President Signs Judiciary-Passed International Adoption Assistance Bill

WASHINGTON - Bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to help families facing challenges with international adoptions was signed into law late Friday. Grassley moved the Adoptive Families Relief Act through the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year.

"Hundreds of American families who have opened their homes to vulnerable children overseas now face roadblocks to bringing those children home. Through no fault of their own, American families remain separated from their adopted children, but are still responsible for their care. The Adoptive Families Relief Act will help minimize the financial strain on these families as they wait to be united with their children.  I am grateful for the work of my colleagues in Congress to support these families and their adopted children along their journey home," Grassley said.

The bill provides financial relief to families who have adopted children from other countries, but who are unable to bring them home because of factors beyond their control. Specifically, it allows the State Department to waive visa renewal fees for adopted children whose entry into the United States has been delayed.

Delays could be caused by foreign governments' decisions to stall the adoption process.  For example, more than 350 children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been successfully adopted by American families, but since 2013 the government there has refused to issue exit visas necessary for the children to be united with their families in America. As a result, the adoptive families face challenges and added expenses of caring for the children while they remain stuck in a foreign country. In the meantime, the child's U.S.-issued visa needed to enter the United States expires after six months. Families must then continually renew the American visas, a process that can cost up to $550 each time.  The bill allows the visa fees to be waived or refunded for families facing adoption delays in any foreign nation for any reason beyond the family's control.

The bill, which was introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Ron Johnson, passed the Senate by unanimous consent in July and cleared the House of Representatives by voice vote earlier this month.

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Foster Youth Caucuses to Host Panel Discussion on Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children

WASHINGTON - The Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth on Wednesday will host a panel discussion on the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children who advocate for children in the child welfare system.  The event is open to the public and the media.  Details follow.

The Congressional Caucus on Foster Youthand the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth

invite you to a panel discussion on

Court Appointed Special Advocates: Champions for Child Victims of Abuse or Neglect 

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

10:00 am

Capitol Visitors Center (SVC) Room 208

Approximately 400,000 youth are in the foster care system today and face uncertainty and trauma as they struggle to understand why they are separated from the people they love most.  As the youth make their way through the child welfare and court system, they depend on guidance and advocates to look out for their best interests.  This briefing will highlight organizations like CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) who volunteer and work with children until they are placed in loving and permanent homes.  This event will be an open forum for advocates, child welfare organizations, providers and congressional staff to learn about and discuss policies affecting foster youth.

Sponsored by

Representatives Bass, Marino, Langevin, Black, McDermott, Franks, Senators Grassley and Stabenow

Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth & the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth

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DES MOINES, IA (10/19/2015)(readMedia)-- You don't have to dress up this Halloween to find goodies. State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald wants you to know there are plenty of treats in the form of unclaimed property in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. "There are no tricks, only treats," Fitzgerald stated. "Finding and receiving unclaimed property is an easy process. The thought of losing track of one's assets is what is truly frightening."

"Anybody can have unclaimed property in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, which is why we encourage everyone to search for their name," Fitzgerald added. "We are holding property for a lot of royalty, from Kings to Queens, and even one for the Princess Theatre in Mapleton." The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt also has unclaimed assets for Charlie Brown, a few Batmans, many Sparrows but no Jack, two Monsters, several Sherlocks and a few Angels.

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $199 million in unclaimed property to more than 468,000 people since Fitzgerald created it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property's owner for a specific period of time. State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report unclaimed property to the state treasurer's office. The assets are then held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits and safe deposit box contents.

(@GreatIATreasure).

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John Henley, a Special Olympics Athlete from Marion, Illinois was honored as a Soldier-for-a-Day at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment based in Marion, Illinois, Oct. 16.

Henley suited up in uniform and was put through training Soldiers go through to stay ready for missions that lie ahead. Henley completed a modified Army Physical Fitness test, weapons training in a simulator, vehicle maintenance,along with squad tactics and a patrol.

"My favorite part was hanging out with the big dogs and shooting," said Henley.

Staff Sgt. Beau Detrick of Marion, Illinois, a recruiter with the Illinois National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command based in Springfield, Illinois, said John Henley has been doing great things for the Special Olympics, not just in Marion but nationwide. "Soldiers are out there training, fighting the Global War on Terror and doing other humanitarian missions, but when we can bring it to the unit level and help out a community hero it is a true honor," said Detrick.

Henley, who visits the armory often, said he enjoys coming to see the Soldiers.

During this visit Maj. Casey Kline of Marion, Illinois presented Henley with a certificate making Henley an honorary member of the 2-130th. At the end of the day Henley was honorarily promoted to sergeant by Kline for his outstanding leadership potential.

Henley said he plans to put the certificate next to his more than 125 Special Olympic medals in his room.

Henley's parents, Richard and Jane, and his girlfriend, Stephanie, along with members of Henley's Special Olympics Team also attended the event to support John as he was put through the training.

"This was a thrill of a lifetime. We know this took some work to make this happen for John and we are very grateful," said Richard Henley, John's father. "It is something we will never forget and something John will never forget."