CivicIndex

Federal Policy

Family Policy

Family policy covers child care, paid family leave, child welfare, adoption, foster care, and tax provisions like the Child Tax Credit. Most action happens through the tax code and through programs administered by HHS.

Committees with jurisdiction

  • Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
  • House Committee on Ways and Means
  • Senate Committee on Finance
  • House Committee on Education and Workforce
  • National Security and International Trade and Finance

Members who specialize in this area

Leadership

Committee members

166 more members on jurisdictional committees not shown.

Recent bills in this area

  • HR. 7726 — Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026

    Sponsor:
    Mary E. Miller · Republican · IL
    Latest action:
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  • HR. 8997 — Right to Representation Act

    Sponsor:
    Mary Gay Scanlon · Democratic · PA
    Latest action:
    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

  • HR. 7432 — Fostering the Future Act

    Sponsor:
    Darin LaHood · Republican · IL
    Latest action:
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

  • SRES. 737 — A resolution recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges of children in the foster care system and to encourage Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of children in the foster care system.

    Latest action:
    Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2313; text: CR S2312-2313)

  • HRES. 1273 — Honoring mothers, and recognizing the significance of motherhood and the impact mothers have on raising the next generation, on the occasion of Mother's Day.

    Sponsor:
    Randy K. Weber, Sr. · Republican · TX
    Latest action:
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

  • HR. 7995 — CONNECT Act

    Sponsor:
    Gwen Moore · Democratic · WI
    Latest action:
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 559.

  • HR. 7529 — Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act

    Sponsor:
    Danny K. Davis · Democratic · IL
    Latest action:
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 557.

  • HR. 7655 — Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act

    Sponsor:
    Rudy Yakym III · Republican · IN
    Latest action:
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 558.

Frequently asked

Does the federal government regulate child care?

The federal government funds child care primarily through block grants to states (Child Care and Development Fund) and through Head Start. Actual regulation of providers happens at the state level.