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Kids Before Cuts Act

H.R. 7017 · 119th Congress · Jan 12, 2026 · Lineage

A BILL

To prohibit the withholding of Federal funds under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Child Care Development Fund, and the Social Services Block Grant programs without explicit authorization from Congress, and for other purposes.

Section 1 Short title; findings

(a)
Short title— This Act may be cited as the “Kids Before Cuts Act”.
(b)
Findings— Congress finds as follows:
(1)
The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 reasserted Congress power of the purse. Specifically, title X of such Act established procedures to prevent the President and other government officials from unilaterally substituting their own funding decisions for those of the Congress.
(2)
Despite clear legal precedent, the Trump administration and the Department of Health and Human Services announced on January 6, 2025, the freezing of $10,000,000,000 in Federal funds, including approximately $1,000,000,000 for Illinois, for social services and child care across 5 of the Nation’s largest States.
(3)
Approximately 100,000 families, including more than 152,000 children, are served through the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program, which is partially funded through the Child Care and Development Block Grant.
(4)
The TANF block grant supports thousands of licensed child care providers in every county of Illinois.
(5)
The Social Services Block Grant supports 275 organizations statewide through 17 program areas designed to protect the network of Illinois human service providers.

Sec. 2 Limitation on freezing funds under TANF, Child Care Development Fund, and Social Services Block Grant programs

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Federal funds may not be withheld from obligation or expenditure under any of the following programs without explicit authority provided under a law enacted by Congress after the date of the enactment of this Act:
(1)
The program of block grants to States for temporary assistance to needy families under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act.
(2)
The program of block grants to States for social services under subtitle A of title XX of the Social Security Act.
(3)
Funds provided to States under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990.