Last update: 8-19-2011 (updates highlighted in yellow)
This is a list of current adoption-related bills in the U.S. Congress. Although I attempted to ensure that it is an exhaustive list, I may have missed one or more. If you know of an adoption-related bill that is not in this list, please let me know! Also, please feel free to put your insight into these bills in a comment below.

Senate Bill Status Next Steps
Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act (S. 82)
House equivalent: H.R. 184: Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2011
A bill to repeal the sunset of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to the expansion of the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs, to repeal the sunset of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with respect to increased dollar limitations for such credit and programs, and to allow the adoption credit to be claimed in the year expenses are incurred, regardless of when the adoption becomes final.		 1-25-11: Referred to Committee on Finance. Committee must review/vote
North Korean Refugee Adoption Act of 2011 S. 416
House equivalent: H.R. 1464: North Korean Refugee Adoption Act of 2011
A bill to develop a strategy for assisting stateless children from North Korea, and for other purposes.		 2-28-11: Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations. Committee must review/vote
Child Protection Improvements Act of 2011 (S. 645)
House equivalent: H.R. 1360: Child Protection Improvements Act of 2011
A bill to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a permanent background check system
[there is a small section pertaining to potential adoptive/foster parents].
 3-17-11: Referred to Committee on the Judiciary. Committee must review/vote
Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act of 2011 (S. 961)
A bill to create the income security conditions (including extension of foster care/adoption/kinship care payments through age 20) and family supports needed to ensure permanency for the Nation’s unaccompanied youth and youth in foster care, and for other purposes. Also expands eligibility and increases funding for Chafee services.		 5-12-11: Referred to Committee on Finance. Committee must review/vote
State Child Welfare Innovation Act (S. 1013)
A bill to renew the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve demonstration projects designed to test innovative strategies in State child welfare programs that are likely to promote the objectives of part B (Child and Family Services) or E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA).		 5-17-11: Referred to the Committee on Finance. Committee must review/vote
Medicaid Improvement and State Empowerment Act (S. 1031)
House equivalent: H.R. 2013: Medicaid Improvement and State Empowerment Act
A bill to empower States with programmatic flexibility and financial predictability to improve their Medicaid programs and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs by ensuring better health care for low-income pregnant women, children, and families, and for elderly individuals and disabled individuals in need of long-term care services and supports, whose income and resources are insufficient to meet the costs of necessary medical services. Includes requirement that each state will ensure that all Title IV-E-eligible children are automatically eligible for medical assistance, and that training of foster parents in supportive and behavioral modification skills will be included.		 5-19-11: Referred to Committee on Finance. Committee must review/vote
Supporting Adoptive Families Act (S. 1318)
A bill to enhance pre- and post-adoptive support services.		 6-30-11: Referred to Committee on Finance. Committee must review/vote

House Bill Status Next Steps
Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2011 (H.R. 184)
Senate equivalent: S. 82: Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act
To repeal the sunset of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to the expansion of the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs.		 1-5-11: Referred to House Committee on Ways & Means. Committee must review/vote
Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2011 (H.R. 616)
To provide that 4 of the 12 weeks of parental leave [for birth or placement of child through adoption or foster care] made available to a Federal employee shall be paid leave, and for other purposes.		 2-10-11: Referred to House Oversight & Government Reform / House House Administration Committee must review/vote
To renew the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve demonstration projects designed to test innovative strategies in State child welfare programs (H.R. 1194) that are likely to promote the objectives of part B (Child and Family Services) or E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA). 6-6-11: In Senate; referred to Committee on Finance Senate needs to vote
Child Protection Improvements Act of 2011 (H.R. 1360)
Senate equivalent: S. 645: Child Protection Improvements Act of 2011
To amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a permanent background check system [there is a small section pertaining to potential adoptive/foster parents].		 7-11-11: House Committee on the Judiciary: Referred to Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, & Homeland Security. Committee must review/vote
North Korean Refugee Adoption Act of 2011 (H.R. 1464)
Senate equivalent: S. 416: North Korean Refugee Adoption Act of 2011
To develop a strategy for assisting stateless children from North Korea, and for other purposes.		 4-8-11: Referred to House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Committee must review/vote
Dave Thomas Adoption Act of 2011 (H.R. 1576)
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow penalty-free withdrawals from individual retirement plans for adoption expenses.		 4-15-11: Referred to House Committee on Ways & Means. Committee must review/vote
Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 1681)
To prohibit discrimination in adoption or foster care placements based on the sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status of any prospective adoptive or foster parent, or the sexual orientation or gender identity of the child involved.		 5-3-11: Referred to House Committee on Ways & Means. Committee must review/vote
Medicaid Improvement and State Empowerment Act (H.R. 2013)
Senate equivalent: S. 1031: Medicaid Improvement and State Empowerment Act
A bill to empower States with programmatic flexibility and financial predictability to improve their Medicaid programs and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs by ensuring better health care for low-income pregnant women, children, and families, and for elderly individuals and disabled individuals in need of long-term care services and supports, whose income and resources are insufficient to meet the costs of necessary medical services. Includes requirement that each state will ensure that all Title IV-E-eligible children are automatically eligible for medical assistance, and that training of foster parents in supportive and behavioral modification skills will be included.		 6-3-11: House Natural Resources: Referred to Subcommittee Indian & Alaska Native Affairs. Committee must review/vote
Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2012 (H.R. 2583)
To authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes. Online bill text does NOT reflect amendment added to end of Title VIII – Inter-Country Adoption Strategy. This amendment “asks the State Department to create a strategy for inter-country adoptions to ensure that standards and safeguards for adoption are followed [so as to] ensur[e] the best interests of children are protected. It also improves the adoption process between the United States and home countries for many of our adopted youth, to include Russia, South Korea and Guatemala” (Rep. Karen Bass, who introduced the amendment).		 7-21-11: House Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 – 20. House must vote
Child and Family Services Extension and Enhancement Act (H.R. 2790)
To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend the child and family services program through fiscal year 2016 (with some modifications related to child development concerns), and for other purposes; includes authorization for study on recruitment and retention of foster/adoptive/kin parents and caregivers.		 8-5-11: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1504) (In House Committee on Ways & Means) Committee must review/vote