HCONRES 72
115th Congress
House
Families
Child safety and welfare
Crimes against children
Domestic violence and child abuse
Evidence and witnesses
Judicial procedure and administration
Legal fees and court costs
Separation, divorce, custody, support
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Expressing the sense of Congress that child safety is the first priority of custody and visitation adjudications, and that State courts should improve adjudications of custody where family violence…
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Everywhere this bill has been
9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
Sep 26, 2018
Received in the Senate.
Sep 25, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 25, 2018
On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8844-8845)
Sep 25, 2018
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8844-8845)
Sep 25, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 72.
Sep 25, 2018
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8844-8847)
Sep 25, 2018
Mr. Rutherford moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
Jul 24, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 24, 2017
Introduced in House
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Plain-English summary
Expresses the sense of Congress that:
- child safety is the first priority of custody and parenting adjudications, and courts should resolve safety risks and claims of family violence before assessing other best interest factors;
- quasi-scientific evidence should be admitted by courts only when it meets admissibility standards for scientific evidence;
- evidence from court-affiliated or appointed fee-paid professionals regarding adult or child abuse allegations in custody cases should be considered only when the professional possesses documented expertise and experience in the relevant types of abuse, trauma, and the behaviors of victims and perpetrators;
- states should define required standards of expertise and experience for appointed fee-paid professionals who provide evidence to the court on behaviors of abuse victims and perpetrators, specify requirements for the contents of such professional reports, and require courts to find that any appointed professionals meet those standards;
- states should consider models under which court-appointed professionals are paid directly by the courts, with potential reimbursement by the parties after due consideration of the parties' financial circumstances; and
- Congress should schedule hearings on family courts' practices with regard to children's safety and civil rights.
What's happening now
Received in the Senate.
Bill text
3 versions
- Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Received in Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Committees of jurisdiction
1
Cosponsors
56
Curbelo, Carlos
GUTIERREZ, LUIS
D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Zeldin, Lee
ROS-LEHTINEN, ILEANA
D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
D
Titus, Dina
D
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
R
McCaul, Michael T.
Paulsen, Erik
Roby, Martha
Collins, Doug
R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Shea-Porter, Carol
Handel, Karen
BARTON, JOE
R
Calvert, Ken
D
DeSaulnier, Mark
R
Issa, Darrell
Marino, Tom
D
Sánchez, Linda T.
D
Waters, Maxine
D
Carbajal, Salud O.
Reichert, David
D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
D
Meng, Grace
D
Garamendi, John
D
Correa, J. Luis
R
Stefanik, Elise M.
D
Cohen, Steve
ROHRABACHER, DANA
D
Meeks, Gregory W.
SENSENBRENNER, F.
Faso, John
Comstock, Barbara
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
D
Matsui, Doris O.
D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
D
Jayapal, Pramila
D
Lofgren, Zoe
D
Peters, Scott H.
D
Schiff, Adam B.
Farenthold, Blake
SMITH, LAMAR
Cook, Paul
D
Chu, Judy
ROYCE, ED
D
Jeffries, Hakeem S.
Donovan, Daniel
D
Lieu, Ted
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Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H. Con. Res. 72: Expressing the sense of Congress that child safety is the first priority of custody and visitation adjudications, and that State courts should improve adjudications of custody where family violence is alleged.. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HCONRES-72/
"H. Con. Res. 72: Expressing the sense of Congress that child safety is the first priority of custody and visitation adjudications, and that State courts should improve adjudications of custody where family violence is alleged.." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HCONRES-72/.
H. Con. Res. 72, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HCONRES-72/.
[H. Con. Res. 72: Expressing the sense of Congress that child safety is the first priority of custody and visitation adjudications, and that State courts should improve adjudications of custody where family violence is alleged.](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HCONRES-72/)