Portable Benefits Access and Modernization Act

Status: HopperSession: November 2026 Senate SessionIssue: Social Programs

Summary

The bill would create a secure federal portal for applying for and managing nutrition, health, and housing assistance while preserving paper, phone, and in-person access. It mandates privacy safeguards, fraud controls, security audits, public reporting, and congressional funding before implementation.

Full text

This Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a secure, interoperable digital portal through which eligible individuals may apply for and manage federally funded social programs, including nutrition, health, and housing assistance, while retaining in-person, telephone, and paper application options. The portal shall use privacy-protective data practices, plain-language notices, multilingual access, identity verification, and consent-based information sharing; shall not reduce eligibility or benefits; and shall require annual independent security audits, fraud controls, public performance reporting, and authorization of appropriations before implementation.

Sponsor

Jamal BennettDemocratic Party

Cosponsors

Dre ThompsonDemocratic Party
Eugene LaneDemocratic Party

Voting

Voting is not active for this bill yet. Return later once the bill advances to the voting phase.