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

1 recorded action149 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Lloyd Smucker [R-PA-16]
Cosponsors: 7 · 6 Democrats · 1 Republican
Policy area: Families
Committees: Ways and Means Committee, Finance Committee
Latest action: Jun 21, 2017 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

IntroducedJun 8, 2017
Passed the HouseJun 20, 2017
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS 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.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 2866 as passed House amended on Jun 20, 2017. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 310

House Jun 20, 2017

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Reducing Unnecessary Barriers for Relative Foster Parents Act

Passed · Two-thirds required

382 Yea 19 Nay 29 not voting

Crossed both parties 19 of 401 voting members broke with their own party: 19 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

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DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

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All members430 members

Democratic193 members

Republican237 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors7 · 6 Democrats · 1 Republican

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 2866 and vote against it. 1 signed when it was filed.

DTerri A. Sewell [D-AL-07]Original2026 profile

RMike Kelly [R-PA-03]Joined Jun 13, 20172026 profile

DKaren Bass [D-CA-37]Joined Jun 13, 2017

DDanny K. Davis [D-IL-07]Joined Jun 13, 2017

DAndré Carson [D-IN-07]Joined Jun 15, 20172026 profile

DBrenda Lawrence [D-MI-14]Joined Jun 15, 2017

DMatt Cartwright [D-PA-17]Joined Jun 16, 2017

Who lobbied on H.R. 28662 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 2866 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONERSfiled by MASON CONSULTING, LLC

Government Issues · Budget/Appropriations · Health Issues · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code +8 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Commodities (big ticket) · Health Issues · Consumer Issues/Safety/Products +38 more2 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2017Filing

9 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.