Jay Rockefeller: “I appreciate the concerns the Senator has raised and would like to work with him in the future. As my colleagues know…”

“I appreciate the concerns the Senator has raised and would like to work with him in the future. As my colleagues know, Indian children are covered under a special law, known as the Indian Child Welfare Act. We should work together to ensure that this law and other Federal programs for abused and neglected children are better coordinated. Let me assure my colleagues, though, that this package will help Indian children. Within the Promotion of Adoption, Safety, and Support for Abused and Neglected Children, the PASS Act, is a provision to extend the 1993 law to provide funding for family preservation and family support for 3 additional years. This program is designed to support community-based programs to help innovative projects invest in prevention and programs to strengthen families. Within the existing law is a 1-percent set aside for the tribes. This will be extended 3 more years, and I hope this funding will enable the tribes to continue ongoing efforts to help Indian children.”