119th Congress
H.R. 9958: Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act of 2026
To amend the Head Start Act to expand and improve participation in Head Start programs, and for other purposes.
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill reauthorizes through FY2032 and otherwise revises Head Start programs.
Specifically, the bill expands eligibility for Head Start programs to include families with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level. The bill also adds a definition for public assistance under the Head Start Act to include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Supplemental Security Income (SSI); the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a program to make grants to Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) to construct or improve facilities. HHS must also establish and carry out a program to make grants to Head Start agencies for increasing the compensation paid to employees.
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The bill also provides student loan forgiveness for certain Head Start and Early Head Start child care workers. In particular, the Department of Education must cancel the outstanding balance of principal, interest, and fees due on Federal Direct Loans for a borrower who (1) has been employed full-time by a Head Start or Early Head Start program for three years, and (2) has provided care or instruction to children enrolled in such a program.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Nicole (Nikki) Budzinski D-ILOriginal
- Yvette Clarke D-NYOriginal
- Chris Deluzio D-PAOriginal
- Cleo Fields D-LAOriginal
- Jesús García D-ILOriginal
- Adelita Grijalva D-AZOriginal
- Pablo José Hernández Rivera D-PROriginal
- Jonathan Jackson D-ILOriginal
- Raja Krishnamoorthi D-ILOriginal
- Zoe Lofgren D-CAOriginal
- Greg Landsman D-OHOriginal
- Gwen Moore D-WIOriginal
- Doris Matsui D-CAOriginal
- Seth Moulton D-MAOriginal
- Kevin Mullin D-CAOriginal
- Eleanor Norton D-DCOriginal
- Lateefah Simon D-CAOriginal
- Shri Thanedar D-MIOriginal
- Frederica Wilson D-FLOriginal
- Shontel Brown D-OH
- Mark Pocan D-WI
- Emily Randall D-WA
Who scored on this bill
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History
- Introduced in the House by Jahana Hayes.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.