House and Senate Democrats Introduce Bills to Block Public Charge Rule Funding

Public Charge Rule Expansion·Latest event August 6, 2026

Aug 6

House and Senate Democrats Introduce Bills to Block Public Charge Rule Funding

The proposed legislation would prevent the Department of Homeland Security from using federal money to enforce public charge regulations. Chu introduced the Protect American Values Act to block federal funding for the rule. Hirono filed the Protect American Values Act of 2026 with identical restrictions on agency spending. This follows a Trump administration policy allowing officers to weigh an applicant's use of Medicaid and food stamps. Both measures are currently pending review in their respective committees.

H.R. 10045Immigration: Blocking Public Charge Rules S. 5331Immigration: Blocking the Public Charge RuleThe Trump administration allows immigration officers to consider an applicant's use of public benefits like Medicaid, food stamps, and housing assistance when evaluating green card eligibility.

Jul 16

DHS Restores Public Charge Rule for Green Card Applicants

DHS is reinstating a policy to evaluate an applicant's use of public benefits during green card reviews. Officials will consider the use of Medicaid, food stamps, and housing assistance to identify potential public charges. Trump administration officials said the move restores the principle of self-reliance for those seeking permanent residency. The government aims to protect public resources by ensuring that immigrants support themselves without taxpayer help.

DHS is restoring the basic principle that immigrants must be able to support themselvesThe federal government is reaffirming the requirement of self-relianceDHS could weigh immigrants' use of Medicaid, food and housing help in green card decisions

Policies

H.R. 10045 and S. 5331 are companion bills that propose identical language in the House and Senate. This dual introduction allows the legislation to move through both chambers of Congress at the same time.

Immigration: Blocking Public Charge Rules

H.R. 10045

Immigration: Blocking the Public Charge Rule

S. 5331

News

DHS could weigh immigrants' use of Medicaid, food and housing help in green card decisions

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