[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 14414-14418]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AFFECTED BY METH ACT OF 2006

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 470, S. 3525.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3525) to amend subpart 2 of part B of title IV 
     of the Social Security Act to improve outcomes for children 
     in families affected by methamphetamine abuse and addiction, 
     to reauthorize the promoting safe and stable families 
     program, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, the Senate has passed an important 
bill, Chairman Grassley's Improving Outcomes for Children Affected by 
``Meth'' Act of 2006. This legislation will reauthorize the Safe and 
Stable Families Program and target $40 million in new funding to 
programs to help children affected by methamphetamine abuse and 
addiction.
  West Virginia, like all too many States, is facing severe problems 
with a methamphetamine epidemic. There is by all reports a rapid spread 
and growth of this pernicious addiction. SAMSHA reports that 
methamphetamine abuse has increased more than 420 percent for persons 
12 years and older during the past decade. And according to a well-
cited National Association of Counties survey, the epidemic is no 
longer targeting rural States like my own. Much to my dismay we are 
finding addicts in suburban high schools as well as urban areas. 
Addicts are white and blue collar workers and the unemployed who are in 
their twenties or thirties. Use is equally divided among males and 
females.
  The legislation offered today is part of the reauthorization for the 
Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program. Our child welfare system 
relies on the principles and services mandated by Safe and Stable 
Families Programs. I have wholeheartedly worked on this program since 
its inception in 1993. I have continued over the years to support 
modifications that fit the changing needs of the children.
  It is essential that our most vulnerable children remain safe and 
that they find emergency placements and permanent homes. Programs such 
as Foster Care remain a foundational safeguard for children. Children 
find refuge in foster homes when they are placed in harm's way due to 
neglect or abuse. Permanence of placement represents an enduring goal 
of Safe and Stable. This objective provides a child the hope of living 
conditions that support physical and psychological health. The Safe and 
Stable Programs ultimately assist with decisions about family 
reunification and adoption.
  Of course, there remains a lot more work to be done. Our foster care 
system is overburdened. There is all too often a lack of coordination 
among agencies and services that serve children and their families. And 
currently many programs are especially stressed by the expanding and 
invasive problems brought on by the next generation of illicit drugs. 
Right now our children need more help.
  The goals of Improving Outcomes for Children Affected by ``Meth'' Act 
are consistent with the spirit and design of the Promoting Safe and 
Stable Families Programs. This act targets the growing problems caused 
by a cheaply made, easily available, lethal drug.
  The facts are, to say the least, extremely disturbing. The National 
Association of Counties survey points to the rise of out-of-home 
placements due to methamphetamine addiction by as much as 71 percent in 
California counties and 70 percent in responding Colorado counties. 
This year in Montana, State officials reported at least 50 percent of 
child abuse and neglect cases involved methamphetamine abuse. I know 
that in southern West Virginia alone there have been over 100 
laboratory busts since October, 2005. And according to a survey by the 
Rebecca Project, over 10,000 children in the U.S. were either present 
at a lab seizure or lived where the lab was seized between 2000 and 
2003. These labs produce 5 pounds of toxic waste as a result of 
producing 1 pound of methamphetamine. There are too many children in 
harm's way.
  This bill creates new competitive grants to support regional 
partnerships that provide services to children who are affected by 
their caretakers' methamphetamine abuses. The bill reserves $40 million 
to fund these grants.
  I know that these grants are not a cure-all, but this legislation is 
a firm step in the right direction in several ways. First, regional 
demonstration projects can further identify intervention models that 
are showing some good results. We also are on the mark when we 
encourage community health care providers, law enforcement agencies, 
judges, and statewide child welfare agencies to form more coherent and 
efficient partnerships. These grants can target innovative prevention 
programs that reach at-risk children before out-of-home placements are 
necessary. Finally the grants are available for innovative family-based 
programs, comprehensive long-term treatment services, and counseling 
for the children. It is good that the Senate has passed this 
legislation, and we need to work with the House to secure passage of a 
final bill that can be signed into law by the President this year.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment 
at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time 
and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that 
any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 4675) was agreed to, as follows:

            (Purpose: To provide for a managers' amendment)

       On page 3, line 13, strike ``and improve permanency 
     outcomes for'' and insert ``improve permanency outcomes for, 
     and enhance the safety of''.
       On page 3, line 20, strike ``one'' and insert ``2''.
       On page 8, line 21, strike ``access to'' and insert ``, or 
     access to,''.
       On page 24, line 8, insert ``the first place it appears'' 
     before the semicolon.
       On page 24, line 9, strike the beginning parenthetical.
       On page 24, line 11, insert ``, or entity established by,'' 
     after ``of''.
       On page 24, line 13, strike the closing parenthetical.
       On page 25, line 6, insert ``, and identification of 
     additional supports and services needed by,'' after 
     ``evaluation of''.
       On page 25, line 14, insert ``and support'' after 
     ``monitoring''.

[[Page 14415]]

       On page 25, line 19, insert ``, and identification of 
     additional supports and services needed by,'' after 
     ``evaluation of''.
       On page 26, line 2, insert ``, and to identify any pre-
     adoption supports and services needed by'' after ``of''.
       On page 28, after line 25, add the following:

     SEC. 7. REQUIREMENT FOR FOSTER CARE PROCEEDING TO INCLUDE, IN 
                   AN AGE-APPROPRIATE MANNER, CONSULTATION WITH 
                   THE CHILD THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE 
                   PROCEEDING.

       Section 475(5)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     675(5)(C)) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``with respect to each such 
     child,'';
       (2) by striking ``and procedural safeguards shall also'' 
     and inserting ``(ii) procedural safeguards shall''; and
       (3) by inserting ``and (iii) procedural safeguards shall be 
     applied to assure that in any permanency hearing held with 
     respect to the child and, in the case of a child who has 
     attained age 16, any hearing regarding the transition of the 
     child from foster care to independent living, the court or 
     administrative body conducting the hearing consults, in an 
     age-appropriate manner, with the child regarding the proposed 
     permanency or transition plan for the child;'' after 
     ``parents;''.
       On page 29, line 1, strike ``7'' and insert ``8''.
       On page 29, line 5, insert ``and part E'' after ``part B''.
       On page 29, line 13, insert ``or part E'' after ``part B''.

  The bill (S. 3525), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 3525

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Improving 
     Outcomes for Children Affected by Meth Act of 2006''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Grants for regional partnerships to increase the well-being of, 
              and improve the permanency outcomes for, children 
              affected by methamphetamine abuse and addiction.
Sec. 3. Reauthorization of the promoting safe and stable families 
              program.
Sec. 4. Reauthorization and expansion of mentoring children of 
              prisoners program.
Sec. 5. Allotments and grants to Indian tribes.
Sec. 6. Additional State plan amendments.
Sec. 7. Requirement for foster care proceeding to include, in an age-
              appropriate manner, consultation with the child that is 
              the subject of the proceeding.
Sec. 8. Effective date.

     SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO INCREASE THE 
                   WELL-BEING OF, AND IMPROVE THE PERMANENCY 
                   OUTCOMES FOR, CHILDREN AFFECTED BY 
                   METHAMPHETAMINE ABUSE AND ADDICTION.

       (a) Reservation of Funds.--Section 436(b) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) Improved outcomes for children affected by 
     methamphetamine abuse and addiction.--With respect to each of 
     fiscal years 2007 through 2011, if the amount appropriated to 
     carry out this subpart for any such fiscal year is at least 
     $345,000,000, the Secretary shall reserve $40,000,000 of the 
     amount appropriated for that fiscal year for grants under 
     section 440.''.
       (b) Regional Partnership Grants.--Subpart 2 of part B of 
     title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629 et seq.) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 440. GRANTS FOR REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO INCREASE THE 
                   WELL-BEING OF, AND IMPROVE THE PERMANENCY 
                   OUTCOMES FOR, CHILDREN AFFECTED BY 
                   METHAMPHETAMINE ABUSE AND ADDICTION.

       ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to authorize 
     the Secretary to make competitive grants to eligible 
     applicants to provide, through interagency collaboration and 
     integration of programs and services, services and activities 
     that are designed to increase the well-being of, improve 
     permanency outcomes for, and enhance the safety of children 
     who are in an out-of-home placement or are at risk of being 
     placed in an out-of-home placement as a result of a parent's 
     or caretaker's abuse of methamphetamines.
       ``(b) Eligible Applicants Defined.--In this section, the 
     term `eligible applicant' means a regional partnership (which 
     may be established on an interstate or intrastate basis) and 
     that shall include any 2 or more of the following:
       ``(1) Nonprofit child welfare service providers.
       ``(2) For-profit child welfare service providers.
       ``(3) Community health service providers.
       ``(4) Community mental health providers.
       ``(5) Local law enforcement agencies.
       ``(6) Judges and court personnel.
       ``(7) Juvenile justice officials.
       ``(8) School personnel.
       ``(9) The State child welfare agency that is responsible 
     for the administration of the State plan under this part and 
     part E.
       ``(10) The State agency responsible for administering the 
     substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant provided 
     under subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Public Health 
     Service Act.
       ``(11) Tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium of 
     such agencies).
       ``(12) Any other providers, agencies, personnel, officials, 
     or entities that are related to the provision of child and 
     family services under this subpart.
       ``(c) Program Authorized.--
       ``(1) In general.--From the amounts (if any) reserved for 
     each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 under section 
     436(b)(4), the Secretary shall award grants under this 
     section for each such fiscal year to eligible applicants that 
     satisfy the requirements of this section, in amounts that are 
     not less than $500,000 and not more than $1,000,000 per grant 
     per fiscal year.
       ``(2) Required minimum period of approval.--An eligible 
     applicant shall be approved to receive a grant under this 
     section for a period of not less than 2, and not more than 5, 
     fiscal years.
       ``(d) Application Requirements.--To be eligible for a grant 
     under this section, an eligible applicant shall submit to the 
     Secretary a written application containing the following:
       ``(1) Recent evidence that methamphetamine abuse has 
     increased the number of out-of-home placements for children, 
     or the number of children who are at risk of being placed in 
     an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region.
       ``(2) A description of the goals and outcomes to be 
     achieved during the funding period for the grant that will 
     enhance the well-being of children receiving services or 
     taking part in activities conducted with funds provided under 
     the grant and lead to safety and permanence for such 
     children.
       ``(3) A description of the joint activities to be funded in 
     whole or in part with the funds provided under the grant, 
     including the sequencing of the activities proposed to be 
     conducted under the funding period for the grant.
       ``(4) A description of the strategies for integrating 
     programs and services determined to be appropriate for the 
     child and where appropriate, the child's family.
       ``(5) A description of the strategies for--
       ``(A) collaborating with the State agency responsible for 
     the administration of this part and part E (unless the lead 
     agency for the regional partnership of the eligible applicant 
     is such agency); and
       ``(B) consulting, as appropriate, with the State agency 
     responsible for administering substance abuse treatment and 
     prevention services, and the State law enforcement and 
     judicial agencies.

     To the extent the Secretary determines that a requirement of 
     this paragraph would be inappropriate to apply to an eligible 
     applicant that includes a tribal child welfare agency or a 
     consortium of such agencies, the Secretary may exempt the 
     eligible applicant from satisfying such requirement.
       ``(6) Such other information as the Secretary may require.
       ``(e) Use of Funds.--Funds made available under a grant 
     made under this section shall only be used for services or 
     activities that are consistent with the purpose of this 
     section and may include the following:
       ``(1) Family-based comprehensive long-term drug treatment 
     services.
       ``(2) Early intervention and preventative services.
       ``(3) Children and family counseling.
       ``(4) Mental health services.
       ``(5) Parenting skills training.
       ``(f) Matching Requirement.--
       ``(1) Federal share.--A grant awarded under this section 
     shall be available to pay a percentage share of the costs of 
     services provided or activities conducted under such grant, 
     not to exceed--
       ``(A) 85 percent for the first and second fiscal years for 
     which the grant is awarded to an eligible applicant;
       ``(B) 80 percent for the third and fourth such fiscal 
     years; and
       ``(C) 75 percent for the fifth such fiscal year.
       ``(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
     of services provided or activities conducted under a grant 
     awarded under this section may be in cash or in kind. In 
     determining the amount of the non-Federal share, the 
     Secretary may attribute fair market value to goods, services, 
     and facilities contributed from non-Federal sources.
       ``(g) Considerations in Awarding and Amount of Grants.--In 
     awarding grants under this section and determining the amount 
     of such grants, the Secretary shall--
       ``(1) consider the demonstrated need of an eligible 
     applicant for assistance;
       ``(2) ensure that grants are awarded to a diverse number of 
     the eligible applicants described in subsection (b); and
       ``(3) give priority to awarding grants to eligible 
     applicants located in rural areas that--
       ``(A) have been significantly affected by methamphetamine 
     abuse and addiction by parents or caretakers;
       ``(B) have limited resources for addressing the needs of 
     children affected by such abuse and addiction; and

[[Page 14416]]

       ``(C) have a lack of capacity for, or access to, 
     comprehensive family treatment services.
       ``(h) Performance Indicators.--Not later than 18 months 
     after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
     shall establish indicators that will be used to assess 
     periodically the performance of the eligible applicants 
     awarded grants under this section in using funds made 
     available under such grants to achieve the purpose of this 
     section. In establishing such indicators, the Secretary shall 
     consult with the Assistant Secretary for the Administration 
     for Children and Families, the Administrator of the Substance 
     Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the chief 
     executive officers of the States or territories in which 
     eligible applicants awarded a grant under this section are 
     located, legislators of such States and territories, State 
     and local public officials responsible for administering 
     child welfare and alcohol and drug abuse prevention and 
     treatment programs in such States and territories, court 
     staff in such States and territories, consumers of the 
     services or activities in such States and territories, 
     advocates for children, parents, and caretakers who come to 
     the attention of the child welfare system, and tribal 
     officials of tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium 
     of such agencies) awarded a grant under this section.
       ``(i) Reports.--
       ``(1) Grantee reports.--
       ``(A) Annual report.--Not later than September 30 of the 
     first fiscal year in which an eligible applicant receives 
     funds under a grant awarded under this section, and annually 
     thereafter until September 30 of the last fiscal year in 
     which an eligible applicant receives funds under a grant 
     awarded under this section, the eligible applicant shall 
     submit to the Secretary a report on the activities carried 
     out during that fiscal year with such funds. The report shall 
     contain such information as the Secretary determines is 
     necessary to provide an accurate description of the 
     activities conducted with such funds and of any changes in 
     the use of such funds that are planned for the succeeding 
     fiscal year.
       ``(B) Incorporation of information related to performance 
     indicators.--Not later than 12 months after the establishment 
     of performance indicators under subsection (h), each eligible 
     applicant awarded a grant under this section shall 
     incorporate into the annual report required under 
     subparagraph (A) information required in relation to such 
     indicators.
       ``(2) Reports to congress.--On the basis of the reports 
     submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary annually shall 
     submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a 
     report on--
       ``(A) the services provided and activities conducted with 
     funds provided under grants awarded under this section;
       ``(B) the performance indicators established under 
     subsection (h); and
       ``(C) the progress that has been made in addressing the 
     needs of families with methamphetamine abuse problems who 
     come to the attention of the child welfare system and in 
     achieving the goals of child safety, permanence, and family 
     stability.''.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE 
                   FAMILIES PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 436(a) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 629f(a)) is amended by striking ``for fiscal year 
     2006.'' and all that follows through the end of the second 
     sentence and inserting ``for each of fiscal years 2007 
     through 2011.''.
       (b) Discretionary Grants.--Section 437(a) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(a)) is amended by striking 
     ``2002 through 2006'' and inserting ``2007 through 2011''.
       (c) State Courts Assessment and Improvement Grants.--
     Subsections (c)(1)(A) and (d) of section 438 of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629h) are each amended by striking 
     ``2002 through 2006'' and inserting ``2007 through 2011''.
       (d) Technical Correction of Funding for Fiscal Year 2006.--
     Effective February 8, 2006, title II of the Departments of 
     Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-149, 119 
     Stat. 2833) is amended under the heading relating to 
     ``promoting safe and stable families'' under the heading 
     ``administration for children and families'', by striking 
     ``$305,000,000'' and inserting ``$345,000,000''.

     SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION AND EXPANSION OF MENTORING CHILDREN 
                   OF PRISONERS PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 439 of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 629i) is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``GRANTS'' and 
     inserting ``FUNDING'';
       (2) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Purpose'' and 
     inserting ``Purposes''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Purpose'' and 
     inserting ``Purposes'';
       (ii) by striking ``The purpose of this section is to 
     authorize the Secretary to make competitive'' and inserting 
     ``The purposes of this section are to authorize the 
     Secretary--
       ``(A) to make competitive'';
       (iii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
     and''; and
       (iv) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) to enter into a cooperative agreement with a national 
     mentoring support organization to provide greater flexibility 
     nationwide to increase the number of children of prisoners 
     receiving mentoring services.'';
       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) by striking ``2002 through 2006'' and inserting ``2007 
     through 2011'';
       (B) by striking ``(h)'' and inserting ``(i)''; and
       (C) by striking ``(h)(2)'' and inserting ``(i)(2)'';
       (4) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections 
     (h) and (i), respectively;
       (5) by inserting after subsection (f), the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(g) Increased Access to Mentoring Services.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award, on a 
     competitive basis, a cooperative agreement with an eligible 
     entity (as specified in paragraph (2)) for the purposes of--
       ``(A) identifying and approving mentoring programs in all 
     50 States and the District of Columbia that meet certain 
     quality program standards;
       ``(B) organizing outreach activities, including making 
     publicly available a list of such approved programs, to 
     appropriate public and private entities described in 
     subsection (d)(2) to increase awareness of the availability 
     of vouchers for mentoring services among families of children 
     of prisoners; and
       ``(C) distributing vouchers directly to such approved 
     programs that have been selected by families of children of 
     prisoners to provide mentoring services for their children.
       ``(2) Eligible entity.--For purposes of paragraph (1), an 
     entity eligible for a cooperative agreement under this 
     subsection shall be a national mentoring support organization 
     that has substantial experience--
       ``(A) in mentoring and mentoring services for children; and
       ``(B) in developing quality program standards for the 
     planning and assessment of mentoring programs for children.
       ``(3) Application requirements.--To be eligible for a 
     cooperative agreement under this subsection, an entity shall 
     submit to the Secretary an application that includes the 
     following:
       ``(A) Qualifications.--A demonstration that the entity 
     meets the experience requirements of paragraph (2).
       ``(B) Plan description.--A detailed description of the 
     proposed voucher distribution program, which shall--
       ``(i) include the quality program standards for mentoring 
     developed by the entity;
       ``(ii) describe how the entity will organize and implement 
     such quality program standards and distribution program, 
     including how the entity plans to ensure that--

       ``(I) children in urban and rural communities and children 
     with other geographic, linguistic, or cultural barriers to 
     receipt of mentoring services will have access to such 
     services; and
       ``(II) if the entity usually provides gender-specific 
     programs or services, both girls and boys will be 
     appropriately served by the program;

       ``(iii) identify those organizations known by the entity to 
     comply with such quality program standards;
       ``(iv) describe the strategic plan of the entity to work 
     with families of prisoners to develop the list of mentoring 
     programs that accept vouchers distributed under the program 
     for mentoring services; and
       ``(v) describe the methods to be used by the entity to 
     evaluate the program and the extent to which the program is 
     achieving the purposes described in paragraph (1) and 
     subsection (a)(2)(A).
       ``(C) Criminal background checks.--An agreement to include 
     in any quality program standards for approved mentoring 
     programs the requirement for criminal background checks for 
     mentors.
       ``(D) Records, reports, and audits.--An agreement to 
     maintain such records, make such reports, and cooperate with 
     such reviews and audits as the Secretary may find necessary 
     for purposes of oversight of the cooperative agreement and 
     expenditures.
       ``(E) Evaluation.--A commitment to cooperate fully with the 
     Secretary's ongoing and final evaluation of the voucher 
     distribution program, including providing the Secretary with 
     access to the program and program-related records and 
     documents, staff, and the mentoring programs to which 
     vouchers were distributed.
       ``(F) Other.--Such other information as the Secretary may 
     find necessary to demonstrate the entity's capacity to carry 
     out the cooperative agreement under this subsection.
       ``(4) Federal assistance eligibility.--The amount of a 
     voucher under this subsection may be disregarded for purposes 
     of determining the eligibility for, or the amount of, any 
     other Federal or Federally supported assistance for the 
     recipient family.'';
       (6) by amending subsection (h) (as redesignated by 
     paragraph (4)) to read as follows:
       ``(h) Evaluation; Reports.--
       ``(1) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall conduct an 
     evaluation of the programs authorized under this section, 
     including the program for increasing access to mentoring 
     services authorized under subsection (g).

[[Page 14417]]

       ``(2) Reports.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
     enactment of the Improving Outcomes for Children Affected by 
     Meth Act of 2006, the Secretary shall submit a report to 
     Congress that includes the following:
       ``(A) The characteristics of the mentoring programs funded 
     under this section.
       ``(B) The plans for implementation of the cooperative 
     agreement for the program authorized under subsection (g).
       ``(C) A description of the outcome-based evaluation of the 
     programs authorized under this section that the Secretary is 
     conducting as of such date of enactment and how such 
     evaluation has been expanded to include an evaluation of the 
     program authorized under subsection (g).
       ``(D) The date on which the Secretary shall submit a final 
     report on such evaluation to Congress.''; and
       (7) in subsection (i) (as so redesignated)--
       (A) by striking ``2002 and 2003,'' and all that follows 
     through the period and inserting ``2007 through 2011.''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by amending the paragraph heading to read as follows: 
     ``Reservations'';
       (ii) by striking ``The'' and inserting the following:
       ``(A) Research, technical assistance, and evaluation.--
     The''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) Increased access to mentoring services.--
       ``(i) In general.--Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), the 
     Secretary shall reserve not more than 50 percent of the 
     amount appropriated for each fiscal year under paragraph (1) 
     for purposes of carrying out the program for increasing 
     access to mentoring services authorized under subsection (g).
       ``(ii) Assurance of funding for general program grants.--
     With respect to each fiscal year for which amounts are 
     appropriated to carry out this section, not less than 
     $25,000,000 of such amounts (or, if the amount appropriated 
     for a fiscal year is less than that amount, the amount 
     appropriated for that fiscal year that remains after applying 
     subparagraph (A)) shall be used by the Secretary for purposes 
     of making grants under subsection (c).
       ``(iii) Contingent percentage reduction.--If the amount 
     appropriated for a fiscal year is not sufficient for the 
     Secretary to satisfy the requirements of clauses (i) and 
     (ii), the Secretary shall reduce the percentage described in 
     clause (i) by such number of percentage points as is 
     necessary for the Secretary to satisfy the requirement of 
     clause (ii).''.
       (b) GAO Evaluation and Report.--Not later than 3 years 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
     General of the United States shall submit to Congress a 
     report evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of the 
     program for increasing access to mentoring services 
     authorized under subsection (g) of section 439 of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629i) (as added by the amendments 
     made by subsection (a)).

     SEC. 5. ALLOTMENTS AND GRANTS TO INDIAN TRIBES.

       (a) Increased Reserved Funding.--
       (1) In general.--Section 436(b)(3) of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)(3)) is amended by striking ``1'' and 
     inserting ``3''.
       (2) Discretionary grants.--Section 437(b)(3) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(b)(3)) is amended by striking 
     ``2'' and inserting ``3''.
       (b)  Authority for Tribal Consortia To Receive 
     Allotments.--
       (1) Allotment of mandatory funds.--
       (A) In general.--Section 433(a) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 629c(a)) is amended--
       (i) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``or tribal 
     consortia'' after ``tribes''; and
       (ii) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``If 
     a consortium of Indian tribes submits a plan approved under 
     this subpart, the Secretary shall allot to the consortium an 
     amount equal to the sum of the allotments determined for each 
     Indian tribe that is part of the consortium.''.
       (B) Conforming amendment.--Section 436(b)(3) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)(3)), as amended by subsection (a)(1), is 
     amended--
       (i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``or tribal 
     consortia'' after ``tribes''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``or tribal consortia'' after ``Indian 
     tribes''.
       (2) Allotment of any discretionary funds.--Section 437 of 
     the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629g) is amended--
       (A) in subsection (b)(3)--
       (i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``or tribal 
     consortia'' after ``tribes''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``or tribal consortia'' after ``Indian 
     tribes''; and
       (B) in subsection (c)(1)--
       (i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``or tribal 
     consortia'' after ``tribes''; and
       (ii) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``If 
     a consortium of Indian tribes applies and is approved for a 
     grant under this section, the Secretary shall allot to the 
     consortium an amount equal to the sum of the allotments 
     determined for each Indian tribe that is part of the 
     consortium.''.
       (3) Additional conforming amendments.--
       (A) Plans of indian tribes.--Section 432(b)(2) of the 
     Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629b(b)(2)) is amended--
       (i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``or tribal 
     consortia'' after ``tribes''; and
       (ii) in subparagraphs (A) and (B), by inserting ``or tribal 
     consortium'' after ``Indian tribe'' each place it appears.
       (B) Direct payments to tribal organizations.--Section 
     434(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629d(c)) is amended--
       (i) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``or Tribal 
     Consortia'' after ``Tribes''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``or tribal consortium'' after ``Indian 
     tribe'' the first place it appears; and
       (iii) by inserting ``or in the case of a payment to a 
     tribal consortium, such tribal organizations of, or entity 
     established by, the Indian tribes that are part of the 
     consortium as the consortium shall designate'' before the 
     period.
       (C) Evaluations; research; technical assistance.--Section 
     435(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629e(d)) is amended in the 
     matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ``or tribal 
     consortia'' after ``Indian tribes''.

     SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL STATE PLAN AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Additional Monitoring and Evaluation of Families 
     Adopting or Fostering Significant Numbers of Children.--
       (1) In general.--Section 432(a)(5) of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 629b(a)(5)) is amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(C) establish procedures to provide for the additional 
     evaluation of, and identification of additional supports and 
     services needed by, any family that proposes to provide 
     foster care for more than 4 children or more than 1 group of 
     siblings (or more than such number of children and groups of 
     siblings as the State, upon demonstration of good cause and 
     approval by the Secretary, may establish), prior to 
     permitting the family to provide foster care to such children 
     or siblings, and to provide for ongoing monitoring and 
     support of the family (prior to and during the provision of 
     such foster care), to fully assess whether the family has the 
     ability to care for such children or siblings; and
       ``(D) establish procedures to provide for the additional 
     evaluation of, and identification of additional supports and 
     services needed by, any family that proposes to adopt more 
     than 4 children or more than 1 group of siblings (or more 
     than such number of children and groups of siblings as the 
     State, upon demonstration of good cause and approval by the 
     Secretary, may establish), prior to permitting the family to 
     adopt such children or siblings, and to provide pre-adoption 
     monitoring of, and to identify any pre-adoption supports and 
     services needed by the family, to fully assess whether the 
     family has the ability to care for such children or siblings 
     before permitting such adoption;''.
       (2) Deadline for submission and approval or modification of 
     implementation plan.--
       (A) State submissions.--Not later than 18 months after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, each State with a plan 
     approved under subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social 
     Security Act, as a condition of continued approval of such 
     plan, shall submit to the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services a plan for the implementation of the procedures 
     required under subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 432(a)(5) 
     of the Social Security Act, as added by paragraph (1).
       (B) Approval or modification.--Not later than 60 days after 
     the date on which a State submits the implementation plan 
     required under subparagraph (A) to the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services, the Secretary shall approve such plan or 
     notify the State of additions or modifications to such plan 
     that are required before it can be approved.
       (b) Annual Budget Requests, Summaries, and Expenditure 
     Reports.--
       (1) In general.--Section 432(a)(8) of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 629b(a)(8)) is amended--
       (A) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(8)'';
       (B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) provides that, not later than June 30 of each year, 
     the State agency will submit to the Secretary--
       ``(i) copies of forms CFS 101-Part I and CFS 101-Part II 
     (or any successor forms) that report on planned child and 
     family services expenditures by the agency for the 
     immediately succeeding fiscal year; and
       ``(ii) copies of forms CFS 101-Part I and CFS 101-Part II 
     (or any successor forms) that provide, only with respect to 
     the programs authorized under this subpart and subpart 1, 
     actual expenditures by the State agency for the immediately 
     preceding fiscal year; and''.
       (2) Annual submission of state reports to congress.--
     Section 432 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629b) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c) Annual Submission of State Reports to Congress.--The 
     Secretary shall compile the reports required under subsection 
     (a)(8)(B) and, not later than September 30 of each year, 
     submit such compilation to the Committee on Ways and Means of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of 
     the Senate.''.
       (3) Effective date; initial deadlines for submissions.--The 
     amendments made by this

[[Page 14418]]

     subsection take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. 
     Each State with an approved plan under subpart 1 or 2 of part 
     B of title IV of the Social Security Act shall make its 
     initial submission of the forms required under section 
     432(a)(8)(B) of the Social Security Act to the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services by June 30, 2007, and the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services shall submit the first 
     compilation required under section 432(c) of such Act by 
     September 30, 2007.

     SEC. 7. REQUIREMENT FOR FOSTER CARE PROCEEDING TO INCLUDE, IN 
                   AN AGE-APPROPRIATE MANNER, CONSULTATION WITH 
                   THE CHILD THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE 
                   PROCEEDING.

       Section 475(5)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     675(5)(C)) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``with respect to each such 
     child,'';
       (2) by striking ``and procedural safeguards shall also'' 
     and inserting ``(ii) procedural safeguards shall''; and
       (3) by inserting ``and (iii) procedural safeguards shall be 
     applied to assure that in any permanency hearing held with 
     respect to the child and, in the case of a child who has 
     attained age 16, any hearing regarding the transition of the 
     child from foster care to independent living, the court or 
     administrative body conducting the hearing consults, in an 
     age-appropriate manner, with the child regarding the proposed 
     permanency or transition plan for the child;'' after 
     ``parents;''.

     SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act, 
     the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 
     1, 2006, and shall apply to payments under subpart 2 of part 
     B and part E of title IV of the Social Security Act for 
     calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without 
     regard to whether regulations to implement the amendments are 
     promulgated by such date.
       (b) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--If the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State 
     legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is 
     required in order for a State plan under subpart 2 of part B 
     or part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to meet the 
     additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by a 
     provision of this Act, the plan shall not be regarded as 
     failing to meet any of the additional requirements before the 
     1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after the first 
     regular session of the State legislature that begins after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act. If the State has a 2-
     year legislative session, each year of the session is deemed 
     to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we have one matter of business that we are 
working on now. That is Water Resources Development. There has been 
objection to the unanimous consent that I propounded earlier by the 
Democratic leader. We are working very hard to work out that objection. 
With that, I will take a few more minutes, and hopefully we will be 
able to address this issue. I will go back to work and do just that.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


            WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT AND NOMINATIONS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Republican leader came to my office a 
few minutes ago and indicated he had some family situation that he 
needed to attend to. It was no emergency or anything, but it is late. 
It is a quarter to 8.
  On WRDA, we have cleared that on our side. And we have some 
nominations we have also cleared on our side. I am confident that 
WRDA--which we were planning to go to that Tuesday night after we 
finished the stem cell legislation--I am very confident we can work 
that out.
  As I indicated, we are set mechanically to go forward on WRDA. It has 
been cleared on both sides, even the time on the amendments. We thought 
we had the nominations worked out dealing with a very important agency 
of our Government.
  I am confident, I repeat, that we will be able to do that as soon as 
people are back in their offices.
  So I do not in any way retract my statements about how it is possible 
to work on things together around here. This was shown with the 
difficult time that Senators had working on the request that was 
brought before the Senate just a half hour ago or so.
  It is a very important bill. I have been chairman of the Environment 
and Public Works Committee on two separate occasions. It is very 
difficult to get things out of that committee because of different 
feelings people have on issues. But Senator Inhofe and Senator Boxer 
worked very well and got it to the floor.
  So I am hopeful that even maybe tomorrow we can do the unanimous 
consent request that has been laid before the Senate and have that 
approved. If not, we will do it Monday. I am hopeful and confident we 
can do that.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will please call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________