Dave Camp: “Mr. Chairman, I wanted to comment on this amendment and the fact that it is critical that foster homes be safe for…”

“Mr. Chairman, I wanted to comment on this amendment and the fact that it is critical that foster homes be safe for children. States already have the discretion to conduct background checks and licensing of foster parents, and many States do conduct background checks for people who work with children. I want to point out for the Record that the amendment is permissive. It is at the option of the State. But if it were not, if it were mandatory, the cost to the State, according to the General Accounting Office, is about $20 for each check; and States could be, if this were mandatory, required to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars because of this amendment. I know that activities are ongoing through Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies to improve the quality of the data they receive in these background checks, but I think the change that was made is a positive one and I would, for the Record, state that I support the amendment.”