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The Office of Governor Wes Moore

Proposed legislative actions impacting Native children and families in Maryland

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Federal Legislation Introduced to Strengthen Tribal Families and Child Welfare Programs

Several recent federal legislative proposals aim to strengthen support for Tribal Nations by expanding access to critical human services funding and improving child welfare systems for Native children and families.

Promoting Strong Native Families and Children Act (S. 4638)
Introduced on May 21, 2026, by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), this bill would increase Tribal access to federal human services funding by $94 million, improve the accuracy of grant funding to reflect real administrative and community needs, and strengthen coordination between states and Tribes in cases involving Native children in out-of-home care. The legislation also seeks to reduce barriers Tribes face in meeting federal program requirements and expand access to flexible funding to better support community-driven solutions.

American Indian and Alaska Native Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (S. 4179 / H.R. 8048)
Reintroduced on March 24, 2026, by Senators Murkowski and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), this bipartisan proposal would expand federal child abuse prevention funding for Tribal Nations. The bill would increase the Tribal funding set-aside to 5%, ensuring more equitable access to prevention resources and supporting culturally grounded, Tribal-led approaches to child welfare.

Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act (H.R. 8872)
Also considered on May 21, 2026, by the House Ways and Means Committee, this legislation proposes changes to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, including tighter eligibility criteria and adjustments to how states manage and carry over TANF funds. While primarily focused on state-administered programs, Tribal TANF programs may experience different operational impacts due to existing flexibility in program administration.

Stakeholders are encouraged to review the legislation and engage with their congressional representatives to support policies that strengthen Native families and children.