# 119-hr-6987: Public Charge Clarification Act of 2026

119-hr-6987, Public Charge Clarification Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX); status introduced (as of 2026-07-22).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6987
- As of: 2026-07-22
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-6987
- Congress: 119
- Title: Public Charge Clarification Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-01-08
- Sponsor: Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 12
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-22

## Summary

**Would redefine 'public charge' with a 12-month benefits threshold and a required published list of counted programs.** It would also tighten sponsor proof rules and create a new public charge bond requirement in some cases. - Immigrants seeking a visa, admission, or status adjustment would be inadmissible if they are likely to receive more than 12 months of covered benefits in any 36-month period. The decision would use a holistic review of age, health, family, finances, skills, prospective status, and affidavits of support, and it would exempt refugees, asylees, and service members and their dependents. - Families and benefit recipients would see a broad set of programs counted as "public benefits," including cash assistance, SSI, SNAP, housing help like Section 8 vouchers, project-based rental assistance, public housing, and Medicaid with specified exceptions. The Department of Homeland Security would have 180 days to publish and keep an updated comprehensive list of covered benefits. - Sponsors would need affidavits of support backed by documents showing income and assets at least 125 percent of the Federal poverty line. The bill would allow a public charge bond of not less than $10,000 to be required in some cases and forfeited if the person becomes a public charge within 10 years.

## Cosponsors (12)

- Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1] (R-AL), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14] (R-TX), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6] (R-WI), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21] (R-TX), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9] (R-AZ), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8] (R-NC), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38] (R-TX), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13] (R-TX), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26] (R-TX), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7] (R-SC), 2026-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36] (R-TX), 2026-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3] (R-SC), 2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New public-charge bond requirement: cost, high. If enacted, consular officers or immigration officials could require a public-charge bond to allow conditional admission. The bond would be not less than $10,000 and payable to the United States. The bond would be forfeited if the person becomes a public charge within 10 years. DHS would write rule…
- New public-charge test and rules: cost, high. If enacted, this would create a concrete public-charge test. You would be a public charge if you get counted public benefits for more than 12 months in any 36-month period. Officials would decide inadmissibility using a total review of age, health, family, money, skills, and future status, with no…
- Which benefits count toward public charge: cost, high. If enacted, this would define a long list of programs that count as public benefits. It would include SSI, TANF and other cash help, SNAP, most Medicaid (with a few exceptions), Section 8 vouchers, public housing, and certain health coverage subsidies. DHS would have to publish a full list in the F…
- Stricter affidavit of support rules: cost, medium. If enacted, affidavits of support would be one factor in public-charge decisions but would not automatically overcome a negative finding. Sponsors would have to submit documents that show income, assets, and resources enough to keep the household at at least 125 percent of the Federal poverty line.…
- Exemptions and limits on waivers: mixed, medium. If enacted, refugees, people granted asylum, and service members or their dependents would not be subject to the public-charge rule. At the same time, the bill would bar agencies from granting public-charge waivers to other nonexempt people unless Congress specifically allows a waiver. That means s…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-404: Hearing Protection Act
- 119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act
- 119-hr-645: National Constitutional Carry Act
- 119-hr-569: Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025
- 119-hres-719: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk.
- 119-hr-1181: Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-6987 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6987)

## Related
- [119-hr-404: Hearing Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-404)
- [119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-425)
- [119-hr-645: National Constitutional Carry Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-645)
- [119-hr-569: Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-569)
- [119-hres-719: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-719)
- [119-hr-1181: Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1181)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6987 (as of 2026-07-22).