Brendan Boyle (D-PA)
Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act
A Democratic bill with 10 Democratic cosponsors · See all 10 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act aims to limit duties on school supplies and educational materials. It prevents duties from exceeding the rates that were in effect on January 19, 2025, for specific items. These items include those designated by the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Education, as well as listed goods like backpacks, notebooks, and pens. The Secretary of Commerce must report the list of exempt items to Congress every 180 days. Congress also retains the ability to pass a joint resolution of disapproval to remove specific items from the exemption.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +8
Would students be better off under this?
Directly reduces the cost of essential materials needed for their education.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Significantly helps low-income families who struggle with the cost of mandatory school supplies.
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
Directly benefits children by making their required school supplies more affordable.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Lower costs for education materials: By limiting duties to the rates in effect on January 19, 2025, the bill aims to reduce the cost of school supplies for students, families, teachers, schools, and local governments (Section 2).
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Broad protection for common supplies: Specific items such as keyboards, backpacks, lunchboxes, pencils, crayons, and markers are explicitly listed for duty limitations, which may make these essential goods more affordable (Section 3(c)(2)).
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Flexibility to include new items: The Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Education can designate other items used in elementary or secondary school classrooms for duty limitations (Section 3(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited scope of protection: The limitation on duties does not apply if the duty was proclaimed under section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 or imposed pursuant to title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (Section 3(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — Directly reduces the cost of essential materials needed for their education. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Significantly helps low-income families who struggle with the cost of mandatory school supplies. Would children be better off under this? — Directly benefits children by making their required school supplies more affordable. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Reduces the financial burden of back-to-school shopping for middle-class families. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Benefits parents of school-aged children by reducing their expenses. Would high-income households be better off under this? — Provides a minor cost reduction for high-income households. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Provides some benefit for those still in secondary education.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Protects consumers from price increases caused by higher import duties on school supplies. Is this likely to slow the rise in prices? — Reducing tariffs on essential school supplies helps lower consumer prices for those specific goods.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — Reducing the cost of school supplies makes educational preparation more affordable for families. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Lowering the cost of essential educational materials provides modest financial relief to low-income families.
- 10/5/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/4/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/3/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Janelle BynumDemocrat · Oregon
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California
Jasmine CrockettDemocrat · Texas
Sylvia GarciaDemocrat · Texas
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
Sarah McBrideDemocrat · Delaware
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Juan VargasDemocrat · California
George WhitesidesDemocrat · California