[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11753-11755]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 391) recognizing May as ``National Foster Care 
Month'' and acknowledging that the House of Representatives should 
continue to work to improve the Nation's foster care system.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 391

       Whereas on average, the Nation's foster care system 
     provides for more than a half a million children each day who 
     are unable to live safely with their biological parents;
       Whereas National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity 
     to recognize the important role that foster care parents, 
     workers, and advocates have in the lives of children in the 
     foster care system throughout the United States;
       Whereas the primary goal of the foster care system is to 
     ensure the safety and well-being of children, while working 
     to provide such children with a permanent, safe, and loving 
     home;
       Whereas foster parents give children the opportunity to 
     live with families and make lasting attachments instead of 
     living in institutions, where they face a reduced chance for 
     permanency;
       Whereas States, localities, and communities should be 
     encouraged to invest available resources on reunification 
     services and post-permanency supports designed to allow more 
     children in the foster care system to safely return to their 
     biological parents, or find permanent placements through 
     adoption or guardianship;
       Whereas children of color are more likely to stay in the 
     foster care system for longer periods of time and are less 
     likely to be reunited with their biological families;
       Whereas 293,000 children entered the foster care system 
     during fiscal year 2007;
       Whereas in fiscal year 2007, there was an average of 
     131,000 children in the foster care system each day who were 
     waiting to be adopted;
       Whereas while a majority of children in the foster care 
     system have the goal of being reunited with their biological 
     parents, more than 23 percent of children who were in the 
     foster care system on the last day of fiscal year 2007 were 
     seeking placement through the adoption process;
       Whereas the overall reduction in the number of children in 
     the foster care system in the last decade does not reflect a 
     decline in the level of Federal assistance necessary to 
     assist those living in foster care and the dedicated men and 
     women in the child welfare workforce;
       Whereas the number of children ``aging out'' of the foster 
     care system without finding a permanent family increased to 
     an all-time high of nearly 28,000 in fiscal year 2007;
       Whereas children ``aging out'' of the foster care system 
     lack the security of a biological or adoptive family to fall 
     back on when struggling to secure affordable housing, obtain 
     health insurance, pursue higher education, and acquire 
     adequate employment;
       Whereas the foster care system is intended to be a 
     temporary solution, however, on average, children remain in 
     the system for at least 2 years;
       Whereas studies suggest that nearly 60 percent of children 
     in the foster care system experience a chronic medical 
     condition and 25 percent suffer from 3 or more chronic 
     medical conditions;
       Whereas while in the foster care system, children 
     experience an average of 3 different placements, moves that 
     often mean disrupting routines, changing schools, and moving 
     away from brothers and sisters, extended family, and familiar 
     surroundings;
       Whereas the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing 
     Adoptions Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-351) provided new 
     investments and services to improve the outcomes of children 
     and families in the foster care system; and
       Whereas all children deserve a loving and stable family, 
     regardless of age or special needs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the designation of a ``National Foster Care 
     Month'';
       (2) acknowledges the needs of children in the foster care 
     system;
       (3) honors the commitment and dedication of those 
     individuals who work tirelessly to provide assistance and 
     services to children in the foster care system; and
       (4) recognizes the need to continue work to improve 
     outcomes of all children in the foster care system through 
     the title IV program in the Social Security Act and other 
     programs that are designed to help children in the foster 
     care system reunite with their biological parents and, when 
     children are unable to return to their biological parents, to 
     find them a permanent, safe, and loving home.

  The Speaker Pro Tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. McDermott) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) 
each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on this resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  The month of May marks National Foster Care Month, which provides 
Congress with an opportunity to recognize the contributions of the 
unsung heroes who commit their lives to children in foster care, 
including foster parents who unselfishly open their homes to our most 
vulnerable children. On any given day, half a million children seek 
safety, comfort and assistance through our Nation's foster care system. 
Roughly 130,000 of those children in foster care are unable to return 
safely to their parents and are now waiting for an adoptive home.
  Sadly, in 2007, a record 28,000 of those children ``aged out'' of the 
foster care system at the age of 18 without finding a permanent home to 
call their own.
  As the de facto parents or the real-life parents of the Nation's 
foster children, we, the Congress, have a responsibility to ensure that 
they have the same opportunity to succeed that our children and our 
grandchildren have.
  Congress recently passed landmark bipartisan legislation which 
represented the most significant reform in the child welfare system in 
more than a decade. The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing 
Adoptions Act included numerous provisions that were designed to 
significantly improve the outcomes of all children and their families 
who are in the foster care system.

[[Page 11754]]

  As a result of this bipartisan legislation, grandparents and other 
relatives who became the legal guardian of a child for whom they cared 
for as a foster parent now receive greater assistance in caring for 
these children. The legislation also provides additional support to 
older foster children, up to the age of 21, who are engaged in school, 
work or other productive activities. The new law also requires much 
greater oversight of the health care system and education needs of each 
of these children in the foster care system.
  Mr. Speaker, while last year's bipartisan child welfare legislation 
provided greater resources and services aimed at improving the outcomes 
of children and families in the foster care system, additional 
investments and reform are still needed. The job is not done.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating National Foster Care 
Month by recommitting themselves to continuing our bipartisan work to 
further improve the foster care system.
  Finally, I want to recognize the children in the system that are 
waiting to be reunified with their families or waiting for an adoptive 
home. Many of these children have endured great pain and suffering at a 
very young age, but are able to overcome their grief and turmoil, and 
go on to succeed beyond anyone's expectation. I applaud these young 
children for the bravery and determination that they have shown. Behind 
each number is the face of a foster child who has the same hopes and 
aspirations as our very own children. We need to make these hopes and 
aspirations a reality.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, this Sunday, millions of American families 
will honor mom on Mother's Day. Next month, our Nation will celebrate 
Father's Day. So it is appropriate to also note the contribution of so 
many adults who step in as foster parents to care for children when 
biological moms and dads cannot do so.
  This resolution recognizes those enormous contributions by foster 
parents. Every day they step in to care for hundreds of thousands of 
children across America who cannot safely remain with their own 
parents. For that, as this resolution expresses, our Nation says 
``thank you.''
  The children aided by foster care range in age from birth to 21 and 
come from a wide range of homes. In the congressional district I 
represent, they include the infant born to a drug-addicted mom, three 
boys taken in on Christmas Eve after their single mother died of 
pneumonia, and a little girl who lived in abandoned cars while her 
father was on drugs. Those are some stories relayed by Suzanne Geske, 
the executive director of the Foster Children's Foundation based in 
Duluth, Georgia. The Foster Children's Foundation reflects the efforts 
of organizations nationwide that coordinate thousands of volunteers, 
all to better support foster kids and foster parents.
  As Ms. Geske says of kids in foster care, ``These children all 
experience the fear of their unknown futures. Thanks to the love and 
support they receive from foster parents, mentors and organizations 
that provide many services to them, there is hope. May is a time when 
we recognize these individuals and raise awareness so others can get 
involved to save our children. These children live in our own 
communities and need our help. Please encourage everyone you know to 
find out how they can reach out to make a difference in the lives of 
our children.''
  Sound advice.
  This town often focuses on policy questions about where billions of 
dollars will be spent and where the money will come from. We have these 
discussions in foster care, too, including developing major reforms 
last year. We hope those reforms work as intended and improve the lives 
of children and families.
  But children care little about policy discussions. What matters to 
them is if mom is there to see them in the school play or if dad can 
play catch after work, or if their birthday is remembered and they get 
their favorite dinner that night. If only that's where the concerns 
ended for children who suffer from abuse or neglect.
  Through this resolution today, we remind all Americans of the role 
they can play in helping children who have already missed out on much 
in life and who need assistance. These children surely deserve to make 
progress in life, like any other child. Through the efforts of tens of 
thousands of dedicated foster parents, they often do, against great 
odds. We owe these dedicated individuals our thanks and continued 
support.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).
  Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 391, 
which recognizes May as National Foster Care Month and calls for 
continued improvements in our foster care system. My parents welcomed 
many foster children into our family over the years, and I know 
firsthand the value, and the challenges, of the foster care system.
  All children need love and support. And this is especially true for 
the more than half a million children currently in our foster care 
system, and many more who still need help. We also must address the 
issues affecting older youth as they transition out of foster care. 
Unfortunately, research shows that current and former foster youth are 
more likely to have difficulty making the transition to adulthood and 
are more likely to forgo higher education, be in poor health, become 
homeless and rely on public support. They deserve better, and we can do 
better.
  Further, let me thank the many compassionate individuals who take in 
foster children. Foster parenting is an act of true selflessness, 
requiring significant financial and emotional investment. Sadly, many 
foster children have been abused or neglected, treatment that leaves 
indelible scars for years, which foster parents lovingly attempt to 
heal.
  Mr. Speaker, these foster children need our continued support, our 
care and our love, as do the foster families who take them in. And we 
need to rededicate ourselves to improving our foster care system.
  I want to thank the gentleman for yielding and his hard work on this 
resolution.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, does the gentleman have has any further 
speakers?
  Mr. LINDER. I do not. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I only would like to add that when you 
meet these youngsters, Lupe, Chris and Nichole, and get to know them, 
you realize what they have gone through and why we should have a month 
that helps people think about this, and we realize that these 
youngsters have tremendous potential.
  Many of the youngsters I met yesterday are going to college. They 
went through the system, many of them with a dozen or more placements, 
and still were able to put it together and carry on their lives.
  We need to have this month to make us aware of the needs of foster 
kids in this country.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be a cosponsor on 
this Resolution that recognizes May as ``National Foster Care Month'' 
and acknowledges that the House of Representatives should continue to 
work to improve the Nation's foster care system.
  In FY 2007, the number of children in foster care was 496,000, a 
sharp decline from the number of foster children in 2002. However, over 
this same period, the number of older children in foster care 
increased. Children ages 13 through 17 comprised 34.7% of the children 
in foster care in FY 2006.
  Our older youths who spend their teenage years in foster care and 
those who are likely to age out of foster care face challenges as they 
transition to adulthood that their counterparts in the general 
population might not. During their early adult years, these youth are 
much more likely than their peers to forego higher education, more 
likely to be in poor health, and more likely to become homeless.
  Taking care of our foster care youths is a very important issue for 
me. I have just re-introduced legislation that I had filed in the last

[[Page 11755]]

Congress, which would help former foster youth find housing and 
guidance as they transition to becoming adults. Instead of celebrating 
their 18th birthday with family and friends, too many of our foster 
care youth are marking this milestone by aging out of the foster care 
system and abruptly losing their support system. Our responsibility to 
foster care youths should not expire when a young person reaches the 
age of majority.
  Our most recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services show that each year about 26,500 youth age out of the 
foster care system. These foster care youth are vulnerable to becoming 
homeless. A national study of 21-year-olds who had aged out of foster 
care found the percentage of the population who experienced 
homelessness to be 25%. Of equal concern is the fact that these youths 
are very often without adult role models, and as such, have no one to 
guide or otherwise assist them as they transition to adulthood.
  My legislation provides an incentive for individuals to mentor and 
house foster care youths who are no longer able to remain in the foster 
care system because they have attained the age of 18. We need to help 
these young adults, many of whom are homeless, jobless, and without any 
adult role model.
  My bill allows a $1,000 nonrefundable tax credit to individual adults 
who provide housing and mentoring to former foster care youths between 
the ages of 18 and 21 who have aged out of the foster care system.
  We need to do more to provide incentives for families to take all of 
our foster care children in, whether they be under the age of 18 and 
still in the system, or over the age of 18 and have aged out of the 
system.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in 
recognizing May as ``National Foster Care Month''. This occasion 
provides an opportunity to examine key issues affecting foster 
children. I am very pleased that Congress recently improved our child 
welfare laws greatly, extending coverage till the age of 21 and 
promoting kinship care. The Recovery Act also included additional funds 
for child welfare to support states in caring for vulnerable children 
during hard economic times.
  As unemployment rates continue to rise, it is critical that we 
continue to invest in safety net programs that ensure our children are 
protected and are able to develop into healthy adults. Most children in 
the child welfare system are from low-income families. As policymakers, 
we must stand ready to provide the aid needed to help families so that 
child welfare supports are not needed. We must continue to promote all 
permanency options so that children do not remain in the foster care 
system longer than necessary. And, we must ensure to integrate the 
needs of foster care children in relevant policy areas. For example, 
there currently are federal protections for homeless youth to ensure 
that they have stability in their educational environments during 
elementary and high school. We should expand these protections to cover 
all foster children.
  In the areas of health care reform, job training, and higher 
education, we must consider the needs of foster care children.
  National Foster Care Month is a time for us to remember that it is 
crucial that we support foster care families and children by making a 
national investment in our children. Our children are entitled to 
stable, caring homes; if we deny them what they truly deserve, we can 
anticipate a colder, more uncertain future for our nation.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, on any given day there are nearly a half 
million children in our nation's foster care system. These children 
have endured more pain and suffering in their short lives than many of 
us could ever imagine. Not only do they experience the physical and 
emotional trauma that is connected to their mistreatment, but they also 
face the grief of being separated from their siblings, extended family, 
friends, and their community. The foster care system serves as a safe 
sanctuary for these young people and provides services and support to 
help ease their suffering. It is in the foster care system that 
children find the help they need to address their pain, and where 
families can receive the services they need to safely restore their 
bond with their children. And when it is not possible to safely reunify 
a child with their parents, it is through the foster care system that a 
child finds a permanent home with a relative caregiver or an adoptive 
family.
  The month of May is National Foster Care Month. It provides the 
nation with an opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful contributions 
of the countless men and women who dedicate their lives to assisting 
children and families, such as case workers and administrators, child 
and family advocates, researchers, volunteers, and community 
organizations such as the Child Welfare Organizing Project, which is 
doing fantastic work in my district. National Foster Care Month 
provides us with an opportunity to commend those individuals and 
families who open up their homes and lives to our most vulnerable 
children by becoming a foster parent. Foster parents step in to serve 
as a surrogate mom and dad to children when their parents are not there 
to comfort and care for them. Their services are invaluable in helping 
these children overcome their grief and move forward in their lives.
  National Foster Care Month also provides us with an opportunity to 
evaluate our foster care system. Congress made great strides last fall 
in passing comprehensive, bipartisan legislation that strengthened the 
child welfare system. The Fostering Connections to Success and 
Increasing Adoptions Act provided new resources to the system and 
included policy changes aimed at improving the outcomes of children in 
care. The legislation has significantly improved the lives of foster 
children by facilitating their connection to extended family, 
supporting grandparents and other relative caregivers who care for 
these children, providing support to older youth in their transition to 
adulthood, ensuring the health care and educational needs of every 
child are met, ending the discriminatory practices against Native 
American children who are under the supervision of tribal governments, 
enhancing federal training assistance for child welfare workers and 
court personnel, and strengthening the federal adoption assistance 
program. The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions 
Act represented the most significant reform in the child welfare system 
in over a decade. I am proud of the bipartisan work that the Committee 
on Ways and Means did in developing the underlying legislation that led 
to the comprehensive bill. Nevertheless, there is still a great deal of 
work that needs to be done.
  Despite the success of last fall's legislation, Congress needs to 
remain committed to further strengthening the foster care system and 
addressing some of the problems that have plagued it for years. 
Children of color are disproportionately over-represented in foster 
care. African American and Native American children are removed from 
their homes and placed in foster care at much higher rates than their 
white peers. Tragically, once they are removed from their homes, they 
are more likely to remain in the system for longer periods of time. 
This problem transcends urban areas and occurs across our nation, 
affecting not only New York, Michigan and Illinois, but States such as 
Iowa, Washington State and Minnesota. Many of the provisions included 
in the Fostering Connections the Success and Increasing Adoptions Act 
will help to begin to address this problem, yet more reform is still 
needed.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating National Foster Care 
Month by saluting the people who come to the aid of our most vulnerable 
children and families, as well as the men and women who are, or were 
formerly in, the foster care system. These individuals represent some 
of our bravest men and women who have overcome a level of grief and 
suffering that some will never experience in their lifetime. Yet, these 
remarkable people go on to lead successful lives, often exceeding their 
wildest expectations. Many of them now volunteer their time and 
expertise to efforts to improve the lives of those children who are 
currently in the system, championing their cause in State legislatures 
and throughout the halls of Congress. I salute these fine men and women 
for the example that they set for all Americans.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 391.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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