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Press Releases
House unanimously passes Bass legislation to fight child link between sex trafficking and foster youth
The House of Representatives today unanimously passed the “Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2014,” legislation authored by Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.) that will help to connect child victims of trafficking to appropriate services and prevent further exploitation.
House Passes Bipartisan Amendment to Ensure Foster and Homeless Students Don’t Face Discrimination in Charter Schools
Today the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bipartisan amendment authored by Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Tom Marino (R-Penn.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) and Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) to H.R. 10, the “Success and Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Act.” The amendment would help to ensure that foster and homeless youth are not unfairly disadvantaged in the enrollment process for charter schools.
Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-Chairs Introduce Resolution Recognizing May as National Foster Care Month
Co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, U.S. Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Tom Marino (R-Penn.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) and Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), joined 101 bipartisan co-sponsors in introducing a House Resolution recognizing May as National Foster Care Month and encouraging Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of children in the foster care system.
McDermott, Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth to Host Foster Youth Listening Tour in Seattle
Next week, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) and the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, in cooperation with Casey Family Programs, will host a two-day listening tour to discuss the foster care and child welfare systems in Washington.
Foster Youth to Attend Inauguration, Discuss Reforms to the Nation’s Foster Care System With Members of Congress
Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.), co-founder and Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, announced she has invited three former foster youth to attend President Obama’s upcoming Inauguration, where they will also participate in meetings with lawmakers to raise awareness around the need for change within the nation’s foster care system.
Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Chair U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) joined U.S. Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.), HHS Assistant Secretary George Sheldon and former foster youth in touting the President’s signing of Uninterrupted Scholars Act
Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Chair U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif) joined U.S. Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.), Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families George Sheldon and a former foster youth in touting President Obama’s signing of the Uninterrupted Scholars Act (USA), which grants child welfare agencies access to the education records of children within their care.
Rep. Karen Bass Statement Urging Comprehensive Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking
Representative Karen Bass (D-CA), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth issued the following statement urging more comprehensive efforts to combat human trafficking as we recognize National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
Leadership of House and Senate Foster Youth Caucuses Applaud Bipartisan Bicameral Passage of Legislation Making It Easier For Foster Youth To Succeed Academically
Today, Senators Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) joined Representatives Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), and Tom Marino (R-Penn.) in applauding the passage of bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will make it easier for foster youth to succeed academically.
Marino, Bass Denounce Russian Ban on U.S. Adoptions
U.S. Representative Tom Marino (R-PA) issued the following statement with colleague U.S. Representative Karen Bass (D-CA) in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to sign into law legislation that will ban American adoptions of Russian children.
Caucus Introduces Bipartisan Bill, Participates in Inaugural Congressional Shadow Day on Capitol Hill
The bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth held its first-ever “Shadow Day on Capitol Hill” where Members of Congress hosted current and emancipated foster youth from across the nation in Washington in an effort to help them understand the inner workings of the House of Representatives, learn about the legislative initiatives related to foster care, and share their stories with policy makers.