Preventing Child Welfare Entry Caused by Poverty Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8813 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8813 To amend subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to address child welfare involvement caused by poverty, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 25, 2024 Mr. Smith of Missouri (for himself and Ms. Moore of Wisconsin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to address child welfare involvement caused by poverty, 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 ``Preventing Child Welfare Entry Caused by Poverty Act''. SEC. 2. MARYLEE ALLEN PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES PROGRAM. (a) Family Preservation Services.--Section 431(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)(1)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(G)(i) services providing nonrecurring short term benefits (including supports related to housing instability, utilities, transportation, and food assistance, among other basic needs) that address immediate needs related to a specific crisis, situation, or event affecting the ability of a child to remain in a home established for the child that is not intended to meet an ongoing need; and ``(ii) for purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service described in clause (i) may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunifica