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HR9287119th Congress

Child Safety and Well-Being Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]

Introduced

Summary

Would create an independent Children’s Commission and a Children’s Commissioner to elevate children’s and marginalized youth voices in federal policymaking. The Commission would produce child impact statements, gather direct youth input, coordinate across agencies, and issue recommendations to improve accountability for policies that affect children and youth.

Show full summary
  • Children and families: Would require child impact statements and direct engagement with youth. The law defines children as birth to age 18 and highlights marginalized youth groups such as foster youth, youth with disabilities, and homeless or trafficked youth.
  • Federal agencies and policymakers: Would gain a standing federal body that can coordinate, request support, and provide policy recommendations to shape decisions affecting children.
  • Advocates, service providers, and experts: Would be represented on a 15-member Commission appointed by the Comptroller General. Members serve staggered three-year terms and the Commissioner would serve five-year terms, renewable once.

*Would authorize $7.5 million annually from 2027 through 2034 for the Commission, increasing federal spending over that period.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

15-member Commission and meetings

If enacted, the bill would require the Commission to have 15 members appointed by the Comptroller General with input from the National Academies. Members must include scholars, child advocates, people who work with marginalized youth, pediatric and child development experts, educators, childcare providers, and young people with lived experience. The Comptroller General must set up a nomination process within 60 days after enactment. The Commission must meet at least four times a year and hold at least one meeting each year focused on children’s voices.

Children’s Commissioner and staffing rules

If enacted, the bill would make a Children’s Commissioner the Commission’s executive director, serving a five-year term and limited to two terms. The Commissioner would be hired outside of the usual competitive service rules and must not have worked for a for-profit employer in the two years before appointment. The Commissioner could appear in court to present the Commission’s views on agency rules affecting children, hire and fire staff, set staff pay up to the Executive Schedule level V, and provide per diem and travel pay; non-federal Commission members could be paid at a daily rate tied to Executive Schedule level IV when working for the Commission.

Create federal Children's Commission

If enacted, the bill would create a federal Children’s Commission to review complaints and suggestions about policies and institutions that affect children. The Commission would be able to hold hearings, take testimony, accept gifts, and serve as a national intake for child-well-being issues. It would be authorized $7,500,000 for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2034, and appropriated sums could be used until spent. The Comptroller General would audit the Commission and the Commission could request information from federal agencies, make contracts, and award research grants when needed.

Reporting, child-friendly reports, disclosures

If enacted, the bill would require the Commission to post its reports on its website and, when appropriate, publish versions written for children. Not later than 180 days after all members are appointed, the Commission would study and report to Congress on whether federal agencies could produce child impact statements. The Commission would also annually report to Congress on past recommendations. The Comptroller General would set up a public financial disclosure system so Commission members and the Children’s Commissioner must report possible conflicts of interest.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]

KY • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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