Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Bill to Establish a Guaranteed Income

Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Bill to Establish a Guaranteed Income

The Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act of 2025 would Establish Program to Test a Guaranteed Monthly Income and Study Impacts

Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced the reintroduction of the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act, legislation that would establish a nationwide pilot program to test the viability of a federally funded income support program that keeps more American families from experiencing permanent financial fallout and lasting poverty from a single unexpected crisis.

While millionaires and billionaires thrive on the labor of hard-working Americans, those working families see just a fraction of the profits and continue to live paycheck-to-paycheck. Increasing automation and advancing A.I. have the potential to expand human flourishing. However, the concentration of control of those technologies into the hands of a few billionaires may mean the eventual loss of the livelihoods of millions of Americans.

The Coronavirus pandemic, while devastating for everyday families, resulted in the wealthiest Americans doubling their fortunes and widening the gap between the super-rich and the rest of us. The recurring government shutdowns and illegal firings of the federal workforce show the precariousness of what was once believed to be steady, secure jobs. A universal guaranteed income would help insulate working Americans from natural and man-made disasters and the economic fallout.

"Tens of millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Almost three in five do not have the savings to weather an emergency expense of $1000. Events like the Coronavirus Pandemic, economic fluctuations, and increasing automation and job losses threaten to wipe out what little savings they have, to finally push them to homelessness, to reinforce the fact that in the wealthiest nation in the world, too many families are just a single mishap away from financial devastation," said Watson Coleman. "What we learned when Congress made the decision to send economic impact payments through the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan was that our government can prevent people from falling into poverty, it can build a floor beneath which we say no one in this country should fall. This bill is all about looking at ways to make that floor permanent, giving more families the sense of economic security they deserve."

"Our families are struggling with the rising cost of basic necessities like health care, child care, housing, and groceries," said Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12). "Many households are just one medical emergency or job loss away from financial disaster. I'm proud to cosponsor the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act which recognizes that all families deserve a secure economic foundation."

"We are the richest country in the world at the richest moment in history. It is our duty to ensure that all Americans have access to fundamental rights like food and shelter. I am proud to join Rep. Watson Coleman in introducing the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act. This bill will help gather data about guaranteed income as an innovative way to reduce inequality and create economic security," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). "Local leaders across the country are leading the way. My hometown of Evanston, Illinois, recently piloted a guaranteed income program, and I am enthused to bring that same energy to the federal level. Families are counting on us, let's get it done."

"At home, I hear constantly about how hard it is for so many folks to just get by. I came to Congress to find solutions for people that make a real difference," said Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10). "This program is about testing a smart, practical way to give people a little bit more breathing room. Americans aren't asking for easy, but they are asking for just a little easier. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act because it will help us explore a promising way to help people keep up and build the stability they deserve."

"The wealth disparities in America, and especially in areas with high cost of living, have grown exponentially and made it extremely difficult for low income working families to make ends meet. So many are living paycheck to paycheck, worried if they'll be able to afford rent, food, medical care and other basic necessities. Creating a nationwide basic income pilot program is an important first step to ensuring families can not only survive, but thrive and improve outcomes for generations to come," said Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15).

The Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act of 2025 would establish a three-year nationwide pilot program that gives a monthly support payment to individual taxpayers implemented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

• The pilot program created by the bill would distribute monthly cash payments to included participants in amounts equal to fair market rent for a 2-bedroom home in their zip code, or a similar amount to be determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with payments arriving on or near the 15th day of each month.

• Payments to participants made through the pilot program would not be considered when determining eligibility for federal or federally assisted state or local assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid.

• The bill requires HHS to work with a non-profit academic or research institution with experience in mixed-method experimental design to support development of the pilot program and ensure measurable results.

• The pilot program would include 20,000 individuals, including a control group of 10,000, to allow comparison of economic security for the families involved at the end of the three-year period.

• The bill requires HHS, the Internal Revenue Service, and the designated research institution to provide an interim report on the pilot program's outcomes within 24 months of implementation, and a final report within 12 months of the program's conclusion.

"At the Denver Basic Income Project, we've seen that reliable, unconditional monthly cash gives people immediate financial breathing room, improves housing stability, reduces reliance on emergency services, and restores a sense of agency and hope," said Mark Donovan, founder and Executive Director of Denver Basic Income Project. "As millions of Americans are facing uncertainty over wages, benefits, and vital services, guaranteed income offers a stabilizing force-a simple, direct intervention that cuts through bureaucracy and helps people rebuild their lives with dignity. We urge Congress to pass the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act and give our nation the chance to scale this proven, evidence-based solution to strengthen families and communities nationwide."

"When families have the financial breathing room to cover basics and plan for the future, they thrive - and so do their communities," said Lelaine Bigelow, Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty & Inequality. "Evidence from guaranteed income programs in cities like Stockton and Los Angeles shows that consistent cash payments improve food security, reduce stress, and help parents cover essential expenses. When government shutdowns interrupt access to programs such as SNAP and WIC, guaranteed income provides a measure of stability that allows families to stay afloat and keep their communities strong."

"As the Government shutdown risks costing 42 million Americans their food assistance, even as the economy is beginning to soften, we are reminded of the critical importance of guaranteed income to help provide a basic floor of economic support to all families," said Jeremy Rosen, Director of Economic Justice at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. " With that in mind the introduction of the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program could not come at a more important time."

"Guaranteed basic income is a bold act of justice - a recognition that healing our economy requires centering those who have been most excluded from it," said Dr. Michelle Burton, CEO at Rising Communities

"In the face of government shutdowns and wage inequality, we must remember Shirley Chisholm's unwavering belief in inclusive governance and economic justice." Barbara Bullard, President and CEO, The Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute. "Her legacy reminds us that fair wages are not a privilege-they are a right. She stood against the systemic barriers that kept women and minorities underpaid and undervalued, and her voice still echoes in today's fight for equity. Let her legacy be our call to action."

The Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act's cosponsors include Reps. Reps. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry "Hank" Johnson (GA-04), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15)

Organizations endorsing the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act: NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Rising Communities, Economic Security Project Action, Denver Basic Income Project, OxFam America, Universal Income Project, United for Guaranteed Income, Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, The Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy (The New School), Georgetown Center on Poverty & Inequality

The bill in its entirety can be found here.