Supporting America’s Children and Families Act

Bill: 118-hr-9076
Sponsor: Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16]
Introduced: 2024-07-22 in the House
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Community life and organization
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Detention of persons
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Family relationships
Family services
Government information and archives
Indian social and development programs
Intergovernmental relations
Judicial procedure and administration
Lawyers and legal services
Mental health
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
Research administration and funding
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local courts
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: 

Protecting America's Children by Strengthening Families Act

This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 certain child and family services and modifies programs related to prevention services, youth in foster care, parental substance use disorder, and kinship caregiving, which are generally administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

First, the bill reauthorizes funding through FY2029 for the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services and the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families programs. It also requires 3% of allocated funding to be paid directly to Indian tribes. 

The bill also reauthorizes through FY2029 the Court Improvement Program and requires the ACF to issue guidance for technological changes necessary to conduct proceedings remotely.

The ACF also must review administrative requirements for state child welfare agencies and explore ways to reduce the compliance time.
 
The bill also authorizes grants to states and other specified organizations to evaluate child and family services and kinship navigator programs.

Further, state plans for child welfare services must describe how states may offer virtual caseworker visits to youth in care who are over 18 and have consented to such visits.

The bill also reauthorizes grants to states for caseworker support and authorizes demonstration grants to support relationships between foster children and their incarcerated parents.

Finally, the bill modifies certain requirements regarding data collection and technical assistance for programs relating to behavioral health services, and it requires the ACF to report on post-adoption and guardianship services.

The bill takes effect on October 1, 2025.

action_date: 2025-01-04
text: 

Supporting America’s Children and Families Act

TITLE I--CHILD WELFARE REAUTHORIZATION AND MODERNIZATION

Protecting America's Children by Strengthening Families Act

This title reauthorizes through FY2029 certain child and family services and modifies programs related to prevention services, youth in foster care, parental substance use disorder, and kinship caregiving, which are generally administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

First, the title reauthorizes funding through FY2029 for the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services and the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families programs. It also requires 3% of allocated funding to be paid directly to Indian tribes. 

The title also reauthorizes through FY2029 the Court Improvement Program and requires the ACF to issue guidance for technological changes necessary to conduct proceedings remotely.

The title reauthorizes through FY2029 and revises regional partnership grants for services to families affected by substance use disorders.

The ACF also must review administrative requirements for state child welfare agencies and explore ways to reduce the compliance time.

The title also authorizes grants to states and other specified organizations to evaluate child and family services and kinship navigator programs.

Further, state plans for child welfare services must describe how states may offer virtual caseworker visits to youth in care who are over 18 and have consented to such visits.

The title also authorizes family preservation and family support services for youth under the age of 26. It also includes within the definition of 
family preservation services
 nonrecurring, short-term benefits that address immediate needs related to a specific crisis, such as supports for housing or food assistance.

The title also reauthorizes grants to states for caseworker support and authorizes demonstration grants to support relationships between foster children and their incarcerated parents.

Finally, the title modifies certain requirements regarding data collection and technical assistance for programs relating to behavioral health services, and it requires the ACF to report on post-adoption and guardianship services.

The title takes effect on October 1, 2025.

TITLE II--STRENGTHENING STATE AND TRIBAL CHILD SUPPORT

Strengthening State and Tribal Child Support Enforcement Act

This title permits tribal child support enforcement agencies to access the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program to collect past-due child support payments from the federal tax refunds of noncustodial parents.

Additionally, the title authorizes the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration to disclose certain tax return information to tribal child support enforcement agencies. Such information may be disclosed to establish and collect child support obligations from, and to locate, those individuals owing such obligations. The title also explicitly authorizes state and tribal child support enforcement agencies to disclose necessary information to contractors for these purposes.

The title also permits the ACF to reimburse tribal agencies for certain reporting costs related to the Federal Parent Locator Service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-04
text: Became Public Law No: 118-258.
action_date: 2025-01-04
text: Became Public Law No: 118-258.
action_date: 2025-01-04
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2025-01-04
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-12-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-12-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-12-23
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7317)
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2024-09-19
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2024-09-18
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-09-18
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-09-18
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 10 (Roll no. 423). (text: 09/17/2024 CR H5259-5266)
action_date: 2024-09-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 10 (Roll no. 423). (text: 09/17/2024 CR H5259-5266)
action_date: 2024-09-18
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5341-5342)
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 9076.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5259-5270)
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 574.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-679.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-679.
action_date: 2024-07-24
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 38 - 0.
action_date: 2024-07-24
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 118-258