Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act

Danny K. Davis

Democrat · IL · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Darin LaHood (R-IL-16)Original· 2026-02-12
• David Schweikert (R-AZ-1)· 2026-04-29
• Michael Lawler (R-NY-17)· 2026-05-11

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 557.

2026-05-11

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would provide financial assistance and support services to young people aging out of the foster care system to help them transition to independent living. The legislation aims to reduce homelessness and improve outcomes for foster youth by offering resources like housing assistance, education support, and job training as they leave government care and enter adulthood.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7529 Reported in House (RH)] <DOC> Union Calendar No. 557 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7529 [Report No. 119-640] To require States to consider legal issues affecting youth as part of case planning and to provide States with the option to use funds from the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood to support access to legal services and counseling. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 12, 2026 Mr. Davis of Illinois (for himself and Mr. LaHood) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means May 11, 2026 Additional sponsors: Mr. Schweikert and Mr. Lawler May 11, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 12, 2026] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require States to consider legal issues affecting youth as part of case planning and to provide States with the option to use funds from the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood to support access to legal services and counseling. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act''. SEC. 2. LEGAL CONSULTING AND ACCESS UNDER THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD. Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)(4), by inserting ``legal counseling access,'' after ``education,''; and (2) in subsection (b)(3), by adding at the end the following: ``(L) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the relevant case planning and other processes employed by the State take into consideration certain legal issues affecting housing, education, entry into employment, and family connections of current and former foster youth and the efforts required to address the issues, including with respect to State court records, legal recognition of family relationships, and matters relating to custody and permanency.''. SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) In General.--The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to payments under section 477 of the Social Security Act pursuant to plans approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on or after such date. (b) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--If the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is required in order for a State plan developed pursuant to section 477 of the Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this Act, the plan shall not be regarded as failing to meet any of the additional requirements before the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if the State has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature. Union Calendar No. 557 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7529 [Report No. 119-640] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require States to consider legal issues affecting youth as…

part of case planning and to provide States with the option to use funds from the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood to support access to legal services and counseling. _______________________________________________________________________ May 11, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

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