To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to establish a grant program to enable law students to assist participants and beneficiaries in certain civil enforcement actions, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · July 16, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
The CLINIC Assistance Act establishes a federal grant program to fund law school clinics and pro bono programs that help employees and retirees challenge denied benefits and pursue legal claims related to their health insurance and retirement plans. The Department of Labor will award grants of up to $500,000 per year to accredited law schools to support attorney-supervised programs where law students provide free legal assistance in benefit appeals, lawsuits under federal employee benefits law, and disputes with healthcare providers over unpaid costs. The bill authorizes $5 million annually for the program from fiscal year 2026 through 2030 and requires the Labor Department's Employee Benefits Security Administration to coordinate with participating law schools and refer participants to these clinics. This legislation aims to improve access to legal representation for ordinary workers and retirees who otherwise might not afford an attorney to fight denied benefit claims.
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