Rep. Barry Moore Backs Families, Challenges Bureaucracy with New Child Welfare Bill

U.S. Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL1) is taking aim at America’s broken child welfare system by introducing new legislation designed to put families—not government red tape—at the center of foster care cases. The Advocates for Families Act of 2025 would guarantee parents access to a trained family advocate at every stage of the process, ensuring they are not left to fight alone against a system that too often prioritizes paperwork over people.

The stakes are high. With more than 600,000 children entering foster care each year. “It’s vital that these children and their families have legal guidance during this process,” Moore said in his announcement. “This legislation will improve negotiations between families and the system, streamline and expedite the process, reduce stress on foster children, parents, and families, and save taxpayer dollars by decreasing the reliance on federal funding”

The bill addresses one of the greatest flaws in child welfare today: families facing the system without meaningful help. Too often, children spend months or even years in State custody, shuttled between foster homes, while parents are bogged down in complicated proceedings. By requiring States to allow parents to use family advocates—and by setting standards for how those advocates operate—the bill will cut through red tape and keep children out of long-term foster care.

The legislation would also require States to notify parents immediately of their right to advocacy and to report back to Congress on how the program is working (Congress.gov). These safeguards, Moore argues, will hold government agencies accountable while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent more efficiently.

Moore is not alone in the fight. The bill had bipartisan backing from Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA), who narrowly lost her reelection bid in 2024, and the ongoing support of the Family Forward Project, a group that has worked with thousands of families across the country to push for reforms.

It is to be hoped that another Democrat will reach across the isle in this session to support this bill.

Unfortunately, the bill faces challenges. Expanding advocacy services will require States to adjust their systems, and critics may raise concerns about cost or federal overreach. But for Moore, the bottom line is simple: government should work for families, not against them. “This is about doing what’s right for children and restoring common sense to the child welfare system,” he said.

For Alabama conservatives, the bill highlights two of Moore’s recurring themes in Congress: defending family values and demanding accountability from federal programs. At its core, the Advocates for Families Act reflects a belief that families—not bureaucrats—know what is best for children, and that reducing dependency on federal dollars can go hand-in-hand with protecting the most vulnerable.

The full text of the bill as introduced last year is available HERE. The 2025 version is not available online at this time.