Chuck Grassley: “since the Senator from Indiana is in the chair, I want to compliment Senator Coats for his involvement in this…”

“since the Senator from Indiana is in the chair, I want to compliment Senator Coats for his involvement in this legislation. He had a very important role in this adoption and foster care legislation. I know the bill contains key parts in which he was interested. Senator Coats was very much a part of this being a successful product. Confronting the issues for children in foster care, is uncomfortable, almost painful. But the foster care system is in crisis and children are suffering. We are compelled to confront these problems. Foster care is a complicated entitlement program. While the issues are complex, so are the solutions. Today we are getting what we are paying for. It is not such a good situation, because what we are getting is long-term foster care--not permanency for these kids. Foster care was set up to be a temporary emergency situation for kids. The foster care system now is a lifestyle for so many of them. The Federal Government continues to pour billions of dollars into a system that lacks genuine accountability. Instead of encouraging States to increase adoptions, the current system rewards long-term foster care arrangements.”