Family Poverty is Not Child Neglect Act

Gwen Moore

Democrat · WI · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

2026-07-30

Source: Congress.gov

This proposal would change federal rules to prevent child protective services from removing children from their parents' care based solely on poverty or lack of money. The change would apply to how states handle child welfare cases, ensuring that families aren't separated just because they're struggling financially. The bill aims to keep children with their parents while addressing the underlying economic hardships through support services instead.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[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>

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