A Republican bill with 4 Republican cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
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 Upward Mobility Act of 2026 establishes a pilot program that allows up to five States to receive Upward Mobility Grants. These grants consolidate funds from various antipoverty programs to support specific pilot projects. The goal is to streamline service delivery, reduce benefit cliffs, and improve employment outcomes for participants. States can use these funds to promote objectives like increased earnings, skills acquisition, and housing affordability. The program includes a five-year duration for these pilot projects.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +7
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?
The primary purpose of the bill is to reduce poverty through consolidated antipoverty programs and improved employment outcomes.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill targets low-income households by reducing benefit cliffs and streamlining access to nutrition, housing, and energy assistance.
- Scored +5
Does this make child care cost less?
The act explicitly lists affordable child care as an objective for its pilot projects.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Employment and Earnings: The bill aims to promote upward mobility by improving employment outcomes, including increased earnings, among participants (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
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Reduced Benefit Cliffs: The program seeks to reduce inconsistent eligibility requirements and benefit cliffs through redesigned benefit structures (Section 2(b)(1)(A) and 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Increased Access to Essentials: Pilot projects are intended to improve outcomes related to housing affordability, access to nutrition, reduced home energy costs, and affordable child care (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
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Support for Low-Income Families: The act targets various needs including temporary assistance to low-income families and assistance for dislocated workers (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Loss of Independent Program Funding: During a pilot project, a State is not eligible to receive Federal funding for the specific antipoverty programs involved outside of the pilot project (Section 2(e)(4)(A)(i)).
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Restrictions on Additional Benefits: Individuals receiving per-capita direct assistance through a pilot project are not eligible for additional benefits under those same antipoverty programs outside of the project (Section 2(e)(4)(A)(ii)).
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.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The primary purpose of the bill is to reduce poverty through consolidated antipoverty programs and improved employment outcomes. Does this make housing cost less? — The bill includes housing and rental affordability as a core purpose of the upward mobility grants. Does this make child care cost less? — The act explicitly lists affordable child care as an objective for its pilot projects.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill targets low-income households by reducing benefit cliffs and streamlining access to nutrition, housing, and energy assistance. Would children be better off under this? — Improved access to child care and nutrition benefits can positively impact children. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The reduction of marginal effective tax rates may benefit households transitioning out of assistance.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill aims to increase employment levels through pilot projects focused on upward mobility. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill seeks to increase earnings and employment as a means of promoting economic upward mobility.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires independent third-party evaluations and data sharing to track program effectiveness.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Is this likely to lower the price at the pump? — The bill aims to reduce home energy costs as a component of its antipoverty objectives.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The consolidation of funds aims to improve outcomes related to access to essential services.
- 9/8/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/20/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 4/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/6/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Agriculture, Education and Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 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.
Mike CareyRepublican · Ohio
Glenn GrothmanRepublican · Wisconsin
Max MillerRepublican · Ohio
David TaylorRepublican · Ohio