Our website provides congressional testimony by Administration for Children and Families (ACF) officials before House and Senate committees and subcommittees. All testimony is located in the OLAB resource library and is searchable by fiscal year and program office.
Recent Congressional Testimony
On May 22 Rebecca J ones Gaston, Commissioner Administration on Children, Youth and Families testified before the United States Senate on the Committee on Finance provide updates on jurisdictions’ continued adoption of the provisions, share some barriers and challenges those jurisdictions are facing, and describe CB’s technical assistance and rulemaking efforts to deepen the uptake of Family First and realize its intent of preventing unnecessary entry of children and families into the child welfare system.
On May 22 Patrice H. Kunesh, Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native Affairs testified before the United States Senate on the Committee on Indian Affairs on promoting public safety and the well-being of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian people and communities.
On December 14, 2023, Rebecca Jones Gaston, Commissioner Administration on Children, Youth and Families, testified before the United States Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law about the ACYFs priorities to better serve children, youth, and families and the activities of its Children’s Bureau (Bureau or CB) to improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of those children and families involved or at the risk of being involved in our nation’s child welfare systems.
On April 18, 2023, Robin Dunn Marcos, Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, testified before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs about the policies that ORR has in place to promote the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children during sponsor vetting and the steps ORR is taking to support and protect children following their release from ORR’s care as they transition into their new homes and communities.
Testimony of JooYeun Chang on Unaccompanied Children in HHS Custody before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and Committee on Energy and Commerce United States House of Representatives on June 9, 2021.
The impact of COVID-19 on Native languages and cultures.
Testimony of Katherine Chon
The UAC Program Overview.
OIG Report - Care Provider Facilities Described Challenges Addressing Mental Health Needs of Children in HHS Custody.
ACF approach to addressing MMIW issues has been to engage with our stakeholders, partner with our sister agencies, and promote available resources while creating new opportunities to meet identified gaps.