Congressman Fattah Leads Bipartisan Effort on Child Welfare Reform

Press Release

Congressman Fattah Leads Bipartisan Effort on Child Welfare Reform:

Urban and Rural Lawmakers Meet at the Crossroads on America's most venerable citizens.

Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Chairman of the Congressional Urban Caucus was joined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and members of the Congressional Rural Working Group, and other Members of Congress in exploring issues affecting America's at risk children.

"Our country is confronted with many challenges," said Congressman Fattah, "but we must remember the multitude of challenges faced by our nation's most at risk citizens, our children. While their families work diligently to protect them they are not always able to do so."

At today's symposium, Members heard from national experts who emphasized the necessity to take into consideration where children reside when creating policy geared to address their specific needs. The panelists addressed many of the most pressing issues facing child welfare reform, strengthening the child welfare workforce, reunifying families, kinship caregivers, the relationship between the state and federal government, and caring for children who age out of the system.

"This symposium is just the beginning," said Congressman Fattah. "Children and their families are a Congressional priority and we will be taking action to ensure that their most basic physical, educational and emotional needs are addressed and met."

Congressman Fattah was honored to join his bipartisan colleagues in supporting H.R. 6307 ‘The Fostering Connections to Success Act.' Introduced today in conjunction with the symposium, the legislation sponsored by Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott addresses many of the issues raised by symposium panelists including kinship care and aging out.

Source