[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14423]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER RELATIVE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS

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                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2006

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the two and 
a half million grandparents acting as primary caregivers to their 
grandchildren. In fact, across the country there are more than 6 
million children living with a grandparent, or others living in 
relative-headed households. I commend those who courageously step 
forward on a daily basis to care for these children, keeping them out 
of foster care while providing safe, stable homes.
  Subsidized guardianship programs allow children to leave foster care 
for the permanent care of nurturing relatives. Through subsidized 
guardianship we are able to place a child with a grandparent or other 
relative who becomes the legal guardian, while at the same time, 
providing the guardian the financial resources to provide for the 
child's basic needs.
  In its report, ``Fostering the Future,'' the national, nonpartisan 
Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care recommended that Federal 
guardianship assistance be provided ``to all children who leave foster 
care to live with a permanent legal guardian.'' That is why I am proud 
to be a cosponsor of H.R. 3380, the Guardianship Assistance Promotion 
and Kinship Support Act, which would allow the use of Federal funding 
to support subsidized guardianship programs.
  In my own State of Connecticut, 6 percent of the children live with 
non-parent relatives. Although, grandparents and other relative 
caregivers often represent the best opportunity for providing a loving 
and stable childhood for the children in their care, their hard work 
and dedication too often go unnoticed.
  Today I offer my deepest appreciation for the dedicated service of 
these caregivers to our country and our Nation's most valuable asset, 
our children. And I commend Generations United for all their 
outstanding work in helping improve the lives of and create opportunity 
for our children.

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