PRIA Logo™
119-hr9877119th CongressWALLET

Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]

In Committee

Summary

Health equity is the central aim. The bill pairs sweeping data modernization and language‑access rules with big coverage, workforce, maternal, rural, and nutrition reforms to reduce disparities and improve care access.

Show full summary
  • Families and children: Expands child nutrition and food programs with universal free school meals, a larger Summer EBT benefit ($60/month), WIC postpartum coverage extended to 24 months, and longer SNAP certifications (36 months) with fewer status barriers.
  • Seniors and Medicare enrollees: Creates a Medicare Cost Assistance Program to help Part B premiums and cost sharing and raises Medicare savings program income thresholds (QMB to 135% FPL and SLMB toward 200% FPL) to reduce out‑of‑pocket burdens.
  • Immigrants and mixed‑status households: Treats federally authorized presence as lawfully present for Exchanges, premium tax credits, reduced cost sharing, and Medicaid/CHIP eligibility and removes several status‑based SNAP limits to expand access.

*Authorizes numerous new annual appropriations and program funding across FY2027–FY2034, increasing federal spending.*

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

135 provisions identified: 122 benefits, 1 costs, 12 mixed.

SSI expansion to U.S. territories

If enacted, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rules would be expanded to include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. The bill would treat U.S. nationals like citizens for SSI, remove specified territorial payment limits, and let the Social Security Commissioner waive or modify SSI rules to fit each territory. These changes would start on the first day of the first federal fiscal year beginning at least one year after enactment.

Bigger dental coverage for seniors and adults

If enacted, Medicare would begin covering a wide range of dental and oral health services upon enactment, including preventive, basic, major, and emergency care and mobile services. Medicaid would be required to cover adult dental and oral health services for expenditures in quarters beginning on or after January 1, 2028, and the federal match would be 100% for covered dental expenditures for 12 quarters starting January 1, 2028. States would also have to cover dental services during pregnancy and for one year postpartum under a related rule.

Exchange access for U.S. possessions

If enacted, the Secretary would set up a way for certain residents of U.S. possessions to buy coverage through the District of Columbia Exchange within 3 months after enactment. Eligible residents would generally be those in possessions with no Exchange plans and not eligible for employer coverage. They would also qualify for premium tax credits and reduced cost-sharing and could get advance payments. Treasury would periodically compensate possessions for resulting losses under rules to avoid duplicate credits.

Expanded Medicare savings and eligibility rules

If enacted, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary income limits would rise (QMB to 135% of poverty) and another Medicare cost‑sharing threshold would rise to 200% of poverty starting January 1, 2027. The bill would exclude certain in‑kind support from income tests and align resource rules for Part D Low‑Income Subsidy applicants. QMBs would get a three‑month retroactive claims window. States could elect 12‑month continuous eligibility or express‑lane rules, and the bill would bar providers from refusing Medicare services to dual‑eligible beneficiaries and require states to let certain providers bill Medicaid for Medicare cost‑sharing.

Free emergency care for survivors

If enacted, hospitals would have to give accurate information about emergency contraception and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. Starting January 1, 2027, hospitals would immediately offer emergency contraception and start PEP the same day unless a medical exception applies. These services must be offered without regard to a patient's or family's ability to pay.

Health coverage for adults in non‑expansion states

If enacted, the bill would require HHS to create a fallback Medicaid‑style coverage program for eligible low‑income adults living in States that had not expanded Medicaid as of enactment. The coverage would meet benchmark standards, have no premiums, and limit cost‑sharing under Medicaid rules. The program would start as soon as possible after enactment and funding would begin in fiscal year 2027.

Longer Medicaid coverage after childbirth

If enacted, Medicaid and CHIP plans or waivers would have to provide full benefits during pregnancy and for a 12‑month postpartum period. The requirement would take effect on the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning on or after one year after enactment, subject to a stated exception where State law must change.

Medicaid pregnancy protections and telehealth

If enacted, states could not set Medicaid income limits for pregnant people and infants below each state's 2014 level starting January 1, 2027. The bill would bar states from making pregnancy‑related Medicaid rules stricter for five years after enactment. It would also allow federal approval of Medicaid telehealth demonstrations to screen, monitor, and manage pregnancy complications for up to one year after pregnancy, with that authority taking effect one year after enactment.

More coverage access for immigrants

If enacted, people lawfully present, and those granted federally authorized presence, would be treated as lawfully present for Exchange eligibility, reduced cost-sharing, premium tax credits, Medicaid, and CHIP. For people granted federally authorized presence as of enactment, a special enrollment period would start within 90 days. The bill would require Federal Medicaid payment for otherwise eligible lawfully present children under 21 and pregnant people, including 12 months postpartum coverage. PRWORA limits would not apply to SNAP for lawfully present people. States could elect to cover certain non-lawfully-present people through Medicaid or CHIP State-plan amendments. The bill would also repeal certain Medicaid/CHIP citizenship-document rules and change some Medicare wording to refer to those lawfully present.

More Medicare-covered care and treatments

If enacted, Medicare would cover more kinds of services and providers. The bill would expand clinical social worker services, add nutrition therapy and broader obesity counseling, allow Part D coverage for some weight‑loss drugs after a two‑year delay, add acupuncture (270 days after enactment), and cover behavioral health, substance‑use recovery counseling, and peer support beginning January 1, 2027. It would also make colorectal cancer screening tests fully covered with no coinsurance starting in 2027.

More SNAP and WIC access

If enacted, the bill would make several SNAP and WIC rule changes. It would increase some SNAP certification periods from 24 months to 36 months and replace an "8 percent" term with "one-third" in a value-of-allotment calculation. The SNAP time limit for certain able-bodied adults without dependents would be repealed. Puerto Rico could request to join SNAP, with the Secretary deciding within 90 days and $112,500,000 provided for implementation; WIC postpartum coverage would extend from 6 months to 24 months.

No-cost HIV prevention coverage

If enacted, group and individual health plans would have to cover FDA‑approved HIV prevention drugs and related lab tests and follow‑up without cost sharing. Coverage would also include services recommended by U.S. Public Health Service guidelines. Drugs subject to certain preauthorization rules would be excluded. This change would reduce out‑of‑pocket costs for insured people who use these prevention drugs.

Loan relief for health researchers

If enacted, researchers who focus on racial and ethnic health disparities could get student loan cancellation after a 5‑year service commitment to an accredited health professions school. Separately, physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who serve at qualifying Ryan White or Title X sites or in high HIV incidence areas could receive loan repayment: 30% of eligible loan principal and interest after year one, another 30% after year two, and 25% after year three. The bill would authorize needed funding for these programs for fiscal years 2027–2031.

More health student grants and loan relief

If enacted, the bill would create many new grants, scholarships, stipends, and loan-repayment rules for people training for health jobs. Behavioral-health graduate students would be eligible for $10,000 per year. Public-health scholarships could provide up to $20,000 per year for up to four years. Some fellowships and stipends would pay up to $25,000 per year (research) or daily stipends up to $100 for short programs. Loan-repayment programs would pay large amounts too: at least $50,000 per person per year in some programs, up to $50,000 per year for rare-disease clinicians, and a dentist program that would pay 30% of eligible loans after year 1, another 30% after year 2, and 25% after year 3. Many of these authorizations cover FY2027–FY2031 (and the dentist program FY2027–FY2030).

Workplace heat and safety protections

If enacted, the Labor Secretary would issue an interim national worker heat protection rule within one year that would take effect when issued. Employers would have to provide protections like employer‑paid water, paid rest breaks, shade or cool spaces, acclimatization policies, training, and other feasible controls. The bill would give heat rules the same legal force as other occupational safety standards, set a 4‑year citation limit, and allow whistleblower complaints within 180 days. It would also require employers with 100+ workers to provide free tampons and pads to employees.

Lower health premiums via tax credits

If enacted, the bill would change the percentage schedule used to calculate Premium Tax Credits for plans bought through the health insurance Exchanges for tax years after December 31, 2026. The new schedule sets 0% for up to 150% of poverty and lower applicable percentages across most income tiers, with a flat 8.5% at 400% and above. Your actual credit would depend on income, plan premiums, and other rules. Many Exchange enrollees could see lower premium costs, depending on their circumstances.

New elder-care tax credit

If enacted, the bill would create a nonrefundable tax credit for employment-related eldercare expenses. The credit rate would start at 35% and fall by 1 percentage point for each $2,000 (or fraction) of AGI above $15,000, but not below 20%. The annual expense cap would be $3,000 for one qualifying individual and $6,000 for two or more. You would use the credit to offset tax liability for care costs that let you work.

Tax-free medically necessary diapers

If enacted, medically necessary diapers and diapering supplies for people age 3 and older would count as qualified medical expenses for HSAs, Archer MSAs, HRAs, and health FSAs. Distributions paid or reimbursements for expenses would apply for amounts after December 31, 2026. Disposable products must meet the bill's material and allergen rules. This would let eligible account holders use tax-advantaged funds to pay for those supplies.

National lung and prostate initiatives

If enacted, HHS would launch a nationwide Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Program within six months and aim to cut lung cancer deaths by at least 25 percent by 2028. The program would coordinate NIH, FDA, CDC, and other agencies and require AHRQ to review screening and treatment every two years. The bill would also create an advisory council to plan prostate cancer test development and validation and provide reports to Congress.

Expanded Minority AIDS funding

If enacted, the bill would authorize $610 million for FY2027 and such sums as needed through FY2031 to expand the Minority AIDS Initiative. Funds would support prevention, care, technical assistance, and community programs for priority minority groups. Programs would prioritize specific subgroups such as men who have sex with men, youth, people who inject drugs, women, homeless and incarcerated people, and transgender and nonbinary individuals. The authorization would increase federal support for targeted HIV work.

Grants and pilots for community health

If enacted, the bill would fund and authorize many community health grants and pilots. Examples include $100 million for Health Empowerment Zones in FY2027, border community health grants (authorized $200 million for FY2027), CDC social‑determinants grants ($50M per year for 2027–2032), community mental wellness worker training ($25M per year for 2027–2031), designation and support for health centers at public hospitals through 2027–2034, and a Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation test of a Social Determinants of Health Payment Model by December 31, 2027. Many grants would prioritize underserved and high‑need areas.

More child and school health supports

If enacted, the bill would authorize ongoing federal funding for State CHIP allotments starting in fiscal year 2029. It would also fund school mental health grants ($300 million per year for 2027–2030) and community school health grants, and raise school meal payments (free breakfast $2.80 and free lunch $4.63 national averages, with annual inflation adjustments and local‑food bonuses). The school mental health grants would generally run five years and may be capped at $2 million per grant in early years.

More funding for disease research and trials

If enacted, the bill would authorize and direct large new investments in disease research, prevention, and related programs. Examples include hepatitis assessment funding ($90M in 2027 rising to $150M in 2030), a $500M CDC antimicrobial stewardship authorization, $75M for lung cancer work in 2027, liver disease prevention and awareness grants ($90M and $10M per year through 2031), asthma prevention ($65M for 2027–2031), and diabetes prevention research ($65M for 2027–2031). The bill would also require NIH‑funded trial sponsors to work with review boards to reimburse participant expenses and would expand transplant reporting and patient disclosures.

More Medicare counseling help

If enacted, the bill would transfer $50 million per year from FY2027 through FY2031 to fund State Health Insurance Assistance Programs. HHS would award grants under rules that include support for low-income beneficiaries. The funds would remain available until spent and would be used for counseling and enrollment help. Medicare enrollees would likely see expanded or continued local counseling services.

Longer temporary Medicaid match

If enacted, the bill would change the temporary enhanced Medicaid matching add-on from 5 percentage points for 8 quarters to 10 percentage points for 40 quarters. The change would be treated as if included in the American Rescue Plan Act. States would get larger federal matching payments for the covered period. The provision affects State funding rather than giving direct cash to households.

Big fund for health workforce programs

If enacted, the bill would create a Health Professions Workforce Fund at HRSA and appropriate baseline amounts for FY2027–FY2034. Baseline funding would rise from $392 million in FY2027 to $552 million in FY2034. The bill would also provide additional annual title VII and title VIII amounts in the hundreds of millions each year for the same period to support workforce programs.

More health workforce and research money

If enacted, the bill would authorize large, multi-year increases for minority health research, community research, school mental health, workforce commissions, fellowship programs, loan repayment, apprenticeships, and nephrology training. Examples include $750 million per year for minority health research (FY2027–FY2032), $150 million per year for community research, $1 billion for nursing education grants, and adjusted annual authorizations for fellowship and workforce accounts. These funds are meant to grow the health workforce and research capacity and would not directly send checks to households.

Child health: diapers, dental, school meals

If enacted, Medicaid 1915(c) waivers serving medically complex children would have to cover 200 medically necessary disposable diapers per month, and providers could authorize more. The bill would also ban annual or lifetime dollar caps on dental benefits for covered low‑income children (and for pregnant women if a state elects pregnancy assistance), effective six months after enactment. At the same six‑month date, states could not give dental‑only CHIP enrollees better dental coverage or cost protections than children in full CHIP. The bill also makes juveniles in eligible public detention centers eligible for free school lunches.

Protect hepatitis test results use

If enacted, HHS would bar use of hepatitis B and C test results from covered voluntary testing programs for health-insurance eligibility issues, employment screening, or firing someone over immigration status. The rule would apply to tests done under the specified testing programs supported by HHS. This would protect participants in those programs from the named uses of their test results.

Ban on discrimination in health programs

If enacted, the bill would bar exclusion, denial of benefits, or discrimination in health programs or activities that receive federal funds or are run by an executive agency. Protected characteristics would include sex, pregnancy (including termination), sexual orientation, gender identity, race, national origin, familial or marital status, and disability.

Better language access for health

If enacted, Exchange applications would collect each household member's preferred spoken and written language and enrollment helpers would report language-assistance requests and complaints annually. Federally funded health programs would have to meet CLAS standards on trained bilingual staff or free interpreter services at all contact points on enactment. For language groups meeting a 5% or 500-person threshold, programs must provide easy-to-read materials.

Bigger farmers market benefits for seniors

If enacted, the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program would include adults with disabilities and keep older adult eligibility. Individual benefits would be at least $35 and at most $80. Certification for participants would last 36 months. The bill would authorize at least $60 million for FY2027, rising to $70 million for FY2028 and $100 million for FY2029–FY2031, and create modernization grants for electronic transactions.

Clinical trial expense reimbursement

If enacted, sponsors of covered clinical trials would have to reimburse eligible, documented participant expenses within 30 days after receiving an application. Sponsors could require proof of expenses and would submit annual accounting during the trial's data‑collection period; the Secretary would publish aggregate reimbursement data within six months of receipt.

Dental care for Tribal communities

If enacted, urban Indian organizations would be included in the national Community Health Aide Program and dental health aide therapist services would be treated differently under the program. The Secretary could not reduce existing amounts provided for the Community Health Aide Program. These changes could increase access to dental services in Tribal and urban Indian communities.

Free diapers and menstrual supplies

If enacted, the bill would give States $200 million each year from FY2027 through FY2030 to buy and distribute free menstrual products and diapers. States would use Social Services Block Grant rules and keep administrative costs under 9 percent. The Secretary could reserve small amounts for technical help and evaluation and would issue guidance within 180 days. This help would not count when other federal programs decide who qualifies or how much they get.

Free school and care meals

If enacted, afterschool meals for participating children would be free and institutions would receive $4.63 per free meal, indexed for inflation starting July 1, 2027. The Child and Adult Care Food Program meals and supplements would be free with a $1.20 supplemental reimbursement (inflation adjusted). The Secretary of Agriculture would reimburse schools for covered delinquent meal debt and provide payments within 180 days after the program's effective date.

Free tobacco quit services in Medicaid

If enacted, Medicaid would cover counseling and FDA‑approved medicines to help people stop using tobacco. The bill would add counseling and pharmacotherapy for tobacco cessation to CHIP benefits and ban deductibles, coinsurance, or other cost‑sharing for these services under Medicaid and CHIP.

Grants for childhood trauma care

If enacted, HHS would fund trauma-informed care coordination for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers and establish grants for childhood trauma prevention. The family care grants would authorize $15 million per year for five years with awards of $250,000–$1,000,000. The prevention grants could be up to $9.5 million each for up to 7 years. Services must be provided regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.

Help for pregnant and postpartum families

If enacted, USDA grants would help deliver healthy food, infant formula, clean water, or diapers to pregnant and postpartum people in USDA‑defined food deserts. The bill would authorize $5 million for fiscal years 2027–2031 for that program. The bill would also authorize a competitive climate support grant program (up to $100 million for FY2027–2030) to help mothers and babies with heat, air quality, weatherization, and direct assistance; that program would start within 180 days and select recipients within 270 days after enactment.

Medicaid language help and estate protection

If enacted, states generally could not place a pre‑death lien or recover correctly paid Medicaid assistance from your property or estate. The bill would add timely language assistance as a Medicaid and CHIP medical assistance benefit and raise the federal match for those services from 75% to 95%. It would also add Medicare coverage and payment for qualifying language assistance and require plans to consider language capacity in network adequacy.

Medicaid sickle cell health homes

If enacted, beginning January 1, 2027 the Secretary could approve Medicaid plan amendments for health homes focused on people with sickle cell disease. States choosing this option would have to provide dental and vision services for enrolled individuals and report on quality, access, and spending after the first eight fiscal quarters.

Medicaid: free menstrual and cessation drugs

If enacted, Medicaid would add qualifying menstrual products (cups, discs, underwear, pads, tampons) to covered items on enactment. States could not require approval by an agent as a condition of coverage or payment for covered tobacco-cessation drugs in Medicaid. Medicaid and CHIP could cover certain FDA-over-the-counter tobacco-cessation medicines when recommended under the specified guideline.

Medicare home health monitoring pilots

If enacted, CMS would start Medicare pilots within nine months to pay home health agencies incentives for using home monitoring and communications technology. Pilots would run in urban and rural sites, include at least three sites in smaller States, and pay incentives tied to measured Medicare savings while limiting total spending.

More HIV prevention grants and access

If enacted, HHS would award grants to reduce HIV infections among people who inject drugs and to expand PrEP and PEP access for uninsured and underinsured people. Grants could cover clean syringes, testing, prevention drugs, labs, clinical follow-up, and outreach. The PrEP/PEP grant program must be established within 1 year and is authorized for FY2027–FY2032.

More supports for pregnancy care

If enacted, HHS would fund a 4-year, culturally appropriate maternity education campaign starting within 1 year. The Secretary would issue maternity guidance on intimate partner violence within 2 years. CMS would issue guidance to States on expanding Medicaid doula access after a MACPAC report. The bill would fund $5 million for FY2027–FY2029 in grants for free drop-in child care at prenatal and postpartum appointments. OPM would treat pregnancy as a qualifying life event for new FEHB contracts one year after enactment. Hospitals would need a written discharge plan for pregnant patients starting January 1, 2027.

New Medicare screenings and enrollment opportunities

If enacted, Medicare would cover peripheral artery disease screening for at‑risk beneficiaries with no Part B deductible, and it would add FDA‑qualified multi‑cancer early detection tests to Part B coverage no more often than once every 11 months. The bill would also create a one‑time Medigap open enrollment window from January 1 through June 30, 2027, for certain Part A and B enrollees. Rules would change for outpatient cost‑sharing at rural community hospitals 30 days after enactment.

No-cost HIV prevention across programs

If enacted, Medicaid and CHIP would cover HIV prevention drugs, related tests, and required follow‑up without cost‑sharing starting January 1, 2027 (states needing legislation could receive a delay). Medicare Part D would eliminate cost‑sharing for HIV prevention drugs for plan years beginning after January 1, 2027. Medicare Part B would cover approved HIV prevention drugs, tests, and follow‑up beginning January 1, 2027 and remove coinsurance. Group and individual health plans could not require preauthorization for these HIV prevention services.

Oral health as required coverage

If enacted, oral health services for children and adults would be added to the list of essential health benefits. The HHS Secretary would define covered services to include prevention, restoration, and emergency oral care. The bill text does not set a start date or specific cost-sharing rules.

Simpler SNAP rules and delivery

If enacted, SNAP would add free grocery delivery for eligible older adults and adults with disabilities, with stores reimbursed up to $10 per delivery and $500 million authorized for FY2027 and each year after. The bill would set a $155 standard SNAP medical expense deduction for FY2027 (CPI-indexed later). States could adopt simplified 36-month certification for elderly/disabled households and a Combined Application Program for households with disability benefits. The bill would fund a $12.25 million pilot to help older adults and adults with disabilities enroll in SNAP and require schools to notify Federal work-study students about SNAP eligibility on enactment.

Stronger access, language, and civil‑rights rules

If enacted, the bill would require health plans to increase in‑network shares of essential community providers and meet stronger network access standards, and it would require oral interpretation and clear language‑service notices in many non‑English languages. Covered health providers receiving federal funds would have to give free language assistance at all points of contact. The bill would also ban inequitable health care and create enforcement tools and remedies, and it would require pharmacies to provide in‑stock contraceptives or help obtain them quickly, with civil penalties for violations.

Veterans and service-member health demos

If enacted, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense and the Bureau of Prisons could run demonstrations training and using alternative dental providers to serve veterans, service members, dependents, and incarcerated people. The Defense and VA Secretaries would set up early detection, research, and coordinated care programs for service members and veterans at higher lung cancer risk from service-related exposures. Funding amounts are not specified in the text provided.

Housing grants for pregnant families

If enacted, HUD would run a Housing for Moms grant program to help pregnant and postpartum people and their families get safe, stable housing. Grants could fund outreach, housing options help, direct financial aid to keep housing during pregnancy and postpartum, and upgrades to supportive housing. The bill would authorize $10 million for FY2027, available until spent. Grant recipients would report publicly each year.

Conrad physician waiver protections

If enacted, doctors granted a Conrad State 30 waiver would have to sign employment agreements stating on-call hours and pay, malpractice coverage or premium payments, and all work locations. Agreements could not include non-compete clauses. The program extension would last three years after enactment and be treated as if effective September 30, 2018. The changes clarify employment terms for waiver doctors.

Easier immigration paths for doctors

If enacted, the bill would expand immigration options and waiver rules for foreign-trained doctors. J-1 physicians could be adjusted to another work-authorized status if an agency requests it and the Secretary of State recommends approval, and certain trainees would be treated as having dual intent for graduate medical training. The bill would include physicians who complete specified waiver service in an immigrant classification (family members included) and allow petitions before service completion but not approval until service is done. It would change how Conrad waivers are allotted (new use-based triggers and a 30-waiver floor) and let States request waivers for J-1 doctors at academic medical centers subject to a three-waiver-per-State limit. The bill would also expand waiver routes for physicians serving shortage-area patients and give assignment priority to federally qualified health centers and rural clinics.

ESL and career help for immigrants

If enacted, HHS would fund grants to help internationally educated and legally authorized immigrant health professionals get training, credential evaluation, English classes, and placement in jobs that match their skills. The Department of Education would also get $250 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 for English instruction programs that include health‑care navigation for people with limited English proficiency.

Behavioral and maternity research funding

If enacted, HHS would fund behavioral health outreach for several racial and ethnic communities, including AANHPI youth studies. The bill would also require AHRQ to create a public online database of systematic reviews for maternity and newborn care within one year. These programs include annual reports and multi‑year authorizations, such as $15 million per year for behavioral outreach and $2.5 million per year for the maternity evidence database in FY2027–FY2029.

Federal language and health data standards

If enacted, federal agencies would have to provide meaningful access to people with limited English proficiency within one year and publish language-access plans. The bill would require HHS and Social Security to collect and share demographic data for applicants and put Federal health and disparities data into a central repository with public-use datasets. Providers would have to report some health outcome data disaggregated by demographic traits and HHS would publish those datasets by April 30, 2027 and each year after.

Maternal and health care in prisons

If enacted, at least six federal prisons would start maternal-health programs for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated people and operate them for five years. The Attorney General would also fund grants to states for similar programs in state and local custody, with five-year awards and required reporting. The bill would expand disease testing and prevention in federal custody and make negligent failure to provide immediate medical attention a prosecutable offense for covered federal officials.

More public-health research and reviews

If enacted, the bill would fund and expand targeted public-health research and reviews. It would authorize $60 million per year for Alzheimer's centers from 2027 through 2031 to support clinics and trials in areas with more minority residents. The President would have 30 days to seek a National Academy of Sciences study of listed environmental measures, with the report due within 270 days and agency plans due within 180 days after that. Maternal mortality review committees would study severe maternal illness and deaths up to one year after pregnancy and consult affected community groups. The CDC's injury research authority would be broadened, but grant funds could not be used to promote gun-control advocacy.

Rare kidney disease research centers

If enacted, the NIDDK Director could fund regional Centers of Excellence on Rare Kidney Disease Research through grants and cooperative agreements. The centers would support research, training, patient education, and clinical research costs needed for studies. The bill would authorize $6 million for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031.

Social determinants accelerator planning grants

If enacted, the bill would create an interagency council and award up to 25 competitive Social Determinants Accelerator grants to State, local, or Tribal health and human services agencies. Grants would fund planning and coordination work and reserve at least 20 percent for rural-focused applications. The bill would appropriate $25 million for the program, available for five years.

Strengthened civil rights and sensitive places

If enacted, the bill would strengthen civil-rights enforcement and limit certain executive actions. It would bar executive orders that cut or defund listed federal programs and require OMB to notify Congress within 5 days of covered Executive orders. People harmed by violations could sue for relief. The bill would expand the list of "sensitive locations" and bar immigration enforcement within 1,000 feet of those places starting 90 days after enactment, with narrow exigent exceptions and reporting requirements. It would also restore minority-health office staffing and public resources within 30 days, treat Medicare payments as grants for Title VI civil-rights purposes, repeal certain Executive Orders on enactment, and bar federal prisons from punishing possession or use of sexual barrier devices within 30 days.

Stronger health equity enforcement tools

If enacted, the HHS Office for Civil Rights would be renamed and led by a Director for Civil Rights and Health Equity. The office would investigate inequitable health care and enforce new civil-rights rules. The bill would create an administrative complaint process and let the Attorney General bring pattern-or-practice suits with punitive penalties up to $500,000 for a first violation and $1,000,000 for subsequent violations.

New drug study and labeling rules

If enacted, the bill would require drug studies and labels to examine and report racial or ethnic differences in safety or effectiveness when evidence suggests them. Sponsors would also collect standardized patient experience data in some trials and include it in approval filings. The bill would apply rare-disease incentives to certain lung-cancer and nicotine-addiction drugs and require FDA to consider expanded access for those drugs. These changes aim to improve information for patients and regulators.

Expanded language access and civil-rights oversight

If enacted, HHS and other Federal health agencies would expand language access and civil-rights enforcement. The bill would fund Medicare language-access demonstration grants, quarterly payments to providers for language services (FY2027–FY2031), require agencies to prepare translation plans and timely translate materials into the top 15 non-English languages, and create civil-rights offices across HHS to review discrimination and disparities.

Grants for school and community mental health

If enacted, the government would fund local school social workers and community trauma and behavioral health programs. Grants would push for at least one social worker per 250 students (and 1:50 in high-risk schools) and four-year trauma or community mental health grants. The bill would also fund integrated behavioral teams in health centers and require grantees to use part of funds for short-term loan forgiveness for mental health practitioners.

Grants to strengthen local health systems

If enacted, the bill would fund community health assessments, health-improvement demonstrations in Pacific Islander and insular areas, health empowerment zones, and grants to study rare diseases in minority populations. Grants would support data systems, assessments, and local strategic plans, with reporting and evaluation requirements and funding subject to appropriations.

Health workforce and training grants

If enacted, the government would fund education and training to grow the health workforce. Grants would create regional training centers, expand doula programs and scholarships, fund climate-risk training for health schools ($5 million/year FY2027–FY2030), and support new or expanded medical schools in underserved areas. Some scholarships would require service in underserved communities.

HIV and infection care in corrections and communities

If enacted, HHS and Justice would identify and scale evidence-based HIV strategies and require the Bureau of Prisons to adopt a comprehensive HIV policy within one year. The bill would also require a 5-year plan to prevent STIs in correctional facilities and include automatic Medicaid reenrollment and a 30-day supply of HIV medicines at release for people leaving custody.

Loans and grants for farmers markets

If enacted, the Secretary would run a program to give loans, loan guarantees, and grants to set up or improve farmers markets and community supported agriculture that serve older adults and adults with disabilities. Markets must be reachable by public or Older Americans Act transportation and reserve at least 50% of floor area for local products. Grants would require a 20% non‑Federal match. The bill proposes $50 million per year for each of fiscal years 2027–2031.

More funding to improve maternal care

If enacted, HHS would fund a package of maternal programs to improve care and reduce harms. The bill would authorize respectful-maternity grants ($5 million/year FY2027–FY2031), rural mobile obstetric grants ($10 million/year FY2027–FY2031), doula workforce funding ($50 million in FY2027), maternal-support grants ($25 million/year FY2027–FY2029), and gestational diabetes demonstrations and research ($5 million/year FY2027–FY2031). HHS would evaluate and report to Congress on results.

New federal disease research funding

If enacted, the bill would fund and coordinate several disease research programs. The NIH could use $30 million per year for prostate cancer research in fiscal years 2027–2031. It would also expand and coordinate research on HIV prevention, sleep health disparities, rare-disease equity, and diabetes in minority populations with new reporting deadlines and planned authorizations starting in FY2027. These actions would support more studies and federal coordination, not direct cash payments to households.

Reproductive and pregnancy screening grants

If enacted, HHS and CDC would run demonstrations and grants to expand pregnancy-intention screening and youth-friendly sexual health services. The bill would fund implementation help for providers and award family-planning grants to public providers within 180 days of enactment. Authorized funding for the screening demonstration is $10 million per year for 2027–2031.

Behavioral health training and scholarships

If enacted, the bill would create and fund multiple behavioral and mental health workforce programs. These include a $75 million per year scholarship program for substance use and behavioral health careers (FY2027–FY2031), $50 million per year for mental‑health workforce development (FY2027–FY2037), grants to health centers for training specialists, graduate program grants that require at least 5% be used for need‑based student aid and minimum implementation grants of $500,000, and support for online public health degree partnerships. The Secretary would report periodically on program results.

Grants and clearinghouse for diversity

If enacted, the bill would fund a health workforce diversity clearinghouse and national working group to share best practices and information on scholarships and loan help. It would also fund grants to eligible institutions to increase workforce diversity, programs to recruit minority rare‑disease researchers, training on rare diseases in minority populations, leadership fellowships, and grants that help health centers train and support workers. Some grants could pay or reimburse student loans in exchange for service commitments.

Grants to grow maternity workforce

If enacted, the bill would fund multiple programs to expand maternity and perinatal training. Eligible minority‑serving colleges could get planning and implementation grants to build maternity clinician programs. Separate grant programs would fund perinatal scholarships and training, midwifery and nurse‑midwifery student support (half of $15–20 million allocations to students), maternal mental‑health provider training at $15 million per year (FY2027–FY2031), and grants to diversify maternal health workforces with planning grants up to $300,000 and implementation grants up to $500,000 per year for up to four years.

Restore research and equity offices

If enacted, HHS and State would restore and fund several health equity and research offices within 30 days. CDC and HRSA would each have an Office of Health Equity at their previous staffing levels. NIMHD staffing and functions would be restored and certain leaders could be reinstated for five years with consent. The bill would also authorize multiyear research career grants through NIH, CDC, FDA, AHRQ, and HRSA for underserved-community research and require annual reporting on underrepresented applicants.

Worker protections for federal contractors

If enacted, the bill would prevent Executive action from suspending federal contractors' equal employment and affirmative action obligations unless Congress passes a law. It would end a contractor certification requirement tied to a specified Executive Order and direct the Labor Department to resume enforcement under rules as of January 19, 2025. The change strengthens enforcement of equal-employment obligations for contractor employees.

Federal pay for Medicare cost help

If enacted, the federal government would pay 100% of qualifying State costs starting January 1, 2027 for certain Medicaid help with Medicare cost-sharing and for specified medical assistance by Urban Indian Organizations and Native Hawaiian systems. The change increases the federal share of these state payments and removes a prior eight-quarter limit for the named providers. It does not itself change individual eligibility or benefit amounts.

Higher federal match for targeted care

If enacted, the bill would let States get higher federal matching for several targeted services. Examples include 100% FMAP for qualifying youth mental-health and substance-use services for a state's first 20 qualifying quarters, 90% FMAP for tobacco-cessation counseling and outreach for five years, and 90% FMAP for rural hospital obstetric and gynecological services. The bill would also raise the federal match to help States implement automatic enrollment or reinstatement rules and provide enhanced match for postpartum care during a 305-day period starting 60 days after pregnancy ends. These changes increase federal support to States; they do not directly create individual entitlements.

More Medicaid help for territories

If enacted, the bill would boost federal Medicaid support for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. It would divide $300 million in FY2027 hospital allotments across the five territories, remove some longstanding territorial funding caps beginning in FY2027, set a higher matching rate for certain covered assistance, and exclude extra dental funding from territorial payment limits. The bill would also allow higher Medicare payment calculations for some territory hospitals when that raises payment.

Higher federal tobacco taxes

If enacted, the bill would raise federal excise taxes on cigarettes and many other tobacco products and set a $100.66 per-1,000 rate for discrete single-use units. Some rates would be inflation-adjusted starting in 2027 and Treasury would set cigarette-equivalent levels for other products. Start dates vary by product and a floor stocks tax would apply to inventory held on tax-increase dates. These higher taxes would likely raise retail prices for covered tobacco products.

Free school meals and summer food

If enacted, schools chosen by State education agencies would get School Breakfast Program funds to help run breakfast programs. Participating schools would have to give free breakfast and free lunch to all enrolled children. The bill would expand Summer Food Service Program meals and let children in participating Tribal areas qualify for Summer EBT. It would also delay the Universal School Meals subtitle so those universal meal changes would not take effect until one year after enactment.

Medicare billing, telehealth, and enrollment rules

If enacted, Medicare would allow more telehealth originating sites, including specified home uses, and broaden the no‑facility‑fee rule to additional sites. The bill would extend the Medicare Secondary Payer coordination period from 12 to 42 months for relevant cases and require a six‑month special enrollment period after release from incarceration, with $0 premiums for months in custody. It would also extend guaranteed Medigap availability to certain people entitled under the ESRD rules starting January 1, 2027.

Restore rescinded Executive orders and actions

If enacted, the bill would reinstate Executive orders or actions that were revoked or rescinded by the specific listed Executive orders. The restoration would take effect upon enactment. The provision limits its scope to only the actions revoked by the listed orders and does not provide funding or detail each restored action's effects.

More support for maternal and child health

If enacted, the bill would increase and clarify many maternal, child, and family health programs. It would authorize WISEWOMAN grants ($23M in FY2027 rising to $34M in FY2031), let states use Social Services Block Grant funds for stillbirth prevention, require racial bias training and performance milestones in some rural maternal grants (starting FY2027), and set rules for care coordination and service locations for young children. At the same time, it would repeal a named Special Assistance Program in the school lunch law, and add limits on how some federal sex‑education funds may be used. These changes add new resources but also change or remove some existing authorities.

Stronger clinical-trial diversity and prostate research

If enacted, NIH and other agencies would fund new prostate cancer screening and imaging research ($20 million and $100 million per year for FY2027–FY2031) and launch outreach and education grants. At the same time, new NIH funding rules would require measurable diversity goals and impose reporting and remediation steps if trials do not meet those goals.

Easier rules for rural hospitals

If enacted, States could let some critical access hospitals use up to 7,300 inpatient bed days instead of a 25‑bed limit, starting for cost periods after enactment. The bill would increase allowed residency counts for qualifying hospitals and let some resident training time count toward hospital resident totals. It would change ambulance payment rules and raise the Medicare payment basis for clinical social worker services to 85% of the fee schedule for services on or after January 1, 2027. At the same time, Medicaid payment would be unavailable for hospital care on or after January 1, 2027 unless the hospital meets specified compassionate‑assistance requirements.

Medicare payments and rural options

If enacted, Medicare would add an extra payment for hospital discharges using qualifying DISARM antimicrobial drugs, with an initial drug list due by October 1, 2026 and payments effective October 1, 2027. Medicare Advantage geographic adjustments could not be below 0.70 starting in 2027. Rural community hospitals could elect payment at 101% of reasonable costs or the usual prospective payment amount starting 30 days after enactment. The HHS Secretary could set requirements for telehealth originating sites on enactment.

New national health data and language rules

If enacted, HHS would set new national standards for health data including race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, and socioeconomic status. HIPAA claims and enrollment rules would be revised within one year and covered entities would have two years after final standards to comply. The bill would extend a health IT authorization period and require agencies to not replace qualified human interpreters with AI alone; any AI translation would need human verification, testing, privacy protections, and annual disclosures. The CDC would also improve violent-death sexual orientation and gender identity data and the bill would bar certain uses of HIV surveillance data for punitive actions.

New J-1 physician waiver rules

If enacted, a J-1 physician who is denied a Conrad waiver because a State reached its yearly cap could extend nonimmigrant status up to 6 months to file a new waiver. The physician must agree to seek a waiver in a State that has not reached its maximum and would be authorized to work only for the specified employer while the new application is pending. The bill would also create limited exceptions and alternative routes if a physician leaves employment for qualifying reasons, with deadlines to show another qualifying job offer.

Higher Summer EBT payments

If enacted, the Summer EBT amount for each eligible child would increase from $40 to $60. That is $20 more per eligible child. The provision text did not specify an effective date.

Accept public comments in all languages

If enacted, covered federal agencies would have to accept notice-and-comment rulemaking submissions in any language and treat them the same as English comments. Agencies could not require comments to be submitted only in English. The rule would apply upon enactment for covered programs.

Federal equity commission and legal remedies

If enacted, the bill would create a Federal Health Equity Commission to monitor implementation, hold hearings, and issue subpoenas. The bill would also let a person harmed by a State's violation of the title sue in Federal court for the same remedies available against non-State parties.

Fund restoration and retro paybacks

If enacted, the bill would authorize whatever sums are needed to restore offices, programs, staffing, and data systems to their January 19, 2025 status. It would allow retroactive payments to make whole people harmed by prior agency withholding of grants, contracts, awards, or pay. The Executive branch could not impound funds appropriated under this Act except through the Impoundment Control Act.

Restore federal demographic data

If enacted, federal agencies would restore sociodemographic data systems to their January 19, 2025 state within 60 days. Public datasets and web resources removed or changed would be restored within 30 days, and no data would be permanently deleted. The Office of Management and Budget would report to Congress within 90 days identifying restored resources.

State grant cut for prison restraints

If enacted, a State without statewide laws limiting restraints on pregnant people in prison would lose 25% of its usual Byrne JAG grant each year starting six months after enactment. Money withheld from noncompliant States would be reallocated to States that meet the standard. The change pressures States to adopt the named restraint limits rather than directly changing household benefits.

Study of law enforcement force impact

If enacted, CDC would set up a program to study the public health effects of law enforcement use of force, including deaths and injuries. The Center would coordinate with other agencies, award research grants, and report annually to Congress. The bill authorizes such sums as may be necessary for the work.

U.S. support for global tuberculosis

If enacted, the bill would authorize U.S. foreign assistance for tuberculosis prevention, treatment, control, and elimination and set goals for 2023–2030. The President would consult with Congress and require annual reports on U.S. assistance and outcomes through 2032 or until goals are met. The provision does not specify a dollar amount in the text provided.

Better language and health literacy

If enacted, the bill would fund a national language-access center, research on language-access models, and grants to help providers offer interpreters. The Secretary would also fund health-literacy research and demonstrations and post translated forms in top non-English languages starting in 2027. These steps aim to improve care for people with limited English and low health literacy.

Easier access to trial tools and outreach

If enacted, drug and device sponsors could give certain digital health tools to clinical trial participants at no cost when those tools are needed for equitable trial participation. The bill would authorize grants for community outreach and multilingual recruitment in FY2027–FY2028, amend rules about remuneration related to trial inclusion, and require a National Academy of Medicine report within 180 days of enactment. These changes aim to broaden trial participation and outreach.

Environmental justice and climate health work

If enacted, the bill would create environmental health grants and a federal mapping tool to identify communities facing pollution and climate risks. It would require at least 12 demonstration projects within two years and update the map yearly with community representation and multilingual outreach. The President would also seek a National Academy study and require agency plans to restore or improve environmental protections.

Funding and rules for health IT equity

If enacted, the bill would expand technical help and grant priorities so health centers and providers serving minority and underserved communities can adopt modern electronic records and telemedicine (including 5G support and loans). It would require covered health programs to make electronic tools nondiscriminatory and add equity measures for hospital value‑based purchasing and model selection starting for payments in FY2027. Officials would also be asked to consider communities with high shares of racial and ethnic minority residents when awarding health IT funding.

Grants and improvements for maternity care

If enacted, the bill would fund grants to increase community participation in maternal death reviews and study maternal health for American Indian and Alaska Native people. It would create an interagency committee to report yearly on maternity outcomes and issue guidance to states on respectful, diverse care within two years. The bill would also require 90-day advance notice to HHS before obstetric unit closures and direct studies on gestational diabetes.

Grants for arthritis education programs

If enacted, the bill would authorize competitive five-year grants to health schools and academic centers to teach arthritis and musculoskeletal health, with priority for schools serving needy students and certain minority-serving institutions. The Secretary would report to Congress annually for five years.

Grants to grow health workforce

If enacted, HHS could fund hiring, career advancement, loan repayment, and diversity research to strengthen the health workforce. Grants would help health centers repay provider loans, train pediatric behavioral health staff, and fund research on workforce diversity. The bill would authorize funding for these programs beginning in fiscal year 2027.

Health Empowerment Zone help

If enacted, communities could apply for Health Empowerment Zone designation and get technical assistance and planning grants. The Secretary would decide requests within 60 days and may designate up to 110 zones, including at least one in each State and territory.

Hospital and facility improvement grants

If enacted, the Secretary would award grants to hospitals to reduce disparities and to improve facilities in U.S. territories and other areas. Grants could pay for bias training, interpretation services, workforce diversity, and culturally competent reconstruction. Priority would go to hospitals serving large numbers of low-income, minority, or Medicaid patients.

Local produce pilot for nutrition programs

If enacted, a pilot would fund local growers to supply produce to nutrition service providers. It would use $350,000 per year from Commodity Credit Corporation funds for 2027–2031, limit administrative costs to 5 percent, and provide $25,000 for an evaluation due within two years.

More kidney disease research and reports

If enacted, the bill would fund and require studies and experiments on rare and minority-focused kidney disease care. Agencies would test treatments that could delay dialysis and study access to genetic testing and nephrologists. Reports to Congress would be due within 18–24 months and some study funding is authorized for FY2027–FY2031.

More oral health research and training

If enacted, NIH would boost research and training to improve oral health, including comparative effectiveness and studies on oral cancer. The Secretary would award grants and contracts to train researchers and clinical investigators, but no specific appropriation is named in the text provided.

More outreach for HIV and clinical trials

If enacted, the government would fund grants and campaigns to increase HIV prevention in racial and ethnic minority communities and to improve diversity and awareness for clinical trials. States could get grants 2027–2030 to link HIV surveillance with medical records and improve prevention outreach and testing.

More pediatric behavioral health care

If enacted, HHS would award grants to hospitals, rural clinics, and community providers to expand pediatric behavioral health services, beds, telehealth, and care coordination. Funding would prioritize high‑need, rural, and under-resourced areas and run in fiscal years 2027 through 2031 if appropriated.

New disease reviews and COPD support

If enacted, HHS would review the federal hepatitis B and C plan every two years and publish the results. The bill would also expand CDC research, grants, and pilot programs for COPD prevention, surveillance, and public awareness, with emphasis on disproportionately affected communities.

New federal rare disease programs

If enacted, the bill would require federal agencies to make plans, public education, and mentoring programs for rare diseases, including work focused on minority communities. NIH and CDC would coordinate a federal rare-disease plan and funding for clinician mentoring. The bill would direct agencies to include patient and advocacy group input and periodically update the plan.

New screening and disparities education

If enacted, AHRQ would develop screening guidelines for higher‑risk minority groups and HHS would run education programs about racial and ethnic disparities and provider training. The guidelines and outreach would be published and disseminated within two years and funding authorized through fiscal year 2031.

Prostate telehealth pilots for underserved

If enacted, Veterans Affairs, Defense, and HHS would run four‑year telehealth pilots to study prostate cancer care in underserved, Tribal, and rural areas. Priority would go to Indian Health Service and Tribal facilities. Agencies would report to Congress within one year after the pilots end.

Public health campaigns and disease programs

If enacted, HHS and CDC would expand public campaigns and prevention programs for flu and pneumonia, lung cancer, and culturally tailored arthritis education. These efforts would fund outreach, education materials, and targeted grants in communities with high illness or mortality rates for FY2027 and later years as authorized.

Public prevention guides and pilots

If enacted, CDC and HHS would publish obesity-prevention guides, expand hepatitis B and C education and testing, fund oral-health literacy campaigns, and set up a health impact assessment program to help states and Tribes. Guides and technical assistance would be due within two years or as specified after enactment.

Research and data for minority and rare diseases

If enacted, the bill would fund grants and studies on racial and ethnic health data, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander health, rare-disease equity plans, and outreach for acquired bone marrow failure diseases. Agencies would conduct surveys and report results to guide research and services between 2027 and 2031.

Rural health grants and demos

If enacted, HRSA would award grants and run five rural quality demonstration projects to build rural networks, outreach, and quality improvement. Grants would support consortia, telehealth, and capacity building, with project lengths of one to four years and independent evaluations.

Rural health quality advisory commission

If enacted, the Secretary would form an 11-member Rural Health Quality Advisory Commission within six months. The Commission would design a national plan, recommend demonstrations, and report to Congress within a year and annually after that. It could contract subject to available funds.

Short-term prostate cancer council

If enacted, the bill would create a National Prostate Cancer Council to coordinate screening, early detection, and research, include high-risk men in its work, and report annually. The Council would terminate on December 31, 2027.

Sleep health research and training

If enacted, the CDC and HHS would fund education grants and expand surveillance on sleep and circadian disorders. The work would add new public-health questions, publish monthly reports on disparities, and require culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach for major ethnic groups.

Stronger health data and privacy rules

If enacted, the bill would fund technical grants and set rules so federal health data better counts underrepresented groups. It would require oversampling in surveys and protect sensitive uninsured and MENA study data from sharing with immigration authorities. The bill would also create or fund CDC equity centers and require training and privacy safeguards for data use.

Stronger mental health help for minorities and farmworkers

If enacted, States that enter specified funding agreements would have to report on mental health services for racial and ethnic minority adults and children and do outreach and hiring to support culturally and linguistically competent services. The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network would be explicitly allowed to serve farmworkers and would have its authorization extended through 2031. These steps aim to improve access and culturally appropriate care for the named groups.

Study health effects of policing and outreach

If enacted, the CDC would research the health effects of law-enforcement interactions, focusing on trauma and disparities for racial and ethnic minorities and report to Congress within one year. The bill would also fund a culturally tailored mental-health outreach and education strategy for Hispanic and Latino communities, with $1 million authorized for FY2027 and annual reports.

Support for Native and Hawaiian health

If enacted, the bill would update how Indian health references are handled, require HHS and VA to consult urban Indian organizations where practicable, and revise an Affordable Care Act definition to better include Indian and urban Indian people. It would also convert a prior Native Hawaiian authorization into ongoing authorization language for three Native Hawaiian health programs. These are administrative and authorization changes to support tribal and Native Hawaiian health programs.

Support for pregnancy and postpartum care

If enacted, HHS would fund programs to address social needs for pregnant and postpartum people and expand maternal mental health grants. States could test new Medicaid and CHIP maternity payment models from 2027 through 2030. The Secretary would review maternal data and report to Congress within one year after enactment.

Tribal rare disease research grants

If enacted, the Indian Health Service would award grants to Tribal Epidemiology Centers and Tribal and Urban Indian Health Centers to support culturally appropriate rare disease research, data collection, and related activities in Native communities. The bill text specifies no funding amount.

Extra physician waiver for states

If enacted, the Secretary could allow a State an additional Conrad physician waiver when a waiver-trained doctor ends employment and takes a qualifying job in another State. The extra waiver would be usable in the fiscal year the physician's employment ended. The provision would help states replace departing physicians.

New ways to ID low-income students

If enacted, local and State education agencies could use agency records, direct certification data, or a Secretary-provided survey to identify low-income students for education programs. The Secretary would issue a user-friendly survey template within 180 days after the Universal School Meals Act is enacted. Agencies would protect individual data and only report aggregated results. The change aims to make student identification easier for certain education purposes.

Free menstrual supplies in custody and buildings

If enacted, the bill would require free menstrual products for people in federal custody and in covered federal public building restrooms. States receiving certain Justice grants must certify that local jails provide free products or lose 20 percent of a specified grant the next year. Reduced funds would be reallocated to states that submit certifications.

Changes to public benefit denial rules

If enacted, the bill would amend language in the 1996 law on denial of certain public benefits (PRWORA section 115), removing and revising specified text and cross references. The changes would alter statutory language about benefit denial but do not themselves list exact program rules or say who will gain or lose access. Effects on individual eligibility would depend on other laws and program rules.

Federal pay-for-equity planning

If enacted, HHS would publish a Pay for Equity Strategy within 18 months to add equity measures into federal payment models. The plan would set goals for 2028, tie part of value‑based payments to equity by 2031, and aim to raise safety‑net provider participation by 2033. The bill requires coordination, technical help, and biennial updates.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

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

    DC • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

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

    FL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

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

    PR • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

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

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

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

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation