Legislation from the 112th Congress

S.3472: Uninterrupted Scholars Act (USA)

Sponsor: Sen Landrieu, Mary | Introduced: 8/1/2012
Amends provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 that prohibit the Department of Education from funding educational agencies or institutions that release student educational records (or personally identifiable information other than certain directory information) to any individual, agency, or organization without written parental consent.

Expands the list of organizations exempt from such prohibitions (thereby permitting the educational agencies or institutions participating in a Department of Education program to release records or identifiable information to such organizations without parental consent) to include: (1) organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, child welfare agencies to improve educational outcomes for students in foster care; and (2) state or local welfare agencies or tribal organizations responsible for a student's placement and care, provided that any disclosure of records for a student's educational needs is consistent with confidentiality laws in the state applicable to personal records.

Permits the release of such records and information without additional notice to parents and students when a parent is a party to a child welfare court proceeding and a court order has already been issued in the context of that proceeding.

H.RES. 659: Recognizing May as “National Foster Care Month”

Sponsor: Rep. Bass, Karen | Introduced: 5/16/2012
Recognizes May as National Foster Care Month to provide an opportunity to acknowledge the accomplishments of the child welfare workforce, foster parents, advocacy community, and mentors and the positive impact they have on children’s lives.

H.R. 2883: Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act

Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Geoff | Introduced: 9/12/2011
Companion bill to S. 1542. Amends the Social Security Act to extend through FY2016 the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program, specified reservations of funds for monthly caseworker visits and regional partnership grants, and the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program. Removes the specification of methamphetamine for grants to children affected by substance abuse. Requires grants to the highest state courts through the Court Improvement Program to serve the purpose of increasing and improving engagement of the entire family in court processes relating to child welfare, family preservation, family reunification, and adoption. Requires state case review systems to assure that each child in foster care under state responsibility who has attained age 16 receives gratis: (1) a copy of any consumer report pertaining to the child each year until the child is discharged from care, and (2) assistance in interpreting and resolving any inaccuracies in the report. Authorizes a state to elect to establish a program to: (1) permit part SSA title IV part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) foster care maintenance payments to a long-term therapeutic family treatment center on behalf of a child residing in the center, or (2) identify and address domestic violence that endangers children and results in the placement of children in foster care.

H.R.2370: Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act of 2011

Sponsor: Rep. Bass, Karen | Introduced: 8/1/2011
Amends part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to better enable State child welfare agencies to prevent human trafficking of children and serve the needs of children who are victims of human trafficking, and for other purposes.

H.R.2678: Communities of Color Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Act of 2011

Sponsor: Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille | Introduced: 7/28/2011
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out programs to provide youth in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities the information and skills needed to reduce teenage pregnancies.

H.R. 2830: Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2011

Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher | Introduced: 8/30/2011
Companion bill to S. 1301. Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to require each Department of State regional bureau to annually submit a list of goals for combating trafficking in persons (trafficking) for each country in its geographic area of responsibility. Authorizes the Secretary of State to appoint antitrafficking officers at U.S. embassies. Directs the President to establish programs with foreign governments and civil society to enhance antitrafficking capacity. Provides a model state criminal law protection for child trafficking victims and survivors. Section 404 provides access to foster care and unaccompanied refugee minor protections for certain U visa (a visa for US immigrants who are victims of criminal activity) recipients.

H.R. 2022: To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on the recruitment and retention of foster parents in the United State

Sponsor: Rep. Bass,Karen | Introduced:  5/26/2011
Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on the recruitment and retention of foster parents of children served by any foster care program funded under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act

H.R. 2012: Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2011

Sponsor: Rep. Bass, Karen | Introduced: 5/26/2011
To support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using a network of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care.

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and U.S. Rep. Karen Bass held a press conference on May 26th, 2011 to mark National Foster Care Month. Two long-time foster care champions, Landrieu and Bass shared their personal history and connection to this vital issue, as did former foster youth working on Capitol Hill and in D.C., including a staff member working in Senator Landrieu's office. On this same day, Bass introduced the Foster Care Mentoring Act, the companion bill to legislation introduced by Senator Landrieu in March.

H.RES. 242: Recognizing May as “National Foster Care Month”

Sponsor: Rep. Bass, Karen | Introduced: 5/3/2011
Recognizes May as National Foster Care Month to provide an opportunity to acknowledge the accomplishments of the child welfare workforce, foster parents, advocacy community, and mentors and the positive impact they have on children’s lives.

H.R. 1681: Every Child Deserves a Family Act