March 03, 2004

By: Seth Shadi
Website: http://www.1st-in-kids.com

House Passes New Protections for Abused Children & Victims of Family Violence

The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed legislation authored by Select Education Subcommittee Chairman Pete Hoekstra aimed at preventing child abuse and family violence and protecting and treating abused and neglected children.

The legislation, the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, is the product of an agreement reached by House and Senate negotiators. An earlier version of the bill passed the House in April.

This bill protects children from the horror of abuse and neglect. In too many instances, children grow up in an environment that is unsafe, said Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner.

This bill will help to ensure every child in America is raised in a safe and loving environment. This legislation has been a top priority for our committee. I commend Chairman Hoekstra for his work on this measure, and I am pleased we’ll be sending it to the President for his signature.

The bill authorizes $285 million for FY 2003 to ensure states have the necessary resources and flexibility for programs that focus on the prevention of child abuse and neglect and family violence. This bipartisan legislation also reauthorizes the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to promote partnerships between child protective services and private and community-based organizations to ensure assistance is provided in the most effective manner for children caught in abusive situations. The bill also eliminates barriers to permanent adoption and provides support to programs that place older children in adoptive families.

Two weeks ago, President Bush hosted the first-ever White House Conference on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children. The conference brought together members of the President’s Cabinet; federal, state and local officials; law enforcement personnel; and parents to focus on a wide range of topics related to child abuse including missing and exploited children; runaway and homeless youth; international child abduction; sex trafficking of children; child pornography; child safety and Internet safety, and corporate and community involvement.

I would like to thank President Bush and his Administration for their continued commitment to the youth of this nation. I would also like to thank Reps. Hoekstra and Greenwood for their continued leadership on this issue in this committee and in this Congress, said Boehner. This important legislation will help protect our children and provide them with a safe and happy childhood.

About The Author:

Seth Shadi is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-kids.com.  Helping parents find kid-approved clothes, toys, games, books, activities and more.