Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
Introduced
Summary
Would sharply expand Head Start eligibility and establish multi-year mandatory funding to grow and modernize the program. It also targets facility upgrades, worker pay, and loan forgiveness to support program quality and staffing.
Show full summary
- Families and children: More families would qualify by adding TANF, SSI, SNAP, WIC, and CHIP to the program’s "public assistance" definition and by raising the income cutoff to 138 percent of poverty.
- Workers: Eligible Head Start and Early Head Start staff would gain a new path to cancel federal Direct Loans after three years of full-time service and a salary-increase grant program would provide $6.8 billion per year for 2027–2032 to boost pay.
- Agencies and facilities: The bill would set a $36.0 billion annual mandatory appropriation for Head Start for 2027–2032 and create a $1.0 billion per year grant program for facility construction and repairs from 2027–2030, prioritizing older or hazardous buildings.
*This would increase mandatory federal spending by at least $36.0 billion per year for 2027–2032, plus $6.8 billion per year for salary grants and $1.0 billion per year for facility grants through 2030.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Higher pay and loan relief for staff
If enacted, the bill would create a grant program to supplement Head Start employee pay and authorize $6.8 billion per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2032. The Secretary must use a formula that looks at local pay gaps, cost of living, and vacancies, and grants must supplement, not supplant, pay. If enacted, the bill would also allow cancellation of eligible Federal Direct Loans after three years of full-time Head Start service, as long as loans are not in default.
Big federal boost for Head Start
If enacted, the bill would authorize $36 billion per year for Head Start for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to fund program operations. If enacted, it would also create a new infrastructure grant program with $1 billion per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to build or fix Head Start facilities. The facility grants would prioritize older, unsafe, or hazardous sites and allow repairs, HVAC upgrades, playgrounds, and safety work.
More Head Start help for families
If enacted, you would be income-eligible for Head Start if your household income is at or below 138% of the federal poverty guideline. If enacted, the bill would also say TANF, SSI, SNAP, WIC, and CHIP count as "public assistance" for Head Start eligibility. These changes would take effect upon enactment and make it clearer which families qualify for services.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 8/10/2026
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 8/10/2026
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov