Gwen Moore: “I am pleased to rise today in strong support of the CAPTA reauthorization measure that is before the House today. I want…”

“I am pleased to rise today in strong support of the CAPTA reauthorization measure that is before the House today. I want to thank Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Foxx for their leadership and for the bipartisan work on this legislation that has brought us to this point. This measure provides an overdue but critical reauthorization of programs authorized under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). These changes would, among others, address child abuse and neglect related to families impacted by substance use disorders, racial bias in the child protective services system, and improving efforts to combat child sexual abuse. The bill also contains language based on my Family Poverty is Not Child Neglect Act, which aims to stop families from being ripped apart not because of neglect or abuse, but for issues rooted in poverty. In these situations, services to help families and support them and their children are a much better approach than family separation. I appreciate the support from the chairman and bipartisan support and efforts of Rep. Susie Lee and Rep. Bob Good to ensure this language was included in the bill. I also worked with Rep. Joseph Morelle and Rep. Van Taylor to include the Study and Report on Marital Age of Consent examining the prevalence of forced child marriages in the United States and their impact on children's safety and well-being.…”