A Democratic bill with 23 Democratic cosponsors · See all 23 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
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
This legislation is known as the Basic Assistance for Students In College Act of 2026 or the BASIC Act of 2026. The bill provides competitive planning and implementation grants to eligible institutions of higher education to support the basic needs of students, such as food, housing, and health care. It requires the Secretary of Education to enter into data-sharing agreements with Federal and State agencies to identify and notify students who may be eligible for federally funded benefit programs. The legislation also prohibits schools from reducing a student's institutional grant because the student receives benefits from a federally funded program. Additionally, the bill mandates national reports on student food, housing, and basic needs insecurity. Finally, it authorizes appropriations of one billion dollars for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2033 to carry out these grant programs.
Yes· 3 of 22
- Scored +8
Would students be better off under this?
The entire bill is structured to provide direct financial, food, housing, and healthcare assistance to college students facing basic needs insecurity.
- Scored +7
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
College-aged students and young adults predominantly populate institutions of higher education and will directly benefit from basic needs support.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill prioritizes Pell Grant-eligible students and connects low-income individuals to crucial safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes appropriations of one billion dollars for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2033 to carry out grant programs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Basic Needs: Section 2, through subsections (b) and (c), establishes planning and implementation grants for eligible institutions to address student food insecurity, housing insecurity, homelessness, and other basic needs. This could directly benefit students struggling to afford food, housing, child care, and healthcare while trying to get an education.
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Data Sharing and Benefit Notification: Section 3 amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require data-sharing agreements between the Secretary of Education and appropriate Federal or State agencies. Under new section 483(c)(3), this helps identify students who are potentially eligible for benefit programs like SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance, and tax credits, and notifies them on how to enroll or renew their benefits.
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Protection of Institutional Aid: Section 2(f) includes a prohibition stating that an eligible institution receiving a grant under this section may not reduce a student's eligibility for, or the amount of, an institutional grant on the basis of the student receiving benefits from a federally funded benefit program. This ensures students do not lose school-provided financial aid just because they qualify for public assistance.
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Targeted Funding and Priorities: Section 2(d) requires that the Secretary reserve at least 25 percent of grant funds for community colleges, and at least 25 percent for historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving institutions. It also gives priority to institutions where at least 25 percent of enrolled students are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant, helping direct resources to the schools and students who need them most.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the provided text, there are no explicit provisions that outline negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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? — The entire bill is structured to provide direct financial, food, housing, and healthcare assistance to college students facing basic needs insecurity. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes Pell Grant-eligible students and connects low-income individuals to crucial safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — College-aged students and young adults predominantly populate institutions of higher education and will directly benefit from basic needs support. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill specifically reserves at least 25 percent of grant funds for historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The legislation guarantees dedicated funding reservations for Tribal Colleges and Universities and minority-serving institutions. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-income families with students facing basic needs insecurity or high college costs can benefit from institutional grants and resource navigation. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Disability status is explicitly included in research, data disaggregation, and accessibility support provisions. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Student veteran status is included in disaggregated demographic reporting and benefit coordination efforts. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Immigrant students struggling with basic needs security may benefit from outreach and resource navigation provided by campus grant programs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — Child care is included as a basic need supported by grants and priority access to on-campus child care programs. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By connecting students to federal safety net benefits like SNAP, Medicaid, and tax credits, the bill helps lift low-income students out of poverty. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — The legislation funds secure sleeping arrangements, temporary housing, and housing insecurity research to help students experiencing homelessness. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prioritizes minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities, directing resources to underrepresented students. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — Grant research and accessibility services specifically require disaggregation and focus on students with disability status.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill authorizes billions in federal grant funding for public and eligible institutions of higher education to support student basic needs. Does this make college cost less? — The legislation prohibits schools from reducing institutional grants when students receive federal assistance, protecting total financial aid. Does this get reliable internet to more people? — Affordable technology and internet access are explicitly included as basic needs that institutions may use grant funds to support.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation mandates national reports on student food, housing, and basic needs insecurity as well as regular evaluations and public reports. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill mandates federal data-sharing agreements and nationwide reporting requirements through the Department of Education.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The legislation connects students to healthcare programs like Medicaid and supports campus health and well-being services.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill provides funding for colleges to hire personnel to build and improve basic needs infrastructure and support programs. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Investing in student basic needs and education retention can improve overall workforce preparedness and long-term economic output. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes appropriations of one billion dollars for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2033 to carry out grant programs.
- 11/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/6/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/5/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 9/28/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/24/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 15 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.
Wesley BellDemocrat · Missouri
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
J. CorreaDemocrat · California
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California
Jasmine CrockettDemocrat · Texas
Adriano EspaillatDemocrat · New York
Maxwell FrostDemocrat · Florida
John GaramendiDemocrat · California
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Pablo HernándezDemocrat · Puerto Rico
Gwen MooreDemocrat · Wisconsin
Seth MoultonDemocrat · Massachusetts
Lucy McBathDemocrat · Georgia
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Scott PetersDemocrat · California
Linda SánchezDemocrat · California
Mary Gay ScanlonDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Juan VargasDemocrat · California
George WhitesidesDemocrat · California