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HR 897 116th Congress House

Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2019

Official title: To ensure that organizations with religious or moral convictions are allowed to continue to provide services for children.

Introduced: January 30, 2019 Introduced by: Kelly, Mike Republican · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
Social Welfare Administrative remediesAdoption and foster careChild safety and welfareCivil actions and liability
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Poverty and welfare assistanceReligion
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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
Jan 30, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.
Jan 30, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 30, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 30, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2019

This bill prohibits discrimination or adverse action against a child welfare provider that declines to provide services due to the provider's sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions. The prohibition applies to the federal government and any state, tribal, or local government that receives federal funding for child and family services or foster care and adoption assistance. However, government entities may still take adverse action against a provider that denies adoption or foster care placement based on the prospective parent or child's race, color, or national origin.

If a state, tribal, or local entity engages in such prohibited actions, the Department of Health and Human Services shall withhold 15% of the federal funds the entity would have received to provide child and family services or foster care and adoption. The bill also provides a private right of action for child welfare providers to sue the government entity for such discrimination, and a prevailing provider shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

A government entity that accepts federal funding for child and family services or foster care and adoption assistance shall have waived sovereign entity as a defense to such discrimination allegations.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 274 Related bill Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2019
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 48
All 48 Republican 34
R
Meuser, Daniel
Pennsylvania · Feb 4, 2020
 R
Steube, W. Gregory
Florida · Sep 13, 2019
Marchant, Kenny
· Jul 9, 2019
Luetkemeyer, Blaine
· Jun 4, 2019
 R
Timmons, William R.
South Carolina · May 1, 2019
 R
Cloud, Michael
Texas · Mar 27, 2019
 R
Reschenthaler, Guy
Pennsylvania · Mar 18, 2019
Rice, Tom
· Mar 18, 2019
 R
Jordan, Jim
Ohio · Feb 28, 2019
 R
Estes, Ron
Kansas · Feb 25, 2019
Long, Billy
· Feb 25, 2019
 R
Smucker, Lloyd
Pennsylvania · Feb 25, 2019
 R
Bacon, Don
Nebraska · Feb 12, 2019
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Feb 7, 2019
 R
LaHood, Darin
Illinois · Feb 7, 2019
 R
Latta, Robert E.
Ohio · Feb 7, 2019
 R
Schweikert, David
Arizona · Feb 7, 2019
 R
Williams, Roger
Texas · Feb 7, 2019
 R
Banks, Jim
Indiana · Feb 5, 2019
 R
Budd, Ted
North Carolina · Feb 5, 2019
 R
Foxx, Virginia
North Carolina · Feb 5, 2019
 R
Kelly, Trent
Mississippi · Feb 5, 2019
Mitchell, Paul
· Feb 5, 2019
Ratcliffe, John
· Feb 5, 2019
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · Jan 30, 2019
 R
Allen, Rick W.
Georgia · Jan 30, 2019
 R
Biggs, Andy
Arizona · Jan 30, 2019
 R
Carter, John R.
Texas · Jan 30, 2019
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Jan 30, 2019
Collins, Chris
· Jan 30, 2019
 R
Comer, James
Kentucky · Jan 30, 2019
Fortenberry, Jeff
· Jan 30, 2019
Gianforte, Greg
· Jan 30, 2019
 R
Grothman, Glenn
Wisconsin · Jan 30, 2019
Hice, Jody
· Jan 30, 2019
 R
Johnson, Mike
Louisiana · Jan 30, 2019
 R
Loudermilk, Barry
Georgia · Jan 30, 2019
Meadows, Mark
· Jan 30, 2019
 R
Norman, Ralph
South Carolina · Jan 30, 2019
 R
Palmer, Gary J.
Alabama · Jan 30, 2019
Rooney, Francis
· Jan 30, 2019
 R
Rutherford, John H.
Florida · Jan 30, 2019
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Jan 30, 2019
Stewart, Chris
· Jan 30, 2019
Walker, Mark
· Jan 30, 2019
 R
Weber, Randy K. Sr.
Texas · Jan 30, 2019
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Jan 30, 2019
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Jan 30, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 897: Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-897/
MLA
"H.R. 897: Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-897/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 897, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-897/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 897: Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-897/)
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