Education

# Summary of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This comprehensive appropriations bill allocates funding for the fiscal year 2026 to the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education, and several related agencies. The bill contains numerous specific funding allocations, restrictions, and procedural requirements. Key elements include: 1. **Major Funding Areas**: - HHS receives significant funding for programs including Medicaid, CHIP, Social Security, and public health initiatives - Education receives substantial funding for student financial assistance, career and technical education, and research - Related agencies receive funding for programs like the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Social Security Administration 2. **Key Restrictions**: - Prohibits using funds for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or to save a woman's life (Section 506-507) - Bans funding for embryonic research or creation of human embryos for research (Section 508) - Prohibits funding for advocacy of drug legalization (Section 509) - Requires transparency in reporting how federal funds are used (Section 505) - Prohibits using funds for propaganda or political activities (Section 503) 3. **Specific Provisions**: - Requires detailed reporting to Congress about fund usage (Sections 516-517) - Mandates notification to Congress before reprogramming funds (Section 514) - Includes numerous rescission provisions that cancel previously appropriated funds - Contains specific requirements for managing federal contracts and grants - Establishes restrictions on using funds for certain types of research or activities 4. **Notable Funding Amounts**: - $24.6 billion for Student Financial Assistance - $49.4 billion for the Supplemental Security Income Program - $14.7 billion for Social Security Administration administrative expenses - $3.2 billion for Higher Education programs - $2.1 billion for Career, Technical, and Adult Education The bill represents a comprehensive funding package with specific constraints on how funds may be used, reflecting ongoing policy debates about government spending priorities in health, education, and social services.

The School Guardian Act of 2025 creates a federal grant program to fund armed law enforcement officers at K-12 schools. It allocates $80 billion from unused IRS funds over 10 years, with grants distributed to states based on their share of national K-12 student enrollment. States must then award subgrants to local law enforcement agencies to hire at least one full-time officer per school, covering pay, training, and equipment costs. States must report annually on how funds are used, including the number of schools and officers supported.

This bill establishes the Law Enforcement Education Grant Program, providing $4,000 annual grants to students pursuing associate or bachelor's degrees in law enforcement or criminal justice. To qualify, students must be enrolled at approved institutions, complete required coursework, and agree to serve as full-time law enforcement officers for four years within eight years of graduation. Failure to fulfill this service obligation requires repayment of the grants as federal loans, with repayment terms mirroring unsubsidized Stafford Loans. The program is funded separately from Pell Grants and Direct Loans, with a lifetime cap of $16,000 per recipient.

The RAYS Act (HR 7092) requires secondary schools to include suicide prevention contact information on student identification cards or, if cards aren't issued, on school websites and student-accessible online platforms. Schools must list the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, and a local suicide prevention hotline. The bill also allows schools to optionally add more mental health resources and mandates federal outreach to inform students, parents, and staff about these services. It takes effect one year after enactment for physical ID cards and 60 days later for digital methods.

HR 7690 increases the maximum monthly stipends for students in the TRIO Upward Bound program for fiscal year 2027, tripling previous rates to $180 for some participants and $900 for others. It also establishes a $300 monthly stipend for veterans in programs specifically designed for them during 2027. Starting in 2028, stipend amounts will automatically adjust annually based on the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation. The bill directly affects low-income high school students and veterans participating in TRIO Upward Bound, which provides academic support to prepare them for college.

HR 5428 creates a federal grant program to support medical education for students planning to work in underserved areas. It provides $75 million annually (2026-2028) to accredited public medical schools in states with severe primary care physician shortages, prioritizing schools in states with multiple Indian Tribes and partnerships with tribal organizations or health centers. Grantees must use funds for community-based training, developing primary care programs emphasizing Tribal/rural underserved communities, faculty development, scholarships, and tracking graduates' practice locations. The bill directly affects medical schools and future physicians committed to serving Tribal, rural, or medically underserved communities after residency.

This bill reissues a contract for the "Charting My Path for Future Success" project, which trains educators to help high school students with disabilities set goals, create action plans, and track progress toward post-graduation success. It directly affects students with disabilities in 62 high schools across 13 local districts, where 61 educators currently support 1,600 students. The key mechanism requires the Secretary of Education to continue funding the existing nonprofit project - previously awarded under IDEA - by reissuing its solicitation. The bill ensures the project’s funding cannot be canceled without congressional approval, maintaining continuity for participating students and schools.

HR 5524, the Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2025, would create a federal grant program to help states establish or expand full-day prekindergarten programs for all 3- and 4-year-olds, regardless of family income. States receiving grants must use funds to create programs at public schools that operate year-round, employ qualified teachers, and allow voluntary enrollment by parents. The federal government would cover up to 80% of program costs, requiring states to supplement existing early childhood education funding without reducing it. This bill directly affects preschoolers and their families in participating states, aiming to expand access to publicly provided early education.

The RISE from Trauma Act establishes new federal grant programs to support community-based approaches for preventing and mitigating trauma, particularly for children and youth who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma. It authorizes $600 million annually (2026-2033) for local coordinating bodies that bring together representatives from health, education, criminal justice, and community organizations to develop trauma-informed strategies. The bill also creates hospital-based intervention programs to reduce readmissions for trauma survivors, reauthorizes school-based trauma support services, and funds training for front-line providers to better identify and respond to trauma. The legislation focuses on evidence-based approaches to build resilience and address trauma in communities facing high rates of violence, substance use, and other trauma-inducing conditions.

This non-binding Senate resolution expresses concern about rising book bans in schools and libraries, citing data showing over 6,800 individual book removals since July 2024 across 23 states. It highlights how bans disproportionately target books about race, LGBTQ+ experiences, and marginalized histories - such as *The Handmaid’s Tale* and *Maus* - and urges schools to follow established guidelines for handling book challenges. The resolution calls for returning books removed from military schools under recent executive orders and opposes content-based censorship in public education.