Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act, aiming to reauthorize and improve upon important child services programs that “promote family unity and the safety and wellbeing of children in foster care.”
According to Sen. Cornyn’s press release, the bill would reauthorize and improve Title IV-B of the Social Security Act by:
- Expanding evidence-based services to prevent child abuse and neglect;
- Increasing access to training for caseworkers and improving recruitment and retention efforts to address caseworker shortage and bolster the workforce;
- Reducing administrative burden;
- Providing grant funding for the Court Improvement Program to support child legal proceedings;
- Streamlining access to funding, including for Indian tribes;
- And strengthening support systems for relatives and family transitions, including children entering into kinship diversion, exiting foster care, or transitioning to an adopted family.
Sen. Cornyn stated that this legislation would ensure that a “360-degree support system” is in place for children in foster care across the country.
“Creating a safe, healthy, and supportive environment at home is the first step to helping Texas children thrive,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would make strategic and evidence-backed improvements to ensure a 360-degree support system is in place for children in foster care nationwide.”
Furthermore, Sen. Bennet added that this bill will allow communities around the nation to have loving and supporting homes.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that every kid in America grows up in a loving and supporting home,” said Sen. Bennet. “That’s why we are proposing legislation to cut through bureaucracy and provide critical, flexible investment in child welfare policy. This will allow us to provide communities in Colorado and throughout the country with the flexibility they need to keep kids safe and families together.”
Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Cornyn, and Thune vied for the Senate Majority Leader position for the upcoming 119th Congress, but Thune came out victorious, securing a majority of the leadership on the right side of the upper chamber.
