LIFT the BAR Act
Sponsored By: Representative Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
In Committee
Summary
Restores federal benefits access for lawfully present noncitizens. It would repeal parts of PRWORA and roll back provisions of Public Law 119-21 so many noncitizens could regain eligibility for SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, child nutrition programs, housing assistance, and premium tax credits.
Show full summary
- Families and children: Would restore SNAP and Child Nutrition program eligibility and require states not to deny nutrition benefits based on immigration status.
- Health coverage and tax credits: Would broaden Medicaid and CHIP eligibility for many lawfully present noncitizens, repeal PL 119-21 limits, and restore Medicare eligibility. It would also restore pre-PL 119-21 treatment of the premium tax credit and add a special rule treating certain lawfully present noncitizen taxpayers as having household income equal to 100 percent of the federal poverty line for the credit, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
- Housing, wording, and implementation: Would standardize the term "noncitizen" across statutes, align housing assistance rules with the restored framework, and require federal agencies to issue guidance within 180 days with changes applying 180 days after guidance becomes effective.
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.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Restore benefits for lawfully present noncitizens
If enacted, the bill would repeal parts of PRWORA and undo key sections of Public Law 119-21 to restore prior eligibility for lawfully present noncitizens. It would replace the word "alien" with "noncitizen" and expand which noncitizens count as lawfully present, including DACA recipients, special immigrant juveniles, pending U-visa applicants, and categories treated as lawfully present under the ACA on or before Jan 1, 2025. The change would let more eligible noncitizens access SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, and other programs, once agencies issue required guidance.
Premium tax credits for some noncitizens
If enacted, the bill would restore pre-PL 119-21 tax rules and add a special rule to the premium tax credit. For qualifying lawfully present noncitizens with household income at or below 100% of the poverty line and who lack minimum essential coverage for immigration reasons, the rule would treat their household income as equal to 100% of the poverty line for credit purposes. The special rule would apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.
Broader Medicaid access and exceptions
If enacted, the bill would change Medicaid language so being "present in the United States" counts instead of being "admitted for". It would exempt certain Freely Associated States residents lawfully living in a State or DC from a specified spending limitation. Governors of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa could opt in for their territories by writing to HHS.
More grocery help for SNAP families
If enacted, the bill would stop States from denying SNAP or child nutrition benefits when denial is not legally required because of citizenship or immigration status. It would change Food and Nutrition Act wording to say "noncitizen lawfully present in the United States" and broaden coverage language for child nutrition programs. The change would increase access to food benefits for eligible noncitizen households and children after agencies publish guidance.
More housing help for noncitizens
If enacted, the bill would add a "qualified noncitizen" definition into federal housing law. That change would expand the written list of people who may be eligible for federal housing assistance. The amendment would take effect on the date of enactment.
Higher fraud standard for immigration debt
If enacted, the bill would change the standard so the government can recover assistance only when it was obtained by fraud. The change replaces a lower standard that allowed recovery for mere receipt of a benefit. This would reduce the chance of debt collection unless fraud is shown.
Agency guidance delays program changes
If enacted, the bill would require each federal agency to issue implementing guidance within 180 days of enactment. Although the statutory changes would take effect on enactment, services and program actions would apply only on or after 180 days after an agency issues its guidance. This timing rule delays when households see the changes.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
NC • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
CO • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Mejia
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
AL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/1/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov