Romanian Girls

Children in a Romanian orphanage

Legislation:

Legislation in the 110th Congress that Impacts Adoption

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) does not endorse particular legislation. Legislation appearing on this document is for educational purposes only. CCAI encourages congressional staff to reach out to the main sponsor’s offices and advocacy organizations for additional information.

Adoption Tax Credit

Under current law the adoption tax credit is $10,000 for both domestic and international adoptions. On December 31, 2010 it will be cut overnight to $5,000 for non-special needs adoptions and $6,000 for families who adopt special needs children.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 273 Repeal Adoption Tax Rep. Dave Camp  Yes         1/15/05
Credit Sunset Provision (R-MI)

Cosponsors: 3 (Oberstar, Paul, and Schmidt)
ACTIVITY: Referral to the House Committee on Ways and Means (1/5/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative to repeal the sunset of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to the expansion of the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 471 Adoption Tax Credit Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)  Yes         1/12/07
  Relief Guarantee Act of
2007

Cosponsors: 129 (Akin, Alexander, Bachmann, Bachus, Baker, Barrett, Bartlett, Biggert, Bishop, Bishop, Blackburn, Blunt, Boozman, Boucher, Boyda, Brady, Brown, Brown-Waite, Buchanan, Burgess, Burton, Calvert, Campbell, Cannon, Cantor, Cardoza, Carnahan, Carney, Castle, Cohen, Conaway, Crenshaw, Crowley, Cubin, Davis, Davis, Davis, Davis, Diaz-Balart, Ehlers, Ellsworth, Ferguson, Forbes, Fortenberry, Fortuno, Fossella, Frank, Franks, Gillibrand, Gillmor, Gingrey, Gordon, Hall, Hayes, Herger, Herseth Sandlin, Higgins, Hoekstra, Hunter, Inglis, Issa, Jackson-Lee, Johnson, Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kagen, King, Kline, Knollenberg, Kuhl, LaHood, Lamborn, Lewis, Lewis, Lucas, Lungren, Mack, Manzullo, McCaul, McCotter, McGovern, McHenry, McHugh, McMorris Rodgers, Miller, Miller, Miller, Moore, Murphy, Musgrave, Myrick, Ortiz, Paul, Pearce, Pence, Pickering, Pitts, Poe, Pomeroy, Porter, Price, Ramstad, Rangel, Rogers, Sali, Schmidt, Sensenbrenner, Sessions, Shimkus, Skelton, Smith, Smith, Snyder, Souder, Terry, Tiahrt, Udall, Walberg, Walden, Walz, Wamp, Weldon, Weller, Wexler, Wilson, and Wolf)
ACTIVITY: Referral to the House Committee on Ways and Means (1/12/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative to repeal the sunset of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to the expansion of the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs.
COMPANION BILL: S.561.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 561  Adoption Tax Credit Sen. Jim Bunning   Yes         2/13/2007
  Relief Guarantee Act (R-KY)
of 2007

#Cosponsors: 19 (Brownback, Burr, Craig, DeMint, Domenici, Enzi, Hatch, Hutchison, Inhofe, Isakson, Johnson, Landrieu, Martinez, Nelson, Roberts, Sessions, Smith, Vitter, and Warner)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Finance (2/13/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative to repeal the sunset of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to the expansion of the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs.
COMPANION BILL: H.R.471.

Adoption & Foster Care Reform

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 104 Adoption Information Act Rep. Jo Ann Davis   No         1/4/07
      (R-VA)

ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health (2/2/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative amends the Public Health Service Act to require family planning service projects or programs, as a condition of receiving certain grants or contracts, to assure the Secretary of Health and Human Services that they will provide each person who inquires about their services with a pamphlet containing a comprehensive list of adoption centers in their state. Directs the Secretary to prepare, annually update, and distribute such pamphlets to such projects or programs.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.Res 179 National Foster Parents Rep. Nancy Boyoda  Yes         2/16/07
Day    (D-KS)

#Cosponsors: (62) Akin, Bachmann, Bean, Berman, Berry, Bishop, Bordallo, Buchanan, Capps, Capuano, Cardoza, Cleaver, Cole, Cooper, Crowley,Davis, Davis, Davis, DeGette, DeLauro, Ellsworth, Emanuel, Etheridge, Fallin, Forbes, Giffords, Gilchrest, Gohmert, Gordon, Grijalva, Hirono, Hooley, Johnson, Kildee, King, Kirk, Lamborn, Langevin, Matsui, McCarthy, McDermott, McIntyre, Millender-McDonald, Moore, Murphy, Nadler, Norton, Paul, Payne, Pomeroy, Salazar, Schiff, Shea-Porter, Shuler, Sires, Skelton, Souder, Stark, Walz, Waxman, and Wilson.
ACTIVITY: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (2/16/07). Passed/agreed to in House (4/23/07).
DESCRIPTION: Expressing support for a National Foster Parents Day.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 259 Baby Abandonment  Rep. Shelia Jackson  No          1/5/07
  Prevention Act of 2007 Lee (D-TX)

ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security (2/2/07) and to the Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities (5/9/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative directs the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, to establish the Task Force on Baby Abandonment to: (1) collect information and maintain a database on incidents of child abandonment, including information on demographics, circumstances, outcomes, and trends; and (2) submit annual reports and recommendations to Congress

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.Res. 263 Resolution Recognizing Rep. Dennis A.   No         3/23/07
  National Foster Care Cardoza (D-18th CA)
Month as an Opportunity
For Congress to Improve
the Foster Care System
Throughout the United
States

#Cosponsors: 1 (Schiff)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Ways and Means (3/23/07). Passed/agreed to in House (5/15/2007).
DESCRIPTION: Provides that, in recognition of National Foster Care Month, and in order to improve the foster care system throughout the United States, it is the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should ensure that improving the foster care system remains a top priority for both Congress and the Nation.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 289 Religious Freedom for Rep. Phil English   No         1/4/07
  Providers of Adoption, (R-PA)
  Foster Care & Child
  Welfare Services

#Cosponsors: 10 (Akin, Alexander, Foxx, Gohmert, Jones, McCotter, Miller, Sali, Souder, and Walberg)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support. (1/18/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative amends the Social Security Act to prohibit federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance to a state or local government that discriminates against any entity that provides adoption or foster care services to only those couples who are united in marriage (defined as a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife) and to only those individuals whose conduct is in accordance with such entity's religious principles and practices.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.Res 299 Whereas child abuse and Rep. Jim McDermott Yes         4/24/07
  Neglect continue to pose a (WA-7)
  Serious threat to our
  Nation’s Children

#Cosponsors: 7 (Herger, Lewis, McNulty, Meek, Porter, Stark, and Weller)
ACTIVITY: Considered in the House (4/24/07). Passed/Agreed to in the House (4/24/07).
DESCRIPTION: Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should increase public awareness of child abuse and neglect and should continue to work with the states to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect through such programs as the Child Welfare Services and Promoting Safe and Stable Families programs.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.Res 527 Recognizing the month of Rep. Jim McDermott  Yes          6/28/07
  November as “National (WA-7)
  Homeless Youth Awareness
  Month

#Cosponsors: 9 (Bachmann, Berkley, Davis, Lewis, McCarthy, Porter, Stark, Weller, and Yarmuth)
ACTIVITY: Passed/agreed to in House (7/11/07).
DESCRIPTION: Supports helping vulnerable youth through current programs authorized under title IV (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act. Encourages the promotion through such programs of assistance for especially foster youth in staying off the streets, staying in school, and obtaining their high school diplomas and further education and training. Applauds the initiative of public and private organizations and individuals dedicated to helping these programs prevent homelessness among youth, and provide aid when prevention fails. Declares that the House of Representatives should recognize National Homeless Youth Awareness Month (November) to support and further encourage such efforts.
COMPANION BILL: S.Res. 226

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 687 Keeping Families Together Rep. Jim Ramstad  Yes         1/24/07
  Act of 2007   (R-MN)

Cosponsors: 43 (Allen, Becerra, Butterfield, Capuano, Castle, Chandler, Cohen, Cummings, Davis, Emanuel, Emerson, Fattah, Gerlach, Gordon, Higgins, Jackson-Lee, Kennedy, Kind, King, McCotter, McHugh, McNulty, Miller, Moore, Moran, Myrick, Pascrell, Peterson, Pickering, Platts, Price, Ros-Lehtinen, Schakowsky, Sestak, Shays, Shea-Porter, Stark, Stupak, Terry, Waxman, Woolsey, Wu, and Young)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Subcommittee on Health. (2/2/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a State family support grant program to end the practice of parents giving legal custody of their seriously emotionally disturbed children to State agencies for the purpose of obtaining mental health services for those children.
COMPANION BILL: S. 382.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 976 Children’s Health   Rep. Charles Rangel  Yes         2/9/07
  Insurance Program   (D-NY)
  Reauthorization Act
  of 2007

#Cosponsors: 72 (Arcuri, Baca, Barrow, Bean, Becerra, Berkley, Bishop, Blumenaur, Boswell, Boyd, Boyda, Brady, Cardoza, Costa, Cramer, Crowley, Davis, Davis, Doggett, Donnelly, Ellsworth, Emanuel, English, Giffords, Gillibrand, Hall, Herger, Herseth, Hill, Hulshof, Israel, Johnson, Jones, Kind, Larson, Levin, Lewis, Lewis, Linder, Mahoney, Marshall, Matheson, McCrery, McDermott, McKeon, McNulty, Meek, Melancon, Michaud, Moore, Murphy, Neal, Pascrell, Pomeroy, Porter, Ramstad, Reynolds, Ross, Salazar, Schiff, Schwartz, Shuler, Skelton, Spratt, Stark, Tanner, Thompson, Tiberi, Van Hollen, Velazquez, Welch, and Weller)
ACTIVITY: Message on Senate action sent to the House (8/3/07). Failed of passage in House over veto (10/18/07).
DESCRIPTION: Expands the State Children’s Health Insurance Program by $35 billion over five years.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 1082 Safe Babies Act of 2007 Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro Yes         1/24/2007
      (D-CT)

Cosponsors: 21 (Abercrombie, Cohen, Courtney, Ellison, Grijalva, Hare, Hirono, Jackson-Lee, Johnson, Kennedy, Kildee, Lantos, Lee, McHugh, Moore, Napolitano, Payne, Ros-Lehtinen, Stark, Udall, and Woolsey)
ACTIVITY: Referred to House Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities (6/5/2007).
DESCRIPTION: Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to require the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to award a grant to a national early childhood development organization to establish a National Court Teams Resource Center to: (1) promote the well-being of maltreated infants and toddlers and their families; (2) help prevent the recurrence of abuse and neglect of children; (3) promote timely reunification of families or other successful permanency outcomes for maltreated infants and toddlers in foster care; and (4) select, and provide assistance to, local Court Teams created to achieve those goals.
Sets forth organization selection criteria and application requirements, including assurance that at least one qualified judge will serve as Judicial Leader of each Court Team receiving assistance.
Requires the Center to: (1) develop materials to guide judges in the decision-making process regarding, and to train Court Teams in the appropriate care for, maltreated infants and toddlers; (2) develop a database to track the progress of and to evaluate such Teams; and (3) provide information to communities and courts seeking to adopt the Court Teams approach.
Requires Center assistance to each Team to include: (1) direction, coordination, oversight, training, and technical assistance; and (2) providing a Local Community Coordinator to serve as a resource of child development expertise.
COMPANION BILL: S.627.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 1088 Elizabeth Cady Stanton Rep. Marcy Kaptur  Yes         2/15/07
  Pregnant and Parenting (D-OH)
  Student Services Act of
  2007

#Cosponsors: 10 (Davis, Davis, Ferguson, Fortenberry, Murphy, Myrick, Oberstar, Ryan, Smith, and Wynn)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness (6/5/07).
DESCRIPTION: Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) pregnant college students should not have to make a choice between keeping their baby and staying in school; (2) the pilot program under this Act will help institutions of higher education to establish offices that will operate independent of federal funding within five years after enactment of this Act; and (3) amounts appropriated to carry out other federal programs should be reduced to offset the costs of this Act.
Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a pilot program to provide grants to encourage eligible institutions of higher education to establish and operate pregnant and parenting student services offices for pregnant students, parenting students, prospective parenting students anticipating a birth or adoption, and students who are placing or have placed a child for adoption.
COMPANION BILL: S.915.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 1104 Foster Children Self  Rep. Pete Stark  No          2/15/07
  Support Act   (D-CA)

#Cosponsors: 13 (Becerra, Bordallo, Capps, Cardoza, Conyers, DeLauro, Grijalva, Grijalva, Kucinich, McDermott, McNulty, Miller, Sires and Woolsey)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means (2/15/07).
DESCRIPTION: To ensure that foster children are able to use their social security and supplemental security income benefits to address their needs and improve their lives.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 1376 Medicaid Foster Care Rep. Dannis A. Cardoza Yes         3/7/07
  Coverage Act of 2007 (R-18th CA)

#Cosponsors: 12 (Berkley, Ellison, English, Kennedy, Lewis, McNulty, Napolitano, Ramstad, Solis, Stark, Watson, and Waxman)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health (3/8/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish independent foster care adolescents as a mandatory category (and not an optional category) or individuals for coverage under State Medicaid programs.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 2188 Kinship Caregiver   Rep. Danny K.   Yes         5/7/07
Support Act   Davis (D-7th IL)

#Cosponsors: 16 (Berkley, Boswell, Brown-Waite, Davis, Grijalva, Johnson, LaHood, LaTourette, McCollum, Moore, Oberstar, Ryan, Serrano, Smith, Stark and Welch)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support (5/12/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative to establish kinship navigator programs, to establish kinship guardianship assistance payments for children, and for other purposes.
COMPANION BILL: S. 661.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 2314 To amend Part E of Title Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) No          5/15/07
  IV of the Social Security
Act to increase payments to
  States for expenditures for
  Short term training of staff
  of certain child welfare
agencies

ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support (5/15/07).
DESCRIPTION: Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to increase payments to states for expenditures for short-term training of staff of certain child welfare agencies.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 2764 The Department of State, Rep. Nita M. Lowey  No   6/18/07
Foreign Operations and (D-NY)
   Related Programs
  Appropriations Act of
  2008

ACTIVITY: Senate insists on its amendment, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Leahy; Inouye; Harkin; Mikulski; Durbin; Johnson; Landrieu; Reed; Byrd; Gregg; McConnell; Specter; Bennett; Bond; Brownback; Alexander; Cochran. Message on Senate action sent to House (9/11/07). Became Public Law No: 110-161.
DESRIPTION: SEC. 681. Of the funds appropriated under title III of this Act, $3,000,000 should be made available for activities to improve the capacity of foreign government agencies and nongovernmental organizations to prevent child abandonment, address the needs of orphans, displaced and abandoned children and provide permanent homes through family reunification, guardianship and domestic adoptions

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 3162 Children’s Health and Rep. John Dingell  No          7/24/07
  Medicare Protection   (D-MI)
(CHAMP) Act of 2007

#Cosponsors: 12 (Allen, Baldwin, Cuellar, DeGette, Engel, Green, Hirono, Pallone, Rangel, Stark, Waxman, and Wynn)
ACTIVITY: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders (9/4/07).
DESCRIPTION: Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to revise requirements for SCHIP allotments; enrollment and retention of eligible children; child-centered coverage; (4) optional coverage of older children, legal immigrants, and certain pregnant women; program access (including creation of a Children's Access, Payment, and Equality Commission); and quality and program integrity.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 3163 Healthy Americans Act Rep. Brian Baird  Yes         7/24/07
      (D-WA)

#Cosponsors: 3 (Blumenauer, Cooper and Emerson)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (7/24/07). Referred to House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (9/19/07).
DESCRIPTION: A bill to provide affordable, guaranteed private health coverage that will make Americans healthier and can never be taken away.
TITLE II--HEALTHY START FOR CHILDREN: Subtitle A--Benefits and Eligibility.
SEC. 201. General goal and authorization of appropriations for HAPI plan coverage for children.
(d) Definition- In this title, the term `child' means an individual who is under the age of 19 years or, in the case of an individual in foster care, under the age of 21 years.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 3205 Homeless Education   Rep. Judy Biggert  Yes         7/27/07
  Improvement Act of 2007 (R-IL)

#Cosponsors: 2 (Grijalva and Sarbanes)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Financial Services (7/27/07). Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education (9/19/07).
DESCRIPTION: The following is the policy of Congress:
(1) Each State and local educational agency shall ensure that each homeless child and each homeless youth has access to the same free, appropriate public education, including State-funded or local educational agency-funded preschool programs, as is provided to other children and youths.
(2) In any State where compulsory residency requirements or other requirements of laws, regulations, practices, or policies may act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school or in State-funded or local educational agency-funded preschool programs of homeless children and youths, the State, and local educational agencies, shall review and revise such laws, regulations, practices, or policies to ensure that homeless children and youths are afforded the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youths.
(3) Homelessness is not a sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment.
(4) Homeless children and youths should have access to the education and other services, including transportation services for school stability, readiness, and success, that such children and youths need to ensure that such children and youths have an opportunity to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 3283 A Casa for Every Child Rep. Dennis Cardoza   No          8/1/07
  Act of 2007   (D-CA)

#Cosponsors: 1 (Watson)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means (8/1/07).
DESCRIPTION: Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require states to provide foster children with court-appointed special advocates who meet national standards.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 3395 Responsible Fatherhood Rep. Danny Davis   No          8/3/07
  and Healthy Families Act (D-IL)
  of 2007

#Cosponsors: 9 (Bishop, Carson, Clyburn, Davis, Ellison, Kilpatrick, Norton, Rothman, and Rush)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committees on Education and Labor, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce. Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities (9/19/07).
DESCRIPTION: Amends title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure funding for grants to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen low-income families, and for other purposes.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 3411 Juvenile Crimes   Rep. Patrick Kennedy No          8/3/07
  Reduction Act  (D-RI)

#Cosponsors: 7 (Carson, Clay, Cummings, DeLauro, McDermott, Solis, Stark)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities (9/19/07).
DESCRIPTION: Works to improve the treatment of juveniles with mental health or substance abuse disorders by establishing new grant programs for increased training, technical assistance, and coordination of service providers, and for other purposes.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 3430 Mental Health in Schools Rep. Grace Napolitano Yes          8/3/07
  Act of 2007   (D-CA)

#Cosponsors: 69 (Baca, Baldwin, Becerra, Berkley, Berman, Bordallo, Brown, Capps, Cardoza, Carson, Cohen, Conyers, Costa, Crowley, Cuellar, Davis, Davis, Davis, Ellison, Engel, Farr, Filner, Frank, Gilchrest, Green, Grijalva, Gutierrez, Hastings, Hinojosa, Honda, Hooley, Israel, Jackson, Jackson-Lee, Jefferson, Johnson, Hones, Kagen, Kaptur, Kennedy, Kilpatrick, Lewis, Lowey, Maloney, Matsui, McNulty, Michaud, Mitchell, Moore, Murphy, Murtha, Nadler, Oritz, Pastor, Perlmutter, Reyes, Rodriguez, Roybal-Allard, Sanchez, Schakowsky, Scott, Serrano, Sires, Solis, Stark, Waters, Watson, Waxman, and Weiner)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the House Committee on Health (8/3/07).
DESCRIPTION: Revises, increases funding for, and expands the scope of the Safe Schools-Healthy Students program in order to provide access to more comprehensive school-based mental health services and supports; provides for comprehensive staff development for school and community service personnel working in the school; and provides for comprehensive training for children with mental health disorders, for parents, siblings, and other family members of such children, and for concerned members of the community.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 3495 Kids in Disasters   Rep. Corrine Brown  No           9/7/07
  Well-being, Safety  (D-FL)
  and Health Act of 2007

ACTIVITY: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (9/7/07). Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders (11/13/07).
DESCRIPTION: Establishes a National Commission on Children and Disaster. The commissions purpose is to examine, assess, and report upon the facts and causes relating to the needs of children; build upon the investigations of other entities and avoid unnecessary duplications; and to investigate and report to the President and Congress on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to address fully the needs of children before, during, and after all hazards, disasters, and emergencies.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 80  Executive Branch Family Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) Yes         1/4/07
  Leave Act

Cosponsors: 4 (Collins, Hutchison, Inouye, and Murkowski)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia (3/30/07).
DESCRIPTION: Entitles a federal employee of the executive branch to paid leave of: (1) eight weeks for giving birth; (2) at least five days for a father for the birth of a child; (3) at least five days for adopting a child; and (4) eight hours during any 12-month period to accompany a child to medical or school appointments.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. Res 86 Resolution Designating Sen. Ken Salazar  Yes         2/27/07
  March 1, 2007 as “Siblings (D-CO)
  Connection Day”

#Cosponsors: 5 (Akaka, Brown, Ensign, Inouye, and Kerry)
ACTIVITY: Passed/agreed to in Senate (2/28/07).
DESCRIPTION: Designates March 1, 2007, as Siblings Connection Day. Expresses support for efforts to respect and preserve sibling relationships that are at risk of being disrupted by the placement of children into the foster care system.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. Res 226 Recognizing the Month of Sen. Frank Lautenberg Yes         6/7/07
  November as “National (D-NJ)
  Homeless Youth
Awareness Month”

#Cosponsors: 13 (Bayh, Brown, Casey, Feingold, Inouye, Kennedy, Lieberman, Martinez, Menendez, Murray, Nelson, Obama, and Salazar)
ACTIVITY: Passed/agreed to in Senate (7/11/07).
DESCRIPTION: Supports the values and efforts of businesses, organizations, and volunteers dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless children and teens. Applauds the initiatives of businesses, organizations, and volunteers that employ time and resources to build awareness of the homeless youth problem, its causes, and potential solutions, and work to prevent homelessness among children and teens. Recognizes that 25 percent of foster youth experienced homelessness within 2 to 4 years after exiting foster care. Declares that the Senate should recognize the month of November as "National Homeless Youth Awareness Month." Encourages these businesses, organizations, and volunteers to continue to intensify their efforts during the month of November.
COMPANION BILL: HR527.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 389  Foster Care Mentoring Sen. Mary Landrieu  No         1/24/07
  Act of 2007   (D-LA)

ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Finance (1/24/07). Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent (12/19/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative amends title IV part B (Child-Welfare Services) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to states to support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using networks of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care. Authorizes a grant award directly to a political subdivision if the subdivision serves a substantial number of foster care youth.

Prescribes program implementation guidelines, including: (1) application requirements; (2) training; (3) screening; (4) educational requirements; (5) federal and nonfederal share of funds for the program; (6) considerations in awarding grants; and (7) use of funds.

Sets forth a maximum grant amount to be awarded to a state or political subdivision.

Authorizes the Secretary to award a competitive grant to an eligible entity to establish a National Hotline Service or website to provide information to individuals interested in becoming mentors to youth in foster care.

Instructs the Secretary of Education to implement a program to provide for the discharge or cancellation of the federal student loan indebtedness of an eligible mentor.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 382  Keeping Families Together Sen. Susan Collins  Yes         1/24/07
  Act    (R-ME)

#Cosponsors: 19 (Bingaman, Brown, Cantwell, Casey, Clinton, Coleman, Dodd, Durbin, Graham, Harkin, Johnson, Kennedy, Kerry, Lautenberg, Lieberman, Mikulski, Pryor, Rockefeller and Sessions)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (1/24/07).
DESCRIPTION: Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award competitive matching grants to states to establish systems of care to treat and provide services to all children who are in the custody of the state or at-risk of entering into the custody of the state for the purpose of receiving mental health services.

Requires states to use grant funds for certain activities, including to: (1) expand public health insurance programs to cover community-based mental health and family support services for such children and their families that will be sustainable after the grant has expired; (2) provide outreach and public education concerning available programs and activities; and (3) provide training and professional development for personnel who work with such children.

Requires the Administrator to establish a task force to examine: (1) problems of mental health in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems; (2) issues with respect to access by children and youth to mental health services; and (3) the role of federal agencies in promoting access by children and youth to mental health services.
COMPANION BILL: H.R.687.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 627  Safe Babies Act of 2007 Sen. Tom Harkin  Yes          2/15/07
      (D-IA)

#Cosponsors: 10 (Biden, Coleman, Grassley, Inouye, Isakson, Kerry, Martinez, Schumer, Smith, and Specter)
ACTIVITY: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders (3/26/07).
DESCRIPTION: A bill to amend the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to improve the health and well-being of maltreated infants and toddlers through the creation of a National Court Teams Resource Center, to assist local Court Teams, and for other purposes. Companion bill in the House-H.R. 1082.
COMPANION BILL: HR1082.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 661  Kinship Caregiver Support Sen. Hillary Rodham  Yes         2/16/07
  Act of 2007   Clinton (D-NY)

Cosponsors: 16 (Brown, Cantwell, Cochran, Coleman, Johnson, Kerry, Lautenberg, Leahy, Lincoln, Menendez, Mikulski, Murray, Sanders, Schumer, Snowe, and Stabenow)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Finance (2/16/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants for kinship navigator programs to state agencies, metropolitan agencies, or tribal organizations with experience in addressing needs of kinship caregivers or children and connecting them with services and assistance.

Amends part E (Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to authorize all states to opt to enter agreements to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments on behalf of children to grandparents and other relatives who have assumed legal guardianship of children for whom they have cared as foster parents and have committed to care for on a permanent basis. Allows states to use part E funds to make such payments under specified conditions.

Provides that adoptive parents of children with special needs remain eligible for adoption assistance, even if they receive kinship guardianship assistance.

Authorizes kinship guardianship demonstration projects.

Requires states to: (1) notify all adult grandparents and other adult relatives (with exceptions due to family or domestic violence) when a child is removed from custody of a parent or parents; and (2) explain the options the relative has to participate in the child's care and placement.

Allows state agencies to establish separate standards for foster family homes in which a foster parent is a relative of the foster child.
COMPANION BILL: H.R.2188.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 880  Senate Family Leave Act Sen. Ted Stevens   Yes         3/14/07
      (R-AK)

Cosponsors: 3 (Byrd, Hutchison, and Inouye)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (3/14/07).
DESCRIPTION: Amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to entitle a covered legislative branch employee, other than an employee of the House of Representatives, and in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), to paid leave of: (1) eight weeks for giving birth; (2) at least five days for a father (or partner) for the birth of a child; (3) at least five days for adopting a child or taking it into foster care; and (4) eight hours during any 12-month period to accompany a child to medical or school appointments.
Applies such leave separately for each child of the employee.
Extends certain FMLA employment and benefits protections to such an employee. Prescribes a remedy for any violation of such protections.
Applies the paid leave requirements of this Act to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Library of Congress, and each of their employees who has met certain length of employment requirements.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 915  Elizabeth Cady Stanton Sen. Elizabeth Dole   Yes         3/19/07
  Pregnant and Parenting (R-NC)
  Student Services Act of
2007

#Cosponsors: 2 (Casey and Nelson)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (3/19/007).
DESCRIPTION: A bill to establish a pilot program to provide grants to encourage eligible institutions of higher education to establish and operate pregnant and parenting student services offices for pregnant students, parenting students, prospective parenting students who are anticipating a birth or adoption, and students who are placing or have placed a child for adoption.
COMPANION BILL: HR1088.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 1462 Adoption Equality Act Sen. John D.    No         5/23/07
  Of 2007   Rockefeller, IV (D-WV)

ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Finance (5/23/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative to amend part E of the title IV of the Social Security Act to promote the adoption of children with special needs.

Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to revise requirements for children with special needs in the adoption assistance program.

Requires that the child be in the care of a public or licensed private child placement agency or Indian tribal organization pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement, relinquishment, or involuntary removal of the child from the home, where the state has determined that continuation in the home would be contrary to the child’s safety or welfare.

Specifies related requirements. Prohibits adoption assistance to parents with respect to a child who is not a U.S. citizen or resident, and who was adopted outside of the United States or brought into the United States for the purposes of being adopted.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 4091 Adoption Equality   Rep. Jim Cooper  Yes   11/6/2007
Act of 2007   (D-TN)

Cosponsors: 20 (Bean, Blumenauer, Boyda, Conyers, Grijalva, Lampson, Norton, Pickering, Schmidt, Souder, Berkley, Boswell, Cohen Ellison, Kagen, Moran, Oberstar, Ryan, Sires, Welch)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means
DESCRIPTION: Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to revise requirements for children with special needs in the adoption assistance program. Requires that the child be in the care of a public or licensed private child placement agency or Indian tribal organization pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement, relinquishment, or involuntary removal of the child from the home, where the state has determined that continuation in the home would be contrary to the child's safety or welfare. Specifies related requirements.
Prohibits adoption assistance to parents with respect to a child who is not a U.S. citizen or resident, and who was adopted outside of the United States or brought into the United States for the purposes of being adopted.
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the states should reinvest in child welfare programs any savings resulting from the implementation of this Act.
BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 1488 Fostering Adoption to Sen. Norm Coleman  Yes         5/24/07
  Further Student  (R-MN)
Achievement Act
#Cosponsors: 1 (Landrieu)
ACTIVITY: Cleared for White House as amendment to the Higher Education Access Act of 2007 (7/20/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative to amend the definition of independent student for purposes of the need analysis in the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include older adopted students.
BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 1512 Foster Care Continuing Sen. Barbara Boxer  No         5/24/07
  Opportunities Act  (D-CA)

#Cosponsors: 7 (Cochran, Feinstein, Inouye, Isakson, Johnson, Kerry, and Whitehouse)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance (5/24/07).
DESCRIPTION: A bill to amend part E of the Social Security Act to expand Federal eligibility for children in foster care who have attained age 18.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 1681 Family Leave Insurance Sen. Christopher   Yes         6/21/07
  Act of 2007   Dodd (D-CT)

#Cosponsors: 3 (Kennedy, Murray and Stevens)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Finance (6/21/07).
DESCRIPTION: A bill to provide for a paid family and medical leave insurance program, and for other purposes.

Family Leave Insurance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, mandatory for certain covered employers.

SEC. 103. Program Benefits
(a) Entitlement- Subject to subsections (b), (d), and (e), an eligible employee of a covered employer shall be entitled to a family and medical leave insurance benefit for a total of 8 workweeks of leave taken under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 or other authority during any 12-month period for 1 or more of the following reasons:
(1) Because of the birth of a son or daughter of the employee and in order to care for such son or daughter.
(2) Because of the placement of a son or daughter with the employee for adoption or foster care.
(3) In order to care for the spouse, or a son, daughter, or parent, of the employee, if such spouse, son, daughter, or parent has a serious health condition.
(4) Because of a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of the position of such employee.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 1956 The Tribal Foster Care Sen. Mark Baucus  Yes         8/2/07
  and Adoption Act of 2007 (D-MT)

#Cosponsors: 7 (Bingaman, Cantwell, Domenici, Dorgan, Levin, McCain, Smith and Stabenow)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on Finance (8/2/07).
DESCRIPTION: A bill to amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide equitable access for foster care and adoption services for Indian children in tribal areas, and for other purposes.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 1970 Addressing the Disaster Senator Christopher No          8/2/07
  Needs of Children Act of Dodd (D-CT)
  2007

#Cosponsors: 1 (Kennedy)
ACTIVITY: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders (11/15/07).
DESCRIPTION: Establishes a National Commission on Children and Disasters. The commissions purpose is to examine, assess, and report upon the facts and causes relating to the needs of children; build upon the investigations of other entities and avoid unnecessary duplications; and to investigate and report to the President and Congress on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to address fully the needs of children before, during, and after all hazards, disasters, and emergencies.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 2001 All Students Can   Sen. Joseph Lieberman Yes          8/3/07
  Achieve Act   (D-CT)

#Cosponsors: 2 (Coleman, Landrieu)
ACTIVITY: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
DESCRIPTION: A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes that aims to close the achievement gap through equitable distribution of effective teachers, changes in national standards, strengthening accountability, and enhancing the public education system.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 4207 Partnership for Children Rep. Jean Schmidt  Yes   11/15/07
and Families Act  (R-OH)

Cosponsors: 7 (Cooper, Ellison, Matsui, Tiber, DeLauro, Hobson, Pastor)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means (11/15/07).
DESCRIPTION: Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to revise the eligibility requirements for adoption assistance and foster care maintenance payments, eliminating certain income criteria.
Allows each state with an approved part E plan to apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) receive foster care maintenance payment savings achieved (in a "child welfare reinvestment fund") by reducing the total number of days children in the state experience in foster care during the fiscal year; and (2) use the savings to provide children with family preservation services, family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services, and to train the staff of state and local child welfare agencies in effective service practices.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. 379  Foster Care Mentoring Sen. Mary Landrieu  No   1/24/07
Act of 2007   (D-LA)

ACTIVITY: Referred to Senate committee. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative amends title IV part B (Child-Welfare Services) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to states to support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using networks of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care. Authorizes a grant award directly to a political subdivision if the subdivision serves a substantial number of foster care youth.

Sets forth a maximum grant amount to be awarded to a state or political subdivision.

Instructs the Secretary of Education to implement a program to provide for the discharge or cancellation of the federal student loan indebtedness of an eligible mentor.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 4091 Adoption Equality   Rep. Jim Cooper  Yes   11/6/07
Act of 2007   (D-TN)

Cosponsors: 20 (Bean, Blumenauer, Boyda, Conyers, Grijalva, Lampson, Norton, Pickering, Schmidt, Souder, Berkley, Boswell, Cohen, Ellison, Kagen, Moran, Oberstar, Ryan, Sires Welch)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means
DESCRIPTION: To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to promote the adoption of children with special needs.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 3409 Place to Call    Rep. Ruben Hinojosa No   9/19/07
Home Act   (D-TX)

Cosponsors: 26 (Abercrombie, Blumenauer, Carson, Clay, Davis, Filner Grijalva, Jackson-Lee Loebsack, Pastor, Schakowsky, Stark, Wexler, Berkley, Bordallo, Christensen, Davis, DeLauo, Green, Holt, Johnson, Moore, Payne, Shea-Porter, Towns, Yarmuth)
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.
DESCRIPTION: To create the conditions, structures, and supports needed to ensure permanency for the Nation's unaccompanied youth, and for other purposes. Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to increase funding for the safe and stable families program.
Amends the Public Health Service Act with respect to substance abuse prevention and the treatment performance partnership block grant program.
Amends SSA title IV part E (Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) with respect to the curtailment of involuntary separation of children from their families.
Amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to prohibit the involuntary separation of youth from their families.
Provides for: (1) expanded eligibility for foster care and adoption assistance; (2) kinship guardianship assistance payments; (3) eligibility for foster care maintenance payments and adoption assistance payments through age 20; and (4) youth access to the child welfare system.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H. Res. 833 Support for National Rep. James Oberstar Yes   11/15/2007
Adoption Day and   (D-MN)
National Adoption Month

Cosponsors: 3 (Brown-Waite, McDermott, Camp)
ACTIVITY: Referred to House Committee on Education and Labor
DECRIPTION: Supports the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month. Recognizes that every child should have a permanent and loving family.
Encourages the citizens of the United States to consider adoption during the month of November and all throughout the year.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
S. Res 384 Support for National  Sen. Mary Landrieu  Yes   11/15/07
  Adoptions Day and  (D-LA)
  National Adoption Month

Cosponsors: 17 (Brownback, Clinton, Conrad, DeMint, Hutchinson, Inouye, Kennedy, Levin, Thune, Casey, Coleman, Craig, Durbin, Inhofe Johnson, Kerry, Lincoln)
ACTIVITY: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
DESCRIPTION: Supports the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month.
Recognizes that every child should have a permanent and loving family.
Encourages the citizens of the United States to consider adoption during the month of November and all throughout the year.

International Adoption

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 120 Intercountry Adoption Rep. Jo Ann Davis   No         1/4/07
  Reform Act of 2007 or the (R-VA)
  ICARE Act

ACTIVITY: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law (2/2/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative establishes an Office of Intercountry Adoptions within the Department of State to be headed by the Ambassador at Large for Intercountry Adoptions. Transfers to the Office all functions with respect to intercountry adoptions currently performed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise: (1) conditions for automatic citizenship for children born outside the United States, including for adopted children; and (2) requirements concerning the history of parents' physical presence in the United States or its possessions. Defines the term "full and final adoption." Prescribes procedural requirements for the adoption of foreign-born children by U.S. citizens.

Establishes a nonimmigrant W-visa for an adoptable child coming into the United States for adoption by a U.S. citizen and spouse or by an unmarried U.S. Citizen at least 25 years of age who has been approved by the Office of International Adoption of the Department of State. Sets forth the period of authorized admission for such a nonimmigrant.

Exempts adopted children of 18 years of age or younger (currently, 10 years of age or younger) from immunization requirements.

Redefines the term "adoptable child."

Requires U.S. Citizen adoptive parents to obtain approval of an adoption petition prior to issuance of a visa or a full and final adoption decree. Subjects such petitions to the terms applicable to orphan petitions. Directs the Secretary of State to issue regulations: (1) establishing an expedited reapproval process for families whose prior approvals to adopt have expired; and (2) governing the appeal of petition denials.

Prescribes procedural requirements for the issuance of a visa and a full and final adoption decree for foreign-born children, including requirements for the Ambassador to: (1) determine whether a child is an adoptable child; and (2) work with the competent authorities of the child's country of residence to establish a process for the exchange and approval of a certification that the child sought to be adopted meets the definition of an adoptable child.

Requires the Secretary to issue a final decision regarding the child's eligibility as an adoptable child within 30 days. Allows an appeal.

Provides for civil penalties and enforcement.

BILL          TITLE   MAIN SPONSOR  BIPARTISAN       INTRODUCED
H.R. 628 Helping Families Adopt Rep. Heather Wilson  Yes         1/22/07
  Orphans Act   (R-NM)

#Cosponsors: (75) Bachus, Biggert, Blackburn, Boucher, Brady, Burgess, Burton, Calvert, Camp, Capito, Carney, Castle, Davis, Davis, Dent, Doolittle, Drake, Ehlers, Emerson, English, Feeney, Forbes, Fortuno, Foxx, Franks, Garrett, Gerlach, Gilchrest, Gohmert, Goodlatte, Gordon, Granger, Hirono, Hoekstra, Jackson-Lee, Jordan, Keller, Kennedy, King, Kuhl, Lewis, Lungren, Marshall, McCarthy, McCotter, McNulty, Miller, Moran, Musgrave, Paul, Pence, Platts, Porter, Price, Pryce, Ramstad, Rogers, Saxton, Schwartz, Shadegg, Shays, Shimkus, Smith, Snyder, Terry, Tiahrt, Tiberi, Van Hollen, Walberg, Walden, Weller, Wexler, Wicker, Wilson, and Wolf.
ACTIVITY: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law (3/1/07).
DESCRIPTION: Legislative initiative directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that any "covered individual" (an individual whose Application for Advanced Processing of Orphan Petition was approved on or after July 1, 2005) may file a Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative for at least two years after the approval of the individual's application.

Prohibits the Secretary from requiring: (1) a covered individual who files a timely petition to pay any fees or complete any requirements already paid or completed in conjunction with the application or contingent on the amount of time that elapses between the application's approval and the petition's filing; and (2) any person who was a covered individual on this Act's enactment date from paying any fee for the timely filing of a petition unless that fee was required at the time the application was approved.

Legislation Updated: 3/25/08

LAST CONGRESS

The Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005

In coordination with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 (in which the United States promised 10% of worldwide fighting to fight these illnesses from 2006-2008) Congress passed The Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005 (OVC). The President signed the act into law on November 8, 2005.

There are more than twenty-five million orphans worldwide with the majority in Africa. Countries such as Ethiopia struggle with a rising number of orphans (11% of population) and the AIDS pandemic (6% of population). All of these children face social stigmatism, unmeet psychological and physiological needs, and poverty. The Act recognizes that the orphans and vulnerable children of the world are more than a humanitarian crisis; they have broad implications for all governments and people worldwide.

This bipartisan piece of legislation was introduced by Representatives Henry Hyde (R-IL) and Barbara Lee (D-CA)in the House and Senator’s Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the bill in the Senate.

The Act created a Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).The new Advisory will allow for more comprehensive reporting and coordinated government action. New programs will target the funding of community based outreaches which already provide the majority of children’s services. Specifically this agency will be able to focus funds on programs such as eliminating school fees, school lunch programs, inheritance rights of orphans and widows, antiviral drugs, and children’s poverty- all of which will help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and improve the opportunities for vulnerable children worldwide.

The Act had a written six month limit for the President to appoint a Special Advisor. The program also has to receive funding through the House and Senate Appropriations Committees; Representative Lee has proposed $340 million this year for the OVC’s programs. The OVC will be overseen by the House and Senate International Relations Committees.

The Act was sponsored by over 30 non-governmental organizations. The Act has received special attention due to the group Global Action for Children and the actress Angelina Jolie, both of whom continue to call for adequate funding for the project. The plight of AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children continues to be placed before Congress through organizations.