experience in foster care still face significant challenges to meet
their basic needs and to access critical funds and services.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 75 percent
of these funds remain unobligated by States as of September 30, 2021,
and States have another year to spend. In recognition of the needs of
foster youth, this bill would extend those key programmatic
flexibilities for another year.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support these vulnerable foster
youth by voting for H.R. 5661, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by

[[Page H5940]]

the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5661.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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