{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D2575FC8-0BF6-450C-9B86-F4857F946512", "Heitkamp Emphasizes Commitment to ND Foster Care Families", "2016-10-29", "2016", "2016-10", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FARGO, N.D. \u2013 U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today spoke with foster families and advocates at the PATH annual meeting to highlight the organization\u2019s life-changing work to support young people, reinforce the need to support foster families, and emphasize her commitment to standing up for foster children and families.\r\nPATH is a service-focused organization built on offering foster families a responsive and ongoing network of support to make sure they have skills, training, and understanding to provide children with a safe and nurturing place to call home. At PATH\u2019s annual meeting, Heitkamp spoke with advocates, leaders, and foster family community members about her commitment to pushing for policies in the U.S. Senate that will support foster families and the important role PATH plays in North Dakota\u2019s foster care community.\r\n\u201cProviding a safe place to call home for children in foster care is one of the most selfless acts a family can choose to make,\u201d said Heitkamp. \u201cIt was an honor to join leaders in the foster care community today to reinforce the importance of their work to nurturing young children, and highlight the critical work PATH does to support foster families across the state. PATH takes challenging cases and \u2013 with love, patience, and extensive training \u2013 helps give so many youth a childhood. As a member of the Caucus on Foster Youth, I\u2019m working in the U.S. Senate to make sure federal policies best serve children in the foster care system and support foster parents in their critical role. I hope to continue partnering with the amazing advocates and foster families in our state to secure a bright and safe future for all kids.\u201d\r\nHeitkamp has long promoted the work of North Dakota\u2019s foster families, and has encouraged more families to care for young people in need. In March 2015, Heitkamp reintroduced legislation to support the well-being of foster children by providing additional tax relief for current foster families, encouraging more Americans to consider offering safe homes to foster children across the country. The bill would also direct the federal government to do a better job reaching out to and educating current foster families about the financial benefits already available to them.\r\nAlso in March 2015, Heitkamp helped reintroduce the bipartisan Tribal Adoption Parity Act with Republican Senator James Inhofe from Oklahoma. Heitkamp\u2019s bill would allow tribal governments to designate children as having special needs \u2013 just as states can \u2013 enabling adoptive parents to claim the full adoption tax credit.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D2575FC8-0BF6-450C-9B86-F4857F946512"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8507701568305492, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}