[House Report 119-641]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 119-641
=======================================================================
SUPPORT FOR EXPECTANT AND PARENTING FOSTER YOUTH ACT
----------------
May 11, 2026.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
----------------
Mr. Smith of Missouri, from the Committee on Ways and Means,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 7655]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the
bill (H.R. 7655) to amend section 477 of the Social Security
Act to improve supports for expectant and parenting youth who
have experienced foster care by strengthening coordination with
the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting
Program, and for other purposes, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that
the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND...........................................2
A. Purpose and Summary................................. 2
B. Background and Need for Legislation................. 3
C. Legislative History................................. 3
D. Designated Hearings................................. 4
II. EXPLANATION OF THE BILL..........................................4
A. Reasons for Change.................................. 4
B. Explanation of Provisions........................... 4
C. Effective Date...................................... 4
III. VOTE OF THE COMMITTEE............................................4
IV. BUDGET EFFECTS OF THE BILL.......................................5
A. Committee Estimate of Budgetary Effects............. 5
B. Statement Regarding New Budget Authority and Tax
Expenditures Budget Authority...................... 5
C. Cost Estimate Prepared by the Congressional Budget
Office............................................. 5
V. OTHER MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE.......9
A. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations.... 9
B. Statement of General Performance Goals and
Objectives......................................... 9
C. Information Relating to Unfunded Mandates........... 9
D. Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and
Limited Tariff Benefits............................ 9
E. Duplication of Federal Programs..................... 10
VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED...........10
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Support for Expectant and Parenting
Foster Youth Act''.
SEC. 2. ENSURING EXPECTANT AND PARENTING YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES
PROVIDED THROUGH THE MATERNAL, INFANT, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD
HOME VISITING PROGRAM.
(a) Purpose.--Section 477(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
677(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'';
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) to connect foster youth in eligible families (as such
term is defined in section 511) who receive services under this
part with evidence-based home visiting and support services
provided under section 511.''.
(b) Applications.--Section 477(b)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
677(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(L) A certification by the chief executive officer
of the State that the State has processes in place to
ensure that a youth participating in the program under
this section who is in an eligible family (as such term
is defined in section 511) is provided with information
regarding evidence-based home visiting and support
services provided in the State under section 511.''.
SEC. 3. TAILORED CASE MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE COORDINATION SERVICES FOR
PARENTING AND EXPECTANT YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FOSTER CARE.
Section 477(d)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(d)(1)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--A State to which an amount is paid from
its allotment under subsection (c)(1) may use the amount--
``(A) to provide tailored case management and
resource coordination services to youth otherwise
eligible for services under the State program under
this section who are expectant or parenting; or
``(B) in any manner that is reasonably calculated to
accomplish the purposes of this section.''.
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is
1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to
payments under section 477 of the Social Security Act pursuant to plans
approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on or after such
date.
I. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND
A. Purpose and Summary
H.R. 7655, as amended, the ``Support for Expectant and
Parenting Foster Youth Act,'' as ordered reported by the
Committee on Ways and Means on April 29, 2026, makes changes to
the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful
Transition to Adulthood (``Chafee'') in Section 477 of Part E
of Title IV of the Social Security Act. Introduced by Rep. Rudy
Yakym (R-IN) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), this bill improves
coordination between Chafee and the Maternal Infant Early
Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. This bill also
provides for expectant and parenting foster youth to received
tailored case management support.
B. Background and Need for Legislation
In 1999, Congress created the Chafee program which provides
states, territories, and tribes with flexible grants to support
current and former foster youth with their transition to
adulthood. Chafee is administered by the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and
Families (ACF). According to one estimate, nearly 70 percent of
females in foster care experience pregnancy by age 21 compared
to just 34 percent of their peers.
Young adults and foster youth who have a child at a young
age often have limited parenting skills and knowledge of child
development. States may also fail to identify if foster youth
are expectant and miss opportunities to connect them with
existing resources. For example, at a Work and Welfare
Subcommittee hearing, a witness shared how there were more than
600 pregnant women involved with their state's child welfare
system who were not identified by the state. Rigorous
evaluation of home visiting services have shown that some
models significantly improve child and maternal health,
strengthen parenting skills, and lead to better child and child
welfare outcomes. Connecting expectant and parenting foster
youth with home visiting services identified as effective by
the MIECHV program can help improve the health and well-being
of the child and the foster youth parents. Through MIECHV, home
visitors can support healthy pregnancy habits, show parents how
to care for their child, and connect families with other
resources.
Furthermore, transition-age foster youth also have unique
needs compared to younger foster youth. At multiple Work and
Welfare Subcommittee hearings, witnesses have shared the impact
of specialized, tailored case management services in helping
foster youth for success in the future. Ensuring expectant and
parenting youth receive tailored support and are connected to
programs like MIECHV, can prevent an intergenerational cycle of
child welfare involvement and improve outcomes for this
vulnerable population.
C. Legislative History
Background
H.R. 7655 was introduced on February 24, 2026, and was
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Committee Hearings
The Committee on Ways and Means held the following
hearing(s) concerning the policy in H.R. 7655:
On June 12, 2025, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on
Work and Welfare held a hearing titled, ``Aging Out is Not a
Plan: Reimagining Futures for Foster Youth.''
On November 18, 2025, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee
on Work and Welfare held a hearing titled, ``Leaving the Sticky
Notes Behind: Harnessing Innovation and New Technology to Help
America's Foster Youth Succeed.''
Committee Action
The Committee on Ways and Means marked up H.R. 7655, the
``Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act'', on
April 29, 2026, and favorably reported the bill, as amended, to
the House of Representatives (with quorum being present).
D. Designated Hearings
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII, the following
hearing was used to develop and consider H.R. 7655, the
``Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act'':
``Aging Out is Not a Plan: Reimagining Futures for Foster
Youth,'' hearing held on June 12, 2025 and ``Leaving the Sticky
Notes Behind: Harnessing Innovation and New Technology to Help
America's Foster Youth Succeed,'' hearing held on November 18,
2025.
II. EXPLANATION OF THE BILL
A. Reasons for Change
Section 1. The Committee believes the title accurately
reflects the content of the bill.
Section 2. The Committee believes that adding a new purpose
to Chafee will direct states in spending Chafee funds to
connect expectant and parenting foster youth with home visiting
services.
The Committee believes that adding a state plan requirement
will ensure more purposeful planning on the part of states to
ensure expectant and parenting foster youth and their
caseworkers are aware of MIECHV services in the state.
Permitting a state to use Chafee funds to provide tailored case
management and resource coordination services will also provide
better support for this population and improve their outcomes.
B. Explanation of Provisions
Section 1. Provides the short title of the bill, ``Support
for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act''.
Section 2. Adds a purpose to the John H. Chafee Foster Care
Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (``Chafee'') to
include connecting expectant and parenting foster youth with
evidence-based home visiting and support services provided by
the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting
(MIECHV) program.
Adds a new state plan requirement to include a
certification that the state has processes in place to ensure
that a foster youth who is expecting or parenting is connected
to services funded by the MIECHV program in the state, when
possible.
Section 3. Permits a state to use funds from its Chafee
allotment to provide tailored case management and resource
coordination services to eligible expectant and parenting
foster youth.
C. Effective Date
The bill would become effective 1 year after enactment.
III. VOTES OF THE COMMITTEE
In compliance with the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the following statement is made concerning the
vote of the Committee on Ways and Means during the markup
consideration of H.R. 7655, the ``Support for Expectant and
Parenting Foster Youth Act'' on April 29, 2026.
H.R. 7655 was ordered favorably reported to the House of
Representatives as amended by a roll call vote of 41 yeas to 0
nays (with a quorum being present). The vote was as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Representative Yea Nay Present Representative Yea Nay Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Smith (MO)................ X ......... ......... Mr. Neal........ X ......... .........
Mr. Buchanan.................. X ......... ......... Mr. Doggett..... ........ ......... .........
Mr. Smith (NE)................ X ......... ......... Mr. Thompson.... X ......... .........
Mr. Kelly..................... X ......... ......... Mr. Larson...... X ......... .........
Mr. Schweikert................ X ......... ......... Mr. Davis....... X ......... .........
Mr. LaHood.................... X ......... ......... Ms. Sanchez..... X ......... .........
Mr. Arrington................. ........ ......... ......... Ms. Sewell...... ........ ......... .........
Mr. Estes..................... X ......... ......... Ms. DelBene..... X ......... .........
Mr. Smucker................... X ......... ......... Ms. Chu......... X ......... .........
Mr. Hern...................... X ......... ......... Ms. Moore (WI).. X ......... .........
Mrs. Miller (WV).............. X ......... ......... Mr. Boyle....... X ......... .........
Dr. Murphy.................... X ......... ......... Mr. Beyer....... X ......... .........
Mr. Kustoff................... X ......... ......... Mr. Evans....... X ......... .........
Mr. Fitzpatrick............... X ......... ......... Mr. Schneider... X ......... .........
Mr. Steube.................... X ......... ......... Mr. Panetta..... X ......... .........
Ms. Tenney.................... X ......... ......... Mr. Gomez....... X ......... .........
Mrs. Fischbach................ X ......... ......... Mr. Horsford.... X ......... .........
Mr. Moore (UT)................ X ......... ......... Ms. Plaskett.... ........ ......... .........
Ms. Van Duyne................. X ......... ......... Mr. Suozzi...... X ......... .........
Mr. Feenstra.................. X ......... .........
Ms. Malliotakis............... X ......... .........
Mr. Carey..................... X ......... .........
Mr. Yakym..................... X ......... .........
Mr. Miller (OH)............... X ......... .........
Mr. Bean...................... X ......... .........
Mr. Moran..................... X ......... .........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. BUDGET EFFECTS OF THE BILL
A. Committee Estimate of Budgetary Effects
With respect to clause 3(d) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the following statement is made
concerning the effects on the budget of the bill, H.R. 7655, as
reported. The estimate prepared by the Congressional Budget
Office is included below.
B. Statement Regarding New Budget Authority and
Tax Expenditures Budget Authority
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee states that the
bill involved no new or increased budget authority. The
Committee states further that the bill involves no new or
increased tax expenditures.
C. Cost Estimate Prepared by the Congressional
Budget Office
In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, requiring a cost estimate
prepared by the CBO, the following statement by CBO is
provided.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Summary of legislation: On April 29, 2026, the House
Committee on Ways and Means ordered six bills to be reported.
This document provides estimates for those bills. Each of the
bills would amend section 447 of the Social Security Act to
broaden the purpose of funding provided for the John H. Chafee
Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood
(Chafee program).
Estimated Federal cost: The costs of the legislation fall
within budget function 600 (income security).
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the
bills will be enacted in 2026 and that the estimated amounts
will be appropriated each year. This cost estimate does not
include any effects of interactions among the legislation. If
all six bills were combined and enacted as a single piece of
legislation, the effects could be different from the sum of the
separate estimates.
Background: The Chafee program provides funding to states,
the District of Columbia, tribes, and U.S. territories to
support the educational, employment, family, and housing needs
of certain foster youth who are transitioning to independent
adult life. The program is authorized under section 477 of the
Social Security Act, which permanently provides $143 million
annually for the program, which is classified as direct (or
mandatory) spending. That law also authorizes the appropriation
of $60 million annually to provide foster youth with education
and training vouchers, which can be used toward qualified
education or employment training expenses. In CBO's baseline
projections, states spend all of the funding provided.
H.R. 7343, the Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act,
would expand eligibility for education and training vouchers to
youth who left foster care at age 14 or older for kinship
guardianship or adoption. Under current law, eligibility for
vouchers is limited to youth who experienced foster care at age
14 or older, who aged out of foster care, or who were adopted
or left for kinship guardianship after age 16. The bill also
would expand the allowable uses for education and training
vouchers to permit youth to use vouchers for short-term
workforce or vocational training, credentialing programs,
apprenticeships, and general or remedial education.
The bill would not change the amount authorized to be
appropriated for training vouchers. Thus, CBO estimates that
H.R. 7343 would have no effect on the federal budget.
H.R. 7432, the Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act, would
require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and
the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to issue
guidance to states for coordinating with federal housing
programs to improve services for youth aging out of foster
care. The bill also would allow states to use mandatory funds
for the Chafee program to provide various supportive services,
including financial assistance for security deposits and moving
costs. Finally, H.R. 7432 would require the Secretary of HHS to
submit a report to the Congress on housing outcomes for foster
youth.
The bill would not increase the amount of funding provided
for the Chafee program. Thus, CBO estimates that allowing those
funds to be used for additional purposes under H.R. 7432 would
not affect direct spending.
According to information provided by HHS, the agency is
currently implementing many of the activities required under
H.R. 7432 to comply with an executive order that was issued on
November 13, 2025.\1\ Those activities include collecting data
from the National Youth in Transition Database dashboard and
issuing joint letters from HHS and HUD to clarify rules and
promote the availability of housing-related resources for
foster youth. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing the
administrative and reporting requirements of H.R. 7432 would
cost less than $500,000 over the 2026-2031 period. Any related
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated
funds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Executive Order 14359, ``Fostering the Future for American
Children and Families,'' 90 Fed. Reg. 52227 (November 13, 2025),
https://tinyurl.com/4t58duxm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.R. 7463, the Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access
and Success Act, would increase the annual limit on education
and training vouchers from $5,000 to $12,000 per student. The
bill also would permit states, under certain conditions, to
establish a grace period for foster youth to maintain their
eligibility for vouchers by demonstrating progress toward
completion of an education or training program. In addition,
the bill would require states to make a reasonable effort to
ensure that eligible youth are aware of the voucher program and
would require them to use a simple, standardized application
for the program. H.R. 7463 also would require HHS to issue
guidance to states for carrying out the changes required under
the bill.
In fiscal year 2024, states provided 14,400 vouchers
averaging nearly $3,100. Because the bill would not change the
amount authorized to be appropriated for the voucher program,
CBO estimates that increasing the annual limit on vouchers
would not affect spending for that program.
Using information on the cost to issue guidance similar to
that required by H.R. 7463, CBO estimates that implementing
those provisions would cost less than $500,000 over the 2026-
2031 period. Any related spending would be subject to the
availability of appropriated funds.
H.R. 7529, the Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act, would
require states, when planning for foster youth to transition to
adulthood, to help foster youth identify the legal issues that
affect education, entry into the workforce, family
relationships, and housing. The bill also would permit states
to use mandatory funds for the Chafee program to help those
youth access legal services and counseling. The bill would not
change the amount of funding provided for the Chafee program
each year. Thus, CBO estimates that H.R. 7529 would have no
effect on the federal budget.
H.R. 7655, the Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster
Youth Act, would require states to provide information about
the services offered through the Maternal, Infant, and Early
Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program to foster youth who
are expecting or parenting a child. That additional information
would be required one year after enactment.
Funding for the MIECHV program is provided through
mandatory budget authority. The Health Resources and Services
Administration at HHS administers the program, which is
authorized under section 511 of the Social Security Act and
provides grants to states, the District of Columbia, tribes,
and U.S. territories to support voluntary, evidence-based home
visiting services for pregnant women and families with young
children. The program was most recently reauthorized in the
2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which provided $650
million for 2026 and $800 million for 2027. There is no funding
or authorization for the program after 2027. In CBO's
estimation, because the additional information would not be
required until late in 2027, enacting the bill would not affect
spending for the MIECHV program.
H.R. 7655 also would permit states to use mandatory funds
for the Chafee program to provide tailored case management
services to youth who are expecting or parenting a child. The
bill would not change the amount of funding provided for the
Chafee program each year. Thus, CBO estimates that H.R. 7655
would have no effect on the federal budget.
H.R. 7995, the Chafee Opportunities for New Networks and
Existing Connection Trust Act, would permit states to use
mandatory funds for the Chafee program to help foster youth
establish and maintain connections with family, mentors, peers,
and supportive adults, and to help them plan for living
independently. The bill would require the Secretary of HHS to
issue guidance to states for carrying out those activities.
The bill would not change the amount of funding provided
for the Chafee program each year. Thus, CBO estimates that H.R.
7995 would not increase direct spending.
Using information on the cost to issue guidance similar to
that required by H.R. 7995, CBO estimates that implementing
those provisions of the bill would cost less than $500,000 over
the 2026-2031 period. Any related spending would be subject to
the availability of appropriated funds.
Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None of the bills would
affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures do not apply.
Increase in long-term net direct spending and deficits: CBO
estimates that enacting the bills would not increase net direct
spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive
10-year periods beginning in 2037.
Mandates: None of the bills contain intergovernmental or
private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act.
Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Susanne Mehlman
(General Chafee program), Delaney Smith (Education and Training
Voucher program), Carolyn Ugolino (Maternal, Infant, and Early
Childhood Home Visiting Program); Mandates: Andrew Laughlin.
Estimate reviewed by: Elizabeth Cove Delisle, Chief, Income
Security Cost Estimates Unit; Kathleen FitzGerald, Chief,
Public and Private Mandates Unit; Christina Hawley Anthony,
Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Estimate approved by: Phillip L. Swagel, Director,
Congressional Budget Office.
V. OTHER MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE
A. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
With respect to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee made findings and
recommendations that are reflected in this report.
B. Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
With respect to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the
bill does not authorize funding, so no statement of general
performance goals and objectives is required.
C. Information Relating to Unfunded Mandates
This information is provided in accordance with section 423
of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-
4).
The Committee has determined that the bill does not contain
Federal mandates on the private sector. The Committee has
determined that the bill does not impose a Federal
intergovernmental mandate on State, local, or tribal
governments.
D. Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and
Limited Tariff Benefits
With respect to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee has carefully reviewed
the provisions of the bill, and states that the provisions of
the bill do not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax
benefits, or limited tariff benefits within the meaning of the
rule.
E. Duplication of Federal Programs
In compliance with clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee states that no
provision of the bill establishes or reauthorizes: (1) a
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of
another Federal program; (2) a program included in any report
from the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant
to section 21 of Public Law 111-139; or (3) a program related
to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance, published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Pub. L. No. 95-220, as amended by Pub. L. No.
98-169).
VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE IV--GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO
NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE
SERVICES
* * * * * * *
PART E--FEDERAL PAYMENTS FOR FOSTER CARE,
PREVENTION, AND PERMANENCY
* * * * * * *
SEC. 477. JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION
TO ADULTHOOD.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide
States with flexible funding that will enable programs to be
designed and conducted--
(1) to support all youth who have experienced foster
care at age 14 or older in their transition to
adulthood through transitional services such as
assistance in obtaining a high school diploma and post-
secondary education, career exploration, vocational
training, job placement and retention, training and
opportunities to practice daily living skills (such as
financial literacy training and driving instruction),
substance abuse prevention, and preventive health
activities (including smoking avoidance, nutrition
education, and pregnancy prevention);
(2) to help children who have experienced foster care
at age 14 or older achieve meaningful, permanent
connections with a caring adult;
(3) to help children who have experienced foster care
at age 14 or older engage in age or developmentally
appropriate activities, positive youth development, and
experiential learning that reflects what their peers in
intact families experience;
(4) to provide financial, housing, counseling,
employment, education, and other appropriate support
and services to former foster care recipients between
18 and 21 years of age (or 23 years of age, in the case
of a State with a certification under subsection
(b)(3)(A)(ii) to provide assistance and services to
youths who have aged out of foster care and have not
attained such age, in accordance with such subsection)
to complement their own efforts to achieve self-
sufficiency and to assure that program participants
recognize and accept their personal responsibility for
preparing for and then making the transition from
adolescence to adulthood;
(5) to make available vouchers for education and
training, including postsecondary training and
education, to youths who have aged out of foster care;
(6) to provide the services referred to in this
subsection to children who, after attaining 16 years of
age, have left foster care for kinship guardianship or
adoption; [and]
(7) to ensure children who are likely to remain in
foster care until 18 years of age have regular, ongoing
opportunities to engage in age or developmentally-
appropriate activities as defined in section
475(11)[.]; and
(8) to connect foster youth in eligible families (as
such term is defined in section 511) who receive
services under this part with evidence-based home
visiting and support services provided under section
511.
(b) Applications.--
(1) In general.--A State may apply for funds from its
allotment under subsection (c) for a period of five
consecutive fiscal years by submitting to the
Secretary, in writing, a plan that meets the
requirements of paragraph (2) and the certifications
required by paragraph (3) with respect to the plan.
(2) State plan.--A plan meets the requirements of
this paragraph if the plan specifies which State agency
or agencies will administer, supervise, or oversee the
programs carried out under the plan, and describes how
the State intends to do the following:
(A) Design and deliver programs to achieve
the purposes of this section.
(B) Ensure that all political subdivisions in
the State are served by the program, though not
necessarily in a uniform manner.
(C) Ensure that the programs serve children
of various ages and at various stages of
achieving independence.
(D) Involve the public and private sectors in
helping youth in foster care achieve
independence.
(E) Use objective criteria for determining
eligibility for benefits and services under the
programs, and for ensuring fair and equitable
treatment of benefit recipients.
(F) Cooperate in national evaluations of the
effects of the programs in achieving the
purposes of this section.
(3) Certifications.--The certifications required by
this paragraph with respect to a plan are the
following:
(A)(i) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State will
provide assistance and services to youths who
have aged out of foster care and have
notattained 21 years of age.
(ii) If the State has elected under section
475(8)(B) to extend eligibility for foster care
to all children who have not attained 21 years
of age, or if the Secretary determines that the
State agency responsible for administering the
State plans under this part and part B uses
State funds or any other funds not provided
under this part to provide services and
assistance for youths who have aged out of
foster care that are comparable to the services
and assistance the youths would receive if the
State had made such an election, the
certification required under clause (i) may
provide that the State will provide assistance
and services to youths who have aged out of
foster care and have not attained 23 years of
age.
(B) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that not more than 30
percent of the amounts paid to the State from
its allotment under subsection (c) for a fiscal
year will be expended for room or board for
youths who have aged out of foster care and
have not attained 21 years of age (or 23 years
of age, in the case of a State with a
certification under subparagraph (A)(i) to
provide assistance and services to youths who
have aged out of foster care and have not
attained such age, in accordance with
subparagraph (A)(ii)).
(C) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that none of the amounts
paid to the State from its allotment under
subsection (c) will be expended for room or
board for any child who has not attained 18
years of age.
(D) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State will use
training funds provided under the program of
Federal payments for foster care and adoption
assistance to provide training including
training on youth development to help foster
parents, adoptive parents, workers in group
homes, and case managers understand and address
the issues confronting youth preparing for a
successful transition to adulthood and making a
permanent connection with a caring adult.
(E) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State has
consulted widely with public and private
organizations in developing the plan and that
the State has given all interested members of
the public at least 30 days to submit comments
on the plan.
(F) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State will make
every effort to coordinate the State programs
receiving funds provided from an allotment made
to the State under subsection (c) with other
Federal and State programs for youth
(especially transitional living youth projects
funded under part B of title III of the
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
of 1974), abstinence education programs, local
housing programs, programs for disabled youth
(especially sheltered workshops), and school-
to-work programs offered by high schools or
local workforce agencies.
(G) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that each Indian tribe in
the State has been consulted about the programs
to be carried out under the plan; that there
have been efforts to coordinate the programs
with such tribes; that benefits and services
under the programs will be made available to
Indian children in the State on the same basis
as to other children in the State; and that the
State will negotiate in good faith with any
Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal
consortium in the State that does not receive
an allotment under subsection (j)(4) for a
fiscal year and that requests to develop an
agreement with the State to administer,
supervise, or oversee the programs to be
carried out under the plan with respect to the
Indian children who are eligible for such
programs and who are under the authority of the
tribe, organization, or consortium and to
receive from the State an appropriate portion
of the State allotment under subsection (c) for
the cost of such administration, supervision,
or oversight.
(H) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State will ensure
that youth participating in the program under
this section participate directly in designing
their own program activities that prepare them
for independent living and that the youth
accept personal responsibility for living up to
their part of the program.
(I) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State has
established and will enforce standards and
procedures to prevent fraud and abuse in the
programs carried out under the plan.
(J) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State educational
and training voucher program under this section
is in compliance with the conditions specified
in subsection (i), including a statement
describing methods the State will use--
(i) to ensure that the total amount
of educational assistance to a youth
under this section and under other
Federal and Federally supported
programs does not exceed the limitation
specified in subsection (i)(5); and
(ii) to avoid duplication of benefits
under this and any other Federal or
Federally assisted benefit program.
(K) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State will ensure
that a youth participating in the program under
this section are provided with education about
the importance of designating another
individual to make health care treatment
decisions on behalf of the youth if the youth
becomes unable to participate in such decisions
and the youth does not have, or does not want,
a relative who would otherwise be authorized
under State law to make such decisions, whether
a health care power of attorney, health care
proxy, or other similar document is recognized
under State law, and how to execute such a
document if the youth wants to do so.
(L) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State has
processes in place to ensure that a youth
participating in the program under this section
who is in an eligible family (as such term is
defined in section 511) is provided with
information regarding evidence-based home
visiting and support services provided in the
State under section 511.
(4) Approval.--The Secretary shall approve an
application submitted by a State pursuant to paragraph
(1) for a period if--
(A) the application is submitted on or before
June 30 of the calendar year in which such
period begins; and
(B) the Secretary finds that the application
contains the material required by paragraph
(1).
(5) Authority to implement certain amendments;
notification.--A State with an application approved
under paragraph (4) may implement any amendment to the
plan contained in the application if the application,
incorporating the amendment, would be approvable under
paragraph (4). Within 30 days after a State implements
any such amendment, the State shall notify the
Secretary of the amendment.
(6) Availability.--The State shall make available to
the public any application submitted by the State
pursuant to paragraph (1), and a brief summary of the
plan contained in the application.
(c) Allotments to States.--
(1) General program allotment.--From the amount
specified in subsection (h)(1) that remains after
applying subsection (g)(2) for a fiscal year, the
Secretary shall allot to each State with an application
approved under subsection (b) for the fiscal year the
amount which bears the ratio to such remaining amount
equal to the State foster care ratio, as adjusted in
accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Hold harmless provision.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall allot to
each State whose allotment for a fiscal year
under paragraph (1) is less than the greater of
$500,000 or the amount payable to the State
under this section for fiscal year 1998, an
additional amount equal to the difference
between such allotment and such greater amount.
(B) Ratable reduction of certain
allotments.--In the case of a State not
described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph
for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce
the amount allotted to the State for the fiscal
year under paragraph (1) by the amount that
bears the same ratio to the sum of the
differences determined under subparagraph (A)
of this paragraph for the fiscal year as the
excess of the amount so allotted over the
greater of $500,000 or the amount payable to
the State under this section for fiscal year
1998 bears to the sum of such excess amounts
determined for all such States.
(3) Voucher program allotment.--From the amount, if
any, appropriated pursuant to subsection (h)(2) for a
fiscal year, the Secretary may allot to each State with
an application approved under subsection (b) for the
fiscal year an amount equal to the State foster care
ratio multiplied by the amount so specified.
(4) State foster care ratio.--In this subsection, the
term ``State foster care ratio'' means the ratio of the
number of children in foster care under a program of
the State in the most recent fiscal year for which the
information is available to the total number of
children in foster care in all States for the most
recent fiscal year.
(d) Use of Funds.--
[(1) In general.--A State to which an amount is paid
from its allotment under subsection (c) may use the
amount in any manner that is reasonably calculated to
accomplish the purposes of this section.]
(1) In general.--A State to which an amount is paid
from its allotment under subsection (c)(1) may use the
amount--
(A) to provide tailored case management and
resource coordination services to youth
otherwise eligible for services under the State
program under this section who are expectant or
parenting; or
(B) in any manner that is reasonably
calculated to accomplish the purposes of this
section.
(2) No supplantation of other funds available for
same general purposes.--The amounts paid to a State
from its allotment under subsection (c) shall be used
to supplement and not supplant any other funds which
are available for the same general purposes in the
State.
(3) Two-year availability of funds.--Payments made to
a State under this section for a fiscal year shall be
expended by the State in the fiscal year or in the
succeeding fiscal year.
(4) Reallocation of unused funds.--If a State does
not apply for funds under this section for a fiscal
year within such time as may be provided by the
Secretary or does not expend allocated funds within the
period at the end of the time sentence specified under
section 477(d)(3), the funds to which the State would
be entitled for the fiscal year shall be reallocated to
1 or more other States on the basis of their relative
need for additional payments under this section, as
determined by the Secretary.
(5) Redistribution of unexpended amounts.--
(A) Availability of amounts.--To the extent
that amounts paid to States under this section
in a fiscal year remain unexpended by the
States at the end of the succeeding fiscal
year, the Secretary may make the amounts
available for redistribution in the second
succeeding fiscal year among the States that
apply for additional funds under this section
for that second succeeding fiscal year.
(B) Redistribution.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
redistribute the amounts made available
under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal
year among eligible applicant States.
In this subparagraph, the term
``eligible applicant State'' means a
State that has applied for additional
funds for the fiscal year under
subparagraph (A) if the Secretary
determines that the State will use the
funds for the purpose for which
originally allotted under this section.
(ii) Amount to be redistributed.--The
amount to be redistributed to each
eligible applicant State shall be the
amount so made available multiplied by
the State foster care ratio, (as
defined in subsection (c)(4), except
that, in such subsection, ``all
eligible applicant States (as defined
in subsection (d)(5)(B)(i))'' shall be
substituted for ``all States'').
(iii) Treatment of redistributed
amount.--Any amount made available to a
State under this paragraph shall be
regarded as part of the allotment of
the State under this section for the
fiscal year in which the redistribution
is made.
(C) Tribes.--For purposes of this paragraph,
the term ``State'' includes an Indian tribe,
tribal organization, or tribal consortium that
receives an allotment under this section.
(e) Penalties.--
(1) Use of grant in violation of this part.--If the
Secretary is made aware, by an audit conducted under
chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code, or by any
other means, that a program receiving funds from an
allotment made to a State under subsection (c) has been
operated in a manner that is inconsistent with, or not
disclosed in the State application approved under
subsection (b), the Secretary shall assess a penalty
against the State in an amount equal to not less than 1
percent and not more than 5 percent of the amount of
the allotment.
(2) Failure to comply with data reporting
requirement.--The Secretary shall assess a penalty
against a State that fails during a fiscal year to
comply with an information collection plan implemented
under subsection (f) in an amount equal to not less
than 1 percent and not more than 5 percent of the
amount allotted to the State for the fiscal year.
(3) Penalties based on degree of noncompliance.--The
Secretary shall assess penalties under this subsection
based on the degree of noncompliance.
(f) Data Collection and Performance Measurement.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with
State and local public officials responsible for
administering independent living and other child
welfare programs, child welfare advocates, Members of
Congress, youth service providers, and researchers,
shall--
(A) develop outcome measures (including
measures of educational attainment, high school
diploma, employment, avoidance of dependency,
homelessness, nonmarital childbirth,
incarceration, and high-risk behaviors) that
can be used to assess the performance of States
in operating independent living programs;
(B) identify data elements needed to track--
(i) the number and characteristics of
children receiving services under this
section;
(ii) the type and quantity of
services being provided; and
(iii) State performance on the
outcome measures; and
(C) develop and implement a plan to collect
the needed information beginning with the
second fiscal year beginning after the date of
the enactment of this section.
(2) Report to congress.--Not later than October 1,
2019, the Secretary 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 the
National Youth in Transition Database and any other
databases in which States report outcome measures
relating to children in foster care and children who
have aged out of foster care or left foster care for
kinship guardianship or adoption. The report shall
include the following:
(A) A description of the reasons for entry
into foster care and of the foster care
experiences, such as length of stay, number of
placement settings, case goal, and discharge
reason of 17-year-olds who are surveyed by the
National Youth in Transition Database and an
analysis of the comparison of that description
with the reasons for entry and foster care
experiences of children of other ages who exit
from foster care before attaining age 17.
(B) A description of the characteristics of
the individuals who report poor outcomes at
ages 19 and 21 to the National Youth in
Transition Database.
(C) Benchmarks for determining what
constitutes a poor outcome for youth who remain
in or have exited from foster care and plans
the executive branch will take to incorporate
these benchmarks in efforts to evaluate child
welfare agency performance in providing
services to children transitioning from foster
care.
(D) An analysis of the association between
types of placement, number of overall
placements, time spent in foster care, and
other factors, and outcomes at ages 19 and 21.
(E) An analysis of the differences in
outcomes for children in and formerly in foster
care at age 19 and 21 among States.
(g) Evaluations.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct
evaluations of such State programs funded under this
section as the Secretary deems to be innovative or of
potential national significance. The evaluation of any
such program shall include information on the effects
of the program on education, employment, and personal
development. To the maximum extent practicable, the
evaluations shall be based on rigorous scientific
standards including random assignment to treatment and
control groups. The Secretary is encouraged to work
directly with State and local governments to design
methods for conducting the evaluations, directly or by
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
(2) Funding of evaluations.--The Secretary shall
reserve 1.5 percent of the amount specified in
subsection (h) for a fiscal year to carry out, during
the fiscal year, evaluation, technical assistance,
performance measurement, and data collection activities
related to this section, directly or through grants,
contracts, or cooperative agreements with appropriate
entities.
(h) Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry
out this section and for payments to States under section
474(a)(4), there are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary for each fiscal year--
(1) $140,000,000 or, beginning in fiscal year 2020,
$143,000,000, which shall be available for all purposes
under this section; and
(2) an additional $60,000,000, which are authorized
to be available for payments to States for education
and training vouchers for youths who age out of foster
care, to assist the youths to develop skills necessary
to lead independent and productive lives.
(i) Educational and Training Vouchers.--The following
conditions shall apply to a State educational and training
voucher program under this section:
(1) Vouchers under the program may be available to
youths otherwise eligible for services under the State
program under this section who have attained 14 years
of age.
(2) For purposes of the voucher program, youths who,
after attaining 16 years of age, are adopted from, or
enter kinship guardianship from, foster care may be
considered to be youths otherwise eligible for services
under the State program under this section.
(3) The State may allow youths participating in the
voucher program to remain eligible until they attain 26
years of age, as long as they are enrolled in a
postsecondary education or training program and are
making satisfactory progress toward completion of that
program, but in no event may a youth participate in the
program for more than 5 years (whether or not
consecutive).
(4) The voucher or vouchers provided for an
individual under this section--
(A) may be available for the cost of
attendance at an institution of higher
education, as defined in section 102 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965; and
(B) shall not exceed the lesser of $5,000 per
year or the total cost of attendance, as
defined in section 472 of that Act.
(5) The amount of a voucher under this section may be
disregarded for purposes of determining the recipient's
eligibility for, or the amount of, any other Federal or
Federally supported assistance, except that the total
amount of educational assistance to a youth under this
section and under other Federal and Federally supported
programs shall not exceed the total cost of attendance,
as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965, and except that the State agency shall take
appropriate steps to prevent duplication of benefits
under this and other Federal or Federally supported
programs.
(6) The program is coordinated with other appropriate
education and training programs.
(j) Authority for an Indian Tribe, Tribal Organization, or
Tribal Consortium to Receive an Allotment.--
(1) In general.--An Indian tribe, tribal
organization, or tribal consortium with a plan approved
under section 479B, or which is receiving funding to
provide foster care under this part pursuant to a
cooperative agreement or contract with a State, may
apply for an allotment out of any funds authorized by
paragraph (1) or (2) (or both) of subsection (h) of
this section.
(2) Application.--A tribe, organization, or
consortium desiring an allotment under paragraph (1) of
this subsection shall submit an application to the
Secretary to directly receive such allotment that
includes a plan which--
(A) satisfies such requirements of paragraphs
(2) and (3) of subsection (b) as the Secretary
determines are appropriate;
(B) contains a description of the tribe's,
organization's, or consortium's consultation
process regarding the programs to be carried
out under the plan with each State for which a
portion of an allotment under subsection (c)
would be redirected to the tribe, organization,
or consortium; and
(C) contains an explanation of the results of
such consultation, particularly with respect
to--
(i) determining the eligibility for
benefits and services of Indian
children to be served under the
programs to be carried out under the
plan; and
(ii) the process for consulting with
the State in order to ensure the
continuity of benefits and services for
such children who will transition from
receiving benefits and services under
programs carried out under a State plan
under subsection (b)(2) to receiving
benefits and services under programs
carried out under a plan under this
subsection.
(3) Payments.--The Secretary shall pay an Indian
tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium with
an application and plan approved under this subsection
from the allotment determined for the tribe,
organization, or consortium under paragraph (4) of this
subsection in the same manner as is provided in section
474(a)(4) (and, where requested, and if funds are
appropriated, section 474(e)) with respect to a State,
or in such other manner as is determined appropriate by
the Secretary, except that in no case shall an Indian
tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium
receive a lesser proportion of such funds than a State
is authorized to receive under those sections.
(4) Allotment.--From the amounts allotted to a State
under subsection (c) of this section for a fiscal year,
the Secretary shall allot to each Indian tribe, tribal
organization, or tribal consortium with an application
and plan approved under this subsection for that fiscal
year an amount equal to the tribal foster care ratio
determined under paragraph (5) of this subsection for
the tribe, organization, or consortium multiplied by
the allotment amount of the State within which the
tribe, organization, or consortium is located. The
allotment determined under this paragraph is deemed to
be a part of the allotment determined under section
477(c) for the State in which the Indian tribe, tribal
organization, or tribal consortium is located.
(5) Tribal foster care ratio.--For purposes of
paragraph (4), the tribal foster care ratio means, with
respect to an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or
tribal consortium, the ratio of--
(A) the number of children in foster care
under the responsibility of the Indian tribe,
tribal organization, or tribal consortium
(either directly or under supervision of the
State), in the most recent fiscal year for
which the information is available; to
(B) the sum of--
(i) the total number of children in
foster care under the responsibility of
the State within which the Indian
tribe, tribal organization, or tribal
consortium is located; and
(ii) the total number of children in
foster care under the responsibility of
all Indian tribes, tribal
organizations, or tribal consortia in
the State (either directly or under
supervision of the State) that have a
plan approved under this subsection.
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