PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 31, 2019
Native American Child Protection Act
This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and otherwise revises certain programs related to the prevention, investigation, treatment, and prosecution of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Indian children and families.
Specifically, the bill revises the Indian Child Abuse Treatment Grant Program to encourage the use of grants for culturally appropriate treatment services and programs.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The bill renames the Indian Child Resource and Family Services Centers as the National Indian Child Resource and Family Services Center. It also requires such center to (1) provide advice, technical assistance, and training to urban Indian organizations; (2) develop certain technical assistance materials for Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations; and (3) develop model intergovernmental agreements between tribes and states to prevent, investigate, treat, and prosecute incidents of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Indian children and families.
Additionally, the bill revises the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Program to allow Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and intertribal consortia to use program funds for additional activities, such as operational costs for child protective services.
It also revises the definition of child abuse to include psychological or verbal abuse that causes serious emotional or mental injury to a child.
People & committees
Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7] · D–AZ
Legislative record
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Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4560-4561)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4957.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4560-4562)
Ms. Haaland moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 395.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-493.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-493.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Discharged.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.4957 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.
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