Rep. Tonko introduces bill in U.S. House to reauthorize school-based health centers grant program

The new bill, authored by U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, aims to continue funding for school-based health centers to maintain access to essential health services for students, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.8209 was introduced on April 6, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the school-based health centers grant program. It specifically proposes to allocate $55 million for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031, replacing the previous funding provision that authorized necessary sums for fiscal years 2022 through 2026. By securing this funding, the bill seeks to ensure continued financial support for health centers located within schools, which provide essential health services to students. The effective period for the reauthorization spans five years, emphasizing the commitment to maintaining accessible health care for children in educational settings.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Paul Tonko (Democrat-NY-20th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Jack Bergman (Republican-NY-1st District) and Rep. Troy Balderson (Republican-NY-12th District).

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Tonko has introduced another 13 bills.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Paul Tonko is a Representative from New York, elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Eleventh and to the eight succeeding Congresses since January 3, 2009. He previously served in the New York state assembly from 1983 to 2007 and was chairman of the Montgomery County board of supervisors from 1981 to 1983.

Tonko graduated with a B.S. from Clarkson University in 1971 and began his career as a public works engineer and an employee of the state transportation agency. He also served as president of the New York state energy research and development authority from 2007 to 2008.

Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.