Bill · H.R. 6949· House(119-HR-6949)
Upward Mobility Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 1/6/2026
- Last activity
- 5/20/2026 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Sponsored by
- Blake Moore
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Upward Mobility Act of 2026 establishes a pilot program that allows up to five States to receive Upward Mobility Grants. These grants consolidate funds from various antipoverty programs to support specific pilot projects. The goal is to streamline service delivery, reduce benefit cliffs, and improve employment outcomes for participants. States can use these funds to promote objectives like increased earnings, skills acquisition, and housing affordability. The program includes a five-year duration for these pilot projects.
Yes· 3 of 11
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?+7
The primary purpose of the bill is to reduce poverty through consolidated antipoverty programs and improved employment outcomes.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+6
The bill targets low-income households by reducing benefit cliffs and streamlining access to nutrition, housing, and energy assistance.
Does this make child care cost less?+5
The act explicitly lists affordable child care as an objective for its pilot projects.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Employment and Earnings: The bill aims to promote upward mobility by improving employment outcomes, including increased earnings, among participants (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
-
Reduced Benefit Cliffs: The program seeks to reduce inconsistent eligibility requirements and benefit cliffs through redesigned benefit structures (Section 2(b)(1)(A) and 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Increased Access to Essentials: Pilot projects are intended to improve outcomes related to housing affordability, access to nutrition, reduced home energy costs, and affordable child care (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
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Support for Low-Income Families: The act targets various needs including temporary assistance to low-income families and assistance for dislocated workers (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Loss of Independent Program Funding: During a pilot project, a State is not eligible to receive Federal funding for the specific antipoverty programs involved outside of the pilot project (Section 2(e)(4)(A)(i)).
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Restrictions on Additional Benefits: Individuals receiving per-capita direct assistance through a pilot project are not eligible for additional benefits under those same antipoverty programs outside of the project (Section 2(e)(4)(A)(ii)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+7Improves Affordable Housing+5Improves Childcare Affordability+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+6Good For Children+4Good For Middle Class Households+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+5Improves Economic Growth+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Reduces Gas Prices+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+2
- 9/8/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/20/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 4/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/6/2026
- 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.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mike CareyRepublican · Ohio
Glenn GrothmanRepublican · Wisconsin
Max MillerRepublican · Ohio
David TaylorRepublican · Ohio