A Democratic bill with no 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 bill seeks to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. It proposes the creation of a grant program to support law school programs, such as clinics, externships, or pro bono programs. These programs would allow law students to help participants and beneficiaries of employee welfare benefit plans. The goal is to improve access to benefits through legal assistance. The Secretary would provide these grants to accredited law schools.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill provides legal resources to help participants secure benefits they are entitled to receive.
- Scored +4
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill provides legal assistance to beneficiaries to challenge denied benefits and healthcare provider disputes.
- Scored +3
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
Seniors relying on employee welfare benefit plans will have better access to legal assistance for benefit denials.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Access to Benefits: The establishment of a grant program for attorney-supervised clinical programs or pro bono programs aims to improve access to benefits under employee welfare benefit plans (Section 2(a)).
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Legal Representation for Benefit Denials: Participants and beneficiaries can receive representation in appeals regarding benefit denials, including through internal claims procedures and external review processes (Section 2(b)(1)(A)).
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Legal Support for Civil Actions: The grant allows for representation in actions brought under section 502 (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
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Defense Against Healthcare Providers: Beneficiaries can receive assistance in actions brought against them by a health care provider or facility regarding unpaid out-of-pocket costs (Section 2(b)(1)(C)).
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Enforcement of Benefits: The program supports actions relating to the enforcement of title I of the Act and the receipt of benefits under employee welfare benefit plans (Section 2(b)(1)(D)).
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Coordinated Assistance: Benefit advisors from the Employee Benefits Security Administration can coordinate with institutions to assist participants and beneficiaries in challenging denied benefit claims (Section 2(f)(1)).
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Resource Sharing: Benefit advisors may provide participants and beneficiaries with a list of eligible institutions that operate these programs (Section 2(f)(2)).
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Coordination with Consumer Assistance: Programs supported by the grants may coordinate with and make referrals to State offices of health insurance consumer assistance, health insurance ombudsmen, or other specific programs (Section 2(g)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Funding Limitations: The Secretary is prohibited from awarding more than $500,000 to an eligible institution for any fiscal year (Section 2(e)).
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 households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides legal resources to help participants secure benefits they are entitled to receive. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors relying on employee welfare benefit plans will have better access to legal assistance for benefit denials. Would students be better off under this? — The bill provides funding for law students to participate in clinical, externship, or pro bono programs.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill provides legal assistance to beneficiaries to challenge denied benefits and healthcare provider disputes. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill supports the enforcement of benefits for employee welfare plan participants, which can strengthen workplace protections.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill helps beneficiaries navigate disputes regarding unpaid out-of-pocket costs and denied benefits. Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The bill allows programs to coordinate with State offices of health insurance consumer assistance.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill provides legal representation for individuals appealing benefit denials and navigating civil enforcement actions. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates coordination between the EBSA and law school institutions to assist the public.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill provides grants to law schools to support clinical and pro bono programs.
- 7/16/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Introduced in House