H.R. 728 Introduced Social Welfare

Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2025

To amend the Head Start Act to include TANF, SSI, SNAP, WIC, and federal housing assistance as eligible public assistance.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] Introduced January 24, 2025 Cosponsors 28 (28 D) Latest action January 24, 2025

Summary

Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2025
This bill expands eligibility for Head Start programs to include the children of families eligible for specified public assistance programs. 
Specifically, the bill expands Head Start eligibility to include the children of families that qualify for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and federal housing assistance (commonly known as Section 8). The bill also provides statutory authority for the eligibility of families that qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Families that qualify for state-funded food assistance programs with eligibility standards identical or substantially similar to the standards for SNAP must also be eligible for Head Start. 

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Jan 24, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
  2. Jan 24, 2025 Introduced in House

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