Why I voted Yes on H.R. 4843

Statement

I voted "Yes" on H.R. 4843, the Improving Safe Care for the Prevention of Infant Abuse and Neglect Act.

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to review state safe care plans to ensure that they comply with the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. This federal law requires states to develop health care response strategies for children born with substance exposure or postnatal addiction.

As more infants are born with an exposure or addiction to drugs, the failure of some states to respond with appropriate services has become a growing problem. This bill reaffirms the goals of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and increases oversight to make certain that states comply with federal law and provide needed resources to vulnerable children born in need of extended care and assistance.

This bill was passed by a bipartisan vote of 421-0.

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