Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise tonight in support of H.R. 1194, a bill to extend the child welfare waiver authority for States. This bill will allow States to test innovative approaches to improve the way we protect children from abuse and neglect. In doing so, it extends authority that was in place between 1994 and 2006 but has since lapsed. Since 2006, the Department of Health and Human Services has not had the authority to approve new efforts by States to test better ways of helping children at risk of abuse or neglect. The bill before us today would simply allow HHS to approve new waivers once again so States can test new ways of better serving children and families. As the current chairman of the Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over child welfare programs, I'm pleased to cosponsor this legislation with my friend, Mr. McDermott, a current member of the subcommittee, as well as its prior chairman. The Human Resources Subcommittee held a hearing on child welfare waivers last year, which showed the value of State flexibility in this area. Since 1994, 23 States have run waiver programs that helped inform the child welfare policy debate and, more importantly, improve the lives of children and families. Seven States have been granted extensions and have continued their waiver programs approved before 2006.…”