CONNECT Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/7995
Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

ID: M001160

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.

April 28, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the intellectually bankrupt inhabitants of Congress. The CONNECT Act, a bill so dripping with saccharine sentimentality that it's a wonder the authors didn't contract diabetes while writing it.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The ostensible goal of this exercise in feel-good legislation is to update the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, because, you know, who doesn't love a good acronym? The CONNECT Act aims to prioritize long-term relationships for foster care youth, because apparently, these kids need more than just a participation trophy to succeed in life.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Social Security Act to include two new purposes: (1) helping foster care youth develop and maintain supportive relationships with adults and peers, and (2) supporting youth still in foster care in exercising their rights and receiving services to achieve permanency goals. Wow, how original. It's not like we've seen this same tired language recycled in every other bill related to foster care. The amendments will take effect one year after enactment, giving everyone plenty of time to pretend they're doing something meaningful.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: foster care youth, child welfare agencies, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who will be tasked with issuing guidance on the new purposes. Because what these kids really need is more bureaucracy and paperwork to navigate. And, of course, the lobbyists and special interest groups who will inevitably find ways to exploit this legislation for their own gain.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** The real impact of this bill will be negligible, but it will provide a nice photo op for the sponsors and a chance for them to pat themselves on the back for "caring" about foster care youth. In reality, it's just another example of legislative placebo effect – making people feel good without actually addressing the underlying issues. The only thing that will change is the amount of money being funneled into the system, which will likely end up lining the pockets of administrators and contractors rather than actually helping the kids.

In conclusion, the CONNECT Act is a perfect example of political theater, designed to make everyone feel good without actually accomplishing anything meaningful. It's a symptom of a deeper disease – the inability of our elected officials to address real problems with real solutions, instead opting for empty gestures and platitudes. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch this farce unfold.

Related Topics

State & Local Government Affairs Civil Rights & Liberties National Security & Intelligence Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Small Business & Entrepreneurship Government Operations & Accountability Federal Budget & Appropriations Congressional Rules & Procedures Transportation & Infrastructure
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$90,350
20 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$90,350
Committees
$0
Individuals
$0

No PAC contributions found

1
JLS HOLDINGS LLC
1 transaction
$9,900
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
4 transactions
$8,600
3
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600
4
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
2 transactions
$6,600
5
ONEIDA NATION
2 transactions
$6,600
6
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$6,200
7
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,200
8
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$5,800
9
CHEROKEE NATION
2 transactions
$5,300
10
THE CHICKASAW NATION
1 transaction
$3,300
11
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
12
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
13
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
14
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
1 transaction
$3,300
15
HO-CHUNK NATION
1 transaction
$3,300
16
HEMMCO LLC
1 transaction
$2,500
17
R & O CONSTRUCTION
1 transaction
$2,500
18
TRIBAL OPERATIONS
1 transaction
$2,500
19
SISTERS MOVEMENT
1 transaction
$1,000
20
RAHMAN PROPERTIES
1 transaction
$250

No committee contributions found

No individual contributions found

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]

ID: C001126

Top Contributors

10

1
KITTLE, JEFFREY
KITTLE PROPERTY GROUP CEO
Individual INDIANAPOLIS, IN
$6,600
Oct 24, 2023
2
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
NONE RETIRED
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Sep 28, 2023
3
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
BLACKSTONE CEO AND CHAIRMAN
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Sep 27, 2023
4
BAGAN, JOSEPH W.
STAQ PHARMA CEO
Individual COLUMBUS, OH
$4,000
Oct 14, 2024
5
BAGAN, JOSEPH W.
Individual COLUMBUS, OH
$4,000
Oct 16, 2024
6
BORKOWSKI, BRIAN
HEARTLAND CHARGING SERVICES COO
Individual BELLEAIR BEACH, FL
$3,435
Oct 15, 2024
7
FISCHER, ALEX
SELF EMPLOYED CONSULTING REAL ESTATE
Individual COLUMBUS, OH
$3,300
Oct 8, 2024
8
BARRERAS, LORI
STATE OF OHIO COMMISSIONER, OCRC
Individual COLUMBUS, OH
$3,300
Nov 8, 2024
9
LAIRD, JAMES F.
DIAMOND HILL EXECUTIVE
Individual DUBLIN, OH
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
10
RICHARDSON, JOHN G.
SUGARCREEK CHAIRMAN
Individual CINCINNATI, OH
$3,300
Dec 16, 2024

Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

ID: D000096

Top Contributors

10

1
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 5, 2024
2
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LA
Organization MARKSVILLE, LA
$2,000
Dec 31, 2023
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 6, 2023
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 13, 2024
5
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization LAKESIDE, CA
$1,500
May 31, 2023
6
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Dec 28, 2023
7
CONSULATE OF JAMAICA
Organization WASHINGTON, DC
$2,500
Jun 30, 2023
8
PLASTY PAC
Organization ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL
$1,000
Jul 1, 2024
9
DLV
Organization CHICAGO, IL
$955
Oct 10, 2023
10
AL BOSTAAN SERVICES
Organization BRIDGEVIEW, IL
$500
Jun 30, 2023

Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1]

ID: S001183

Top Contributors

10

1
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization HIGHLAND, CA
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
2
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$3,300
Mar 20, 2023
3
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$3,300
Mar 20, 2023
4
SALT RIVER PIMA MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
Organization SCOTTSDALE, AZ
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
5
SALT RIVER PIMA MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
Organization SCOTTSDALE, AZ
$3,300
May 23, 2024
6
WSS
Organization
$3,300
Jul 3, 2024
7
HPUL PROJECT OPERATIONS
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Jun 30, 2023
8
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
9
MASHANTUCKET (WESTERN) PEQUOT TRIBE
Organization LEDYARD, CT
$3,300
Oct 30, 2024
10
HPUL PROJECT OPERATIONS
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$2,500
Jul 25, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 30 nodes and 39 connections

Total contributions: $127,000

Top Donors - Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

Showing top 20 donors by contribution amount

20 Orgs