Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said on Monday that he supports the Promoting Adoption and Legal Guardianship for Children in Foster Care Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support.
“Continuing to provide states with incentives to move children from the foster care system to adoption will help children across the country realize their dream of a safe, loving and permanent home,” Camp said. “By encouraging adoption, this legislation supports better outcomes for all children in the foster care system.”
The bill reauthorizes the Adoption Incentives Program through fiscal year 2016, which provides federal bonuses to states for increasing adoptions from foster care.
It also makes adjustments to the award structure to focus on increasing adoptions instead of the total number. The new structure also has award categories for the adoption of children over the age of 14 and children leaving foster care to live with a legal guardian.
In addition, the bill requires states to reinvest a portion of the money saved as a result of the changes into services that support families after adoptions are finalized.
The bill will reduce the budget deficit by $24 million over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Camp assisted in writing the original adoption incentives legislation in 1997.