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119-hr-5790119th CongressWALLET

Head Start Shutdown Protection Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]

Introduced

Summary

Reimburses states, local governments, and school districts for money they spend to keep Head Start and Early Head Start running during federal shutdowns. The bill would entitle a State, local government, or school district that uses its own funds to sustain participation in the Head Start Program (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) or the Early Head Start Program to reimbursement by the federal government after a lapse in appropriations ends.

Show full summary
  • Families and children: Would face fewer service interruptions because local or state funds could be used to keep children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start during funding lapses.
  • State and local governments and school districts: Would be able to front costs to maintain program participation and claim repayment from the federal government once the shutdown ends.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Repay states to keep Head Start open

If enacted, the federal government would repay states, local governments, and school districts that cover Head Start or Early Head Start during a shutdown. They would have to use their own money to keep children enrolled or services running while federal funds are paused. Repayment would come after the shutdown ends. This would not pay families directly or change who qualifies. The bill does not set a timeline, cap, or claim steps for repayment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]

    MS • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]

    PR • D

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

  • Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/24/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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