# 119-hr-8498: Increasing Access to Foster Care Through Age 21 Act

119-hr-8498, Increasing Access to Foster Care Through Age 21 Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8498
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8498
- Congress: 119
- Title: Increasing Access to Foster Care Through Age 21 Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-27
- Sponsor: Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Families
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**This bill would incentivize states to extend foster care supports through age 21 and let young adults voluntarily re-enter care after turning 18.** It would also broaden who counts as an eligible youth and require federal guidance and workforce connections to improve transitions to adulthood. - Transition-aged youth: Expands eligibility so more young people in foster care, and certain adopted or kinship guardianship cases, can receive extended services up to age 21. States could allow eligible 18-year-olds to voluntarily re-enter care. - Outcomes and evidence: The bill cites research linking extended care to better education, higher college enrollment, improved employment and financial resources, stronger social supports, and lower risks of homelessness, food insecurity, pregnancy, and arrest. - State support and implementation: It would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to give guidance and technical assistance, allow phased start dates tied to fiscal years, and require guidance within 90 days to connect eligible youth to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I programs.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9] (R-IN), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More foster care help through 21: benefit, high. If enacted, states would be able to let certain youth stay in foster care until the state’s chosen upper age (19, 20, 21, or 22). This could include youth with adoption assistance or kinship guardianship agreements that began when they were at least 16, and, at the state’s and youth’s choice, youth…
- Guidance to link youth to jobs: benefit, low. If enacted, the Department of Health and Human Services would give guidance to states and local agencies on connecting foster youth made eligible under these changes to workforce programs under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. HHS must issue the WIOA Title I guidance within…
- State delay for foster care rules: mixed, medium. If enacted, the foster care changes would take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year after enactment. The HHS Secretary could delay a State's deadline if HHS finds the State needs to pass new laws (other than funding) to meet the new rules. If delayed, the State would not be treated as o…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-8498 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8498)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8498 (as of 2026-09-21).