October 17, 2025
Ms. Waters (for herself, Mr. Amo, Ms. Ansari, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Bell, Mr. Bishop, Ms. Budzinski, Mr. Carson, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Craig, Ms. Crockett, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fields, Mr. Figures, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. García of Illinois, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Horsford, Mr. Ivey, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Landsman, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mrs. McClain Delaney, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Neguse, Ms. Norton, Mr. Panetta, Ms. Randall, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Titus, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Torres of New York, Mr. Vargas, Ms. Velázquez, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To require the reimbursement of State governments, local governments, and school districts by the Government for funds used by them to maintain participation in Head Start and Early Head Start during a Government shutdown.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Head Start Shutdown Protection Act of 2025
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Sec. 2. Reimbursement of State and local funds used to maintain participation in the head start program, and the early head start program, during lapse in appropriations for such programs in a Government shutdown
A State, local government, or school district that uses its funds to maintain participation in the head start program, or the early head start program, under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) during any period of a Government shutdown in which there is a lapse in Federal appropriations for such program shall be entitled to reimbursement of such funds by the Government after the end of such shutdown.