I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8621 

To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to support State 

implementation of Federal standards established under the Indian Child 

Welfare Act of 1978. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 5, 2024 

Mr. BACON (for himself, Ms. CHU, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. COLE, and Ms. DAVIDS

of Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 

A BILL 

To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act 

to support State implementation of Federal standards 

established under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Tribal 

5 Families Act of 2024’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDIAN 

2 CHILD WELFARE ACT OF 1978. 

3 Subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security 

4 Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 

5 end the following: 

6 ‘‘SEC. 429B. EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDIAN 

7 CHILD WELFARE ACT OF 1978. 

8 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 2025, 

9 the Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribal organiza10 tions and States, shall develop a plan and provide tech11 nical assistance supporting effective implementation of the 

12 Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, including specific meas13 ures identified in State plans as required by section 

14 422(b)(9) of this Act. The technical assistance plan shall 

15 be based upon data sufficient to assess State strengths 

16 and areas for improvement in implementing Federal 

17 standards established under the Indian Child Welfare Act 

18 of 1978, including, at a minimum, the following: 

19 ‘‘(1) Timely identification of Indian children 

20 and extended family members. 

21 ‘‘(2) Timely tribal notice of State child custody 

22 proceedings. 

23 ‘‘(3) Reports of cases in which a transfer of ju24 risdiction (as defined under the Indian Child Wel25 fare Act of 1978) was granted or was not granted, 


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1 and reasons specified for denial in cases where 

2 transfer was denied. 

3 ‘‘(4) In cases in which a State court orders a 

4 foster care placement, whether requirements for ac5 tive efforts to prevent the breakup of the Indian 

6 family, testimony of a qualified expert witness, and 

7 evidentiary standards were met. 

8 ‘‘(5) Whether an Indian child was placed in a 

9 placement that is required to be preferred under the 

10 Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, and if not, the 

11 reasons specified. 

12 ‘‘(6) In cases in which a State court orders the 

13 termination of parental rights, whether requirements 

14 for active efforts to prevent the breakup of the In15 dian family, testimony of a qualified expert witness, 

16 and evidentiary standards were met. 

17 ‘‘(b) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—On request of 

18 the Secretary, the Secretary of the Interior shall provide 

19 the Secretary with such guidance and assistance as may 

20 be necessary to facilitate informing States and public child 

21 welfare agencies on how to comply with the Indian Child 

22 Welfare Act of 1978, including specific measures identi23 fied in State plans as required by section 422(b)(9) of this 

24 Act. 


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1 ‘‘(c) BIENNIAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—The Sec2 retary shall biennially submit to the Committee on Ways 

3 and Means of the House of Representatives and the Com4 mittee on Finance of the Senate a written report on how— 

5 ‘‘(1) the States are complying with the Indian 

6 Child Welfare Act of 1978, as required by section 

7 422(b)(9) of this Act; and 

8 ‘‘(2) the Secretary is assisting States and In9 dian Tribes to improve implementation of Federal 

10 standards established under the Indian Child Wel11 fare Act of 1978.’’. 

Æ 


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