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Expressing the sense of Congress that child safety is the first priority of custody and visitation adjudications, and that State courts should improve adjudications of custody where family violence is alleged.

USA115th CongressHCONRES-72| House 
| Updated: 9/26/2018
Patrick Meehan

Patrick Meehan

Republican Representative

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (86)
Lamar Smith (Republican)Doug LaMalfa (Republican)Karen C. Handel (Republican)Daniel M. Donovan (Republican)Tim Ryan (Democratic)F. James Sensenbrenner (Republican)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)Tom Cole (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)John Garamendi (Democratic)John R. Carter (Republican)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Barbara Lee (Democratic)Martha Roby (Republican)Nita M. Lowey (Democratic)Erik Paulsen (Republican)Karen Bass (Democratic)Peter T. King (Republican)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Lee M. Zeldin (Republican)Jackie Speier (Democratic)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)Eliot L. Engel (Democratic)Edward R. Royce (Republican)Paul Cook (Republican)Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)John J. Faso (Republican)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Doug Collins (Republican)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Dana Rohrabacher (Republican)Rosa L. DeLauro (Democratic)Carlos Curbelo (Republican)Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democratic)Ken Calvert (Republican)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Walter B. Jones (Republican)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Darrell Issa (Republican)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Ted Poe (Republican)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Gene Green (Democratic)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Hakeem S. Jeffries (Democratic)David G. Reichert (Republican)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)Blake Farenthold (Republican)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Luis V. Gutierrez (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Stephen Knight (Republican)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Tom Marino (Republican)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Maxine Waters (Democratic)Jerry McNerney (Democratic)Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democratic)Jared Polis (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Matt Gaetz (Republican)Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican)Joe Barton (Republican)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Trent Franks (Republican)Grace Meng (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Barbara Comstock (Republican)Grace F. Napolitano (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Expresses the sense of Congress that: child safety is the first priority of custody and parenting adjudications, and courts should resolve safety risks and claims of family violence before assessing other best interest factors; all evidence admitted in custody and parenting adjudications should be subject to evidentiary admissibility standards; evidence from court-affiliated or appointed fee-paid professionals regarding adult or child abuse allegations in custody cases should be considered only when the professional possesses documented expertise and experience in the relevant types of abuse, trauma, and the behaviors of victims and perpetrators; states should define required standards of expertise and experience for appointed fee-paid professionals who provide evidence to the court on behaviors of abuse victims and perpetrators, specify requirements for the contents of such professional reports, and require courts to find that any appointed professionals meet those standards; states should consider models under which court-appointed professionals are paid directly by the courts, with potential reimbursement by the parties after due consideration of the parties' financial circumstances; and Congress should schedule hearings on family courts' practices with regard to children's safety and civil rights.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
Jul 24, 2017
Introduced in House
Jul 24, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 25, 2018
Mr. Rutherford moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
Sep 25, 2018
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8844-8847)
Sep 25, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 72.
Sep 26, 2018
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8844-8845)
Sep 26, 2018
On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8844-8845)
Sep 26, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 26, 2018
Received in the Senate.
  • July 24, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • July 24, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • September 25, 2018
    Mr. Rutherford moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.


  • September 25, 2018
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8844-8847)


  • September 25, 2018
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 72.


  • September 26, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8844-8845)


  • September 26, 2018
    On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8844-8845)


  • September 26, 2018
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • September 26, 2018
    Received in the Senate.

Families

Child safety and welfareCrimes against childrenDomestic violence and child abuseEvidence and witnessesJudicial procedure and administrationLegal fees and court costsSeparation, divorce, custody, supportSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Expressing the sense of Congress that child safety is the first priority of custody and visitation adjudications, and that State courts should improve adjudications of custody where family violence is alleged.

USA115th CongressHCONRES-72| House 
| Updated: 9/26/2018
Expresses the sense of Congress that: child safety is the first priority of custody and parenting adjudications, and courts should resolve safety risks and claims of family violence before assessing other best interest factors; all evidence admitted in custody and parenting adjudications should be subject to evidentiary admissibility standards; evidence from court-affiliated or appointed fee-paid professionals regarding adult or child abuse allegations in custody cases should be considered only when the professional possesses documented expertise and experience in the relevant types of abuse, trauma, and the behaviors of victims and perpetrators; states should define required standards of expertise and experience for appointed fee-paid professionals who provide evidence to the court on behaviors of abuse victims and perpetrators, specify requirements for the contents of such professional reports, and require courts to find that any appointed professionals meet those standards; states should consider models under which court-appointed professionals are paid directly by the courts, with potential reimbursement by the parties after due consideration of the parties' financial circumstances; and Congress should schedule hearings on family courts' practices with regard to children's safety and civil rights.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 24, 2017
Introduced in House
Jul 24, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 25, 2018
Mr. Rutherford moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
Sep 25, 2018
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8844-8847)
Sep 25, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 72.
Sep 26, 2018
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8844-8845)
Sep 26, 2018
On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8844-8845)
Sep 26, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 26, 2018
Received in the Senate.
  • July 24, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • July 24, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • September 25, 2018
    Mr. Rutherford moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.


  • September 25, 2018
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8844-8847)


  • September 25, 2018
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 72.


  • September 26, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8844-8845)


  • September 26, 2018
    On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8844-8845)


  • September 26, 2018
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • September 26, 2018
    Received in the Senate.
Patrick Meehan

Patrick Meehan

Republican Representative

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (86)
Lamar Smith (Republican)Doug LaMalfa (Republican)Karen C. Handel (Republican)Daniel M. Donovan (Republican)Tim Ryan (Democratic)F. James Sensenbrenner (Republican)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)Tom Cole (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)John Garamendi (Democratic)John R. Carter (Republican)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Barbara Lee (Democratic)Martha Roby (Republican)Nita M. Lowey (Democratic)Erik Paulsen (Republican)Karen Bass (Democratic)Peter T. King (Republican)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Lee M. Zeldin (Republican)Jackie Speier (Democratic)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)Eliot L. Engel (Democratic)Edward R. Royce (Republican)Paul Cook (Republican)Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)John J. Faso (Republican)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Doug Collins (Republican)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Dana Rohrabacher (Republican)Rosa L. DeLauro (Democratic)Carlos Curbelo (Republican)Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democratic)Ken Calvert (Republican)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Walter B. Jones (Republican)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Darrell Issa (Republican)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Ted Poe (Republican)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Gene Green (Democratic)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Hakeem S. Jeffries (Democratic)David G. Reichert (Republican)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)Blake Farenthold (Republican)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Luis V. Gutierrez (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Stephen Knight (Republican)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Tom Marino (Republican)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Maxine Waters (Democratic)Jerry McNerney (Democratic)Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democratic)Jared Polis (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Matt Gaetz (Republican)Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican)Joe Barton (Republican)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Trent Franks (Republican)Grace Meng (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Barbara Comstock (Republican)Grace F. Napolitano (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Families

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Child safety and welfareCrimes against childrenDomestic violence and child abuseEvidence and witnessesJudicial procedure and administrationLegal fees and court costsSeparation, divorce, custody, supportSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizations