H.R. 8209, School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act of 2026
Advance legislation to reauthorize school-based health centers in 2026.
Occurrences
We appreciate that the Subcommittee on Health will be considering the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act of 2026 (HR 8209) later today.
Evidence
“To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the school-based health centers grant program.” The bill was introduced in the House on April 6, 2026, and would amend section 399Z–1(m) to authorize $55,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
The Energy and Commerce Committee markup page lists H.R. 8209, the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act of 2026, and includes it among the bills receiving a final-passage committee vote on 05/21/26.
Tonko said he “authored and introduced H.R. 8209” and that he “spoke in support of this legislation during today’s Energy and Commerce Committee markup,” adding that bipartisan support helped move the bill through committee.
The document says the funds in H.R. 8209 “provide FQHCs within the 330 Health Centers Program access to important resources dedicated to expanding SBHCs,” and notes that most Title I schools still lack a school-based health center.
The daily digest lists H.R. 8209, the “School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act of 2026,” on the House committee markup schedule for May 21, 2026.
Assessments
In 2026, H.R. 8209, the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act of 2026, was introduced and advanced through House Energy and Commerce Committee markup on May 21, 2026, so the underlying policy goal did see real legislative movement during the same federal term. However, the evidence credits Rep. Paul Tonko as the bill's author and public advocate, and it does not show Ken Calvert sponsoring, writing, or materially advancing the measure himself. Because the promised outcome was only partially realized and the available record does not support strong candidate-specific credit for Calvert, this is best scored as partial rather than delivered.
Evidence shows concrete advancement of school-based health center reauthorization legislation in 2026: H.R. 8209 was introduced and then received a committee markup and final-passage committee vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee in May 2026. That satisfies the promise to 'advance legislation' at least through a meaningful legislative step. However, the provided evidence does not show enactment or full congressional passage, and it does not clearly attribute primary authorship or leadership to Ken Calvert specifically, as another member is identified as the bill's author and advocate. So the best judgment is partial fulfillment through legislative advancement during the same term.