General child welfare-related legislation in the U.S. Congress - Child Welfare Policy

General child welfare-related legislation in the U.S. Congress - Child Welfare Policy


Last update: 8-5-2011 (updates in BOLD)

This is a list of current child welfare-related bills in the U.S. Congress. Although I attempted to ensure that it is an exhaustive list, I may have missed one or more. If you know of a child welfare-related bill that is not in this list, please let me know! Also, please feel free to put your insight into these bills in a comment below.

**Please note that I have EXCLUDED the adoption- and foster care-related bills mentioned in the previous two posts.**

Senate Bill Status Next Steps

A resolution designating September 2011 as "National Child Awareness Month" (S. Res. 231) to promote awareness of charities benefitting children and youth-serving organizations throughout the United States and recognizing efforts made by those charities and organizations on behalf of children and youth as critical contributions to the future of the United States. 7-11-11: Agreed to Resolution now takes effect

Violence Against Children Act of 2011 (S. 175)
A bill to provide enhanced Federal enforcement and assistance in preventing and prosecuting crimes of violence against children. 1-25-11: Referred to Committee on the Judiciary. Committee must review/vote

Child Protection Compact Act of 2011 (S. 185)
A bill to provide United States assistance for the purpose of eradicating severe forms of trafficking in children in eligible countries through the implementation of Child Protection Compacts, and for other purposes. 1-25-11: Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations. Committee must review/vote

International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2011 (S. 414)
A bill to protect girls in developing countries through the prevention of child marriage, and for other purposes. 2-17-11: Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations. Committee must review/vote

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2011 (S. 596)
Related legislation: H.R. 1981: Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act of 2011 and S. 671: Finding Fugitive Sex Offenders Act of 2011
A bill to establish a grant program to benefit victims of sex trafficking, and for other purposes. 3-16-11: Referred to Committee on the Judiciary. Committee must review/vote
Children's Budget Act (S. 1396)

House equivalent: H.R. 1602: Children's Budget Act
A bill to amend title 31 of the United States Code to require that Federal children's programs be separately displayed and analyzed in the President's budget. 7-21-11: Referred to Committee on the Budget. Committee must review/vote

A bill to provide incentives for States to improve the well-being of children in the child welfare system (S. 1509) through systemic reforms and innovations, increased collaboration between State agencies, and incorporation of higher standards of accountability. 8-2-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Committee must review/vote

House Bill

Infant Protection and Baby Switching Prevention Act of 2011 (H.R. 222)
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require hospitals reimbursed under the Medicare system to establish and implement security procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching, including procedures for identifying all infant patients in the hospital in a manner that ensures that it will be evident if infants are missing from the hospital. 2-1-11: House Energy & Commerce: Referred to Subcommittee on Health. Committee must review/vote

To provide discretionary authority to an immigration judge (H.R. 250) to determine that an alien parent of a United States citizen child should not be ordered removed, deported, or excluded from the United States. 2-7-11: House Committee on the Judiciary: Referred to Subcommittee on Immigration Policy & Enforcement. Committee must review/vote

Children's Budget Act (H.R. 1602)
Senate equivalent: S. 1396: Children's Budget Act
To amend title 31 of the United States Code to require that Federal children's programs be separately displayed and analyzed in the President's budget. 4-15-11: Referred to House Committee on the Budget. Committee must review/vote

International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2011 (H.R. 1940)
To ensure compliance with the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction by countries with which the United States enjoys reciprocal obligations, to establish procedures for the prompt return of children abducted to other countries, and for other purposes. 7-29-11: House Financial Services: Referred to Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade Committee must review/vote

Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act (H.R. 2235)
To provide for enhanced protections for vulnerable unaccompanied alien children and female detainees. 6-23-11: House Homeland Security: Referred to Subcommittee on Border & Maritime Security. Committee must review/vote

Balancing Act of 2011 (H.R. 2346)
Related bills: H.R. 1440: Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act of 2011; H.R. 1876: Healthy Families Act; S. 984: Healthy Families Act; and H.R. 555: Universal Prekindergarten Act
To improve the lives of working families by providing family and medical need assistance, child care assistance, in-school and afterschool assistance, family care assistance, and encouraging the establishment of family-friendly workplaces. 6-30-11: House Oversight & Government Reform: Referred to Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, & Labor Policy . Committee must review/vote

Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act of 2011 (H.R. 2730)
To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to better enable State child welfare agencies to prevent human trafficking of children and serve the needs of children who are victims of human trafficking, and for other purposes. 8-1-11: Referred to House Committee on Ways & Means. Committee must review/vote

Parental Consent Act of 2011 (H.R. 2769)
To prohibit the use of Federal funds for any universal or mandatory mental health screening program. Would require that an educational agency not use parent's refusal to consent as basis of a charge of child abuse or neglect on penalty of discontinuation of federal education funds (until agency proves it no longer uses refusal as basis of abuse/neglect. 8-1-11: Referred to House Education & the Workforce Committee must review/vote

Child and Family Services Extension and Enhancement Act (H.R. 2790)
To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend the child and family services program through fiscal year 2016 (with some modifications related to child development concerns), and for other purposes; includes authorization for study on recruitment and retention of foster/adoptive/kin parents and caregivers. 8-2-11: Referred to House Committee on Ways & Means. Committee must review/vote