Children and Families
Our most vulnerable citizens are disproportionately affected by job cuts, higher food prices, turmoil in the housing market and other burdens that can have a devastating impact. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that our country’s poverty rate in 2015 was 13.5 percent. Sadly, the same report stated that 19.7 percent of our children are living in poverty, making clear who bears the brunt of economic troubles. I strongly believe that we must raise the living standards of our working families and ensure that children born into poverty have the same opportunity to achieve the American Dream as any other child in our country.
Caring for Children in Foster Care
In the 115th Congress, I am proud to be joining my colleagues again as a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth. There are over 400,000 children in foster care in the country, and they are some of the most vulnerable members of our society. We have an obligation to treat them as we would our own children, ensuring the same opportunities and protections that all children should receive.
Fighting Re-Homing
A September 2013 Reuters investigation, “The Child Exchange,” brought to light an alarming trend of adopted children being “re-homed” into the custody of strangers without oversight. In many cases, these children end up in dangerous situations where they are at risk of neglect, exploitation or even sexual abuse. To combat this practice, I introduced bipartisan legislation to address its causes, including the lack of preparation and support services to assist parents in dealing with the challenges adopted children may face. H.R. 3491, the Protecting Adopted Children Act, and H.R. 3490, the Supporting Adopted Children and Families Act, provide for increased pre-adoption training and post-adoptive support services to ease the transition for children and families. The bipartisan bills support mental health treatments for adopted children, particularly related to the trauma, loss, abuse, neglect, and substance exposure from which many children in the foster care system suffer. I am also a cosponsor of the National Home Care Study Act, which would establish a standardized national home study process to help ensure all children end up in safe, loving homes.
Securing a Bright Future for Our Foster Youth
More than 20,000 youth age out of the foster care system every year. These children, already at a disadvantage, often end up with no support network to which they can turn in times of crisis. They are more likely to experience negative outcomes following their exit from care, including bouts of homelessness, unemployment, and interactions with the criminal justice system.
Foster children can also be at a heightened risk for identity theft since their personal information passes through many hands, increasing the chances that someone could use their Social Security number for fraudulent purposes. Many young people leave foster care only to find their credit records ruined, preventing them from finding housing, jobs or loans for school. For this reason, I introduced H.R. 1345, the Protect Children from Theft Act, which would require consumer reporting agencies to create a blocked credit file, or block an existing credit file, for children in foster care.
Funding Nutrition Programs
More than 6 million children live in food-insecure households in the United States, and for many children, free or reduced-cost meals in school, afterschool, and summer programs are the only source of nutrition they receive each day. Children who are hungry cannot reach their full potential, and I strongly support legislation to expand area eligibility for free and reduced-cost meals and increase the daily amount of meals these programs can provide for children.
I have long supported increased funding for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. SNAP helps put food on the table, lifts some families above the poverty line, and provides quick and effective stimulus for our economy. For more information, you can visit www.eatbettertoday.com, Rhode Island’s outreach program for SNAP. I also support the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides nutritious food, counseling on healthy eating, and health care referrals for low-income women and young children. In Rhode Island, WIC collaborates with local culinary programs and farmers markets on cooking demonstrations, healthy eating habits and children’s activities.
Housing
While the economic recovery is ongoing, we know that many Rhode Islanders still struggle to find affordable housing. We have a moral obligation to help those in need, and I have spoken to my colleagues on the House floor and in other venues to this necessary work. I will continue to support federal programs at HUD which are utilized by Rhode Island agencies and nonprofits to make sure families have a clean, safe place to live. We must never forget that housing is one of the basic needs, and the bedrock on which we create productive lives.
Early Childhood Education
Early childhood is perhaps the most critical stage of life, when children’s brains are developing rapidly, and education is especially important. This is the time when many children in poverty fall behind their peers, and by kindergarten, they are already at a disadvantage. I strongly support investing in programs like Head Start and Early Head Start, which lift these children up, evening the playing field. Head Start helps kids develop self-confidence and grade-appropriate reading skills and ensures they receive proper nutrition and healthcare.
Enacting Sensible Child Care Policies
The cost of child care in the United States is alarmingly high, often constituting a large share of a family’s budget and, in some cases, exceeding the cost of the average college tuition. I strongly support the Child Care and Development Fund, which provides low-income families with assistance for child care, allowing parents to put food on the table while ensuring their children are safe.
I also believe no parent should have to risk losing their job to care for a sick child. For this reason, I support the Healthy Families Act, which would give workers the opportunity to earn at least 7 paid sick days per year to care for themselves and their families.
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