A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the ``CONNECT Act,'' seeks to amend section 477 of the Social Security Act. It aims to update the purposes of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood. The updates are intended to reflect research and input from youth regarding the importance of long-term relationships. The bill focuses on helping youth aged 14 or older develop sustained, supportive relationships with adults, mentors, and peers. It also seeks to support youth in exercising rights regarding their permanency plans.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
The bill specifically aims to help children aged 14 or older in foster care develop sustained relationships and support networks.
- Scored +4
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The bill focuses on the transition to adulthood by providing tools for establishing lifelong connections and permanency goals.
- Scored +3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
By supporting youth in the foster care system, the bill provides resources to those in vulnerable economic positions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Development of Lifelong Connections: The bill aims to help children in foster care (age 14 or older) develop and maintain sustained, supportive relationships with adults, mentors, and peers to reduce isolation and create support networks (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Support for Permanency Goals: The bill seeks to support youth still in foster care (age 14 or older) in exercising rights to participate in developing their permanency plan and receiving written information about available services (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Enhanced Peer and Family Support: The Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue guidance including best practices for facilitating peer support, mentoring, and connections such as sibling, tribal, and community connections (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Improved Outreach and Referrals: The guidance will include standards of outreach to ensure eligible youth, including those with a planned permanent living arrangement, receive referrals to appropriate programs and services (Section 2(b)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill specifically aims to help children aged 14 or older in foster care develop sustained relationships and support networks. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill focuses on the transition to adulthood by providing tools for establishing lifelong connections and permanency goals. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — By supporting youth in the foster care system, the bill provides resources to those in vulnerable economic positions. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill directs the Secretary to include best practices for supporting tribal connections.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill supports foster youth in developing support networks and permanency plans which can aid long-term stability.
- 7/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico