Education (Student Health) in United States

in committee · United States · House Jun 12, 2025

HR 3943: Opportunity To Address College Hunger Act

This bill requires colleges receiving federal work-study funds to notify eligible students about potential eligibility for the SNAP food assistance program. It specifically targets students participating in federal work-study or receiving Pell Grants, mandating that institutions send email notifications with state-specific SNAP eligibility details and a document confirming their work-study status to overcome a key ineligibility barrier. The notifications, developed jointly by the Education and Agriculture Departments, include application contacts and guidance for schools on identifying eligible students. The policy change directly enables more college students to access nutrition assistance by clarifying their SNAP eligibility through institutional outreach.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Student Health

in committee · United States · House Apr 1, 2025

HR 2539: FISCAL Act

Freedom in School Cafeterias and Lunches Act or the FISCAL Act This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to require that schools offer plant-based milk. Under current law, schools must provide a substitute for fluid milk for students whose disability restricts their diet (on receipt of a written statement from a licensed physician). Schools may also substitute a nondairy beverage for fluid milk for students who have an identified medical or other special dietary need (on receipt of a written statement from a medical authority or a student's parent or legal guardian). The bill eliminates the exceptions and documentation requirements. Instead, schools participating in the school lunch program must offer all students a plant-based milk option that is consistent with (1) the most recent U.S. Dietary Guidelines, or (2) USDA-established nutritional standards if the milk is not included under those guidelines.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Student Health

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 12, 2025

S 2050: ASSIST Act

The ASSIST Act (S 2050) increases federal funding for mental health and substance use disorder services provided in schools and school-based health centers. It raises the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for these services to 90% for states, starting one year after enactment, while ensuring this doesn’t reduce existing federal payments or count against territorial spending limits. The bill also creates a new grant program administered by the Health and Human Services Secretary to fund entities like school districts and universities in hiring more licensed mental health providers, requiring culturally competent care and annual reporting on provider numbers and service effectiveness. It prohibits using grant funds for threat assessment teams and mandates a report to Congress on the program’s effectiveness within 18 months.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Student Health Testing & Assessment Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

in committee · United States · House Sep 15, 2025

HR 5353: Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act

HR 5353, the Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act, creates a federal pilot program to fund evidence-based mental health peer support programs in secondary schools (grades 6-12). It provides competitive grants to states, tribes, or school districts to train student helpers and school professionals to support peers facing mental health challenges, with programs overseen by school-based mental health professionals. The program requires measuring participation, training details, and impacts on student mental health outcomes, with annual reports to Congress. The initiative expires on September 30, 2029.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

in committee · United States · House Apr 8, 2025

HR 2739: Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act

This bill prohibits federal funding for school police officers and establishes a $5 billion grant program to help schools replace law enforcement with mental health professionals like counselors, social workers, and psychologists. It requires schools to eliminate police contracts before receiving funds and mandates that grant money be used for trauma-informed services, restorative justice programs, and evidence-based mental health support instead of punitive discipline. The bill directly affects schools with police presence but insufficient mental health staff, particularly those serving Black, Latino, Native American, and other marginalized students who face racial disparities in school discipline. It aims to reduce the school-to-prison pipeline by shifting resources from law enforcement to supportive services that address students' needs. The legislation includes reporting requirements for schools to track disciplinary practices and demographic data to monitor progress in reducing disparities.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing School Safety Student Health Mental Health

in committee · United States · House Jun 12, 2025

HR 3968: School Violence Prevention Act

HR 3968, the School Violence Prevention Act, creates a federal grant program to fund school-based violence prevention programs in communities with severe gun violence. It authorizes $25 million annually (2025-2031) for grants to partnerships between state/local education agencies and community nonprofits in areas experiencing high homicide rates (e.g., 35+ homicides annually) or double the national violent crime arrest rate for youth. Grants must support evidence-based programs for K-12 students - including trauma-informed counseling, conflict resolution skills, mental health access, and community engagement - while requiring annual data collection on outcomes like graduation rates. All programs must be evaluated by grantees and independent researchers, with reports shared publicly and submitted to Congress every three years.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Firearms Violent Crime K-12 Education School Safety Student Health

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 30, 2025

S 2944: No Shame at School Act of 2025

This bill (S 2944) requires schools to automatically certify students from households with unpaid meal fees for free or reduced-price meals (replacing discretionary eligibility checks) and mandates retroactive reimbursement for meals served during the current school year. It directly affects students and families who owe school meal fees ("covered children") and requires schools to stop stigmatizing them - banning special tokens, segregated seating, or public lists identifying unpaid fees. Schools must also avoid contacting students directly about fees, withhold grades or activities, or use debt collectors when collecting unpaid meal debts. The law aims to eliminate shame around meal fees by ensuring equitable access to school meals and protecting students from discrimination.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Student Health

in committee · United States · House Sep 18, 2025

HR 5480: Make America's Youth Healthy Again Act of 2025

The Make America's Youth Healthy Again Act of 2025 establishes a new President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to advise the President on youth health initiatives. The Council, appointed by the President with up to 30 members serving two-year terms, will recommend strategies to reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test, develop school-based physical education programs, expand community sports access, and address childhood obesity as a national security concern. Key provisions include advising on fitness goals for American youth, promoting partnerships with sports organizations, and emphasizing active lifestyles and nutrition. The Council will terminate two years after enactment unless extended by the President. This bill directly affects federal policy coordination for youth fitness programs but does not create new funding or mandate changes to existing laws.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Student Health

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 547: Train More Nurses Act

This bill requires the Health and Human Services and Labor Secretaries to review all federal grant programs supporting nurses and submit a report to Congress within one year. The report must include recommendations to improve three specific goals: increasing nursing faculty (especially in areas with nurse shortages), creating career advancement routes for experienced nurses to become faculty, and expanding pathways for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to become registered nurses (RNs). It directly affects nursing education programs and the nursing workforce by focusing on strengthening the pipeline to address shortages. The bill itself does not fund new programs but sets up a review process to inform future policy changes.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Student Health Healthcare Workforce

in committee · United States · House Sep 23, 2025

HR 5557: Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 would establish a federal grant program to fund school-based mental health services for students in grades K-12, particularly those experiencing trauma, grief, suicide risk, or violence. It directly affects schools (including Bureau of Indian Education schools), students, and community mental health providers through partnerships that must include school districts and local mental health entities. Key provisions require services to be culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and integrated with positive behavioral supports, with grants capped at $2 million per award for 5 years (renewable) and funded at $300 million annually for 2027-2028. Recipients must report annually on program outcomes, ensure equitable access across urban and rural areas, and comply with privacy laws like HIPAA and FERPA.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health Mental Health

All education bills