LIFT the BAR Act

Bill Number: H.R. 9432
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Social Welfare
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Last Updated: 2026-07-07T21:32:30Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The legislation, titled the "Lifting Immigrant Families Through Benefits Access Restoration Act" or "LIFT the BAR Act," amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) and provisions of Public Law 119-21. Its goal is to remove eligibility restrictions on federal benefits for lawfully present noncitizens and restore access to programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, child nutrition, housing assistance, and premium tax credits.

Key Provisions

Repeals PRWORA sections 402, 403, 411, 412, 421, and 422, which imposed time limits and status-based barriers to benefits.
Repeals sections 10108, 71109, 71201, 71110, 71301, and 71302 of Public Law 119-21, restoring prior eligibility rules for SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare, and rescinding related unobligated funds.
Updates terminology throughout Title IV of PRWORA, replacing "alien" and "qualified alien" with "noncitizen" and "qualified noncitizen."
Expands the definition of qualified noncitizen in section 431 to include individuals lawfully present, those in categories treated as lawfully present under the Affordable Care Act before 2025, special immigrant juveniles, U visa applicants, DACA recipients, and others federally authorized to be present.
Amends child nutrition programs to prohibit denial of benefits based on citizenship or immigration status.
Modifies Medicaid rules for citizens of Freely Associated States (Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau) to allow eligibility in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and optionally in certain territories.
Restores premium tax credits under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code for certain low-income lawfully present noncitizens ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status.
Requires federal agencies to issue implementation guidance within 180 days and sets an effective date 180 days after guidance issuance for services furnished thereafter.
Includes conforming changes to the Food and Nutrition Act, Social Security Act, Housing and Community Development Act, and Immigration and Nationality Act.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Eliminates the five-year waiting period and other PRWORA restrictions on qualified noncitizens for means-tested benefits.
Removes recent restrictions enacted in Public Law 119-21 on SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare eligibility tied to immigration status.
Broadens access to child nutrition, housing, and tax credit programs by prohibiting status-based denials and updating eligibility criteria.
Changes statutory language from "alien" to "noncitizen" across multiple sections.

Potential Impacts

Government agencies: Federal and state agencies administering SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, housing, and nutrition programs must update eligibility systems, issue guidance, and process additional claims, potentially increasing administrative and program costs.
Citizens and residents: Expanded eligibility may affect program funding levels and availability in states and territories.
International relations: Improves access to Medicaid for citizens of Freely Associated States residing in U.S. jurisdictions under Compacts of Free Association.
Noncitizens: Lawfully present individuals, including certain pending applicants and DACA recipients, gain access to previously restricted benefits.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Lawfully present noncitizens and their families.
Federal agencies including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and the Internal Revenue Service.
State and territorial governments responsible for administering benefit programs.
Individuals and entities involved in child nutrition, housing assistance, and health coverage programs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Represents a reversal of prior restrictions on noncitizen access to federal benefits, shifting policy toward broader inclusion based on lawful presence.
Requires rescission of appropriated funds and restoration of prior statutory language, creating direct overrides of recently enacted provisions.
Involves coordination across multiple congressional committees and federal agencies for implementation.
Raises questions of federal authority over benefit eligibility tied to immigration status, though the bill focuses on statutory amendments without addressing constitutional issues.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

Cosponsors (100)

Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] and 50 more

Recent Actions

2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-06-24: Introduced in House
2026-06-24: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Lifting Immigrant Families Through Benefits Access Restoration Act — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (14 pages)