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HR 2439 113th Congress House Families Adoption and foster care Family relationships Government information and archives Marriage and family status Separation, divorce, custody, support State and local government operations

Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2013

Introduced: June 19, 2013 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 19, 2013
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jun 19, 2013
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2013 - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and maintain an automated National Responsible Father Registry.

Requires the Registry to: (1) contain specified kinds of information sufficient to identify a possible father, and (2) provide a mechanism for men to register such identifying information directly with the Registry.

Limits access to Registry information to eligible parties, including: (1) public and licensed private adoption or child placement agencies, (2) licensed attorneys representing a party in a planned or pending adoption or in the termination of rights of one or more possible fathers, (3) state agencies or entities responsible for the placement of children, and (4) state courts.

Directs the Secretary to establish a nationwide campaign designed to inform possible fathers, unwed mothers, possible adoptive parents, and eligible parties of the National Registry, the advantages of possible fathers registering either in the National Registry or State Responsible Father Registries, or both, the rights and responsibilities of such parties with regard to a proceeding, and the role of such Registries in a proceeding.

Directs the Secretary to use all reasonable efforts to encourage states to enter into agreements to establish automated State Responsible Father Registries and centers that make registration forms easily accessible to possible fathers.

Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to a state to establish a State Registry or modify an existing one to meet the requirements of this Act.

What's happening now June 19, 2013

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2439: Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2439/
MLA
"H.R. 2439: Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2439/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2439, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2439/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2439: Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2439/)
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