H.Res. 897

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 897 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 897

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to support the 
rights of youth in the foster care system.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 20, 2025

Mr. Cleaver (for himself, Mr. Bacon, Ms. Simon, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. Brown, 
Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, and Ms. Moore of Wisconsin) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to support the 
rights of youth in the foster care system.

Whereas a 2020 National Health Statistics Report found that adults aged 22-44 
who have ever been in foster care were twice as likely to lack either a 
high school diploma or a GED compared to their peers who have never been 
in foster care;
Whereas a report from the First Star Institute gave 11 States ``D'' or ``F'' 
grades on their legal rights for foster youth;
Whereas a study by Casey Family Programs of foster children in Oregon and 
Washington revealed that one-third of foster youth reported maltreatment 
by their foster parent or another household adult;
Whereas a study from the Department of Health and Human Services found that 
Black and indigenous children are overrepresented in the foster system 
and less likely to exit to a permanent home than White children;
Whereas experts agree that social workers offer critical support to both foster 
youth and families, promoting a healthy living environment;
Whereas a study from the National Institutes of Health found that extensive 
informed consent requirements for low-risk research activities may 
contribute to a lack of research on foster children that may in part 
contribute to this population being at a higher risk for poor physical 
and mental health outcomes; and
Whereas a 2020 brief from Casey Family Programs reported that sibling separation 
slows adjustment to their new home and negatively impacts academic 
performance: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
foster youth should have the right--
(1) to receive an education and, if they so desire, remain 
in their original school;
(2) to participate in extracurricular, cultural, and social 
activities appropriate to their age and developmental needs;
(3) to receive needed health services, including medical, 
dental, vision, and mental health services;
(4) to freedom from abuse, neglect, or corporal punishment;
(5) to be represented by, and to be able to speak to, a 
guardian or attorney ad litem;
(6) to adequate and healthy food, adequate clothing, and a 
safe and comfortable living environment;
(7) to freedom from discrimination based on race, gender, 
religion, or disability;
(8) to maintain, if they so desire, continued contact with 
their siblings;
(9) to regular and reasonable contact with their assigned 
caseworker or an employee of the agency responsible for their 
child welfare services; and
(10) to be informed of their rights.
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