Senator Marshall Introduces Foster Care Bill To Prohibit HHS From Implementing Rule To Discriminate Against Foster Families

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. introduced legislation that would prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from implementing its proposed rule that discriminates against foster parents who do not affirm LGBT ideology. 

Under HHS’s Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposed rule titled, “Safe and Appropriate Foster Care Placement Requirements for Titles IV-E and IV-B,” agencies would be required to adhere to the radical Left’s transgender agenda or exit the foster care system. In January, Senator Marshall also led a letter to Secretary of HHS Xavier Becerra opposing the Administration for this proposed rule. 

Senator Marshall’s legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and led in the U.S. House by Congressman Josh Brecheen (R-OK-02).

“All children in foster care, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserve safe and proper placement,” Senator Marshall said. “This extreme proposal by the HHS instead discriminates against faith-based homes and loving foster parents in pursuit of pushing their radical gender ideology and pronoun politics on religious families. This rule would have an especially devastating impact in rural areas across the country, where there are fewer foster care providers than children in need of safe homes. This administration needs to leave the politics out of it and help as many kids that need their love, care, and support as possible.” 

“Under this discriminatory proposal, Biden’s HHS is putting politics over the wellbeing of our nation’s foster children,” Senator Blackburn said. “Every child deserves to be raised in a safe and caring environment, and we should be working to achieve that as best we can. Instead, the Biden administration would rather alienate families who refuse to conform to the Left’s gender ideology. That’s wrong, and we must put a stop to it.”

“Some people are called by God to serve children through the ministry of foster care, so we should be doing all we can to protect their religious freedoms and allow them to host children in loving and faithful environments,” Senator Hyde-Smith said. “This bill seeks to protect the very providers who are dedicated in doing so.”

“The federal government should not force foster families to violate their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs in order to house children. I commend Senator Marshall for introducing this companion legislation in the Senate so we can fight back against President Biden and his bureaucrats, who continue to pursue an anti-Christian, far-Left agenda,” Congressman Josh Brecheen said.

You may click HERE to read Senator Marshall’s full legislation.