Congressional Research Service Reports - 26 Matching Results
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- Child Welfare Issues in the 110th Congress
- As the U.S. Constitution has been interpreted, states have the primary obligation to ensure child welfare. However, Congress provides significant federal funds to help states exercise this responsibility ($7.9 billion appropriated in FY2008). Most of this support is provided for children who are in foster care and who meet specific federal eligibility criteria. This report discusses the federal framework for child welfare policy; reviews the scope of activities, and children and families served, by state child welfare agencies; summarizes several child welfare-related hearings that were held in 2007; describes child welfare and related legislative proposals that have been introduced in the 110th Congress; and reviews child welfare programs for which funding authorization has expired or is set to expire on the last day of FY2008.
- Child Welfare Issues in the 110th Congress
- As the U.S. Constitution has been interpreted, states have the primary obligation to ensure child welfare. However, Congress provides significant federal funds to help states exercise this responsibility ($7.9 billion appropriated in FY2008). Most of this support is provided for children who are in foster care and who meet specific federal eligibility criteria. This report discusses the federal framework for child welfare policy; reviews the scope of activities, and children and families served, by state child welfare agencies; summarizes several child welfare-related hearings that were held in 2007; describes child welfare and related legislative proposals that have been introduced in the 110th Congress; and reviews child welfare programs for which funding authorization has expired or is set to expire on the last day of FY2008.
- Child Custody Proceedings Under The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA): An Overview
- This report discusses how in 1978 Congress enacted the Indian Child Welfare act (ICWA) in response to legislative findings of harm caused to Indian children, their families, and tribes by the high separation rate of Indian Children from their homes and cultural environments.
- Trends in Welfare, Work, and the Economic Well-Being of Female-Headed Families with Children: 1987-2006
- No Description Available.
- Western Sahara: Status of Settlement Efforts
- In the 1970s, Morrocco and independence-seeking popular front for the liberation of the saqiat .UN arranged a cease-fire and proposed a settlement. This report is regarding the proposal and settlement .
- The Animal Welfare Act: Background and Selected Legislation
- The Animal Welfare Act was first passed in 1966 to prevent pets from being stolen for sale to research laboratories, and to improve the treatment and wellbeing of animals intended for research. The passage in 2007 of legislation on animal fighting marked the sixth time Congress has amended the act to strengthen enforcement, expand coverage to more animals and activities, or curtail practices viewed as cruel, among other things. The Animal Welfare Act amendments in the 2008 farm bill band the importation of puppies under six months of age for resale, tighten prohibitions of dog and other animal fighting activities, and increase penalties for violation of the act.
- Child Welfare: Recent and Proposed Federal Funding
- This report contains the recent and proposed federal funding for child welfare.
- Medicaid Citizenship Documentation
- Due to recent changes in federal law, individuals who declare that they are citizens for Medicaid eligibility purposes must present documentation that proves citizenship and documents personal identity. This report discusses issues related to Medicaid citizenship documentation that have received considerable media and interest group attention, as well as proposed legislation that would affect the requirement.
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Estimated Allocations
- This report discusses the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This report contains two tables that show estimated LIHEAP allocations to the states. Table 1 shows state allocations at various levels: (1) the amount appropriated for FY2006, (2) the amount appropriated for FY2007, (3) the amount appropriated in FY2008, and (4) estimated state allocations based on the amount requested by the President for FY2009. Table 2 shows estimated state allocations at other hypothetical appropriations increments.
- The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Program and Funding
- This report describes appropriations of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) funds for FY2008 and FY2007. It also discusses current issues and legislation related to LIHEAP. The report also discusses LIHEAP rules, including household eligibility and how funds may be used, and presents the most recent data available from HHS regarding household characteristics and benefit levels. Finally, the last section discusses how each category of LIHEAP funds is distributed to states, as well as a breakdown of funds to the states during the last several fiscal years.
- Child Welfare: Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits for Children in Foster Care
- This report begins with a discussion of the foster care system and the Social Security benefits available to eligible children, including those in foster care. It then describes the role of representative payees and their responsibilities. The report provides data on the use of Social Security benefits to reimburse states for child welfare, and includes a discussion of the Keffeler decision. Finally, the report concludes with proposals supported by some advocates to change the current practice of using SSI and other Social Security benefits to fund foster care (including legislation introduced in the 110th Congress), as well as with a discussion of state initiatives to screen all foster children for Social Security and to pass along some benefits to eligible children.
- The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: A Primer on TANF Financing and Federal Requirements
- No Description Available.
- An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
- This report discusses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which is a federal provision that reduces the income tax liability of taxpayers claiming the credit. These taxpayers are typically investors in real estate development projects that have traded cash for the tax credits to support the production of affordable housing. The credit is intended to lower the financing costs of housing developments so that the rental prices of units can be lower than market rates, and thus, presumably, affordable.
- An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
- This report discusses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which is a federal provision that reduces the income tax liability of taxpayers claiming the credit. These taxpayers are typically investors in real estate development projects that have traded cash for the tax credits to support the production of affordable housing. The credit is intended to lower the financing costs of housing developments so that the rental prices of units can be lower than market rates, and thus, presumably, affordable.
- An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
- This report discusses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which is a federal provision that reduces the income tax liability of taxpayers claiming the credit. These taxpayers are typically investors in real estate development projects that have traded cash for the tax credits to support the production of affordable housing. The credit is intended to lower the financing costs of housing developments so that the rental prices of units can be lower than market rates, and thus, presumably, affordable.
- An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
- This report discusses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which is a federal provision that reduces the income tax liability of taxpayers claiming the credit. These taxpayers are typically investors in real estate development projects that have traded cash for the tax credits to support the production of affordable housing. The credit is intended to lower the financing costs of housing developments so that the rental prices of units can be lower than market rates, and thus, presumably, affordable.
- Children in Poverty: Profile, Trends, and Issues
- This report highlights the concerns over child poverty which is the social and economic concern in the United States. It discusses in detail about Child poverty in 2007, trends, and Government "Safety Net" policy.
- The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions
- No Description Available.
- What Happens to SCHIP After March 31, 2009?
- A report about the effects of the end of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
- Child Welfare: The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
- This report provides an overview of the bill Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (H.R. 6893). The report discusses many of the changes included in the new law.
- Youth Transitioning From Foster Care: Background, Federal Programs, and Issues for Congress
- This report begins with a discussion of the characteristics of older foster youth in care and the types of outcomes experienced by youth who have recently emancipated. The report then provides an overview of the federal foster care system, including the Chafee Foster Care Independence program, and provisions in federal foster care law that are intended to help prepare youth for adulthood. The report goes on to discuss other federal support -- through other programs -- for youth aging out of care in the areas of education, health care, employment, and housing. The report seeks to understand how states vary in their approaches to serving older youth in care and those who are recently emancipated. The report also intends to demonstrate that, despite negative outcomes for the group on average, many former foster youth are engaged in decisions about the services they receive and display resiliency. The report concludes with a discussion of issues that Congress may wish to consider, as well as pending legislation relevant to each of the issues.
- Income and Poverty Among Older Americans in 2007
- This report describes the income and poverty status of the 36.8 million Americans age 65 and older who were living in households in 2007. The report also describes how the proportion of total income received from each source differs between high-income individuals and households and low-income individuals and households.
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Issues for the 110th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI): A Fact Sheet
- The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, Title XVI of the Social Security Act, was enacted in 1972 and implemented in 1974 to assure a minimum cash income to all aged, blind, or disabled persons. SSI is provided to eligible aged or disabled individuals or couples who have limited income and resources.
- Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): Implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act
- This report is intended to provide an overview of the Adequate Yearly Process (AYP) concept and several related issues, a description of the AYP provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act, and an analysis of the implementation of these provisions by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the states. It will be updated when major administrative actions are taken by ED, or substantial new data on state implementation become available.
- Haiti: Legislative Responses to the Food Crisis and Related Development Challenges
- Haiti faces several interrelated challenges, the most immediate being a deepening food crisis that in April 2008 led to deadly protests and the ouster of Haiti's prime minister. Haiti also suffers from a legacy of poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment that is compounding security problems for its new and fragile democracy. This report follows the current situation in Haiti and key legislative initiatives designed to help address Haiti's many challenges.