This bill, known as the EMPOWER for Health Act, extends federal funding for health workforce programs through fiscal year 2030, directly supporting medical schools, residency programs, and health education centers. It increases annual appropriations for various initiatives that train and place healthcare professionals in underserved areas, including specific programs for pediatric care and area health education centers. The legislation also updates eligibility requirements and service obligations for participants, ensuring that training programs align with current medical practice standards and that graduates serve in communities with healthcare shortages.
The NSF AI Education Act of 2026 directs the National Science Foundation to award scholarships and fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students studying artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and related fields. The bill establishes new programs to support AI education at community colleges, vocational schools, and historically underserved institutions, including priority funding for rural, Tribal, and minority-serving institutions. It also authorizes grants for AI research in agriculture and advanced manufacturing, requires the development of guidance for AI use in K-12 education, and mandates the creation of workforce frameworks for AI and other emerging technologies. The legislation includes provisions to restrict funding to institutions with certain civil rights violations and establishes requirements for oversight of public-private partnerships and foreign contributions.
School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act This bill provides certain resources to increase the number of social workers in elementary and secondary schools. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to high-need local educational agencies to retain or hire school social workers. The bill also establishes a national technical assistance center for school social work to, among other duties, develop strategies for improving the effectiveness of the school social work workforce.
This bill, titled the Agricultural Management Assistance Act of 2026, amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to expand education and risk management support for agricultural producers and crop insurance providers. It requires the inclusion of language translation services in educational programs and adds specific conservation practices like soil health improvements, sustainable water sources, and agroforestry to the list of eligible activities. The legislation also increases funding limits, raising the five-year payment cap to $200,000 and authorizing $20 million annually to support these expanded assistance programs.
This bill establishes a new congressional commission called the Commission on American Civics Renewal to study and improve civics education across all levels of schooling. The commission will be made up of eight members appointed by Senate and House leaders, and it will review current civics programs, gather best practices, and develop a proposed curriculum for students in elementary, secondary, and higher education. After completing its work, the commission must submit its curriculum and a national strategy to Congress and the Department of Education, which will then make these materials available to state and local education agencies. The commission will operate for approximately two years and is funded with $2 million to carry out its duties.
This bill, titled the African American History Act of 2026, authorizes the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to use up to $4 million annually for five years to support African American history education programs. The funding can be used to create digital and print educational resources, provide teacher training and professional development, expand museum collections, and develop online content for educators, students, and families. The legislation also requires the museum director to submit annual reports to Congress and provide briefings to congressional committees on how the funds are being used. Additionally, the bill includes a sense of Congress statement encouraging the federal government to lead efforts in improving the teaching of African American and other minority group histories.
This bill, titled the Kids in Classes Act, allows local school districts to use Title I federal education funds directly to parents if a school fails to provide in-person instruction for more than three days due to public health emergencies or collective bargaining disputes. Under the new provisions, parents would receive direct payments equal to the per-student funding amount for each day the school remains closed, which they can use for educational expenses such as tutoring, online learning materials, private school tuition, or educational therapies for students with disabilities. The bill requires school districts to establish a payment plan and verify that funds are spent on qualified educational expenses through receipts or by requiring returns of unused amounts within 30 days of the school reopening.
This bill, known as the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act, aims to restore federal student loan limits that were previously reduced for graduate and professional students. It directly affects students pursuing advanced degrees such as law, medicine, and education by increasing the amount of federal loans they can access. The legislation reverses specific loan cap reductions established by Public Law 119-21, allowing students to borrow more money during their period of instruction. By amending the Higher Education Act of 1965, the bill removes certain restrictions on annual and aggregate loan amounts for these student categories.
This bill exempts public school employees from a $100,000 fee required for H-1B work visas under a 2025 presidential proclamation. It directly affects foreign workers seeking to work in specialty occupations at public schools or school districts in the United States. The legislation removes the financial barrier for these specific workers while leaving other visa fee requirements unchanged. This change ensures that public school employees can apply for H-1B visas without paying the additional non-processing related fee imposed by the proclamation.
This bill, known as the HBCU AI Research Leadership Act, directs the Department of Energy to set aside at least 10% of its funding for national artificial intelligence research institutes specifically for historically Black colleges and universities. The legislation amends the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to ensure these institutions can receive financial assistance to establish and support AI research programs, either individually or through partnerships with other educational institutions. By adding a formal definition for historically Black colleges and universities, the bill clarifies which schools qualify for this designated funding allocation. The measure aims to increase participation and capacity in AI research within HBCUs without changing the overall funding structure of the national AI initiative.
