Rep. Mike Kelly, Sen. Tim Scott Champion Legislation to Protect Faith-Based Child Welfare Providers

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This week, U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act. This legislation protects child welfare providers from being discriminated against for acting in accordance with their deeply held religious beliefs and prohibits federal, state and local government agencies that receive federal adoption assistance funding from discriminating against child welfare service providers based on the providers’ unwillingness to take action contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs.

“Faith-based organizations have always played an extraordinary role in caring for our nation’s most vulnerable children. Millions of Americans are better off today because of their noble work,” Rep. Kelly said. “Since coming into office, President Biden has discriminated against these faith-based providers because of their deeply held religious beliefs. I’m proud to work with Senator Tim Scott on this commonsense legislation to protect faith-based organizations who are simply seeking a level playing field to help those in need.”

“Faith-based foster care organizations have provided reliable, effective resources to countless families and children with nowhere else to go,” said Sen. Scott. “Despite their success, President Biden has caved to the far-left, making it harder for these organizations to provide critical services and leaving the kids who need them most out in the cold. I’m fighting back to protect religious freedom and support the incredible work of these invaluable organizations.” 

The Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act has been endorsed by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Heritage Action, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee and the Family Research Council.

House co-sponsors include Representatives Michael Cloud (R-Texas), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pennsylvania), Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska), Lance Gooden (R-Texas), Debbie Lesko (R-Arizona), Lloyd Smucker (R-Pennsylvania), Barry Moore (R-Alabama), Carol Miller (R-West Virginia), and Mary Miller (R-Illinois).

Senate co-sponsors include Senators James Risch (R-Idaho), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)