Congressional Research Service Reports - 513 Matching Results
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- Child Support Provisions Considered But Not Enacted During the 2002-2005 Welfare Reauthorization Debate
- Although the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (enacted February 8, 2006) included significant changes to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program, it did not include many of the child support provisions that had been considered during the preceding four-year debate within the context of welfare reauthorization. This report discusses 12 such provisions that were passed by either the House or the Senate Finance Committee (or both). The Administration has included several of these provisions in its FY2008 budget.
- The Child Care and Development Block Grant: Background and Funding
- This report discusses the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which provides subsidies to assist low-income families in obtaining child care so that parents can work or participate in education or training activities.
- Child Support Enforcement: $25 Annual User Fee
- This report discusses the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program, which was enacted in 1975 as a federal-state program to help strengthen families by securing financial support for children from their noncustodial parent on a consistent and continuing basis and by helping some families to remain self-sufficient and off public assistance by providing the requisite CSE services.
- Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Federal Assistance Programs
- The impact on children of domestic violence was an issue of interest in the 109th Congress. The first session of the 109th Congress ended with the passage of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-162), which contained new initiatives to address concerns about children and youth exposed to and victimized by domestic violence. This report discusses existing federal programs and initiatives that have been established to assist such children and youth, and new provisions enacted in P.L. 109-162.
- The HUD Homeless Assistance Grants: Programs Authorized by the HEARTH Act
- This report discusses the Homeless Assistance Grants, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The composition of the Homeless Assistance Grants changed when Congress enacted the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act as part of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act in the 111th Congress (P.L. 111-22).
- Welfare Reform: Comments from the Public on TANF Reauthorization
- This report presents a summary of the comments that were received by HHS in response to the Department's request, and is intended to convey a general sense of the views and opinions expressed. The report begins with an explanation of the methodology used for preparing this summary and a discussion of the categories of groups and individuals who submitted comments.
- Child Care Issues in the 109th Congress
- Federal support for child care comes in many forms, ranging from grant programs to tax provisions. Some programs serve as specifically dedicated funding sources for child care services (e.g., the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)), while for others (e.g., Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)), child care is just one of many purposes for which funds may be used. This report discusses budget proposals in areas related to child care and early childhood development in the 109th Congress.
- Child Welfare: Health Care Needs of Children in Foster Care and Related Federal Issues
- This report deals with Health Care needs of children in Foster Care and related Federal issues related to Child Welfare.
- Alien Eligibility for Public Assistance
- This report discusses how The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 has affected alien (illegal immigrants and nonimmigrants in the country) eligibility for federal, state, and local government assistance.
- Child Welfare: Implementation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act
- This report provides an overview of the implementation of adoption and safe families act on child welfare.
- The Department of Labor’s New Rules for Working Children and Youth: February 2005
- No Description Available.
- Low-Income Assistance Programs: Trends in Federal Spending
- This report examines the spending trends of 10 major need-tested benefit programs or groups of programs: (1) health care from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); (2) the refundable portion of the health insurance tax credit enacted in the 2010 health care reform law; (3) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); (4) assisted housing; (5) financial assistance for post-secondary students (Pll Grants); (6) compensatory education grants to school districts; (7) Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); (8) The Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC); (9) Supplemental Security Income (SSI); (10) Family Support Payment
- Child Welfare: Health Care Needs of Children in Foster Care and Related Federal Issues
- This report addresses Health Care needs of children in Foster Care and related federal issues regarding Child Welfare.
- Child Welfare: An Overview of Federal Programs and Their Current Funding
- This report provides information about An Overview of Federal Programs and Their Current Funding on Child Welfare.
- Federal Benefits and Services for People with Low Income: Programs and Spending, FY2008-FY2013
- No Description Available.
- Child Support Enforcement: New Reforms and Potential Issues
- P.L. 104-193 (the 1996 welfare reform legislation) made major changes to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program. Some of the changes include requiring states to increase the percentage of fathers identified, establishing an integrated, automated network linking all states to information about the location and assets of parents, and requiring states to implement more enforcement techniques to obtain collections from debtor parents. Additional legislative changes were made in 1997, 1998, and 1999, but not in 2000, 2001, or 2002. This report describes several aspects of the revised CSE program and discusses three issues that probably will be reexamined by the 108th Congress — CSE financing, parental access by noncustodial parents, and distribution of support payments.
- 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.
- Child Welfare: Profiles of Current and Former Older Foster Youth Based on the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD)
- No Description Available.
- Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and “DREAM Act” Legislation
- This report examines the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or the DREAM Act. The bills were introduced in the 109th Congress, one of which was incorporated into the immigration reform bill passed by the Senate. A key issues in the current debate about immigration reform is how to address the resident unauthorized alien population.
- Welfare Reauthorization: Overview of the Issues
- The 109th Congress is reviewing a number of programs that aid poor and low-income families with children. These programs include the TANF and child care block grants, child support enforcement, abstinence education, transitional Medicaid (known as Transitional Medical Assistance), Head Start, and the Workforce Investment Act. Other potential policy initiatives, such as social security and tax reform, also would likely affect low-income families with children. This report focuses on programs and policy initiatives that are being raised in the context of reviewing and reauthorizing welfare programs: TANF, the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Child Support Enforcement, Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA), Abstinence Education, initiatives to promote responsible fatherhood, and initiatives to promote rearing children in married-couple families.
- Child Welfare: FY2013 Budget Request of the President and FY2013 Funding
- This report begins with an overview of the purpose for which child welfare funds are appropriated. The report discusses FY2013 appropriations for those programs, including the effect of the automatic spending cuts, know as sequestration.
- Welfare Reauthorization in the 109th Congress: An Overview
- This report discuses the welfare re-authorization legislation, Enactment of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005, the program operated under a series of 12 “temporary extension” measures.
- Child Welfare: Title IV-E Proposals in the President’s FY2016 Budget
- This report discusses about child welfare. It is categorized into two categories: (I) Title IV-E Funding Request, (II) Proposed Title IV-E Policy Changes and Estimates Costs.
- Medicaid Reimbursement Policy
- This report begins with a summary of basic federal requirements applicable to payments for all services and an overview of major developments in federal Medicaid reimbursement policy over the last 20 years. This overview provides a historical context for current policies and highlights some issues that have been perennial concerns for federal and state policymakers. The next four sections of the report provide a detailed discussion of Medicaid reimbursement for four basic categories of services or providers.
- Child Well-Being and Noncustodial Fathers
- This report displays and discusses some of the data related to the poverty of children and their living arrangements and data on male employment and earnings, educational attainment, and incarceration. It then provides information on federal programs that could play a greater role in addressing poverty of children through the fathers of these children (nearly all noncustodial parents are fathers). The report also examines federal programs that have the purposes of preventing teen pregnancy and helping disadvantaged youth obtain the skills and support they need to make the transition to adulthood. The report concludes by presenting several public policy approaches proposed by the policy community that might improve the lives of low-income noncustodial fathers and their children.
- Veterans and Homelessness
- The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have brought renewed attention to the needs of veterans, including the needs of homeless veterans. Homeless veterans initially came to the country’s attention in the 1970s and 1980s, when homelessness generally was becoming a more prevalent and noticeable phenomenon. This report defines the term “homeless veteran,” discusses attempts to estimate the number of veterans who are homeless, and presents the results of studies regarding the demographic characteristics of homeless veterans as well as those served in VA homeless programs. The second section of this report summarizes the available research regarding the overrepresentation of both male and female veterans, who have been found to be present in greater percentages in the homeless population than their percentages in the general population. The third section of this report discusses programs to fund services and transitional housing specifically for homeless veterans.
- 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.
- The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant: An Overview
- This report provides a nontechnical introduction to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. The report briefly describes the history of cash assistance and how the "welfare reform" debates led to the creation of TANF; TANF financing; the TANF cash welfare programs and; other TANF benefits, services, and activities.
- Child Welfare: The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP)
- This report briefly describes the CFCIP and will be updated as significant legislative developments occur.
- 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.
- Child Welfare: An Overview of Federal Programs and Their Current Funding
- This report provides information about An Overview of Federal Programs and Their Current Funding on Child Welfare.
- Child Welfare: Oversight of Psychotropic Medication for Children in Foster Care
- This report provides an oversight of Psychotropic medication for children in Foster Care.
- Federal Minimum Wage, Tax-Transfer Earnings Supplements, and Poverty
- This report focuses on the impact of minimum wage and tax-transfer earnings supplements for workers of different family types.
- Child Welfare: Structure and Funding of the Adoption Incentives Program along with Reauthorization Issues
- This report addresses structure and funding of the Adoption Incentives Program along with re-authorization issues regarding Child Welfare.
- Child Support: Changes Enacted or Proposed in the 103rd Congress
- No Description Available.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Analysis of Federal-State Financing of the Child Support Enforcement Program
- This report discusses about Analysis of Federal-State Financing of the Child Support Enforcement Program.
- 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.
- Child Care Issues in the 106th Congress
- This report documents the numerous child care policies by President Bill Clinton, going on to describe the difficulties in passing this type of legislation and the outcome of passing such policies.
- Federal Benefits and Services for People with Low Income: Programs, Policy, and Spending, FY2008-FY2009
- No Description Available.
- Child Welfare: Federal Program Requirements for States
- This report summarizes changes made in the 109th Congress and then categorizes and describes State Program requirements linked to dedicated federal child welfare funds.
- Housing Assistance and Welfare: Background and Issues
- This paper will introduce the reader to federal housing assistance and welfare programs, the people they serve, how the programs interact and current issues.
- Child Welfare: Recent and Proposed Federal Funding
- This report contains the recent and proposed federal funding for child welfare.
- Child Welfare: Recently Enacted Changes in Federal Policy
- This report summarizes changes enacted in federal child welfare policy during the 109th Congress.
- Child Welfare: State Performance on Child and Family Services Reviews
- This report discusses How is a CFSR Conducted , what is Assesses? and Aggregate State Performance on Outcomes in the initial CSR.
- The Economic Status of Noncustodial Fathers of Children on Welfare
- No Description Available.
- Child Care and Child Welfare: Background Checks
- This report discusses the details related to background checks to help ensure the safety of children served through their organizations.
- Child Support Enforcement: New Reforms and Potential Issues
- P.L. 104-193 (the 1996 welfare reform legislation) made major changes to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program. Some of the changes include requiring states to increase the percentage of fathers identified, establishing an integrated, automated network linking all states to information about the location and assets of parents, and requiring states to implement more enforcement techniques to obtain collections from debtor parents. Additional legislative changes were made in 1997, 1998, and 1999, but not in 2000, 2001, 2002, or 2003. This report describes several aspects of the revised CSE program and discusses three issues that probably will be reexamined by the 108th Congress — CSE financing, parental access by noncustodial parents, and distribution of support payments.