i'm pleased to join congressman todd young in leading h.r. 4472, the modernizing the interstate placement of children in foster care act. i joined my friend from indiana in introducing h.r. 4472 because it will help us make progress on an important issue -- redution the barriers and delays that continue to -- reducing the barriers and delays that continue to exist when the best new home for a child is in a different state than the unsafe home the child had to leave. given that my congressional district has one of the highest percentages of grandparents raising grandchildren in the nation, followed closely by two other congressional districts in illinois, child welfare issues are very personal to my constituents, to chicago, and to my home state. removing barriers that delay or prevent interstate child placements is a long time, bipartisan goal within congress. this bill addresses an important factor in those delays. the ability of state computer systems to link up, to process the paperwork, the current paper-based system is antiquated and slow. part of an h.h.s. pilot project, seven states and the district of