Bill · H.R. 4451· House(119-HR-4451)
CARE for Kids Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 7/16/2025
- Last activity
- 7/16/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Sponsored by
- Jahana Hayes
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The CARE for Kids Act of 2025 aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve direct certification for the school lunch program. It expands the groups of children eligible for certification, specifically including those placed by certain agencies or receiving specific assistance payments. The bill also addresses transferred children, requiring new local educational agencies to honor previous eligibility and potentially extend it. Furthermore, it expands automatic eligibility and updates Medicaid direct certification criteria. These changes focus on caregivers, such as grandparents, and children in specific housing or assistance programs.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would children be better off under this?+7
The bill expands meal program eligibility for many categories of children.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+6
The bill specifically targets support for families in low-income housing and those receiving assistance.
Would students be better off under this?+5
The bill improves access to nutrition services for students in various circumstances.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Certification for Caregivers and Specific Groups: The bill expands direct certification to include children placed by specific agencies, those receiving adoption or kinship guardianship assistance, and children living in low-income housing with a full-time grandparent or older caregiver (Section 2).
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Protection for Transferred Children: When a child transfers to a school under a different local educational agency, the new agency must honor the original eligibility determination (Section 3).
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Extended Eligibility for Relatives: Children living with a grandparent or relative who has legal authority or custody may have their eligibility extended for one year longer than originally authorized (Section 3).
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Increased Automatic Eligibility: The bill expands the criteria for automatic eligibility to include children receiving certain assistance payments or living in specific housing situations (Section 4).
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Updated Medicaid Direct Certification: The bill expands the definition of an "eligible child" for Medicaid direct certification to include children receiving medical assistance based on certain assistance programs or supplemental security income benefits (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+7Good For Low Income Households+6Good For Students+5Good For Native Americans+4
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+5
- Education And Technology
- Increases Public School Funding+4
- 7/16/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Don BaconRepublican · Nebraska
Deborah RossDemocrat · North Carolina