BLANKET Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9303
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T16:51:52Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9303 (BLANKET Act)
Purpose
This legislation amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to create a new federal grant program. Its goal is to help expand emergency shelter options for people experiencing homelessness during severe weather events such as heat waves, cold snaps, storms, and wildfires. The bill aims to reduce health risks, injuries, and strain on medical services by providing targeted funding for temporary shelter increases.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Establishment: The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must create a competitive grant program within one year of enactment to award "supplemental severe weather emergency solutions grants."
- Eligible Entities: States, local governments, nonprofit organizations, public housing agencies, or combinations of these.
- Application Requirements: Applicants must describe the served population and weather risks, provide data on homelessness and weather-related needs, outline plans for expanding shelter capacity, and detail coordination with emergency management and public health agencies.
- Selection Criteria: HUD considers the level of need (including unsheltered homelessness), the entity's past capacity and performance, coordination history, and expected benefits relative to costs.
- Allowed Uses of Funds: Temporary expansion of shelters (including warming or cooling centers), vouchers for hotel or motel stays, staffing and security costs, supplies like generators and water, and other related expenses.
- Compliance and Oversight: Recipients must follow existing rules under the McKinney-Vento subtitle. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must submit an evaluation report to Congress within five years.
- Funding Authorization: Up to $750 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2029, in addition to other available funds.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill adds a new Section 419 to subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This introduces a distinct grant category focused specifically on severe weather responses, separate from the standard Emergency Solutions Grants. It does not alter core existing program structures but supplements them with weather-specific funding and requirements.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HUD gains responsibility for administering the new program, including application reviews and grant awards. State and local governments, along with public housing agencies, may receive additional resources to manage emergency responses. Emergency management and public health agencies could see improved coordination and reduced burdens during weather crises.
- Citizens: Individuals experiencing homelessness may gain access to safer shelter options during extreme weather, potentially lowering risks of illness, injury, or death. Broader communities could experience reduced pressure on hospitals and emergency services.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- People experiencing homelessness, particularly those unsheltered during severe weather.
- State and local governments and public housing agencies.
- Nonprofit organizations providing homeless services.
- Federal agencies, primarily HUD.
- Emergency response and public health systems at local levels.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill operates within existing constitutional authority for federal spending and homelessness assistance programs, with no apparent conflicts or new legal frameworks. It maintains standard grant compliance rules and does not introduce regulatory changes beyond the new program. Politically, the measure focuses on emergency preparedness tied to weather events but remains neutral in its legislative text regarding broader policy debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Building Local Access for Needs in Key Emergency Temperatures Act — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (6 pages)