Supporting America’s Children and Families Act

1/22/2025, 5:27 PM

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.

Bill 118 hr 9076, also known as the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to provide support and resources for children and families across the country.

One key aspect of the bill is the expansion of access to affordable childcare for working families. This includes increasing funding for childcare subsidies and grants, as well as investing in early childhood education programs. The bill also aims to improve the quality of childcare facilities and ensure that all children have access to safe and nurturing environments.

Additionally, the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act includes provisions to address food insecurity among children and families. This includes expanding access to nutritious meals through programs like school lunch and breakfast programs, as well as increasing funding for food assistance programs like SNAP. The bill also addresses the issue of affordable housing for families, with provisions to increase funding for affordable housing programs and improve access to safe and stable housing for low-income families. Overall, the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act aims to provide comprehensive support for children and families in need, with a focus on improving access to childcare, nutritious food, and affordable housing. The bill is currently being debated in Congress, with bipartisan support for its goals of supporting America’s most vulnerable populations.
Congress
118
Number
HR - 9076
Introduced on
2024-07-22
# Amendments
0
Sponsors
+5
Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

9/19/2024
Text
PDF
XML

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
Passed in House
Introduced to Senate
Passed in Senate
To President
Signed by President
Became Public Law

Purpose and Summary

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.

Bill 118 hr 9076, also known as the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to provide support and resources for children and families across the country.

One key aspect of the bill is the expansion of access to affordable childcare for working families. This includes increasing funding for childcare subsidies and grants, as well as investing in early childhood education programs. The bill also aims to improve the quality of childcare facilities and ensure that all children have access to safe and nurturing environments.

Additionally, the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act includes provisions to address food insecurity among children and families. This includes expanding access to nutritious meals through programs like school lunch and breakfast programs, as well as increasing funding for food assistance programs like SNAP. The bill also addresses the issue of affordable housing for families, with provisions to increase funding for affordable housing programs and improve access to safe and stable housing for low-income families. Overall, the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act aims to provide comprehensive support for children and families in need, with a focus on improving access to childcare, nutritious food, and affordable housing. The bill is currently being debated in Congress, with bipartisan support for its goals of supporting America’s most vulnerable populations.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo reauthorize and modernize part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to strengthen child welfare services, expand the availability of prevention services to better meet the needs of vulnerable families, and for other purposes.
Policy Areas
Families
Potential Impact
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

Comments

Related

Member:  
Danny K. Davis
Member:  
Daniel T. Kildee
Member:  
Brad R. Wenstrup
Member:  
Darin LaHood
Member:  
Gwen Moore
Member:  
Michelle Steel
Member:  
Judy Chu
Member:  
Mike Kelly
Member:  
Suzan K. DelBene
Committee:  
Finance
Bill Update Alert:  
Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act
Bill Update Alert:  
PARENT Act of 2024
Bill Update Alert:  
To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to support State implementation of Federal standards established under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.
Vote Totals:  
118 2nd 423 - On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
Committee:  
Ways and Means

Recent Activity

Latest Summary2/10/2025

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 substan...

Latest Action1/4/2025
Became Public Law No: 118-258.