H.R. 9958

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9958 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9958
To amend the Head Start Act to expand and improve participation in Head
                Start programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                             July 27, 2026
  Mrs. Hayes (for herself, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Landsman, Ms. Norton, Mr.
Fields, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms.
Matsui, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Budzinski, Ms. Simon,
 Mr. Moulton, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Deluzio,
 Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mrs. Grijalva, and Mr. Hernandez) introduced
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education
                             and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
                                 A BILL
To amend the Head Start Act to expand and improve participation in Head
                Start programs, and for other purposes.
    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``Head Start Expansion and Improvement
Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY UNDER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
    Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
            ``(27) The term `public assistance' means public assistance
        programs including temporary assistance for needy families
        established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act
        (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), supplemental security income carried
        out under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381
        et seq.), the supplemental nutrition assistance program under
        the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.),
        special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and
        children established under section 17 of the Child Nutrition
        Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), and the State children's health
        insurance programs under title XXI of the Social Security Act
        (1397aa et seq.).''.
SEC. 3. INCREASE FAMILY INCOME THRESHOLD.
    Section 645(a)(a)(1) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9870(a)(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (A) by striking ``(a)(a)(1)(A)'' and
        inserting ``(a)(1)(A)'', and
            (2) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) in clause (i) by inserting ``138 percent''
                after ``below'', and
                    (B) in clause (iii)--
                            (i) by striking ``include-- (I)'' and
                        inserting ``include'', and
                            (ii) by striking subclause (II).
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
    Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is amended by
striking: ``(other than section 657B) $7,350,000,000 for fiscal year
2008, $7,650,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $7,995,000,000 for fiscal
year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years
2011 and 2012'' and inserting ``(other than sections 657B and 657C)
$36,000,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2032''.
SEC. 5. GRANTS FOR HEAD START INFRASTRUCTURE.
    The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``SEC. 657C. GRANTS FOR HEAD START INFRASTRUCTURE.
    ``(a) Establishment of Grant Program.--The Secretary shall
establish a program to make grants to Head Start agencies (including
Early Head Start agencies to construct or improve facilities to provide
Head Start services (including Early Head Start services)).
    ``(b) Eligibility for Grants.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under subsection (a), a Head Start agency shall submit to the Secretary
an application in such form, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
    ``(c) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority for grants
requested by eligible applicants respect to facilities that--
            ``(1) were built before 1970;
            ``(2) have not had a major renovation since its
        construction;
            ``(3) have received 1 or more findings in the safe and
        clean environments key performance area (KPA);
            ``(4) have hazardous conditions, materials, or equipment
        that may cause harm to children, families, or staff;
            ``(5) have an environment that is not free of air
        pollutants, including mold, smoke, lead, pesticides, and
        herbicides, as well as soil and water pollutants; and
            ``(6) lack preparedness for fire and other emergencies.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--Eligible use of grant funds to improve and
update Head Start infrastructure include--
            ``(1) updates, renovations, and repairs to address
        structural issues;
            ``(2) building or acquiring additional classroom space,
        common areas, play areas;
            ``(3) updating heating, cooling, and ventilation systems;
            ``(4) building and expanding playgrounds and outdoor
        spaces;
            ``(5) removing, renovating, and acquiring furnishings;
            ``(6) installing and updating bathroom facilities,
        including the installation of child-size sinks and toilets;
            ``(7) reducing or removing toxic industrial compounds;
            ``(8) updates to safety and emergency preparedness, such as
        upgrading sprinkler systems and installing emergency lighting;
            ``(9) weatherization;
            ``(10) improvements to water, sewer, and plumbing systems;
        and
            ``(11) establishing, expanding, or improving technology to
        support children's academic and socio-emotional learning.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2027 through 2030.''.
SEC. 6. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE
              WORKERS.
    Part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1087a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 460A. LOAN CANCELLATION FOR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START
              CHILDCARE WORKERS.
    ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall carry cancel the
balance of interest, principal, and fees due, in accordance with
subsection (b), on any eligible Federal Direct Loan not in default for
a borrower who for a 3-year (consecutive or non-consecutive) period
after the date of enactment of the Head Start Expansion and Improvement
Act of 2026--
            ``(1) has been employed, on a full-time basis, by a Head
        Start program or an Early Head Start program carried out under
        the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.); and
            ``(2) pursuant to such employment, has provided care or
        instruction to children enrolled in such program.
    ``(b) Loan Cancellation Amount.--After the conclusion of the 3-year
period described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall cancel the
obligation to repay the balance of principal, interest, and fees due as
of the time of such cancellation, on the eligible Federal Direct Loans
made to the borrower under this part.
    ``(c) Ineligibility for Double Benefits.--No borrower may, for the
same service, receive a reduction of loan obligations under both this
section and section 428J, 455(m), or 460.
    ``(d) Application.--The Secretary shall develop and make publicly
available an application for borrowers who wish to receive loan
forgiveness under this section, which shall--
            ``(1) be made readily available for qualifying childcare
        workers to file for loan forgiveness; and
            ``(2) include any certification requirements that the
        Secretary determines are necessary to verify qualifying
        service.
    ``(e) Eligible Federal Direct Loan Defined.--The term `eligible
Federal Direct Loan' means a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal
Direct PLUS Loan, or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a
Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.''.
SEC. 7. HEAD START EMPLOYEE SALARY-INCREASE GRANT PROGRAM.
    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
establish and carry out a program to make grants for the purpose of
supplementing, not supplanting, the compensation paid by Head Start
agencies to the employees of such agencies.
    (b) Allocation of Funds.--The Secretary shall develop a formula to
determine grant amounts, taking into consideration--
            (1) the gaps between the compensation paid by the
        respective Head Start agency to its employees and the employee
        compensation paid by other early childhood education employers
        in the relevant geographical area,
            (2) the cost of living in the geographical area in which
        such agency is located, including median income and housing
        costs, and
            (3) the number of employee vacancies of such agency.
    (c) Use of Funds.--A Head Start agency that receives a grant shall
use grant funds to supplement, and not to supplant, the compensation
paid to the employees of such agency.
    (d) Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $6,800,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2027
through 2032.
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