Cortez Masto, Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Tribal Child Welfare Programs and Support Native Families

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced legislation to support Native families. The Promoting Strong Native Families and Children Act would strengthen Tribal child welfare programs by increasing funding, reducing administrative barriers, and giving Tribes flexibility to provide culturally appropriate family support.

"Nevada's 28 Tribes, bands, and colonies work tirelessly to provide support to their most vulnerable members, including young children, single mothers, and seniors," said Senator Cortez Masto. "However, they unjustly lack access to key social services that other communities rely on. This commonsense, bipartisan bill will help level the playing field so that all Nevadans can get the services they need."

"The Alaska Native communities in my state are rich with tradition, culture, and family. But the same communities often lack local services and support to help families who've fallen on hard times. Maybe a parent is struggling with addiction or doesn't have the resources to feed their children. Without the right support, kids may be sent away from their community to another town for foster care, completely cut off from their way of life and relatives. That is a devastating scenario, but it happens more than you'd think," said Senator Murkowski. "Tribal communities know best how to support their children and families. This bill will cut red tape and give Tribes more flexibility and greater opportunities to care for Native children within their own communities, allowing children to remain connected to their families and culture."

Specifically, the Promoting Strong Native Families and Children Act would:

• Increase and create additional Tribal set-asides, including a new Tribal set-aside within the Social Services Block Grant program;
• Establish a Tribal prevention-only Title IV-E agreement authority, allowing Tribes to access prevention services funding without operating foster care or adoption assistance programs;
• Increase the authorized appropriations of the Tribal Court Improvement Program from $2 million each fiscal year to $5 million each fiscal year; and
• Expand support for Tribal-led prevention, family preservation, and early intervention efforts before children enter the child welfare system.

This bill is endorsed by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA), and the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA).

"Gaps in basic human services funding to Tribal Nations mean that their most vulnerable citizens often don't get the support they need. The Promoting Strong Native Families and Children Act creates equitable access for Tribal Nations to federal programs that fund basic services to protect children, people with disabilities, domestic violence victims, and elders. The legislation also increases support for Tribal courts that provide mediation and justice services, streamlines administrative requirements, and increases incentives for Tribal Nations and states to collaborate to support at-risk Tribal children and families. We greatly appreciate Senator Murkowski's and Senator Cortez Masto's leadership in introducing this bipartisan legislation and welcome the opportunity to work with them to ensure our most vulnerable Tribal citizens have the basic protections and services they need," said Dr. Sarah Kastelic, Executive Director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA).

Senator Cortez Masto is a fierce advocate for Nevada's Tribal communities. She is leading three bipartisan bills to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIP). In addition to fighting to improve public safety in Indian Country, Cortez Masto has pushed to better health care, maintain voting rights, and deliver tax parity for Tribes.

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