June 1 Federal Update: House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Support Foster Youth

On May 19 the House unanimously passed H.R. 7432, a bipartisan initiative also known as the Fostering the Future Act, to strengthen and modernize the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood.

The aim of the bill is to:  

• Strengthen alignment with federal housing programs such as the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) housing voucher
• Expand education and training vouchers (ETVs) for short-term workforce training programs, costs associated with earning a high school diploma, apprenticeships, and remedial education
• Increase the ETV cap from $5,000 to $12,000 while maintaining current funding levels and providing more robust educational support for foster youth
• Expand access to legal services and prioritize supportive networks and permanency for foster youth
• Connect parenting foster youth with evidence-based maternal infant early childhood home visiting services

For more information, the House Committee on Ways and Means published a brief summary.

House Committee Unanimously Votes to Reauthorize the School-Based Health Center Grant Program

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce recently held a markup of H.R.8209, unanimously advancing the bipartisan legislation. The bill would reauthorize the school-based health centers (SBHC) grant program.

Students and their families rely on SBHCs to meet their needs for a range of age-appropriate health care services. SBHCs primarily operate in underserved communities and play a crucial role in providing primary care services to school-aged children, including dental screenings and mental health services.

There are more than 2,500 school-based health centers nationwide, serving more than 6.3 million K-12 students.

Legislation Advances Aiming to Prevent Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF

The House Committee on Ways and Means recently discussed H.R. 8872, also known as the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act. The bill would require state governments to report improper payment data for TANF to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The bill exited the committee following a 23-19 vote, sparking significant concerns about its impact on the accessibility of TANF funds. For instance, the bill would establish a federal income threshold double the federal poverty line as well as a three-year time limit for states to spend TANF funds. The bill would also limit funds used for a rainy-day fund to no more than 15% of a state’s annual grant award.

The committee also published a brief summary of the bill.

HHS Works to Address Single Audit Noncompliance  

HHS launched the Audit Enforcement and Risk Oversight (AERO) initiative to improve oversight of states and grant recipients that repeatedly fail to meet federal Single Audit requirements.

Utilizing artificial intelligence, AERO aims to:

• Improve consistency, transparency, and documentation
• Increase visibility into unresolved audit findings
• Enhance coordination across HHS
• Set clearer expectations for timely corrective action and enforcement

HHS will work collaboratively with states and grantees to resolve audit findings and implement effective controls to safeguard federally funded programs. For those unwilling to address findings, HHS will seek all remedies permitted under the law.

Department of Education Creates New Workforce Pell Grant Program

The Department of Education announced a final rule to implement the new Workforce Pell Grant program created through the recent reconciliation bill, H.R. 1.

Beginning July 1, students will have access to Pell Grants for enrollment in high-quality, short-term educational programs that prepare them for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs. The program aims to help more Americans enter the workforce quickly, minimizing student debt and strengthening the nation’s talent pipeline.

Institutions of higher education currently award Federal Pell Grants to students with financial need to help them earn undergraduate credentials. Workforce Pell bridges the gap between education and employment by allowing Pell Grants for workforce training programs that prepare individuals for immediate employment in as little as 8 weeks. Workforce Pell also requires colleges to limit their tuition and fees based on the earnings of program graduates, ensuring that programs continue to demonstrate value over time.

Learn more in this fact sheet from the Department of Education.

Sector Updates from the Judiciary

Federal Court Allows Executive Order Restricting Mail-In Ballots

The District Court for the District of Columbia declined to halt an executive order that would restrict voting by mail. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols determined it was too early to issue the order because it had not been implemented yet.

The executive order requires the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Social Security Administration to create lists of adult U.S. citizens in each state, then send those lists to state election officials. It also calls for the U.S. Postal Service to compile lists of eligible voters and deliver mail-in ballots only to people on those lists.

The order would prohibit mail-in voting for anyone not on the pre-approved list of citizens compiled by the Department of Homeland Security. However, the court maintained the manner of implementation, rather than the text itself, is necessary to determine its legality.

The order will remain in place for the time being, although additional lawsuits have been filed to challenge its legality.

FEMA Grants for Migrant Services Wrongfully Terminated, Federal Court Rules

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington recently determined the Trump administration wrongfully terminated a $4 million grant for Washington that supported services for new migrants. The grants were allocated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide shelter and other services for migrants recently released from the Department of Homeland Security.

The grant was canceled in February 2025, prompting Washington to file a lawsuit seeking to reinstate funding. U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein agreed, determining the government’s actions violated the Administrative Procedures Act.

Subscribe to the Policy and Advocacy Radar to receive our biweekly policy roundup, which includes commentary on issues in Social Current’s federal policy agenda, opportunities to take action, and curated news and opportunities.