Political Quotes

“this funding bill shortchanges an important program designed to prevent child abuse, reunify families, and promote the adoption of certain children in the foster care system. Under this legislation, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program would receive only half its discretionary allocation. This inadequate funding level stands in stark contrast to President Bush's budget, which proposes full funding for the program. The bill also ignores a bipartisan plea from the Chairman and Ranking Member of the authorizing subcommittee to fully fund this important program. The Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (Title IV-B, Subpart 2 of the Social Security Act) provides grants to states for four kinds of child welfare services: family preservation, family support, time-limited family reunification, and adoption promotion and support. The program represents the most significant effort by the Federal government to support services that may prevent child abuse and neglect from occurring, and that help children move quickly from foster care to permanent homes. With over half a million children currently in foster care, and nearly one million cases of child abuse or neglect substantiated every year, funding for this program is vitally important. If we really care about helping and protecting our most vulnerable children, then we should be willing to make at least a modest investment to achieve that goal.”