BASIC Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
Introduced
Summary
Grants to support students' basic needs would create a federal grant program in the Higher Education Act to help colleges reduce student food, housing, child care, health, and technology insecurities and to connect students to federal benefits.
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- Students and student parents would get expanded access to free or subsidized food, temporary housing, priority on-campus child care, benefit enrollment help, outreach, and services to reduce stigma and barriers to apply for benefits.
- Eligible institutions would compete for Planning Grants up to $200,000 for up to 2 years and Implementation Grants up to $5.0 million per institution for each 5-year period to build lasting infrastructure and staff.
- Equity and distribution rules would reserve at least 25 percent of funds for community colleges and at least 25 percent for historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving institutions.
- The Department of Education would share applicant information with benefit agencies and notify students about likely eligibility for SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, tax credits, and other programs to boost enrollment and renewals.
*Would authorize $1.0 billion per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2033 for these grants, increasing federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
College grants for student basic needs
If enacted, the bill would create a competitive grant program for colleges to reduce student food, housing, child care, health, and other basic‑needs shortages. It would authorize about $1 billion each year from fiscal years 2027 through 2033 — $40 million per year for planning grants and $960 million per year for implementation grants. Planning grants would be up to $200,000 for up to 2 years and must produce a basic‑needs strategy and a 60‑day report. Implementation grants would last 5 years, be up to $5 million per institution for each 5‑year award, and require a plan for ongoing non‑Federal funding. The Secretary would prioritize schools with at least 25% Pell‑eligible students, reserve not less than 25% of funds for community colleges and not less than 25% for HBCUs, TCUs, and other minority‑serving institutions, and make funds available within 60 days after appropriation.
Help students apply for federal benefits
If enacted, the Department of Education would share certain student aid data with federal and state benefit agencies to find and notify students who may be eligible for programs like SNAP, Medicaid, housing aid, or child care assistance. The Secretary would use the student aid application and data‑sharing information to determine likely eligibility for outreach and would send applicants written or electronic notices with application or renewal links. Applicants would be offered the chance to authorize sharing their aid information with benefit agencies. Separately, a college that receives a Part BB grant would not be allowed to reduce a student's institutional grant because the student receives one of the listed federal benefits.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
GA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 9/28/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/28/2026
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 10/6/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 10/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov