Press Releases

Washington, DC– Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) voted in favor of The Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Stronger CAPTA). Congresswoman Trahan was one of the original eight Members of the Education and Labor Committee -- four Democrats and four Republicans – to introduce this legislation, which aims to strengthen federal efforts to prevent and treat child abuse. The bill is a bold, bipartisan response to combat the rising rates of child maltreatment experienced as the opioid crisis has devastated families and communities across the country.

The Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act:

• Shifts focus toward prevention by helping states to build networks of cost-effective and locally-driven services that prevent child abuse and strengthen families;
• Builds the capacity of child protective services agencies that are overburdened with increased caseloads due to the opioid epidemic;
• Improves the sharing and quality of data to better understand the scope of child abuse and neglect and ensure victims do not fall through the cracks; and
• Supports evidence-based strategies to treat and prevent child abuse and neglect. 

“I was proud to join my colleagues to lead the effort to reauthorize CAPTA, which provides federal assistance to states like Massachusetts and others across our nation to help prevent child abuse and neglect. I was even more proud to vote in favor of the legislation today to help it pass the House.  These funds are used for a variety of services that support and invest in community-based prevention efforts and establish plans for safe care. With the rise of the opioid epidemic, it is more important than ever to protect children who may be living in dangerous situations. I urge the Senate to move swiftly to hold a vote on this important legislation,” said Rep. Trahan. 

The four Democratic co-sponsors are Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03), Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee Chairwoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03).

The four Republican co-sponsors are Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. James Comer (KY-01), Rep. Dusty Johnson (SD-at-Large), Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (NC-05).

To read a fact sheet on the Stronger CAPTA, click here.

To read the section by section on the Stronger CAPTA, click here.

To read the bill text for the Stronger CAPTA, click here.

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