Bill > HR746

This bill, titled the "America First Act," seeks to significantly restrict federal benefits and services for certain immigrants and those with specific immigration statuses. The bill would narrow eligibility for public benefits by modifying existing laws to exclude immigrants with statuses such as asylum, temporary protected status (TPS), deferred action, parole, and withholding of removal from various federal programs. These changes would affect multiple areas including healthcare, housing, education, emergency services, tax credits, and nutrition assistance programs. Specifically, the bill would limit or eliminate access to Medicaid, Medicare, Head Start, school meals, housing assistance, postsecondary financial aid, emergency management services, and tax credits for individuals with these immigration statuses. The bill would also reduce federal funding for "sanctuary jurisdictions" that do not fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and remove discretionary exemptions that currently allow some flexibility in benefit eligibility. Additionally, the bill would require stricter verification of citizenship and immigration status for program participation and impose new restrictions on tax-exempt organizations using federal funding to support certain non-citizens. These proposed changes aim to significantly reduce federal support for immigrants with temporary or uncertain legal status in the United States.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/746/all-info