Peoria Standard

U.S. Representative Darin LaHood announced, "This past weekend, my Supporting America's Children and Families Act was signed into law." He made this statement in a Facebook post dated January 6.

"This past weekend, my Supporting America's Children and Families Act was signed into law," said LaHood, according to Facebook. "This is the first meaningful reform to child welfare since 2008, and it will strengthen our foster care system and keep more families together. Our future generations are the key to our success, and we are responsible for protecting them."

According to LaHood's Facebook post, he shared a link to a news release providing further details about the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act. "As Chairman of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee, I take seriously our responsibility to ensure we have a strong safety net for the nearly 370,000 children in foster care who have experienced the trauma and hardships of abuse and neglect," said LaHood. He added that the signing of the Act marks the first significant reform to child welfare since 2008 and aims to modernize the Title IV-B program, strengthen the foster care system, and keep families together.

Screenshot of U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood's Jan. 6 Facebook post | U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood Facebook page

The Act incorporates policies from over a dozen bills from members of both parties on the Ways and Means Committee. Among these is House Resolution 8813, known as the Preventing Child Welfare Entry Caused By Poverty Act. This resolution seeks to prevent children from being removed from their parents solely due to poverty. It was introduced by Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) and Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI).

Another resolution included is House Resolution 8799, titled "Promoting Active Relationships to Enable Nurturing Ties (PARENT) Act of 2024." Introduced by Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL) and LaHood (R-IL), it authorizes a program to test approaches for supporting relationships between incarcerated parents and their children in foster care.

Also part of the legislation is H.R. 8810, "Ensuring Legal Representation for Child Welfare Act," introduced by Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA). This act requires states to develop strategies ensuring independent legal representation for children and families in open welfare cases. The Tribal Welfare Support Act mandates a 3% tribal set-aside while streamlining access to funding under Title IV-B, Subpart 1. It was introduced by Representatives Kevin Hern (R-OK) and Judy Chu (D-CA). The Strengthening Tribal Families Act of 2024 was put forward by Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE), Judy Chu (D-CA), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Tom Cole (R-OK), and Sharice Davids (D-KS). It requires Health and Human Services to provide technical assistance for states developing plans under the Indian Child Welfare Act.

LaHood has represented Illinois since 2015, initially serving in the 18th Congressional District until redistricting shifted him to represent the 16th District. His political career includes four years in the state senate from 2011-2015. He also served as a state and federal prosecutor for over nine years, including work with the U.S. Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada.