Reps. Lee, Hayes Introduce Bill to Provide Free School Supplies to School Districts

September 3, 2026 Press Release Text of Bill (PDF) WASHINGTON, DC – September 3, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) introduced the Access to School Supplies Act of 2026 , legislation that would invest $500 million in a federal pilot program to provide school supplies at no cost to students, teachers, librarians, and support staff. Rep. Lee touted the bill’s introduction last year during a school supply distribution event at The Education Partnership. The bill was initially introduced by former Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01). “Each school year, millions of students, families, and educators across the country struggle to afford the basic supplies students need to succeed in the classroom. We are already in an affordability crisis. In the wealthiest country in history, basic expenses should not stand between a child and a quality education,” said Rep. Lee. “The Access to School Supplies Act of 2026 is common-sense legislation that would help ensure our classrooms are equipped to serve teachers and students. I’m proud to carry this bill forward with my colleagues and our education partners.” “Too often students attend school without basic supplies, while teachers reach into their own pockets to provide them. I know firsthand how limited resources can negatively impact an educational experience,” said Rep. Hayes. “As school budgets shrink, the Access to School Supplies Act is a commonsense investment in our students, our teachers, and our classrooms. I look forward to working with Representative Lee to ensure every child has the tools they need to succeed.” School supply prices are up nearly 8% this year, with families spending an average of nearly $200 on supplies and nearly $900 on total back-to-school costs. Teachers are feeling the burden as well: during the 2024–25 school year, educators spent an average of $895 out of pocket on supplies for their students—a 49% increase since 2015. For too many students, these rising costs mean reusing old supplies, purchasing lower-quality materials, or showing up to school without the tools they need to learn. The Access to School Supplies Act of 2026 would strengthen federal support for public schools and help ensure that a family’s income does not determine whether a student has the basic materials they need to succeed. The purpose of the legislation is to: Provide school supplies at no cost to students and instructional staff; Increase the number of students who have access to the supplies needed to maintain a stable learning environment; and Improve student academic achievement, particularly for students from low-income families. Under the legislation, the Department of Education would allocate $100 million annually through a pilot program to: 10 local educational agencies (LEAs) with at least one high-poverty school in their district through competitive grants administered by the Department of Education; and The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and outlying areas through formula grants that do not require applications, reducing the burden on smaller communities and ensuring they are not forced to compete with larger LEAs for critical resources. The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Alma Adams, Wesley Bell, Suzanne Bonamici, Shontel Brown, Troy Carter, Greg Casar, Yvette Clarke, Chuy García, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Frederica Wilson. The bill is endorsed by The Education Partnership, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), SchoolHouse Connection, All4Ed, EdTrust, Children's Defense Fund Action (CDF Action), and Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. "Teachers should not have to buy their own classroom. The Education Partnership distributes free supplies, everything from pencils and desk chairs to snacks and clothing, into the hands of 12,500 educators and their 82,000 students across southwestern Pennsylvania every year, and Congresswoman Lee's Access to School Supplies Act would bring that same relief to classrooms nationwide. Of critical concern, nearly 68 percent of the educators we serve tell us this support factored into their decision to stay in the classroom. We are proud to stand with Congresswoman Lee and all educators in providing the right resources for education to flourish today and tomorrow,” said Josh Whiteside, Executive Director of The Education Partnership. “At SHC, we know that access to basic school supplies isn’t a luxury - it’s a lifeline for students, especially those experiencing homelessness. By equipping local schools in high-poverty areas, the Access to School Supplies Act will enable school districts to have more tools in the fight to reduce chronic absenteeism and create the stable, supportive environments every student deserves. We wholeheartedly endorse this legislation and urge Congress to act swiftly to ensure no child falls behind for lack of the most fundamental tools,” said Barbara Duffield, Executive Director of SchoolHouse Connection. A copy of the bill text can be found here . Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Judiciary and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.