Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced a measure on Wednesday that would prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing a federal rule that could force foster parents to accept gender ideology and restrict the work of faith-based foster care organizations.
The bill, first shared with The Daily Wire, is called the ‘‘Protecting Religious Freedom for Foster Families Act,” and would block HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra from implementing a proposed placement rule that would dictate that minors who identify as LGBT are placed with providers who agree to affirm a child’s gender identity, pronouns, and provide them “services that are necessary to support their health and wellbeing.” The measure, which was co-sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), is sponsored in the House by Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK).
“All children in foster care, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserve safe and proper placement,” Marshall told The Daily Wire. “This extreme proposal by the HHS instead discriminates against faith-based homes and loving foster parents in pursuit of pushing their radical gender ideology and pronoun politics on religious families.”
Marshall’s bill would stop HHS from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed rule, or a similar measure.
“This rule would have an especially devastating impact in rural areas across the country, where there are fewer foster care providers than children in need of safe homes,” Marshall said. “This administration needs to leave the politics out of it and help as many kids that need their love, care, and support as possible.”
Marshall previously wrote a letter to Becerra outlining his concerns with the rule, but has not heard back yet. The Kansas Republican noted that the rule could have the effect of forcing Christian foster services from being able to work with states to provide homes for children.
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He also noted that the rule could cause conflict in states where transgender procedures on children have been banned.
“These procedures can cause irreparable harm to children, many of whom have inconsistent parental guidance and lack the physiological development that is necessary to make an informed decision of such consequence. States should not be penalized for acting to protect the children of their state,” the letter said.
The proposal also drew criticism from over a dozen Republican attorneys general who warned that the rule could compel foster care providers to facilitate transgender procedures on minors.