As a father of five grown children, I know the great joy it brings to watch the next generation reach life’s milestones. When my children reached parenthood, I understood the enormous responsibilities they would shoulder to feed, clothe, educate and shelter their children.
My wife and I also understood their long journey ahead. Childrearing takes considerable investments of time, love and attentiveness to nurture a child’s overall well-being and sense of security.
Like many Iowa grandparents, we are blessed to know the sacrifices and joys of parenthood are well worth the effort. Making a loving, permanent home for a child is a noble responsibility. In no small way, it contributes significantly to the hopes and dreams of American society.
Unfortunately, not every child in America goes to bed at night feeling safe and secure. Not every child sits down to a family meal followed by a bedtime ritual of a bath and books. Not all teen-agers must learn to accept and obey household rules crafted out of care and concern for their well-being. Not all children have a place they can call home for good.
Some of these children in crisis are rescued from abuse or neglect out of a troubled home. They may be placed with a relative or into a temporary foster family until there is an appropriate reunification or, failing that, a safer, permanent home may be found.
As a federal lawmaker, I have long advocated changes to public policy that promote adoption and match foster children with safe, permanent, loving families.
Although significant progress has been achieved since enactment of my bipartisan Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, challenges remain. Of the over 500,000 children currently in the foster care system, it has been estimated that more than 118,000 foster children in America are waiting for an adoptive family and a permanent place to call home.
Other estimates conclude that 20,000 children age-out of foster care every year without ever securing a permanent family to call their own.
In Washington I recently participated in a public policy forum to examine the successes and challenges in the foster care system and raise awareness about the need for more action. Three Iowans participated in the event. I applaud their advocacy. It is so important for those making public policy to hear directly from those affected by what we enact into law.
From my leadership position in the U.S. Senate, I work to develop policies that encourage strong families and improve the foster care system. When Congress passed the Deficit Reduction Act to reduce wasteful, fraudulent and unnecessary spending, I persuaded my colleagues to increase the federal funding stream for programs that are designed to help keep troubled families together, improve child support collection and distribution, boost direct child support payments and promote responsible fatherhood and healthy marriages.
Additionally, I worked to provide new funding for court improvement and improved coordination with child welfare agencies. Specifically, I secured $100 million in new funding for grants to train judges, attorneys and legal personnel in child welfare cases. It is unconscionable to consider that clogs in the court system unnecessarily restrict the prospects of a foster child to secure stability and happiness in a permanent, loving home.
During negotiations on the federal budget in March, I worked successfully to protect federal funding for Social Services Block Grants. My amendment would save Iowa from losing $5 million in federal dollars that can help fund child welfare services.
As one of the budget-writers in Congress, I understand how difficult it is to reach a consensus among lawmakers that takes into account competing political and philosophical priorities. As a fiscal conservative, I work to balance taxpayer interests that deserve principled efforts to curb deficit spending with effective policies that protect the welfare of children at the same time.
As chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, I helped shepherd through tax incentives in the 2001 tax relief law that promoted adoptions. I’ll be watching carefully to make sure these changes to the tax code are working effectively to encourage adoptions.
Although the media are quick to spread the horror stories of abusive foster parents, I want to applaud the legions of quality foster parents who anonymously open their hearts and homes to children needing refuge. They provide a haven to keep them out of harm’s way and help repair the breach of trust that has shattered the child’s sense of safety and security. To those Iowa foster families, I salute your noble sense of responsibility. Keep up the good work.