# 119-s-3279: John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act

119-s-3279, John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3279
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3279
- Congress: 119
- Title: John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-11-20
- Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY)
- Cosponsors: 29
- Policy area: Families
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Prohibits discrimination** by federally funded child welfare programs based on religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and marital status. It would also aim to improve safety, well-being, placement stability, and permanency for LGBTQ children and youth by requiring data, training, a National Resource Center, and private legal remedies. - Children and youth (up to age 23) would be protected from discriminatory treatment and the bill would require the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) to collect information on sexual orientation, gender identity, and whether family conflict over these issues led to removal. - Foster, adoptive, and relative caregivers would be recruited regardless of religion, sex, or marital status and would receive LGBTQ cultural competency and gender-appropriate training. - State child welfare agencies and other covered entities that get federal funds would have to follow HHS guidance within 6 months after guidance is issued or 1 year after enactment, with limited extensions and potential withholding of funds for noncompliance. - Individuals harmed by violations would be allowed to sue in federal district court for injunctions, declaratory and equitable relief, and attorneys’ fees; the bill also bars using the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as a defense under this law. - The Secretary of Health and Human Services would publish guidance and provide technical assistance, establish a National Resource Center to support best practices, and the Government Accountability Office would study state compliance within 3 years and report to Congress.

## Cosponsors (29)

- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-WI), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] (D-PA), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-12-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-12-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2026-02-03T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Nondiscrimination in child welfare: benefit, medium. If enacted, child-welfare agencies that get federal money could not deny services for religion, sex, or marital status. Sex would expressly include sexual orientation and gender identity. The protections would apply to agencies funded under specified Title IV, Title XIX, or Title XX programs. A cov…
- Support for LGBTQ youth in care: benefit, medium. If enacted, HHS would publish guidance within six months and provide technical help and training to agencies, courts, and caregivers. The bill would create a National Resource Center to promote LGBTQ-competent services, training, research, and best practices. HHS would collect sexual orientation an…
- Enforcement, deadlines, and legal remedies: mixed, medium. If enacted, covered entities would have to comply within six months after HHS guidance or one year after enactment, unless a State gets an extension. The Secretary could extend State deadlines when state law changes are needed. If a State fails to comply, HHS could withhold Title IV-B or IV-E funds…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025
- 119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
- 119-s-1115: Paycheck Fairness Act

## Sources
- [119-s-3279 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3279)

## Related
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-852)
- [119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2150)
- [119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2523)
- [119-s-1115: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1115)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3279 (as of 2026-08-11).