WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in introducing the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act to protect child welfareproviders from being discriminated against for acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. Additionally, the legislation would prohibit federal, state, and local government agencies that receive federal adoption assistance from discriminating against child service providers based on their unwillingness to take action due to their religious beliefs.
“Bureaucratic nonsense should never get in the way of helping kids in need,” said Senator Cramer. “Activists on the left have tried for years to discriminate against child welfare agencies for their religious beliefs. We need to support faith based adoption and foster agencies, recognizing their faith compels compassion and their call to service.”
U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) led the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act in the Senate. Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators James Risch (R-ID), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Roger Marshall (R-KS), James Lankford (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mike Braun (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE).
This legislation has also 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.
Click here for bill text.