Opinion ID: 474557
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 2 The instant appeal arises out of conflicting state and federal approaches to the problem of foster care. In response to demonstrated inadequacies in our nation's system of foster care, see generally 125 Cong.Rec. S29938 (daily ed. Oct. 29, 1979) (remarks of Sen. Cranston), Congress enacted Pub.L. No. 96-272, the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act (the Act), signed into law by President Carter on June 17, 1980. The Act amended Title IV of the Social Security Act and sought to provide the states with fiscal incentives to encourage a more active and systematic monitoring of children in the foster care system. In particular, the Act amended the Title IV-B program, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 620-628, which provides funds to the states for the improvement of child welfare services, and created the Title IV-E program, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 670-676, which provides reimbursement to the states for foster care maintenance and adoption assistance payments made by the states on behalf of eligible children. 3 In amending Title IV-B, Congress authorized annual appropriations of $266 million [f]or the purpose of ... establishing, extending, and strengthening child welfare services.... 42 U.S.C. Sec. 620(a). Of this $266 million, each state would receive a proportionate share of the initial $141 million appropriation. For a state to receive its share of any funds appropriated in excess of $141 million, the Act provides that the state must certify, inter alia, that it: 4 (2) has implemented and is operating to the satisfaction of the Secretary-- 5