Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2025

House Bill

H.R. 728

119th Congress

Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 24, 2025

Primary Sponsor

David P. Joyce

Representative

Republican

OH-14

Cosponsors

27

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Social Welfare

Summary

This bill expands Head Start eligibility to include children from families receiving various public assistance programs. Newly eligible would be families qualifying for WIC, Food Distribution on Indian Reservations, and Section 8 housing assistance. The bill also codifies eligibility for families receiving TANF, SSI, and SNAP, and extends eligibility to state food assistance programs with similar standards.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill expands Head Start eligibility to include children from families receiving various public assistance programs. Newly eligible would be families qualifying for WIC, Food Distribution on Indian Reservations, and Section 8 housing assistance. The bill also codifies eligibility for families receiving TANF, SSI, and SNAP, and extends eligibility to state food assistance programs with similar standards.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2025This bill expands eligibility for Head Start programs to include the children of families eligible for specified public assistance programs. Specifically, the bill expands Head Start eligibility to include the children of families that qualify for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and federal housing assistance (commonly known as Section 8). The bill also provides statutory authority for the eligibility of families that qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Families that qualify for state-funded food assistance programs with eligibility standards identical or substantially similar to the standards for SNAP must also be eligible for Head Start.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Expands Head Start eligibility to WIC-qualifying families
Includes families receiving Section 8 housing assistance
Covers Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations participants
Provides statutory authority for TANF, SSI, and SNAP family eligibility
Extends to state food assistance programs with similar eligibility standards

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This expansion would significantly increase the number of low-income children eligible for early childhood education. For families already receiving public assistance, it removes barriers to Head Start enrollment. The bill could improve school readiness for more at-risk children but would require additional program funding and capacity to serve expanded enrollment.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Social Welfare

Related Subjects

Child health

Child safety and welfare

Family services

Food assistance and relief

Low- and moderate-income housing

Nutrition and diet

Poverty and welfare assistance

Preschool education

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

728, 119th Congress (2025). "Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-728