Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5195

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Education

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-08: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-03-19T08:07:24Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act" (H.R. 5195) aims to increase federal funding for the Impact Aid program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). Impact Aid provides financial support to local school districts that lose property tax revenue due to non-taxable federal lands or activities, such as military bases or Native American reservations. The bill seeks to gradually approach full funding for these payments over several years.

Key Provisions

• Authorization of Appropriations: The bill replaces existing funding limits in ESEA Section 7014 with new, escalating amounts for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 across four categories:
• Payments for Federal Acquisition of Real Property (under ESEA Section 7002): Starts at $85 million in 2026 and rises to $250 million in 2031. This covers compensation for school districts affected by federal purchases of land that reduce local tax bases.
• Basic Payments and Payments for Heavily Impacted School Districts (under ESEA Section 7003(b)): Begins at $1.487 billion in 2026 and increases to $2.348 billion in 2031. These funds support general operations in districts heavily burdened by federal presence, such as those with large numbers of children from military families.
• Payments for Children with Disabilities (under ESEA Section 7003(d)): Ranges from $50 million in 2026 to $120 million in 2031. This targets additional support for educating students with disabilities in impacted districts.
• Construction Funds (under ESEA Section 7007): Goes from $20 million in 2026 to $45 million in 2031. These funds help build or repair school facilities in affected areas.
• The bill does not mandate actual spending but sets the maximum amounts Congress can appropriate each year.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Replaces subsections (a) through (d) of ESEA Section 7014 with new provisions that significantly raise authorized funding levels compared to prior authorizations (which were generally lower and not as progressively increasing).
• Shifts from static or modestly increasing funding to a structured ramp-up, aiming for higher support to address funding shortfalls in Impact Aid programs.
• Maintains the overall framework of Impact Aid but expands the financial ceiling to better cover estimated needs.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Education, which administers Impact Aid, would handle larger budgets, potentially requiring more administrative resources for distribution and oversight. This could strain federal budgeting if full appropriations are not met.
• On Citizens: School districts near federal installations (e.g., military bases) would receive more stable funding, improving educational resources like teacher salaries, programs for students with disabilities, and school infrastructure. This benefits over 1,000 districts nationwide, particularly serving children of military personnel, Native American students, and those in rural or low-income areas.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though increased support for schools near military bases could indirectly aid U.S. defense communities, supporting troop retention and family stability.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Local Educational Agencies (School Districts): Primary beneficiaries, especially those in federally impacted areas (e.g., near Department of Defense sites or federal lands), gaining access to higher federal reimbursements.
• Students and Families: Particularly children with disabilities, military dependents, and Native American youth, who may see enhanced educational opportunities and services.
• Federal Government: Congress (for appropriations) and the Department of Education (for program management).
• State and Local Governments: Could reduce pressure on state budgets, as federal funds offset lost local tax revenue.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens ESEA's Impact Aid provisions without altering eligibility rules, ensuring compliance with federal obligations to compensate for tax-exempt properties. No major challenges to existing statutes.
• Constitutional: Aligns with the federal government's responsibility to mitigate its impact on local services (e.g., under the Property Clause of the Constitution, which allows federal land management but implies support for affected communities).
• Political: Bipartisan introduction (by representatives from both parties) signals broad support for education funding in defense and rural communities. It promotes fiscal predictability but depends on future congressional appropriations, potentially sparking debates on federal spending priorities amid budget constraints.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

Cosponsors (23)

Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-08: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-09-08: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-08: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act — issued 2025-09-08 — PDF (3 pages)