IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 897 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to support the rights 
of youth in the foster care system. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 20, 2025 
Mr. CLEAVER (for himself, Mr. BACON, Ms. SIMON, Mrs. BEATTY, Ms. 
BROWN, Mr. EVANS of Pennsylvania, and Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Education and Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to 
support the rights of youth in the foster care system. 
Whereas a 2020 National Health Statistics Report found that 
adults aged 22–44 who have ever been in foster care were 
twice as likely to lack either a high school diploma or a 
GED compared to their peers who have never been in 
foster care; 
Whereas a report from the First Star Institute gave 11 
States ‘‘D’’ or ‘‘F’’ grades on their legal rights for foster 
youth; 
Whereas a study by Casey Family Programs of foster chil-
dren in Oregon and Washington revealed that one-third 
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of foster youth reported maltreatment by their foster par-
ent or another household adult; 
Whereas a study from the Department of Health and Human 
Services found that Black and indigenous children are 
overrepresented in the foster system and less likely to 
exit to a permanent home than White children; 
Whereas experts agree that social workers offer critical sup-
port to both foster youth and families, promoting a 
healthy living environment; 
Whereas a study from the National Institutes of Health 
found that extensive informed consent requirements for 
low-risk research activities may contribute to a lack of re-
search on foster children that may in part contribute to 
this population being at a higher risk for poor physical 
and mental health outcomes; and 
Whereas a 2020 brief from Casey Family Programs reported 
that sibling separation slows adjustment to their new 
home and negatively impacts academic performance: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that foster youth should have the right— 
(1) to receive an education and, if they so de-
sire, remain in their original school; 
(2) to participate in extracurricular, cultural, 
and social activities appropriate to their age and de-
velopmental needs; 
(3) to receive needed health services, including 
medical, dental, vision, and mental health services; 
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(4) to freedom from abuse, neglect, or corporal 
punishment; 
(5) to be represented by, and to be able to 
speak to, a guardian or attorney ad litem; 
(6) to adequate and healthy food, adequate 
clothing, and a safe and comfortable living environ-
ment; 
(7) to freedom from discrimination based on 
race, gender, religion, or disability; 
(8) to maintain, if they so desire, continued 
contact with their siblings; 
(9) to regular and reasonable contact with their 
assigned caseworker or an employee of the agency 
responsible for their child welfare services; and 
(10) to be informed of their rights. 
Æ 
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