WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Oversight Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis (D-GA), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) issued the following statement reaffirming the Ways and Means Committee’s authority and responsibility to conduct oversight over programs in its jurisdiction, specifically the federal foster care program:
“A key, constitutionally-mandated part of our work on the Ways and Means Committee is to determine whether the laws within the committee’s jurisdiction are implemented effectively and in accordance with congressional intent. Federal payments to states for foster care and adoption placements for our most vulnerable children fall within our purview. States receive federal monies to fund foster care services and must cooperate with our oversight efforts and comply with committee requests for information so that we can fulfill our constitutional responsibilities. Recently, Texas - a state with a troubling foster care track record - rejected our attempt to review state and agency actions related to its federally-funded foster care services and its request to revise federal foster care regulations. We want to be crystal clear in reiterating our mandate to conduct oversight over foster care programs to determine whether they are operating in the best interests of children and families. We will not tolerate any actions that prevent us from ensuring the well-being of children under the U.S. government’s care."
