House Resolution 102, the “Rehab and Ahmed Amer Foster Care Improvement Act of 2013 was introduced by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. 

(L-R) Ahmed Amer, Rehab Amer, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, 49th District State Rep. Lee Gonzalez, and Hussein Amer pose after signing the Amer Act into law in Lansing in 2010.

The Act, which passed in Michigan in 2010, seeks to amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to require states to follow certain procedures in placing a child who has been removed from the custody of his or her parents.  The purpose of this bill is to provide for an enhanced federal policy of encouraging state foster care programs to place children in the care of relatives who are willing and able to care for them, rather than in environments that would be completely foreign to them.  If enacted, this legislation would require states that receive federal funding for foster care programs to ensure a greater effort is made in the decision-making process to place children with family members.  

As a leading advocate of the Amer Foster Care Improvement Act and a chief representative for the Amer Family, the Arab American Civil Rights League  grateful for the support of Congressman Conyers, Congressman Gary Peters (as a co-signer of the bill), Congressman Keith Ellison, who supported the bill in its former introduction, and the numerous community organizations who have lent their support to see the effort through. 

“We are proud of the efforts of Ahmed and Rehab Amer, Congressmen Conyers and Peters, the ACRL and the rest of the community in seeing this bill through to the U.S. House of Representatives,” stated ACRL Chairman Nabih Ayad.  “The Amers have fought a long and hard battle to ensure that what they suffered, by the loss of their own children almost three decades ago, no family should ever have to suffer.  They are the true champions of this movement.”  The ACRL encourages community members to take action and contact their representative to support the bill.  To find your representative visit www.house.gov/representatives/find/.