Family Poverty is Not Child Neglect Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9994 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9994

To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security to ensure that child
 protective services systems do not permit the separation of children
  from parents solely on the basis of poverty, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 30, 2026

    Ms. Moore of Wisconsin introduced the following bill; which was
              referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security to ensure that child
 protective services systems do not permit the separation of children
  from parents solely on the basis of poverty, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Family Poverty is Not Child Neglect
Act''.

SEC. 2. STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 422(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 622(b)) is
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (18), by striking ``; and'' and inserting
        a semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (19)(B), by striking the period at the end
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(20) provide assurances that--
                    ``(A) no child is separated from a parent or
                guardian of the child solely on the basis of poverty;
                and
                    ``(B) the State will develop or improve services
                and benefits to keep families in poverty safely
                together, such as through assistance with respect to
                housing insecurity or unemployment of parents or
                guardians in such families.''.

SEC. 3. REPORT ON CHILD POVERTY AND NEGLECT.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the following:
            (1) The effect of poverty with respect to--
                    (A) contacts with authorities related to child and
                family services;
                    (B) investigations carried out related to the
                welfare of a child;
                    (C) allegations of child neglect, abuse, or other
                forms of maltreatment;
                    (D) temporary or permanent removals of a child from
                the home, family, or household of the child;
                    (E) transient, temporary, or permanent placements
                in foster care, kinship care, or other informal care
                settings; and
                    (F) and other actions that affect the custody or
                care of a child.
            (2) Recommendations for legislation to accurately gain
        information related to paragraph (1).
            (3) Recommendations for legislation to help prevent a
        family in poverty from experiencing the separation, whether
        permanent or temporary, of a child from the family.
                                 <all>