I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7017 
To prohibit the withholding of Federal funds under Temporary Assistance 
for Needy Families, Child Care Development Fund, and the Social Serv-
ices Block Grant programs without explicit authorization from Congress, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 12, 2026 
Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 
Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To prohibit the withholding of Federal funds under Tem-
porary Assistance for Needy Families, Child Care Devel-
opment Fund, and the Social Services Block Grant pro-
grams without explicit authorization from Congress, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:30 Jan 22, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7017.IH
H7017
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) The Congressional Budget and Impound-
ment Control Act of 1974 reasserted Congress power 
of the purse. Specifically, title X of such Act estab-
lished procedures to prevent the President and other 
government officials from unilaterally substituting 
their own funding decisions for those of the Con-
gress. 
(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, in-
cluding approximately $1,000,000,000 for Illinois, 
for social services and child care across 5 of the Na-
tion’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 Devel-
opment Block Grant. 
(4) The TANF block grant supports thousands 
of licensed child care providers in every county of Il-
linois. 
(5) The Social Services Block Grant supports 
275 organizations statewide through 17 program 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:30 Jan 22, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7017.IH
H7017
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
areas designed to protect the network of Illinois 
human service providers. 
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON FREEZING FUNDS UNDER TANF, 
CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT FUND, AND SO-
CIAL 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 au-
thority 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 So-
cial Security Act. 
(3) Funds provided to States under the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:30 Jan 22, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H7017.IH
H7017
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS