S 1848 United States Senate · 117th Congress

John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act

Summary
John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act This bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or religion in the provision of child welfare programs and services by entities receiving federal funding. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must provide technical assistance to help states follow this requirement, including (1) guidance for bringing state laws into compliance, (2) developing training to increase cultural competency related to social identity, and (3) training for judges and attorneys involved in child welfare cases, among other supports. Additionally, HHS must establish the National Resource Center on Safety, Well-Being, Placement Stability, and Permanency for LGBTQ Children and Youth Involved with Child Welfare Services to provide training, technical assistance, and guidance to applicable state and local agencies and service providers. Further, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act may not be the basis for challenging the application or enforcement of this bill. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on states' compliance with the requirements of the bill no later than three years after enactment.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced May 26, 2021 Last action May 26, 2021
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 26, 2021
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
upper
May 26, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 46 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
DDemocratic
NY
n/a
Co
Photo of Alex Padilla
Alex Padilla
DDemocratic
CA
n/a
Co
Photo of Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar
DDemocratic
MN
n/a
Co
Photo of Angus S. King, Jr.
Angus S. King, Jr.
IIndependent
ME
n/a
Co
Photo of Ben Ray Luján
Ben Ray Luján
DDemocratic
NM
n/a
Co
Photo of Benjamin L. Cardin
Benjamin L. Cardin
DDemocratic
MD
n/a
Co
Photo of Bernard Sanders
Bernard Sanders
IIndependent
VT
n/a
Co
Photo of Brian Schatz
Brian Schatz
DDemocratic
HI
n/a
Co
Photo of Catherine Cortez Masto
Catherine Cortez Masto
DDemocratic
NV
n/a
Co
Photo of Chris Van Hollen
Chris Van Hollen
DDemocratic
MD
n/a
Co
Photo of Christopher A. Coons
Christopher A. Coons
DDemocratic
DE
n/a