BASIC Act of 2026

This bill would create federal grants for colleges to help students meet basic needs such as food, housing, health care, child care, internet access, and transportation. Colleges could get planning grants of up to $200,000 for up to 2 years to study student needs and build a plan, and implementation grants of up to $5 million over 5 years to carry out that plan. The bill authorizes $1 billion a year for fiscal years 2027 through 2033, with at least 25 percent set aside for community colleges and at least 25 percent for minority-serving institutions. It would also require the Department of Education to share federal student aid application data with benefit agencies so students can be told about programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and housing assistance they may qualify for. The Department would also have to publish a national report on student food, housing, and other basic needs insecurity every 4 years.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Norma J. Torres Democrat sponsor
• 22 cosponsors