H.R. 7032

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7032 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7032

To ensure that paraprofessionals and education support staff are paid a 
living wage.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 13, 2026

Mr. Garcia of Illinois (for himself, Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Grijalva, Mr. 
Casar, Ms. Craig, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Landsman, Mr. 
Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Budzinski, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Mr. 
Carbajal, Mr. Garcia of California, Mr. Carson, Ms. Chu, Ms. Tokuda, 
Ms. Titus, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Ms. Norton, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. 
Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Garcia of Texas, 
Ms. Wilson of Florida, and Mr. Davis of Illinois) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To ensure that paraprofessionals and education support staff are paid a 
living wage.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Pay Paraprofessionals and Support 
Staff Act''.

SEC. 2. PAY PARAPROFESSIONALS AND EDUCATION SUPPORT STAFF ACT.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) ESEA.--The terms ``English learner'', ``local 
educational agency'', ``paraprofessional'', ``professional 
development'', ``Secretary'', and ``State'' have the meanings 
given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) Annual adjustment percentage.--The term ``annual 
adjustment percentage'' means, with respect to a fiscal year, a 
percentage equal to the estimated percentage change in the 
Consumer Price Index, as determined by the Secretary, for the 
most recent calendar year ending prior to the beginning of such 
fiscal year.
(3) Minimum salary for paraprofessional and education 
support staff.--
(A) In general.--The term ``minimum salary for 
paraprofessional and education support staff'' means an 
amount, determined by the State, that all full-time 
equivalent employees employed by a local educational 
agency are required by the State to be compensated by 
such agency as their annual base salary, and which--
(i) is greater than the amount described in 
subparagraph (B); and
(ii) increases as the experience of such 
school staff increases.
(B) Indexing salary growth to inflation.--
(i) Fiscal years 2026 through 2030.--For 
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, the 
amount described in this subparagraph is 
$45,000.
(ii) Fiscal years 2031 and after.--For each 
fiscal year in the fiscal year period 2031 
through 2035 and in each subsequent 5 fiscal 
year period, the amount described this 
subparagraph shall be equal to the amount 
applicable for each fiscal year in the previous 
5 fiscal year period, increased by the greater 
of--
(I) the aggregate annual adjustment 
percentage over the previous 5 fiscal 
years; or
(II) 2 percent of the amount 
applicable under this subsection for 
the previous 5 fiscal year period.
(4) Minimum wage for paraprofessional and education support 
staff.--
(A) In general.--The term ``minimum wage for 
paraprofessional and education support staff'' means an 
amount, determined by the State, that all part-time 
equivalent staff employed by a local educational agency 
are required by the State to be paid by such agency, 
and which--
(i) is greater than the amount described in 
subparagraph (B); and
(ii) increases as the experience of such 
school staff increases.
(B) Indexing salary growth to inflation.--
(i) Fiscal years 2026 through 2030.--For 
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, the 
amount described in this subparagraph is $30.00 
an hour.
(ii) Fiscal years 2031 and after.--For each 
fiscal year in the fiscal year period 2031 
through 2035 and in each subsequent 5 fiscal 
year period, the amount described this 
subparagraph shall be equal to the amount 
applicable for each fiscal year in the previous 
5 fiscal year period, increased by the greater 
of--
(I) the aggregate annual adjustment 
percentage over the previous 5 fiscal 
years; or
(II) 2 percent of the amount 
applicable under this subsection for 
the previous 5 fiscal year period.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to ensure that 
paraprofessionals and education support staff, who are the backbone of 
our Nation's public education system, are--
(1) paid a living wage, which means--
(A) a minimum salary for paraprofessional and 
education support staff; or
(B) a minimum wage for paraprofessional and 
education support staff;
(2) compensated in a manner that recognizes some regions 
may have higher costs of living and therefore necessitate 
higher minimum salaries or wages;
(3) recognized as public servants who provide essential 
services that keep our Nation's public schools running and our 
students thriving; and
(4) provided safe working conditions and treated with the 
respect and dignity they deserve.
(c) Authorization and Appropriations.--In addition to amounts 
otherwise available, there are authorized to be appropriated and there 
are appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, to the Department of Education, to carry this section--
(1) for fiscal year 2026, $25,000,000,000; and
(2) for each succeeding fiscal year, the amount 
appropriated under this section for the preceding fiscal year, 
increased by the annual adjustment percentage.
(d) Authorization of Grants.--
(1) Reservations.--From the total amount appropriated under 
subsection (c) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve 
not more than--
(A) 1 percent to provide grants, contracts, or 
cooperative agreements to regional educational 
laboratories (established under section 174 of the 
Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9564)) 
or qualified nonprofit organizations to assist States 
that receive grants under this section carry out 
applied research or evaluations in providing 
paraprofessionals and education support staff with 
opportunities for personnel preparation, professional 
development, credentials, or certifications, such as to 
assist in the provision of special education and 
related services or to serve English learners; and
(B) 1 percent for technical assistance and program 
administration of this section.
(2) Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants to States 
from allotments under paragraph (3) to ensure that all local 
educational agencies have the resources necessary to pay 
paraprofessionals and education support staff a living wage, 
which means--
(A) the minimum salary for paraprofessional and 
education support staff; or
(B) a minimum wage for paraprofessional and 
education support staff.
(3) Allotments.--From the amounts appropriated under 
subsection (b) that are remaining after making the reservations 
described in paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary 
shall allot to each State that has submitted an approved 
application under subsection (d), an amount that bears the same 
relationship to the remainder as the amount the State received 
under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) for the 
preceding fiscal year bears to the amount all States received 
under that subpart for the preceding fiscal year.
(e) State Application.--In order to receive a grant under this 
section, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and including such information as the Secretary 
may reasonably require, including the following:
(1) A timeline, consistent with the goals required under 
paragraph (2), to ensure that, not later than 4 years after the 
receipt of a grant under this section--
(A) the annual base salary of a full-time 
equivalent employee employed by a local educational 
agency in the State is not less than the minimum salary 
for paraprofessional and education support staff, as 
determined by the State; and
(B) all part-time equivalent staff employed by a 
local educational agency in the State are paid not less 
than the minimum wage for paraprofessional and 
education support staff, as determined by the State.
(2) For each fiscal year in the timeline specified in 
paragraph (1), statewide annual goals for increasing average 
salary or wage baselines of paraprofessionals and education 
support staff in a manner that--
(A) annually proposes a percentage increase in the 
average wage or salary of paraprofessionals and 
education support staff;
(B) provides for the first increase to occur not 
later than the second fiscal year a State receives a 
grant under this section; and
(C) makes significant progress toward ensuring 
that, by the end of the timeline described in 
subparagraph (A)--
(i) the annual base salary of a full-time 
equivalent employee employed by a local 
educational agency in the State is not less 
than the minimum salary for paraprofessional 
and education support staff, as determined by 
the State; and
(ii) all part-time equivalent staff 
employed by a local educational agency in the 
State are paid not less than the minimum wage 
for paraprofessional and education support 
staff, as determined by the State.
(3) The State's proposed formula to subgrant funds to local 
educational agencies as described in subsection (g) in a manner 
that ensures--
(A) local educational agencies that serve a high 
number or percentage of students from low-income 
backgrounds receive substantial subgrant allocations 
that enable such agencies to meet the requirements 
described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) 
not later than 2 years after the receipt of a subgrant; 
and
(B) all remaining local educational agencies in the 
State meet the State's requirements in the timeline 
described in paragraph (1).
(f) Improving Paraprofessional and School Staff Wages and 
Salaries.--
(1) State reservation.--A State that receives a grant under 
this section may reserve not more than 2 percent of the total 
grant amount received by the State for technical assistance, 
administrative purposes, and statewide efforts to provide 
paraprofessionals and education support staff with 
opportunities for personnel preparation, professional 
development, credentials, or certifications, such as to assist 
in the provision of special education and related services or 
to serve English learners.
(2) Improving wages and salaries.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), a 
State that receives a grant under this section shall 
ensure that, within a timeline determined by the State 
under subsection (e)(1) and approved by the Secretary--
(i) the annual base salary of a full-time 
equivalent employee employed by a local 
educational agency in the State is not less 
than the minimum salary for paraprofessional 
and education support staff, as determined by 
the State; and
(ii) all part-time equivalent staff 
employed by a local educational agency in the 
State are paid not less than the minimum wage 
for paraprofessional and education support 
staff, as determined by the State.
(B) Timing.--The Secretary shall ensure that, by 
not later than 4 years after the date of implementation 
of the final regulations issued under this Act, each 
State that receives a grant under this section meets 
the salary and wage requirements specified in 
subparagraph (A).
(g) Subgrants to Local Educational Agencies.--
(1) Allocation.--Each State shall allocate not less than 98 
percent of the grant funds awarded to the State under this 
section as subgrants to local educational agencies (including 
charter schools that are local educational agencies) in the 
State under the formula determined by the State under 
subsection (e)(3) and approved by the Secretary.
(2) Uses of subgrant funds.--A local educational agency 
that receives a subgrant under paragraph (1)--
(A) shall use the subgrant funds to comply with the 
State's requirements in accordance with subsection (e) 
guaranteeing that no full-time equivalent employee of 
the agency is paid less than the minimum salary for 
paraprofessional and education support staff and no 
part-time equivalent employee of the agency is paid 
less than the minimum wage for paraprofessional and 
education support staff; and
(B) may use subgrant funds--
(i) to increase salaries or wages for 
teachers, paraprofessionals, specialized 
instructional support personnel, classified 
school employees, principals, other school 
leaders, school librarians, school bus drivers, 
and other staff across their careers; and
(ii) to provide paraprofessionals and 
education support staff with opportunities for 
personnel preparation, professional 
development, credentials, or certifications, 
such as to assist in the provision of special 
education and related services or to serve 
English learners.
(3) Contracted staff.--
(A) In general.--A local educational agency that 
receives a subgrant under this section shall ensure 
that staff employed by such agency or in any contract 
such agency enters into, are paid an amount not less 
than the minimum salary for paraprofessionals and 
education support staff or the minimum wage for 
paraprofessionals and education support staff in the 
State.
(B) Monitoring.--A State that receives a grant 
under this section shall monitor local educational 
agencies for compliance with subparagraph (A).
(h) Rules.--
(1) Rule of construction for collective bargaining.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), 
nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or 
otherwise affect the rights, remedies, and procedures 
afforded to school or local educational agency 
employees under Federal, State, or local laws 
(including applicable regulations or court orders) or 
under the terms of collective bargaining agreements, 
memoranda of understanding, or other agreements between 
such employers and their employees.
(B) Compliance.--Subparagraph (A) shall not be 
construed to exempt a State, local educational agency, 
or school from complying with salary or wage 
requirements in this Act or from negotiating in 
compliance with State labor laws to comply with this 
Act.
(2) Rule of construction for additional pay or other salary 
augmenting systems.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
prevent States or local educational agencies from supplementing 
the annual base salary of teachers, paraprofessionals, 
education support staff, or other staff employed by such 
agencies--
(A) for additional skills, knowledge, duties, and 
responsibilities;
(B) by salary systems that increase teachers' 
compensation through supplemental pay that is not part 
of an annual base salary; or
(C) through the provision of bonuses, stipends, or 
awards.
(3) No waiver authority.--Section 8401 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7861) shall not 
apply to this Act.
(4) Supplement not supplant.--
(A) In general.--A State shall use Federal funds 
received under this Act only to supplement the funds 
that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be 
made available from State and local sources for 
elementary and secondary education, and not to supplant 
State and local funds.
(B) Compliance.--The Secretary shall use funds 
described in subsection (d)(1)(B) to administer 
programs authorized under this subpart and to issue 
technical assistance to States and to monitor and 
enforce the requirements under such programs.
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