119-HR-8997 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary — H.R. 8997 (Right to Representation Act)

Headline Summary: Require every state to provide independent legal counsel to both children and parents involved in child‑protection court cases (like abuse/neglect, adoption, guardianship, or termination of parental rights). [1]U.S. House (Office of Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon) — Scanlon Introduces Legislation t…

What It Does: The bill amends Title IV‑E of the Social Security Act so states must guarantee an attorney for parents/guardians and for children throughout child‑protection proceedings, with an attorney‑client relationship—not just a guardian ad litem. It builds on existing federal policy that already allows states to use Title IV‑E funds to help pay for high‑quality legal representation. Research has linked robust parent/child representation to quicker, safer permanency and better case outcomes. [1]U.S. House (Office of Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon) — Scanlon Introduces Legislation t…

Who’s For It:

• Bill sponsor: Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D‑PA), who argues counsel helps families navigate complex cases and supports courts in acting in the child’s best interests.
• Endorsing groups named by the sponsor: National Foster Youth Institute; National Association of Counsel for Children; Juvenile Law Center; United Family Advocates; Center for the Rights of Abused Children; Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.

Source for endorsements and sponsor rationale: sponsor’s announcement. [1]U.S. House (Office of Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon) — Scanlon Introduces Legislation t…

Who’s Against It:

• No organized opposition publicly announced as of June 2, 2026.
• Typical concerns raised in similar right‑to‑counsel efforts: cost to states and courts; attorney workforce and training capacity; and implementation timelines, even when some costs can be offset with federal Title IV‑E match.

Context for these concerns: recent state child‑welfare trend reports and fiscal notes (e.g., Washington) highlight added representation costs and training needs when expanding counsel in dependency cases. [2]National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — 2025 Child Welfare Legislati…

What’s Next: The bill was introduced on May 21, 2026 and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee the same day. Next steps would be a committee hearing and markup before any House floor vote; then the Senate would need to act. As of June 2, 2026, no further actions are posted. [3]Quiver Quantitative — H.R. 8997 (119th Congress) — Actions and status