LAX Leader

WASHINGTON, DC – On April 21, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), along with Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) and Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-02) introduced H.R. 2762, the Tribal Family Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill to address the disproportionate representation of American Indian and Alaska Native children in foster care by investing in Tribal child welfare systems and providing culturally appropriate services to preserve Tribal families. 

“As Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, it is my honor to protect and uplift the over 400,000 children in the foster care system,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Our Native children and their families deserve better. They should be in homes that honor their traditions and cultural heritage. This is something we should all care about, and I am glad my colleagues joined me in this bipartisan effort.”

“It’s important to make sure Native children have culturally-appropriate services, which will improve their outcome,” said Congressman Don Bacon. “As a foster-to-adopt parent and as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth I know how important it is to ensure some normalcy to foster children, which is accomplished by making sure they have access to their cultural traditions. This bipartisan effort is important and I am glad to join my colleagues in leading this effort.”

“The Tribal Family Fairness Act gives Tribes the authority and capacity to determine what’s best for American Indian and Alaska Native children. By providing tribal court systems the resources and infrastructure needed to administer culturally appropriate services for families, this bill will improve child welfare outcomes in tribal communities. I thank Representative Kamlager-Dove and Representative Bacon for leading this bipartisan effort to reduce barriers for Tribes to exercise their sovereign authority and center tribal children and families in welfare programs,” said Congresswoman Sharice Davids.

The legislation would establish minimum grant amounts for tribal communities, increase funding for courts, expressly authorize funding for Tribal adoptions, and provide other critical services for Tribal families. It would remove longstanding barriers to Federal funding to support children and families for small tribes who often have the greatest need while ensuring that larger tribes do not experience a decrease in Federal funding if more tribes participate in the program.

Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove is a longtime advocate for children and looks forward to continued opportunities to work with her colleagues on these critical issues to protect this vulnerable population.

View the bill text here. 

Original source can be found here.