Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7032

Pay Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Act

Rep. Garcia's Bill Would Guarantee $45K Minimum Salary for School Support Staff With $25B Federal Grant

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Part of: Congress Proposes $25 Billion to Raise School Support Staff Pay

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill, introduced by Representative Garcia of Illinois, would create a federal grant program to help schools pay support staff a living wage. It sets a national floor for pay to ensure these essential workers can support themselves and their families.
The plan targets paraprofessionals, school bus drivers, librarians, and other support staff. Full-time workers would be guaranteed a base salary of at least $45,000 a year, while part-time workers would earn at least $30 an hour.
Congress would provide $25 billion in the first year to help states and school districts cover the costs of these raises. This funding would increase every year to keep up with the rising cost of living and inflation.
States that accept the money would have four years to make sure every school district meets the new pay standards. School districts serving many students from low-income backgrounds would have to reach the goal even faster, within two years.
The policy aims to address staffing shortages and recognize school staff as essential public servants. It also requires that pay increases as employees gain more experience, ensuring long-term career growth for school workers.
The bill includes protections for existing union contracts and prevents states from using this federal money to replace the money they already spend on schools. It is designed to be extra funding specifically for raising wages.

EducationLabor Employment

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(1)

Small Business Owner

Neutral

Contracted staff who work in schools through private companies would also need to be paid the new minimums. Small businesses that contract with school districts for services like transportation, custodial work, or food service would need to raise wages to comply, though the federal funding flowing to districts could help cover those increased costs.

Positive Impacts(4)

Union Member

Helps

The bill explicitly protects existing collective bargaining agreements, union contracts, and memoranda of understanding. Union members in school districts would benefit from the new federal wage floor of $45,000 for full-time staff and $30/hour for part-time staff, which would serve as a baseline that unions could negotiate above. The supplement-not-supplant provision also ensures federal money adds to — rather than replaces — existing state and local funding, preserving union-negotiated pay structures.

Student

Helps

Students benefit indirectly but meaningfully. Higher pay for school support staff — paraprofessionals, bus drivers, librarians, and others — could help reduce the staffing shortages many schools face today. When schools are fully staffed with experienced workers who stick around longer, students get more consistent support in classrooms, on buses, and throughout the school day.

Cognitive Developmental

Helps

The bill specifically mentions using funds for professional development and credentials related to special education and related services. Paraprofessionals who work one-on-one with students with developmental disabilities are among the lowest-paid school workers, and better pay could reduce the high turnover that disrupts these students' learning and care.

Physical Disability

Helps

Many students with physical disabilities depend on paraprofessionals and support staff for daily assistance in school settings. Higher wages and better professional development opportunities could improve retention of these critical workers, leading to more consistent care and support for students who need it most.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jan 13, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Jan 13, 2026

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

1 article

Lawndale News·3 months ago

García and Other Officials Introduce Legislation to Raise National Minimum Wage for Education Support Staff

Representatives Jesús “Chuy” García, Jahana Hayes, Greg Casar, and Adelita Grijalva introduced the Pay Paraprofessionals and Education Support Staff Act, which establishes a national minimum wage floor of $45,000 for full-time education paraprofessionals and staff in public K-12 schools.

Center Left