This bill creates a competitive grant program to help low-income Americans access government benefits and services more easily using technology. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Gillibrand, would fund pilot projects from 2025 through 2030 in which eligible states, local governments, and tribal entities could establish either HOPE Accounts (digital platforms allowing beneficiaries to apply for multiple benefits at once through their smartphones) or HOPE Action Plans (voluntary partnerships between low-income individuals and government or nonprofit organizations to improve earnings and savings). Individual grants would range from $250,000 to $3 million, with the federal government authorized to spend $35 million annually across three departments: $10 million to Housing and Urban Development, $10 million to Agriculture, and $15 million to Health and Human Services. The bill also funds technology innovation contracts worth up to $4.5 million each to develop open-source applications that eligible entities can use. To protect vulnerable populations, the legislation prohibits reducing existing government assistance, lengthening application processes, or sharing client data with immigration enforcement agencies, and requires at least 10 percent of funding be directed to economically disadvantaged rural and urban areas.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.