The Workforce for AI Trust Act directs the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to expand the American workforce capable of developing and governing artificial intelligence. It establishes new fellowship programs to train graduate and postdoctoral researchers from diverse fields, including the humanities and social sciences, to focus on the trustworthy design and evaluation of AI systems. Additionally, the bill requires NIST to create a standardized framework that defines the skills and roles needed for AI work, aiming to help industries and government agencies better identify and fill talent gaps. These provisions also mandate that peer review panels for AI research include experts from multiple disciplines to ensure broad perspectives are considered during the evaluation process.
This bill, known as the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act, strengthens the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to better support children who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or blind or visually impaired. It requires schools to identify these students regardless of how they are currently classified and mandates that they receive specialized instruction in their primary language, such as American Sign Language or Braille, rather than being served only under general disability categories. The legislation also establishes a new national center within the Department of Education to fund research, provide professional training, and develop curricula specifically for educators serving students with visual disabilities. Additionally, the bill improves early intervention services for infants and toddlers by ensuring evaluations focus on unique language and communication needs and by increasing the availability of qualified teachers and interveners.
Marcus's Law requires high school students in grades 9 through 12 to undergo an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram before participating in their first athletic contest starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This mandate applies to schools receiving federal education funds and includes provisions for partnerships to keep the cost of these screenings at $20 or less per student. The bill allows for waivers if schools cannot secure these partnerships despite making sufficient attempts and provides exemptions for students with religious objections or valid medical reasons.
The FRESH Act establishes a grant program to help schools purchase and install refrigeration equipment for storing and dispensing milk. This funding is available to local school districts, tribal organizations, and their consortia on a competitive basis, with the federal government covering up to 75 percent of the project costs. The bill authorizes $4 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to support these initiatives under the National School Lunch Act.
The BANNED in Latin America Act requires the Secretary of State to create a plan within 180 days to counter Iranian and Hezbollah influence in the region. This strategy must outline steps to limit Iranian cultural centers, restrict the travel of Iranian agents, and boost intelligence efforts to monitor these groups' networks. It also calls for actions to shut down specific media platforms like HispanTV and Al Mayadeen Español, as well as designating Iran's Al Mustafa International University network as a terrorist entity. The final report will be submitted to Congress and can include a classified section with sensitive details.
HR 5541, the Every Kid Outdoors Reauthorization Act, expands eligibility for the program to include fifth graders (ages 10-11) and home-schooled learners in that age range, replacing the previous requirement for 10-year-olds. The bill authorizes $25 million annually for the National Park Service to support program operations, promote the initiative to schools and families, provide transportation assistance to financially needy schools and organizations, and conduct targeted outreach to underserved communities and children with disabilities. This reauthorization directly affects fifth-grade students and home-schooled learners aged 10-11, as well as schools and youth organizations participating in the program. The key change is broadening the age group served while maintaining the program's funding structure for operational support and equitable access.
The Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act extends the funding authorization for the African American Civil Rights Network by three years. This change allows the network to continue its operations and support civil rights education for an additional period beyond the original seven-year limit. The bill directly affects the federal funding available to this specific organization but does not alter its core mission or activities. By updating the timeline in the relevant section of the U.S. Code, the legislation ensures continued financial support without changing the program's substantive provisions.
The READ Act aims to improve student literacy by directing federal funding toward evidence-based reading instruction known as the science of reading, which explicitly teaches phonics and decoding while prohibiting the use of the three-cueing model. Under this bill, the U.S. Department of Education would distribute grants to states, with a specific focus on those performing in the lowest tier of reading assessments, to implement statewide policies, update teacher training standards, and provide universal early literacy screenings for all students before third grade. The legislation also requires schools to notify parents when a student is identified as at risk for reading difficulties and mandates that these notifications be provided in the family's primary language. Additionally, the act allocates funds to support high-quality instructional materials, literacy coaching for teachers, and interventions like tutoring for struggling readers, while ensuring that federal money supplements rather than replaces local education spending.
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027 This bill provides FY2027 appropriations to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration, the Veterans' Employment and Training Service, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Wage and Hour Division, the Office of Labor-Management Standards, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Office of Disability Employment Policy, and Departmental Management. The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration for Community Living, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and the Office of the Secretary. The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Education for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education; the Office of Federal Student Aid; the Office of Postsecondary Education; the Institute of Education Sciences; and Departmental Management. The bill also provides appropriations to several related agencies, including the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the National Council on Disability, the National Labor Relations Board, the National Mediation Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the Social Security Administration. The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.
The Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2026 creates a new funding program to support junior and community colleges in expanding their agriculture and natural resources programs. The bill authorizes $20 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for competitive grants that colleges can use to improve workforce training, education, research, and outreach. Eligible institutions may use these funds to purchase equipment, hire faculty, develop apprenticeships, and offer courses in farm business management. The legislation also allows colleges to apply for a special designation as a center of excellence to demonstrate best practices and provide regional leadership.
