Upward Mobility Act of 2026
Congress Proposes 5-State Pilot Letting States Merge Safety-Net Funds Into Flexible Upward Mobility Grants
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Creates a 5-year pilot letting up to 5 states combine several federal anti-poverty funding streams into one flexible grant.
- States could ask for waivers to change how programs are run and who qualifies, but waivers can’t override civil rights, health and safety, or limits on aid for people unlawfully in the U.S.
- The pilot targets “benefit cliffs,” where a small raise can cause big benefit losses, and pushes states to design smoother step-downs as income rises.
- Adds a work requirement tied to existing food assistance rules and requires states to set up anti-fraud controls, privacy protections, and clear records.
- For oversight, states must hire an independent evaluator each year to track employment, earnings, poverty changes, and whether the state’s use of direct aid per person goes down.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Agriculture, Education and Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
4 articlesMoore sponsors bill to help end benefits cliffs
Rep. Blake Moore sponsored H.R. 6949 to create a 5-year pilot for up to five states to combine funding from multiple federal anti-poverty programs into one stream to address “benefits cliffs.”
Congressman Blake Moore Introduces Legislation to Empower States to End Benefits Cliffs
Announcement of H.R. 6949 creating a 5-year pilot for five states to combine funding from 10 anti-poverty programs into one stream to reduce benefit cliffs; describes oversight and cap concepts.
Husted leads bill to reform welfare, eliminate benefits cliff and pave path for families to pursue economic opportunities
Announcement of S. 3583 (and House companion) establishing a 5-year pilot allowing up to five states to consolidate multiple anti-poverty funding streams into a flexible grant to address benefits cliffs.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Upward Mobility Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.