H.R. 4983: Caring Homes and Improved Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act

115th Congress · introduced 2018-02-08 · Families · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2018-02-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources. 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

Caring Homes and Improved Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act

Plain summary

Caring Homes and Improved Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act This bill requires states to consider foster family homes or cottage homes to be the least restrictive setting for children who have attained six years of age and have been removed from their homes, if suitable relatives or other designated caregivers are not available. A cottage home is a residential operation: in which not more than 12 children reside; that implements a trauma-informed treatment plan for its residents; that involves family members of a child in the treatment for the child, and maintains contact with the family of the child, if available and if the involvement is clinically appropriate for the well-being of the child; that is licensed by the state where it is located; and that is accredited. The bill makes cottage homes eligible for foster care maintenance payments.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Caring Homes and Improved Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Mike Rogers (R-AL), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), John R. Carter (R-TX), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Gary J. Palmer (R-AL)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

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).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr4983.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr4983 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115