COURTS Act

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 28, 2017

Continuation of Useful Resources to States Act or COURTS Act

This bill extends and otherwise revises funding for programs related to child welfare. Specifically, the bill

extends funding through FY2022 for the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program;

extends funding through FY2022 for, and otherwise revises, the grant program for improving courts' handling of foster-care and adoption proceedings; and

provides funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Contingency Fund for FY2019 and decreases the amount of funding available to the fund for FY2018.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8] · R–TX

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

4 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Nov 28, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Nov 28, 2017
Introduced in House
Nov 28, 2017
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Nov 28, 2017 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Jan 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4461 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4461, 115th Congress: COURTS Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4461

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-11-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4461/BILLS-115hr4461ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T17:59:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4461 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4461 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4461, 115th Congress: COURTS Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4461

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-11-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4461/BILLS-115hr4461ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T17:59:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4461 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4461 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4461, 115th Congress: COURTS Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4461

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-11-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4461/BILLS-115hr4461ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T17:59:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4461 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4461 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4461, 115th Congress: COURTS Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4461

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-11-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4461/BILLS-115hr4461ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T17:59:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4461 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.