Committee releases draft foster care bill

The House Ways and Means Committee recently released draft legislation that is intended to prevent sex trafficking of children in foster care and to ensure that teens in foster care have the same opportunities as their peers.

The legislation was developed based on witness testimony at subcommittee hearings and other legislation introduced by Republican and Democratic members of Congress.

The bill would require states to develop procedures to identify child victims of sex trafficking, improve data and records of sex trafficking and children living in group homes and help victims of sex trafficking in foster care transition into normal lives.

The measure also contains provisions that would ensure states help move children out of foster care in a timely manner and help them plan to be successful adults.

The Senate Finance Committee recently approved a similar measure, the bipartisan Supporting At-Risk Children Act.

Finance Committee Ranking Member Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said the measure would protect the nation’s most vulnerable children and improve their well being.

“These proposals – from improving adoption assistance to taking steps to put to an end to domestic youth sex trafficking – will help foster a safer environment for our young people to put them on a path to leading happy, healthy and successful lives…” Hatch said.