Expressing support for the designation of September 2025 as "National Kinship Care Month".

Bill Number

H.Res. 771

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Families

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-26: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2025-09-29T13:51:44Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 771) aims to express congressional support for designating September 2025 as "National Kinship Care Month." It recognizes the vital role of kinship caregivers—such as grandparents, siblings, tribal members, godparents, stepparents, or close family-like figures (fictive kin)—in providing full-time care for over 2.5 million children in the U.S. who cannot live with their parents due to issues like parental death, incarceration, substance use, disability, or military deployment. The resolution highlights how kinship care helps children maintain family ties, stay in their communities, and avoid the foster care system, while saving taxpayers billions annually.

Key Provisions

• Supports the Designation: Affirms September 2025 as National Kinship Care Month to celebrate and raise awareness about kinship families.
• Encourages Policy Action: Urges Congress to pass laws that better support kinship families, focusing on the best interests of vulnerable children.
• Honors Caregivers and Advocates: Recognizes the dedication of kinship caregivers and those who provide them with resources and services.
• Reaffirms Support for Programs: Emphasizes ongoing work through federal child welfare laws, including parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act (which fund family support and foster care services), to:
• Aid vulnerable families.
• Promote prevention and family reunification.
• Ensure kinship caregivers access supports like Kinship Navigator programs (state-run services that help caregivers find benefits, legal aid, and resources).

The resolution includes extensive "Whereas" clauses detailing statistics, benefits of kinship care (e.g., reduced trauma, better mental health, lower homelessness risk), disparities (e.g., higher rates among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native children), and challenges (e.g., less support than non-kin foster care, impacts of COVID-19).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution and introduces no changes to existing laws. It references current federal and state laws supporting kinship care (over 300 state laws and more than 40 states with Kinship Navigator programs) but does not amend them. Instead, it builds on these by calling for enhanced implementation and future policies.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Raises public awareness of kinship care, potentially encouraging more family members to step in as caregivers and reducing children's entry into foster care. It could highlight inequities, such as the 35% of out-of-home placements being kinship-based (varying by state from 10% to 53%), and support for the 2.5+ million children in informal arrangements. Benefits include cost savings (over $4 billion yearly for taxpayers) and improved child outcomes like permanency and emotional stability.
• On Government Agencies: Prompts federal and state child welfare agencies to prioritize kinship supports, potentially increasing funding or program expansion under the Social Security Act. States may see pressure to boost Kinship Navigator services, easing the burden on foster care systems.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic child welfare issue.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Kinship Caregivers: Grandparents, relatives, tribal members, and fictive kin raising children, who face resource gaps and poverty risks but report high satisfaction.
• Children and Families: Over 2.5 million children in kinship arrangements, including disproportionate numbers of Black (25% raised by grandparents) and American Indian/Alaska Native children; benefits from trauma reduction and family continuity.
• Child Welfare Advocates and Organizations: Groups providing services to kinship families, honored for their role in prevention and support.
• Government Entities: U.S. House of Representatives, state child welfare agencies, and tribal authorities implementing federal programs.
• Broader Society: Taxpayers benefiting from lower foster care costs; communities gaining stable family units.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces existing federal recognition of kinship care under child welfare laws without creating new enforceable rights. It underscores disparities in support for kinship versus traditional foster care, potentially influencing future litigation or equity-focused reforms.
• Constitutional: Aligns with the government's role in promoting family welfare under the general welfare clause (U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8), emphasizing protection of vulnerable children without infringing on state family law authority.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrats and Republicans) signals broad consensus on family support issues. As a symbolic measure, it could build momentum for legislative changes, like expanding Kinship Navigator funding, amid ongoing debates on child welfare reform post-COVID-19. It promotes cultural recognition of diverse family structures, including tribal and fictive kin, without partisan bias.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

Cosponsors (5)

Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-26: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2025-09-26: Submitted in House
• 2025-09-26: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Expressing support for the designation of September 2025 as "National Kinship Care Month". — issued 2025-09-26 — PDF (6 pages)