John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act
Sponsored By: Representative Davis (IL)
Introduced
Summary
This bill would prohibit discrimination in federally funded child welfare services based on religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and marital status. It aims to improve safety, well‑being, and permanency for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth in foster care.
Show full summary
- LGBTQ children and youth in foster care would gain a federal protection against discriminatory placements, referrals, or services. The bill notes LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in foster care, about 30 percent, and face higher rates of abuse, placement instability, and suicide risk.
- Prospective foster and adoptive parents, including religious minorities, LGBTQ people, and unmarried relatives, would be barred from being excluded or screened out because of religion, sex, or marital status. That change is intended to expand the pool of qualified homes.
- Federally funded child welfare agencies would be required to adopt nondiscrimination measures, improve data collection on LGBTQ experiences, and face accountability steps. The bill also identifies conversion therapy as a discriminatory and harmful practice.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
National center for LGBTQ child welfare
This bill would create a National Resource Center on safety, well-being, placement stability, and permanency for LGBTQ children and youth involved with child welfare services. The Center would provide training, technical assistance, better data practices, and share research and promising practices. The bill would authorize appropriations of "such sums as may be necessary" to establish and run the Center.
New nondiscrimination rules for child welfare
This bill would ban discrimination in federally funded child welfare services on the basis of religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and marital status. It would define who is a covered child or youth (anyone age 23 or younger) and which agencies or organizations are covered. The bill would set compliance deadlines (guidance within 6 months and generally 6 months after guidance, or 1 year after enactment), let the Secretary extend state deadlines, and allow the Secretary to withhold part B or E funds for noncompliance. It would also give individuals a federal right to sue for violations and would stop the Religious Freedom Restoration Act from being used to defend against this Act.
GAO study of State compliance
The Comptroller General would study within 3 years whether States substantially complied with the Act. The study would look at training, data collection (including sexual orientation and gender identity), placement rates, and procedures for reporting violations. GAO would send a written report to the relevant Congressional committees within 6 months after finishing the study.
Collect LGBTQ data in foster care
This bill would require AFCARS to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity for children, youth, and foster and adoptive parents. It would also record whether family conflict about a child's orientation or identity contributed to removal. The collection must follow developmentally appropriate best practices and would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Cosponsors
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Castro (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
OH • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
VI • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Scott, David
GA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Aguilar
CA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/9/2026
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 1/21/2026
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 1/21/2026
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov