Referred in Senate

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7432 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7432

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 20, 2026

      Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 To modernize section 477 of part E of title IV of the Social Security
 Act to improve connections to housing, expand education and training
 opportunities, and modernize services to improve outcomes for foster
                  youth transitioning into adulthood.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fostering the Future Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
              YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FOSTER CARE.

Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--

Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(5), by striking ``aged out of foster
        care'' and inserting ``experienced foster care at age 14 or
        older'';
            (2) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ``age out of foster
        care'' and inserting ``experience foster care at age 14 or
        older'';
            (3) in each of subsections (a)(6) and (i)(2), by striking
        ``16'' and inserting ``14'';
            (4) in subsection (i)(3), by striking ``in no event may a
        youth participate in the program for more than 5 years (whether
        or not consecutive)'' and inserting ``may not allow a youth to
        participate in the program for more than 5 years (or, in the
        case of a youth who was involved in a remedial education
        activity referred to in paragraph (4)(B), for more than 6
        years), whether or not consecutive'';
            (5) in subsection (i)(4)--
                    (A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as
                follows:
                    ``(A) may be available for the cost of attendance--
                            ``(i) at an institution of higher
                        education, as defined in section 102 of the
                        Higher Education Act of 1965, including a
                        community college or postsecondary vocational
                        institution; or
                            ``(ii) at a short-term training program
                        that is eligible for the Workforce Pell program
                        under section 401(k), as described in section
                        481(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
                        (20 U.S.C. 1088(b)(3)), as added by section
                        83002(b) of Public Law 119-21;'';
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
                subparagraph (C); and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A), as so
                amended, the following:
                    ``(B) may be available for costs--
                            ``(i) associated with participation in an
                        apprenticeship program;
                            ``(ii) to obtain a general equivalency
                        degree; or
                            ``(iii) to receive remedial education;
                        and''; and
            (6) in subsection (i), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) In this section, the term `remedial education' means
        education or skill training needed to support obtaining a high
        school diploma or qualifying for postsecondary education,
        training, or an apprenticeship that is--
                    ``(A) not already available through the school
                district of the student or another free local, State,
                or Federal program; and
                    ``(B) is provided by an instructor with credentials
                relevant to the subject area of instruction, as
                determined by the State.''.

SEC. 3. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHER AMOUNT AND

SEC. 3. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHER AMOUNT AND
              PROVISION OF GREATER SUPPORT FOR FOSTER YOUTH PURSUING
              POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 477(i) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 677(i)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``that program'' and inserting
                ``that education or training program, (except that the
                State may establish a grace period to allow a youth to
                continue participation in activities described in
                paragraph (4)(A), after an assessment and consultation
                with the youth, if the State determines that reasonable
                circumstances warrant the grace period)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``the program'' and inserting ``the
                voucher program''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4)(C) (as so redesignated by section
        2(5)(C) of this Act), by striking ``$5,000'' and inserting
        ``$12,000''.
    (b) Guidance.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
consultation with youth who have experienced foster care, shall develop
and issue model guidance to States and jurisdictions receiving
allotments under section 477(c) of the Social Security Act for
implementation of the amendment made by subsection (a)(1) of this
section.

SEC. 4. IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AND YOUTH AWARENESS OF EDUCATION AND

SEC. 4. IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AND YOUTH AWARENESS OF EDUCATION AND
              TRAINING VOUCHERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 477(i) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 677(i)), as amended by section 2(6) of this Act, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) The State shall make reasonable efforts to ensure
        that eligible youth are aware of potential benefits provided
        under this subsection, including by coordinating with programs
        funded under subsection (h)(1).
            ``(9) The program shall include a simplified, user-tested,
        and standard form for youth to use to apply for vouchers under
        the program, using standard terminology, that is easily
        accessible and available electronically.''.
    (b) Use of Funds.--Section 477(d)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
677(d)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--A State to which an amount is paid from
        its allotment under subsection (c)(1) may use the amount in any
        manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes
        of this section, including outreach related to subsection
        (i)(8). A State to which an amount is paid from its allotment
        under subsection (c)(3) may use the amount for any purpose
        related to the program described in subsection (i)(8).''.

SEC. 5. IMPROVING ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR FOSTER YOUTH.

SEC. 5. IMPROVING ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR FOSTER YOUTH.

Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--

Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``and preventive'' and inserting
                ``preventive''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, and access to housing for
                youth age 18 or older'' before the semicolon;
            (2) in subsection (a)(4), by inserting ``current and''
        before ``former'';
            (3) in subsection (b)(2)(D), by inserting ``, including by
        collaborating with public housing agencies that administer
        Federal housing programs serving foster youth under section
        8(x)(2)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and receive
        funding to partner with public child welfare agencies to serve
        youth who have experienced foster care'' before the period;
            (4) in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking ``not more than 30
        percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment
        under subsection (c) for a fiscal year'' and inserting ``an
        average of not more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to the
        State from its allotment under subsection (c) for the 5 fiscal
        years covered by the application submitted by the State
        pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection'';
            (5) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Housing supportive services.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State may use amounts from its
                allotment under subsection (c) to provide supportive
                services to assist eligible youth who experienced
                foster care to obtain or retain suitable housing.
                    ``(B) Definitions.--
                            ``(i) Eligible youth.--In this subsection,
                        the term `eligible youth' means an individual
                        who receives assistance provided under section
                        8(x) of the United States Housing Act of 1937.
                            ``(ii) Supportive services.--The term
                        `supportive services' may include--
                                    ``(I) basic life skills information
                                and counseling on financial literacy,
                                use of credit, and money management;
                                    ``(II) counseling on rental lease
                                contracts and assistance with rental
                                insurance; and
                                    ``(III) assistance with security
                                deposits, utility connection fees,
                                moving costs, and other fees associated
                                with establishing tenancy.
                    ``(C) Exception.--Expenditures in accordance with
                this paragraph shall not be considered expenditures for
                room and board for purposes of subsection (b)(3)(B).
                    ``(D) Aligning age eligibility.--Notwithstanding
                subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii), a State may use funds from
                its allotment under subsection (c) to provide
                supportive services to eligible youth who have not
                attained 26 years of age for the purpose of supporting
                continued access to housing.''; and
            (6) in subsection (g)(1), by inserting ``access to
        housing,'' before ``and personal''.

SEC. 6. JOINT AGENCY GUIDANCE.

SEC. 6. JOINT AGENCY GUIDANCE.

    (a) In General.--Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development, shall develop and issue joint
guidance to State public child welfare agencies and public housing
authorities to improve alignment and coordination of housing supportive
services provided under section 477 of the Social Security Act and
housing assistance provided under section 8(x) of the United States
Housing Act of 1937.
    (b) Contents.--The joint guidance shall include the following:
            (1) Clarification and alignment of Federal policies to
        improve access to housing for youth who have experienced foster
        care, including youth who are in independent living
        arrangements while in extended foster care.
            (2) Guidance on State use of funds provided under section
        477 of the Social Security Act for supportive services (as
        defined in subsection (d)(6) of such section) to improve access
        to housing programs administered by the Department of Housing
        and Urban Development.
            (3) Best practices for building partnerships between public
        child welfare agencies and public housing authorities,
        including ways to improve access to supportive services.
            (4) Additional information the Secretaries deem necessary
        to effectively coordinate Federal programs serving current and
        former foster youth.
    (c) Production.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
designate an official of the Department of Health and Human Services to
lead development of the joint guidance in collaboration with the
Department of Housing and Urban Development.

SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Within 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the
Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Financial Services of
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Finance and the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report
that sets forth--
            (1) aggregate data on the number of eligible youth who have
        experienced foster care who are receiving Federal housing
        assistance;
            (2) a description of the outcomes for the youth, including
        the extent to which youth are able to access stable housing and
        rates of homelessness;
            (3) the findings from any evaluations of State programs
        conducted pursuant to section 477(g)(1) of the Social Security
        Act; and
            (4) statutory recommendations for improving coordination
        between public child welfare agencies and Federal housing
        programs.

SEC. 8. LEGAL CONSULTING AND ACCESS UNDER THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER

SEC. 8. LEGAL CONSULTING AND ACCESS UNDER THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER
              CARE PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD.

Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--

Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(4), by inserting ``legal counseling
        access,'' after ``education,''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(3), by adding at the end the
        following:
                    ``(L) A certification by the chief executive
                officer of the State that the relevant case planning
                and other processes employed by the State take into
                consideration certain legal issues affecting housing,
                education, entry into employment, and family
                connections of current and former foster youth and the
                efforts required to address the issues, including with
                respect to State court records, legal recognition of
                family relationships, and matters relating to custody
                and permanency.''.

SEC. 9. ENSURING EXPECTANT AND PARENTING YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES

SEC. 9. ENSURING EXPECTANT AND PARENTING YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES
              PROVIDED THROUGH THE MATERNAL, INFANT, AND EARLY
              CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING PROGRAM.

    (a) Purpose.--Section 477(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
677(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'';
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) to connect foster youth in eligible families (as such
        term is defined in section 511) who receive services under this
        part with evidence-based home visiting and support services
        provided under section 511.''.
    (b) Applications.--Section 477(b)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
677(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(M) A certification by the chief executive
                officer of the State that the State has processes in
                place to ensure that a youth participating in the
                program under this section who is in an eligible family
                (as such term is defined in section 511) is provided
                with information regarding evidence-based home visiting
                and support services provided in the State under

section 511.''.

section 511.''.

SEC. 10. TAILORED CASE MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE COORDINATION SERVICES

SEC. 10. TAILORED CASE MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE COORDINATION SERVICES
              FOR PARENTING AND EXPECTANT YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
              FOSTER CARE.

Section 477(d)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(d)(1))

Section 477(d)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(d)(1))
is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--A State to which an amount is paid from
        its allotment under subsection (c)(1) may use the amount--
                    ``(A) to provide tailored case management and
                resource coordination services to youth otherwise
                eligible for services under the State program under
                this section who are expectant or parenting; or
                    ``(B) in any manner that is reasonably calculated
                to accomplish the purposes of this section.''.

SEC. 11. UPDATING THE PURPOSES OF THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE

SEC. 11. UPDATING THE PURPOSES OF THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE
              PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD.

    (a) Updating of Purposes.--Section 477(a) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 677(a)), as amended by section 9(a)(3) of this Act, is
amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (2);
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (3) through (8) as
        paragraphs (3) through (9), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after ``conducted--'' the following:
            ``(1) to help children who have experienced foster care at
        age 14 or older to develop and maintain sustained, supportive
        relationships with adults (including kin or fictive kin who are
        not serving as placement), mentors, and peers (including peers
        who have experienced foster care), with a goal of providing
        multiple and varied paths to reduce isolation and ensuring that
        the youth develop lifelong connections and support networks;
            ``(2) to support youth still in foster care who have
        experienced foster care at age 14 or older in exercising the
        rights referred to in section 475A to participate in developing
        their permanency plan and receive written information about
        available services and steps the agency is taking to support
        the plan, as well as to facilitate pre- and post-permanency
        peer support, mentoring, connections with kin, and referrals to
        additional appropriate programs and services to help youth
        achieve their permanency goals;''.
    (b) Guidance.--Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act and after consulting with youth with lived experience in
foster care, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue
guidance to States and Tribal child welfare agencies regarding the
purposes set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 477(a) of the
Social Security Act, that includes, at a minimum--
            (1) examples of services and support eligible for Federal
        funding under part B of title IV of such Act, under part E of
        such title as part of completing and following the case plan
        requirements provided for in section 475A of such Act, or under

section 477 of such Act, including individual youth support,

section 477 of such Act, including individual youth support,
        family support, and peer support to engage youth during
        reunification, guardianship, or adoption proceedings;
            (2) best practices for facilitating peer support,
        mentoring, and the development and maintenance of lifelong
        connections, including practices that support sibling, tribal,
        and community connections, including minimum qualifications and
        training for persons providing mentoring and peer support;
            (3) standards of outreach to and notification of eligible
        youth, including youth with a planned permanent living
        arrangement, to ensure referrals to appropriate programs and
        services; and
            (4) protocols for documentation of support and
        relationship-building activities under section 477 of such Act
        that are required by section 475A of such Act to be included in
        a child's case plan, sufficient to permit review under the case
        review system described in section 475(5) of such Act.

SEC. 12. EFFECTIVE DATE.

SEC. 12. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act
and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that
is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Delayed Permitted if State Legislation Required.--If the
Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State
legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is required in
order for a State plan under section 477 of the Social Security Act to
meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by
sections 5(3), 5(4), 8(2), and 9(b) of this Act, the plan shall not be
regarded as failing to meet any of the additional requirements before
the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after the first
regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of
the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if
the State has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session is
deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 19, 2026.

            Attest:

                                             KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

                                                                 Clerk.