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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7419 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7419
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to establish a
demonstration grant program to provide emergency relief to foster youth
and improve pre-placement services offered by foster care stabilization
agencies, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 9, 2026
Mr. Bacon (for himself, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Nunn of Iowa, and Ms. Moore of
Wisconsin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to establish a
demonstration grant program to provide emergency relief to foster youth
and improve pre-placement services offered by foster care stabilization
agencies, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Foster Care Stabilization Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO IMPROVE PRE-PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR FOSTER YOUTH.
Section 426 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 626) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Grants To Improve Pre-Placement Services for Foster Youth.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall award 3
demonstration grants of not more than $1,000,000 to foster care
stabilization agencies for the purpose of providing emergency
relief to foster youth and improving pre-placement services for
foster youth waiting for placement.
``(2) Duration.--A foster care stabilization agency that
receives a grant under this subsection shall have 3 years to
spend funds awarded by the grant and return any unused grant
funds to the Secretary.
``(3) Application.--A foster care stabilization agency that
desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit
to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may require,
that shall include the following:
``(A) A description of how grant funds will be used
to provide emergency relief to foster youth by the
foster care stabilization agency.
``(B) A description of how grant funds will be used
to improve pre-placement services offered by the foster
care stabilization agency.
``(4) Application dissemination.--The Secretary shall
ensure that the solicitation of applications for a grant under
this subsection is posted publicly on the website of the
Administration for Children and Families and shall make special
dissemination efforts to rural areas and among Indian Tribes,
Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.
``(5) Use of funds.--A grant awarded under this subsection
may be used to carry out any of the following activities:
``(A) Hiring of personnel necessary to provide
emergency relief to foster youth and ensure that
services, resources, and assistance reach such youth.
``(B) Provision of clothing and other personal
necessities to a foster youth for a total not to exceed
$250 per foster youth, per year.
``(C) Purchase of food and equipment needed to
prepare food for foster youth.
``(D) Provision of service and support to prevent
and respond to occurrences of child abuse and neglect
with respect to foster youth.
``(E) Any other extraordinary or emergency
assistance needed to promote the safety and self-
sufficiency of foster youth.
``(F) Any other purpose that the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(6) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve $45,000 of
any amounts referred to in paragraph (9) for administration,
oversight, and technical assistance activities related to this
subsection.
``(7) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Congress a
report that--
``(A) describes how grants awarded under this
subsection have been used to provide emergency relief
to foster youth;
``(B) describes how grants awarded under this
subsection have been used on pre-placement services;
``(C) contains data on the extent of clothing and
other necessities purchased with grant funds awarded
under this subsection that have been provided to foster
youth;
``(D) provides an evaluation of case outcomes for
foster youth who have benefitted from grant funds; and
``(E) states the number of home transfers for each
foster youth that has benefitted from grant funds.
``(8) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Foster care stabilization agency.--The term
`foster care stabilization agency' means a local public
or private nonprofit entity, including a community or
faith-based organization, with expertise and experience
providing direct services to 1 or more of the
following:
``(i) Children who are under the care and
placement responsibility of a State or tribal
agency that administers a plan under this part
or part E.
``(ii) Foster youth who have not attained
18 years of age.
``(iii) Foster youth who have attained 18
years of age.
``(B) Foster youth.--The term `foster youth' means
an individual in foster care who has not attained 26
years of age.
``(C) Home transfer.--The term `home transfer'
means the initial placement of a foster youth in foster
care, and any subsequent placement of that foster youth
while in foster care.
``(9) Funding.--To the extent that the total of the amounts
made available under subsection (a) for a fiscal year exceeds
$5,000,000 more than the amount so made available for the
previous fiscal year, the Secretary shall use the amounts to
carry out this subsection.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
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