Todd Young

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act. I thank the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Poliquin) for his timely and valuable bill. Iran is a determined and treacherous enemy of the United States. Despite the hopes of the Obama administration's following the adoption of the JCPOA nuclear agreement, Iran has only escalated its aggressive foreign policy over the past year. It has not locked arms agreeably with the community of civilized nations. While the Obama administration removed the sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program following the adoption of the JCPOA, U.S. sanctions remain in place against Iran in response to its state sponsorship of terrorism, ballistic missile program, and human rights violations. Tracking and cataloging the assets and funds that are controlled by the Iranian regime is a necessary step towards uncovering how Iran continues to challenge and attempts to circumvent the U.S. sanctions regime. My amendment simply builds upon the excellent foundation laid out in the underlying bill by expanding the scope of the reporting requirements. These new components require Treasury to provide recommendations for improving the U.S. sanctions regime against Iran and a description of how Treasury assesses the impact and effectiveness of U.S. sanctions. The amendment will enhance the ability of Congress to assess and exercise oversight over Iran policy. The expanding reporting requirements will also contribute to the ability of Congress to ensure that Iran policy is serving the national security interests of the United States. Iran's continued aggression threatens all Americans regardless of one's political party. It is not partisan maneuvering for Congress to require the Department of the Treasury to provide valuable information to Congress on matters of great importance to our national security. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on roll call numbers 496 and 497, had I been present I would have voted yea.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 441, I was unavoidably detained outside the Chamber. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my hometown community in Bloomington, Indiana, and the many Hoosiers who crossed paths with legendary track coach, Sam Bell. It's difficult to estimate just how many Hoosiers it is I speak for today, but suffice it to say, Coach Bell had a tremendous impact in his three decades coaching at Indiana University. It would take all of the time allotted here and then some, to try to list all of Coach Bell's accomplishments. But among the brightest in his long line of successes, was being a father of four, a grandfather to nine, and a source of confidence for so many young people that he coached. Sam Bell remains one of the most highly-regarded coaches in the history of Indiana track and field--and for good reason. He won hundreds of titles. He coached Olympians. He commanded a reputation for greatness which preceded him everywhere he went. His athletes will be the first to tell you Coach Bell was intensely demanding. He was tough--some say old school or conservative even. But they respected him for it. I was especially struck, Mr. Speaker, by one former Olympian who, years later, finds himself constantly quoting Coach Bell to his own children. You see, because of the type of person Coach Bell was, he had the ability to transform not just a single athlete's life, but the lives of those who come thereafter. There is perhaps no greater legacy one can leave, and I am privileged to share it here today--and offer my respects to the Bell family and all who called him ``Coach.''

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5170) to encourage and support partnerships between the public and private sectors to improve our Nation's social programs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on H.R. 5170, currently under consideration.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. For all our best intentions, we too often see government programs fail both the constituencies they are intended to help and the taxpayers who fund them. Thousands of families across this country continue to be trapped, generation after generation, in programs that were well intended but are now ineffective or outdated. Our social safety net has instead become a poverty trap and not the springboard to prosperity we once envisioned. Our constituents, all Americans, deserve better. They need their Federal Government working together with their communities to focus on how we can help members of our society successfully climb that ladder out of poverty, not just check them off as another individual served. By changing the Federal Government's definition of success in Federal social programs, from inputs to actual outcomes, we can help our fellow Americans overcome the root causes of poverty and seize economic opportunities to work and provide for our families. It is this shift in focus, this focus from inputs to outcomes, that could substantially transform our safety net to better serve our most vulnerable. The Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act does just that. It empowers States, local governments, nonprofits, and the private sector to scale up evidence-based interventions that address our Nation's most pressing social challenges. This legislation would foster the creation of public-private partnerships that harness philanthropic and other private-sector investments so we can expand and replicate scientifically proven social and public health programs. Because social impact partnerships are focused on achieving real results, government dollars are paid out only when desired outcomes are met. Furthermore, this legislation would reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program at current spending levels for 1 year as well as build evidence on our efforts to help our most needy families find jobs and achieve self-sufficiency by cataloging the best evidence-based approaches. The What Works Clearinghouse would make it easier for States to know which approaches have been tested using independent, rigorous evaluations and, based on those results, an understanding of their effectiveness in achieving positive results for individuals and families. By cataloging the different approaches States are taking in helping welfare recipients move into work, we can help empower well-intentioned policymakers across all levels of government to improve lives through evidence-based policymaking. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed).

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Dold).

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. MacArthur), my colleague.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This bipartisan, bicameral bill was developed over the course of 2 years, incorporating feedback from a variety of stakeholders, ranging from State and local governments to child welfare organizations. I want to thank these stakeholders, as well as give very special recognition to my colleague, Congressman Delaney, my Democratic colleague from Maryland, for his leadership and partnership with me on this initiative. I would also be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the substantial and impressive efforts of members of our staff, from the Ways and Means committee staff, Ryan Martin, to my own personal office staff, Jaymi Light, who literally authored this legislation--we went through about 50 different versions until we got it right--to Xan Fishman of Congressman Delaney's staff, for his hard work. This was a team effort. This is the sort of big idea, bipartisan teamwork we need more of in Washington, D.C. All of you have helped make it happen here today. I want to thank my fellow Ways and Means colleagues who are cosponsors of this legislation for their leadership and continued support. Social impact partnerships address our moral responsibilities to ensure that social programs actually improve recipients' lives, and do so in a fiscally prudent manner. But they also respond to the imperative of improving our economic health by harnessing the capabilities of every able-bodied citizen. Our safety net must reflect our country's belief that, without exception, Americans aren't liabilities to be written off but, instead, assets to be realized. I urge all of my colleagues to support the Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 284, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for introducing this amendment, shedding light on one of the most vulnerable populations affected by this national opioid epidemic: our children. As communities, non-profits, and policymakers search for solutions to address this harrowing drug epidemic, it is essential that we not lose sight of the children whose lives have been fundamentally and forever altered by this nationwide crisis. Kids across the country are having their lives turned upside down. They are watching parents taken into custody. They are forced to leave homes, wondering whether they will ever be able to see their father or mother again. These are things children shouldn't have to worry about and shouldn't have to go through. The national opioid epidemic has hit my home State of Indiana particularly hard. A small Hoosier community of 4,300 was catapulted into the spotlight last spring. We had over 190 Hoosiers diagnosed with HIV primarily due to intravenous drug use. It is a tragedy the CDC has cited as one of the worst documented HIV outbreaks among users in the past 2 decades. This localized epidemic, similar to others across the country, is linked to the use of a powerful painkiller, a very highly addictive opiate. In addressing this nationwide problem, we are going to have to overcome the negative stigmas of drug addiction. We need to treat these individuals--and I say this literally--treat them as patients who need our encouragement and our support to get well. That is what this amendment accomplishes. Under this amendment, thousands of children who would otherwise see their parent destined for a prison cell will instead see the parent they love and depend on get the treatment they need. The need for this amendment is urgent. The Indiana Department of Child Services estimates 2,600 children had to be removed from homes due to parental drug abuse in just a 6-month period that ended last March. That is a 71 percent jump from 2 years earlier. We, as legislators, have a real responsibility to look out for these children. When States develop a substance abuse treatment program that can be an alternative to incarceration, this amendment allows them to focus on treating parents whose incarceration could result in their children languishing in an overwhelmed child welfare system. More than a dozen child welfare organizations support this bipartisan endeavor. I want to thank Mr. Davis, as I close here, and his staff for collaborating with me and Jaymi Light in my office in order to ensure that we can help this vulnerable population. I ask my colleagues to support the amendment and help us ensure our most vulnerable children are no longer caught up in this epidemic.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``Yes'' on roll call vote No. 164, and ``Yes'' on roll call vote No. 165.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, April 18, 2016, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``Yes'' on roll call vote No. 153, and ``Yes'' on roll call vote No. 154.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4472) to amend title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to adopt a centralized electronic system to help expedite the placement of children in foster care or guardianship, or for adoption, across State lines, and to provide grants to aid States in developing such a system, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4472, currently under consideration.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, there are a number of key points I would like to emphasize to explain how this legislation came to be and why I believe it is so important at this critical juncture. First, my wife, Jenny, and I have four young children of our own. As a parent, I know I speak for millions when I say that every child deserves to grow up in a stable, loving home. When the bond between parent and child is broken and children cannot safely return home, they deserve to be placed in a setting that is best for them, regardless of whether that is a home within their State or across a State line. However, due to various factors, children are languishing in the child welfare system, waiting to be placed with an adoptive family, a relative, or foster parents in another State. One contributor is the fact that today, in order to place a child with a grandparent across a State line, caseworkers must literally print out hundreds of pages of paperwork, package it up, and mail case files to another State. The receiving State responds in kind, completing their portion, and then mailing the case file back. It is an antiquated process that, on average, takes more than 5 months to complete. At a time when communities, courts, and caseworkers across the country are already overwhelmed, this inefficient, paper-based placement process is simply unacceptable. For children, the sooner we get them placed into a forever home, the better. I say this as someone with experience. Before entering Congress, I provided pro bono legal services for adoptive couples. These situations I have seen can be extremely hard on all parties, but none more so than the child. You don't have to take my word for it. Statistics show that the longer a child remains in the child welfare system, the less likely they are to have successful outcomes later in life. When proven interventions that can help these children present themselves, I believe it is our moral imperative to act. It is this belief that led to the solution we are discussing here today. The Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act would incentivize States to connect to an electronic interstate case processing system that has already been tested in a handful of States, including my home State of Indiana and the District of Columbia. These pilot programs achieved substantial reductions in the time it took to place these children into forever homes, reducing the time a child waited by 30 percent. For a child, that means a month and a half less time being shuffled from foster home to foster home and from being taken in and out of school without a set routine. In one pilot scenario, Indiana had an emergency request to place a child with a relative in Florida. Use of the system allowed both pilot States to exchange their case information the very same day, which, under the current system, could have taken weeks. In another scenario, an urgent matter came to Florida's attention where a placement was breaking down and the child needed to be moved. The way the interstate placement process currently works, this child could have been sent back into the overloaded foster care system and back into temporary care arrangements for another couple of months. Instead, Florida's use of this electronic system made a long-term placement of the child possible within 48 business hours. We can expect to see more of these positive results as use of this electronic system is expanded. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good colleague, Mr. Davis, and his staff for their hard work and his leadership on this effort. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the State of Indiana (Mrs. Walorski), who represents Notre Dame country. She is a hardworking Member from my home State.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This bipartisan, bicameral bill was developed through a yearlong process, consulting with key stakeholders to make sure that there would be broad support. It involved a whole lot of painstaking work from staff members on the committee, both Republican and Democrat, and from Mr. Davis, who I commend once again for his leadership on this issue, and his staff. And I want to thank all of the stakeholders involved. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from the American Public Human Services Association, the Children's Home Society of America, the Partnership for Strong Families, the Child Welfare League of America, the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, and the County Welfare Directors Association of California. Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, Washington, DC, February 4, 2016. Re Support for H.R. 4472, ``Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act''. Hon. Todd Young, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Danny Davis, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representatives Young and Davis: The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), and its affiliate, the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (AAICPC), which represents state executives responsible for overseeing the interstate placement of children, would like to thank you for introducing and co-sponsoring H.R. 4472, Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act. This legislation will facilitate state participation in the National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE), which is modernizing the now antiquated Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) administrative process. The bill complements our efforts to transform the ICPC by promoting policy changes and providing funding so that states may connect to the NEICE. Once fully operationalized, the NEICE will also be a valuable tool for addressing societal challenges that put children at risk, including the opiate and heroin epidemic, illegal rehoming of children, and sex trafficking. Thank you again for introducing and co-sponsoring H.R. 4472, and for your steadfast leadership to improve the lives of children waiting for safe, permanent families. We strongly support your efforts to modernize the interstate placement of children through this legislation, and intend to work vigorously for its passage. Sincerely yours, Tracy Wareing Evans, Executive Director, APHSA. Mical Anne Peterson, President, AAICPC.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank those stakeholders once again for all their help in getting this across the finish line. I am hoping for broad and fulsome support from all Members of this Chamber. I hope we can all agree here today that we should do everything possible to get our most vulnerable children immediately placed into the setting that is best for them, regardless of State boundary lines. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 21st, 2016, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YES on roll call no. 130.

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 97, there was an error in the transaction of my electronic vote. My office and the Clerk are looking into the matter. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Amendment No. 15 Offered by Mr. Young of Alaska