Congress Considers Increased Funding for Tribal Child Welfare and Court Systems

Bipartisan legislation now before Congress would enhance funds available to tribal courts and child welfare systems, support tribal ways of adopting children and ease administrative burdens necessary to access the resources.  

The Tribal Family Fairness Act would increase the ability of tribes to draw down Social Security Act funds for court improvement and other social service needs. A press release describing the bill noted the legislation would also “remove long standing barriers to Federal funding to support children and families for small tribes who often have the greatest need while ensuring that larger tribes do not experience a decrease in Federal funding if more tribes participate in the program.”

The legislation was introduced April 21 by Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, a California Democrat; Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska; Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, and Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids. California Democrat Rep. Karen Bass was among those who first introduced the bill in 2021.