Committee fixes NCPA oversight gap to let entities vet contractors working with children and vulnerable adults

The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday adopted an amendment and voted to report HR 3,100, a bill that would restore and clarify who can request FBI fingerprint-based background checks under the National Child Protection Act. The bill’s sponsor, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mister Fry), said the measure “corrects a critical oversight” after a 2018 change narrowed the statutory definition and excluded many contractors who provide unsupervised care.

Ranking Member Mister Raskin urged support as a bipartisan, “common sense” fix, saying the bill would “restore uniform nationwide standards and ensure employers, contractors, and other organizations have the tools they need” to vet people working with children, the elderly and other vulnerable populations. Fry told colleagues these checks matter for providers including school bus drivers, tutors, nurses and contractors used by transportation companies providing services to children.

Committee members offered the amendment in the nature of a substitute that updated a short title but, the sponsor said, not the substance of the bill. The amendment was adopted by voice vote; a requested recorded vote showed 23 ayes and 0 noes. The chair ordered HR 3,100 reported favorably to the House, and members were given two days to submit views. The committee also authorized staff to make technical and conforming changes.

The markup record shows the measure advanced with bipartisan backing and no recorded opposition in committee. The next procedural step is formal committee reporting and potential floor consideration, subject to House scheduling.