# 119-hr-8997: Right to Representation Act

119-hr-8997, Right to Representation Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA); status introduced (as of 2026-06-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8997
- As of: 2026-06-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8997
- Congress: 119
- Title: Right to Representation Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-05-21
- Sponsor: Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Families
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-06-27

## Summary

**Guarantees independent legal representation** for parents and children in child abuse and neglect court cases. It would require states receiving federal foster care, prevention, and permanency payments to ensure lawyers are available to parents, guardians, and to children alleged or found to be abused or neglected during dependency, adoption, guardianship, and termination of parental rights proceedings. - Families: Parents and guardians would be offered an attorney for the duration of any judicial proceeding alleging abuse or neglect. - Children: Children alleged or found to have been abused or neglected would have independent legal representation defined by an attorney-client relationship under state rules of professional responsibility for lawyers. - States: States would need to include these assurances in their Title IV-E plans to receive federal payments. The requirement applies to calendar quarters beginning on or after October 1, 2026, and a delayed deadline can apply if state legislation is required. - Oversight: The Comptroller General would report every two years to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee describing how the requirement is being implemented.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Guaranteed lawyers for parents and children: benefit, high. If enacted, this bill would require states that get federal child-welfare (part E) payments to provide an attorney to any parent or guardian involved in a court case alleging child abuse or neglect. If enacted, a child who is alleged or found to have been abused or neglected would also be provided…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-4714: End Polluter Welfare Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8997 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8997)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-4714: End Polluter Welfare Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4714)
- [119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5658)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8997 (as of 2026-06-27).