H.R. 2866: Reducing Unnecessary Barriers for Relative Foster Parents Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-06-08 · Families · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-06-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-16] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 310 (2017): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR2866 (2017-06-20), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Reducing Unnecessary Barriers for Relative Foster Parents Act

Plain summary

Reducing Unnecessary Barriers for Relative Foster Parents Act (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify reputable model standards for the licensing of foster family homes. Part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act is amended to require state plans for foster care and adoption assistance to require submission to HHS of information addressing: whether the state licensing standards are in accord with HHS-identified model standards, and if not, the reason for the specific deviation and a description of why having a standard that is reasonably in accord with the corresponding national model standards is not appropriate for the state; whether the state has elected to waive certain standards for relative foster family homes, a description of standards most commonly waived, and if the state has not so elected, the reason why; if the state has elected to waive such standards, how caseworkers are trained to use the waiver authority and whether the state has developed a process or offered tools to assist caseworkers in waiving nonsafety standards to quickly place children with relatives; and a description of the steps the state is taking to improve caseworker training or the process, if any.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Reducing Unnecessary Barriers for Relative Foster Parents Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-16] · 7 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), André Carson (D-IN)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-16] reported raising $1.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

House roll call 310 (2017): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR2866 (2017-06-20): Passed

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr2866.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr2866 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115