H.R. 7419

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7419 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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.''.
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