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HR 4143 113th Congress House International Affairs Adoption and foster care Child care and development Child health Child safety and welfare Congressional oversight Department of Homeland Security Department of State Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Domestic violence and child abuse Executive agency funding and structure Family relationships Family services Federal officials Foreign aid and international relief Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Human rights Human trafficking Immigration status and procedures

Children in Families First Act of 2014

Introduced: March 4, 2014 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 16, 2014
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Mar 4, 2014
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 4, 2014
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Children in Families First Act of 2014 - Establishes within the Department of State the Bureau of Vulnerable Children and Family Security which shall: (1) support the implementation in foreign countries of child welfare laws and policies; and (2) establish within the Bureau a Senior Coordinator for Permanence who shall lead the implementation of policies to ensure permanent family care for children living without families, including refugee and stateless children.

States that the Bureau shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary and have lead responsibility for representing the U.S. government in diplomatic contacts pertaining to intercountry adoptions.

Amends the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to carry out the functions prescribed by the Convention regarding the accreditation of U.S. adoption services providers.

Establishes data bases for: (1) internationally adopted children, and (2) adoption service providers.

Transfers from the Secretary of State to the Field Operations Directorate of USCIS specified adoption-related functions, including accreditation of agencies and approval of persons to provide adoption services and oversight of provider investigations.

Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), through USCIS, to: (1) be responsible for processing and case-specific decision making on all intercountry adoption cases, (2) ensure that all intercountry adoption suitability and eligibility determinations of prospective adoptive parents are made in accordance with criteria that comply with the Hague Adoption Convention, (3) ensure that all non-Convention adoption cases undergo specified preprocessing, and (4) be responsible for all case processing steps in Convention and non-Convention adoption petitions on behalf of children whom U.S. parents propose to immigrate to the United States.

Establishes within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) a Center of Excellence on Children in Adversity.

Authorizes the President to provide assistance for programs in developing countries for nutrition, education, care, and protection of children.

Requires USAID to carry out a priority country demonstration program implementing the (December 2012) Action Plan for Children in Adversity over a period of five years in at least six countries.

Prohibits: (1) the authorization of appropriations to carry out this Act, and (2) funds from being awarded to the United Nations (U.N.) or any of its subsidiaries.

What's happening now April 16, 2014

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

 Related & companion bills 3
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 50
LEWIS, JOHN
· Aug 1, 2014
Stivers, Steve
· Jul 29, 2014
KING, PETER
· Jul 24, 2014
MCDERMOTT, JIM
· Jul 24, 2014
DUNCAN, JOHN
· Jul 22, 2014
Neugebauer, Randy
· Jul 18, 2014
Bustos, Cheri
· Jul 14, 2014
HONDA, MICHAEL
· Jul 9, 2014
D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Jul 9, 2014
R
Walberg, Tim
Michigan · Jul 9, 2014
D
Clark, Katherine M.
Massachusetts · Jun 30, 2014
O'Rourke, Beto
· Jun 5, 2014
D
Larson, John B.
Connecticut · Jun 2, 2014
D
Keating, William R.
Massachusetts · May 20, 2014
Palazzo, Steven
· May 20, 2014
R
Williams, Roger
Texas · May 8, 2014
Harper, Gregg
· May 6, 2014
Pittenger, Robert
· May 6, 2014
PETERSON, COLLIN
· Apr 9, 2014
Grayson, Alan
· Mar 26, 2014
R
McCaul, Michael T.
Texas · Mar 26, 2014
DeSantis, Ron
· Mar 25, 2014
Miller, Candice
· Mar 21, 2014
Kennedy, Joseph
· Mar 18, 2014
R
Cotton, Tom
Arkansas · Mar 14, 2014
Black, Diane
· Mar 12, 2014
Bachmann, Michele
· Mar 4, 2014
Bishop, Timothy
· Mar 4, 2014
D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · Mar 4, 2014
Braley, Bruce
· Mar 4, 2014
Brooks, Susan
· Mar 4, 2014
R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Mar 4, 2014
D
Carson, André
Indiana · Mar 4, 2014
D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Mar 4, 2014
Conaway, K.
· Mar 4, 2014
R
Diaz-Balart, Mario
Florida · Mar 4, 2014
D
Doggett, Lloyd
Texas · Mar 4, 2014
Forbes, J.
· Mar 4, 2014
Franks, Trent
· Mar 4, 2014
R
Huizenga, Bill
Michigan · Mar 4, 2014
ISRAEL, STEVE
· Mar 4, 2014
D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Mar 4, 2014
Olson, Pete
· Mar 4, 2014
Richmond, Cedric
· Mar 4, 2014
Rokita, Todd
· Mar 4, 2014
D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Mar 4, 2014
Schwartz, Allyson
· Mar 4, 2014
SENSENBRENNER, F.
· Mar 4, 2014
D
Takano, Mark
California · Mar 4, 2014
WOLF, FRANK
· Mar 4, 2014
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4143: Children in Families First Act of 2014. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-4143/
MLA
"H.R. 4143: Children in Families First Act of 2014." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-4143/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4143, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-4143/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4143: Children in Families First Act of 2014](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-4143/)
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