Public Charge Clarification Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 3602 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3602 To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify the definitions of ``public charge'' and ``likely at any time to become a public charge,'' to establish requirements for affidavits of support and public charge bonds, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 8 (legislative day, January 7), 2026 Mr. Marshall (for himself and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify the definitions of ``public charge'' and ``likely at any time to become a public charge,'' to establish requirements for affidavits of support and public charge bonds, and for other purposes. 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 ``Public Charge Clarification Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Section 212(a)(4)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(4)(A)) establishes that an alien who, in the opinion of the consular officer or the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is likely at any time to become a public charge is inadmissible. (2) In section 212(a)(4)(B) of such Act, Congress laid out specific factors to be considered in determining whether an alien is likely to become a public charge, including the alien's age, health, family status, assets, resources, financial status, education, and skills, and any affidavit of support executed by a sponsor of such alien in accordance with section 213A(a)(1) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1183a(a)(1)). (3) These