Chuck Grassley: “the Senate recently passed legislation reauthorizing an important child welfare program known as Promoting Safe and…”

“the Senate recently passed legislation reauthorizing an important child welfare program known as Promoting Safe and Stable Families. Under the auspices of this Social Security Act grant program, States are able to provide services to at-risk families to prevent the need for children to enter the foster care system. Four types of services are included in the program: family preservation; community-based family support; time-limited family reunification; and adoption promotion and support. In addition, the program provides funding for state court improvement projects. I cannot proceed without praising Iowa's court improvement project which, under the leadership of Judge Terry Huitink and Judge Stephen Clarke, has produced valuable research to streamline the court process for children waiting to be adopted. The Iowan project also provides training for judges in order to increase understanding of the needs of children in the foster care system. The reauthorization passed by the Senate ensures that money will be available for the next five years at an annual minimum of $305 million per year. An additional $200 million is authorized to be spent from discretionary funds determined annually by Senate appropriators. I am also pleased the 2002 Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and education appropriations legislation included $70 million in discretionary spending for the Safe and Stable program, for a total funding level of $375 million in fiscal year 2002.”