This House resolution expresses the view that the United States should prioritize a "Mom Economy" by investing in social safety net programs to support mothers in the workforce. It calls for specific policy changes, including expanding paid family and medical leave, increasing funding for universal childcare and early learning, and raising the federal minimum wage with annual inflation adjustments. The bill also recommends strengthening nutrition assistance through SNAP and school meals, making the child tax credit permanent, and addressing maternal health and mortality crises. Additionally, it urges the passage of legislation to protect LGBTQ+ workers in the workplace and reduce wage discrimination, while emphasizing the need for policymakers to consider the unique economic challenges faced by working mothers.
Topics
✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesThe bill explicitly calls for increased funding for universal childcare, early learning, and nutrition assistance, and raising the federal minimum wage, all of which directly impact government spending and fiscal management.95% confidence
✓ EducationSupports EducationThe bill calls for increased funding for universal childcare and early learning, as well as strengthening school meals, which directly supports the education topic.80% confidence
✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareThe bill advocates for expanding paid family and medical leave and strengthening nutrition assistance, which indirectly supports public health and access to care for mothers and families.55% confidence
✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentThe bill explicitly calls for expanding paid family and medical leave, increasing universal childcare funding, and raising the federal minimum wage, all of which directly support and strengthen labor and employment for mothers.95% confidence
The Food for Thought Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to provide free meals and snacks to low-income college students at eligible institutions, including community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions. To qualify for funding, schools must have at least 20 percent of their undergraduate students eligible for Federal Pell Grants and agree to conduct outreach that connects students with other benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill authorizes appropriations from fiscal years 2027 through 2032 and requires recipients to submit reports on food insecurity prevalence and student completion rates. Additionally, it amends the Higher Education Act to ensure that receiving these free meals does not count as other financial assistance when calculating a student's eligibility for federal aid.
This Senate resolution declares it is the sense of the body that the United States should invest in a "Mom Economy" to support working mothers by expanding the social safety net. It calls for specific policy changes, including robust paid family and medical leave, universal access to affordable childcare, and increased funding for nutrition programs like SNAP and school meals. The bill also recommends making the child tax credit permanent, raising the federal minimum wage with annual inflation adjustments, and addressing maternal health disparities. Additionally, it urges policymakers to prioritize working mothers in future economic and social safety net legislation to help them balance caregiving responsibilities with workforce participation.
Topics
✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesThe resolution explicitly calls for increased funding for social safety net programs, making the child tax credit permanent, and raising the federal minimum wage, all of which directly impact state budgets, appropriations, and fiscal management.95% confidence
✓ EducationSupports EducationThe bill supports universal access to affordable childcare and increased funding for school meals, directly benefiting educational access and student well-being.75% confidence
✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareThe bill supports mothers in the workforce by investing in the 'Mom Economy', which includes expanding the social safety net. While not directly healthcare, elements like paid family and medical leave and nutrition programs (SNAP) have indirect he...65% confidence
✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentThe bill explicitly calls for policies that strengthen mothers in the workforce, including robust paid family and medical leave, universal childcare, and raising the federal minimum wage, directly advancing Labor & Employment.95% confidence
The Hot Meals for College Students Act of 2026 would allow households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to use their benefits to purchase prepared food at dining halls and other food service locations on college campuses. This change directly affects low-income college students by permitting them to buy individual hot meals, while explicitly prohibiting the use of these funds for meal plans, stored-value accounts, or non-food charges. The bill requires that on-campus merchants charge the same prices for benefit purchases as for cash transactions and forbids them from adding fees or surcharges. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture issue implementing regulations within one year and conduct a study to report on the program's impact on food insecurity and student retention rates.
The Educating Future Nurses Act establishes a new federal program that reimburses eligible hospitals for the reasonable costs of providing clinical education to advanced practice registered nurses, including nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. To participate, hospitals must lead regional "Graduate Nurse Education Hubs" that partner with accredited nursing schools and at least two non-hospital community-based care settings, such as rural health clinics or home health agencies. Payments are calculated using a per-student rate adjusted for inflation, but the total reimbursement is capped based on the increase in graduate nurse enrollments compared to a 2024-2025 baseline. The bill requires hospitals to submit annual reports detailing student outcomes and workforce placement, with a 25% payment reduction imposed if reporting requirements are not met.
The Food for Thought Act of 2026 establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Agriculture to provide free meals and snacks to low-income college students at eligible institutions, including community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, and other minority-serving schools. To qualify, an institution must have at least 20 percent of its undergraduate students eligible for Federal Pell Grants, and grants are awarded for a maximum duration of two years with funds restricted to meal preparation, outreach, and limited equipment purchases. Recipients are required to prioritize students who receive Pell Grants or report food insecurity, while also evaluating institutional policies that may create barriers to enrollment and referring students to other federal benefit programs like SNAP. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 and mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture submit reports to Congress on the program's impact on student retention and completion rates.
The Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act would prevent new tariffs from being applied to specific school supplies and educational materials, effectively freezing their import duties at levels recorded on January 19, 2025. This measure directly affects students, families, teachers, schools, and local governments by aiming to keep the cost of items like notebooks, backpacks, pencils, and keyboards stable. The bill designates certain products for duty exemption based on specific trade classifications or through regulations issued by the Secretary of Commerce in coordination with the Secretary of Education. Additionally, it requires the Secretary of Commerce to report every 180 days to congressional committees on which items are exempt, while allowing Congress to disapprove specific item designations through a joint resolution.
The Green New Deal for Public Schools Act directs over $700 billion in federal funding to public schools, prioritizing those serving the most vulnerable communities based on CDC social vulnerability rankings. The legislation establishes a new Office of Sustainable Schools and authorizes grants for "healthy green retrofits" that convert school buildings into zero-carbon facilities with clean air, water, and energy systems, while also providing funds to hire additional educators, mental health professionals, and support staff. Additionally, the bill mandates increased federal funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and creates a climate resiliency program that allows schools to function as community centers during natural disasters. All grant recipients must adhere to strict labor standards, including prevailing wage requirements, Buy American provisions, and local hiring goals that prioritize residents of the surrounding community.
The Summer Meals and Learning Act of 2026 authorizes the Department of Education to provide competitive grants to state library agencies, which then distribute subgrants to local school districts for summer early reading programs. These funds are specifically targeted at schools that operate summer meal sites and have a significant portion of their young students struggling with or at risk of falling behind in reading. The bill requires participating schools to offer at least six weeks of literacy activities and expanded learning opportunities, including access to the school library, while encouraging collaboration with community partners. Appropriations for this initiative are authorized at $5 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
The Healthy Access for Learning Act requires schools receiving federal education funds to provide students with at least 60 minutes of physical activity time each day. This new requirement includes designated recess periods and physical education classes, aiming to address rising rates of childhood obesity and improve academic performance. The bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to mandate these activity periods while allowing local school districts to determine the specific methods used to meet the goal. By integrating regular exercise into the school day, the legislation seeks to support student health and learning without reducing instructional time.
