To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act, to require States to guarantee legal representation to children and parents involved in child protection proceedings, under the program of Federal payments for foster care, prevention, and permanency, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8997 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8997 To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act, to require States to guarantee legal representation to children and parents involved in child protection proceedings, under the program of Federal payments for foster care, prevention, and permanency, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2026 Ms. Scanlon introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act, to require States to guarantee legal representation to children and parents involved in child protection proceedings, under the program of Federal payments for foster care, prevention, and permanency, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Right to Representation Act''. SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT THAT STATES GUARANTEE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO CHILDREN AND PARENTS INVOLVED IN CHILD PROTECTION PROCEEDINGS, UNDER THE PROGRAM OF FEDERAL PAYMENTS FOR FOSTER CARE, PREVENTION, AND PERMANENCY. (a) State Plan Requirement.--Section 471(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (36)(D); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (37) and inserting ``; and''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(38)(A) provides assurances that the State shall have in effect policies and administrative and judicial procedures that guarantee that, for the duration of any judicial proceeding involving an allegation of child abuse or neglect, including a dependency, adoption, guardianship, or ter