I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7419 
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration 
grant program to provide emergency relief to foster youth and improve 
pre-placement services offered by foster care stabilization agencies, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 9, 2026 
Mr. BACON (for himself, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. NUNN of Iowa, and Ms. MOORE 
of Wisconsin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to establish 
a demonstration grant program to provide emergency 
relief to foster youth and improve pre-placement services 
offered by foster care stabilization agencies, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Foster Care Stabiliza-
tion Act of 2026’’. 
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SEC. 2. GRANTS TO IMPROVE PRE-PLACEMENT SERVICES 
FOR FOSTER YOUTH. 
Section 426 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
626) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) GRANTS TO IMPROVE PRE-PLACEMENT SERV-
ICES FOR FOSTER YOUTH.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall 
award 3 demonstration grants of not more than 
$1,000,000 to foster care stabilization agencies for 
the purpose of providing emergency relief to foster 
youth and improving pre-placement services for fos-
ter youth waiting for placement. 
‘‘(2) DURATION.—A foster care stabilization 
agency that receives a grant under this subsection 
shall have 3 years to spend funds awarded by the 
grant and return any unused grant funds to the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION.—A foster care stabilization 
agency that desires to receive a grant under this 
subsection shall submit to the Secretary an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require, that 
shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) A description of how grant funds will 
be used to provide emergency relief to foster 
youth by the foster care stabilization agency. 
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‘‘(B) A description of how grant funds will 
be used to improve pre-placement services of-
fered by the foster care stabilization agency. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATION DISSEMINATION.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that the solicitation of applica-
tions for a grant under this subsection is posted 
publicly on the website of the Administration for 
Children and Families and shall make special dis-
semination efforts to rural areas and among Indian 
Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian 
organizations. 
‘‘(5) USE OF FUNDS.—A grant awarded under 
this subsection may be used to carry out any of the 
following activities: 
‘‘(A) Hiring of personnel necessary to pro-
vide emergency relief to foster youth and ensure 
that services, resources, and assistance reach 
such youth. 
‘‘(B) Provision of clothing and other per-
sonal necessities to a foster youth for a total 
not to exceed $250 per foster youth, per year. 
‘‘(C) Purchase of food and equipment 
needed to prepare food for foster youth. 
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‘‘(D) Provision of service and support to 
prevent and respond to occurrences of child 
abuse and neglect with respect to foster youth. 
‘‘(E) Any other extraordinary or emer-
gency assistance needed to promote the safety 
and self-sufficiency of foster youth. 
‘‘(F) Any other purpose that the Secretary 
determines appropriate. 
‘‘(6) RESERVATION.—The Secretary shall re-
serve $45,000 of any amounts referred to in para-
graph (9) for administration, oversight, and tech-
nical assistance activities related to this subsection. 
‘‘(7) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to 
the Congress a report that— 
‘‘(A) describes how grants awarded under 
this subsection have been used to provide emer-
gency relief to foster youth; 
‘‘(B) describes how grants awarded under 
this subsection have been used on pre-place-
ment services; 
‘‘(C) contains data on the extent of cloth-
ing and other necessities purchased with grant 
funds awarded under this subsection that have 
been provided to foster youth; 
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‘‘(D) provides an evaluation of case out-
comes for foster youth who have benefitted 
from grant funds; and 
‘‘(E) states the number of home transfers 
for each foster youth that has benefitted from 
grant funds. 
‘‘(8) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) FOSTER CARE STABILIZATION AGEN-
CY.—The term ‘foster care stabilization agency’ 
means a local public or private nonprofit entity, 
including a community or faith-based organiza-
tion, with expertise and experience providing di-
rect services to 1 or more of the following: 
‘‘(i) Children who are under the care 
and placement responsibility of a State or 
tribal agency that administers a plan 
under this part or part E. 
‘‘(ii) Foster youth who have not at-
tained 18 years of age. 
‘‘(iii) Foster youth who have attained 
18 years of age. 
‘‘(B) FOSTER
YOUTH.—The term ‘foster 
youth’ means an individual in foster care who 
has not attained 26 years of age. 
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‘‘(C) HOME TRANSFER.—The term ‘home 
transfer’ means the initial placement of a foster 
youth in foster care, and any subsequent place-
ment of that foster youth while in foster care. 
‘‘(9) FUNDING.—To the extent that the total of 
the amounts made available under subsection (a) for 
a fiscal year exceeds $5,000,000 more than the 
amount so made available for the previous fiscal 
year, the Secretary shall use the amounts to carry 
out this subsection.’’. 
Æ 
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