HELP Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8520
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-27: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-07T09:23:41Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The HELP Act of 2026 (H.R. 8520) aims to improve nationwide access to 211 services—a free hotline and online resource that connects people to local health and human services like housing support, food assistance, mental health resources, and disaster aid—by funding expansion, coordination with 911 (emergency) and 988 (suicide/crisis) lines, and public awareness campaigns.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) creates a program to:
- Expand 211 capacity so it's available to everyone in every state via phone, text, internet, or other methods at no cost.
- Boost coordination between 211, 911, 988, and similar services.
- Increase public knowledge and use of 211.
- Administering Agency: HHS selects a qualified nonprofit organization (e.g., one experienced in 211 support, disaster response, and grants) every 10 years to:
- Recommend and distribute state allotments based on population, density, poverty, and service needs.
- Award grants to state 211 networks or individual providers.
- Run evaluations (every 5 years), annual reports, coordination efforts, and a national awareness campaign.
- Support shared data platforms for better resource sharing.
- Grants to 211 Providers: Funds go to qualified entities (nonprofits or government groups running 211) for:
- Operating call centers, databases, and tech upgrades.
- Public awareness, planning, training, and evaluations.
- Start-up in unserved areas, especially rural ones.
- 25% matching funds required from non-federal sources.
- Compliance with accessibility laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which ensures services for people with disabilities.
- Funding: $250 million authorized annually for fiscal years 2026–2032; up to 10% reserved for administration.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms like "211 service" (info/referrals for services aiding self-sufficiency, health, and community well-being), "eligible 211 service provider," and includes tribes/states broadly.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new federal funding and coordination framework for 211 services, which previously relied on state/local efforts without dedicated national grants or oversight.
- No direct amendments to prior laws, but mandates integration with existing systems (911, 988) and enforces federal accessibility standards.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HHS gains oversight role; states and 211 providers receive formula-based grants, reducing gaps in underserved areas.
- Citizens: Improved free access to services for vulnerable groups (e.g., homeless, low-income, rural residents), potentially diverting non-emergency calls from 911/988 and linking people to community aid faster.
- No notable international relations impacts.
Main Stakeholders
- HHS and administering agency (e.g., national 211 nonprofit).
- 211 service providers (state networks, local nonprofits/government operators).
- States, tribes, and territories receiving allotments.
- 911/988 providers for coordination.
- Public users, especially those needing health/human services (low-income families, disaster victims, people with disabilities).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Requires ADA and related accessibility compliance (section 508 of Rehabilitation Act: tech access for disabled; similar regs), with certifications and evaluations to ensure accountability.
- Constitutional: Supports equal protection by targeting equity (e.g., rural access, poverty-based formulas) without infringing rights.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsors; promotes efficient use of federal funds via matching requirements and independent evaluations, potentially reducing emergency service overload.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-27: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-04-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Human-Services Emergency Logistics Program Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-27 — PDF (17 pages)