Cramer Legislation to Protect Native American Children Clears House Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congressman Kevin Cramer announced legislation he introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to create uniform standards for the placement of Native American children into foster homes has cleared a vote in the Natural Resources Committee. The Native American Children’s Safety Act would implement an across-the-board minimum protection for children placed in foster care under the direction of a tribal court. Senator John Hoeven has introduced the legislation in the Senate.

“Moving this bill forward in today’s markup hearing is an encouraging development. The next step will be to bring it to the House floor, and of course it still needs to be advanced in the Senate,” said Cramer. “While uniform standards for foster homes exist at the national level, Native American tribes have a complex and uneven series of procedures and guidelines which vary from tribe to tribe. This bill is the least we can do to protect children in tribal foster care.”

Under the legislation, a background check must be conducted on all adults living in a potential foster home before a tribal court can place any child there. This must include a National Instant Criminal Background Check as well as a search of child abuse or neglect registries in any state the individual has lived in the preceding five years. Any adult 18 years or older who moves into the home after placement of the child would also be required to undergo the same thorough check.