Promoting Strong Native Families and Children Act
Sponsored By: Senator Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced
Summary
Expands tribal funding and control over federal child welfare programs. This bill boosts dedicated money for tribes, creates direct access to social services block grants, lets tribes run prevention-only programs, and allows states to count tribal caseworker visits when agreed and reported.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New tribal share of Social Services funds
If enacted, the bill would add about $1.79 billion for FY2026 and each year to the Social Services Block Grant pot. Five percent of that pot would be reserved for Indian tribes and consortia. Each approved tribe would get at least $25,000 plus a population-based share of the remaining reserved amount. The Secretary would set review rules in consultation with tribes and could reallocate unused funds to eligible tribes.
Bigger tribal share of child-welfare funds
If enacted, the bill would raise several tribal set-asides in child welfare programs from 3% to 5% starting the first fiscal year after enactment. It would also require each tribe with an approved plan to receive at least $5,000 from the reserved funds. After $5,000 per tribe, the remaining reserved amount would be split by each tribe's child population share. A consortium would get the sum of its members' allotments.
Tribes could fund customary adoptions
If enacted, the bill would allow tribes and tribal consortia to use child welfare grant money to facilitate and support tribal customary adoptions. That means tribes could pay for cultural adoption practices they recognize. The bill does not itself add new standalone funding for this purpose.
More funding for tribal courts
If enacted, the bill would raise the Tribal Court Improvement Program appropriation to $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each year after. This replaces an earlier $2,000,000 multi-year level and raises the program's annual funding floor. The increase is intended to support tribal courts working on child welfare cases.
More tribal financial and reporting flexibility
If enacted, the bill would let tribal organizations elect to use Federal negotiated indirect cost rates for administrative costs instead of fixed percentage caps. The Secretary could waive or modify matching requirements for tribes on certain child welfare grants when appropriate to tribal needs and culture. The bill would broaden exemption authority so tribes may be exempted from more program requirements and would streamline some reporting language to clarify covered subparts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
AK • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
AK • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov