This bill establishes MED Grants for medical students who commit to 10 years of primary care practice, DENTAL Grants for dental students who commit to 10 years of rural practice, and NURSE Grants for nursing students. It authorizes $2.8 billion for medical school enrollment expansion (50% increase by year 2), $1.98 billion for nursing schools (30% increase by year 2), and $615 million for dental schools (20% increase by year 2) over fiscal years 2026-2035. The bill also allocates 5,022 additional Medicare residency positions annually (with 15% for psychiatry and 30% for primary care) and increases teaching health center funding with annual increases starting at $892.5 million in 2026. Additionally, it creates a $1.8 billion rural relocation grant program to help health care professionals move to rural areas with a 3-year commitment requirement.
The Kids Need Lunch Act (HR 7542) would make all children enrolled in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program eligible for free lunches, removing income-based eligibility requirements. It establishes a national average payment rate of $4.86 for free lunches (adjusted annually for inflation) and creates a program to reimburse schools for unpaid meal debt. Schools would no longer be allowed to collect unpaid lunch charges but could continue to accrue debt for reimbursement purposes. The bill affects public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and requires the USDA to administer the reimbursement program within 180 days of the effective date.
S 2913, the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act, prevents federal funding from being used to restructure or eliminate offices within the Department of Education that administer disability-related programs. The bill specifically prohibits using funds to: (1) dismantle or merge offices serving students with disabilities (under IDEA) or adults with disabilities (under the Rehabilitation Act), (2) change staff roles that could undermine these programs, or (3) outsource these services to outside organizations. It directly affects the Department of Education’s disability program offices and the students and adults who rely on their services. The bill maintains existing program structures by restricting how federal funds can be allocated, ensuring compliance with current laws like IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act.
This bill would establish federal grants to support comprehensive sex education and sexual health services for young people ages 10-29, with specific emphasis on making these programs evidence-informed, medically accurate, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and inclusive of diverse identities. The bill authorizes $100 million annually for five years to fund programs in schools, colleges, and youth organizations that provide age-appropriate education on topics like anatomy, contraception, consent, healthy relationships, and STI prevention. It specifically requires programs to address racial and gender equity, serve underserved youth (including Black, Indigenous, Latine, LGBTQ+, and low-income youth), and avoid harmful practices like abstinence-only education. The bill repeals the "abstinence-only-until-marriage" program and redirects those funds to support the new comprehensive approach, requiring grantees to report on program impact including how many young people were served and how programs address racial and gender equity.
HR 5867, the Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act, creates a federal grant program to help schools serve 100% plant-based meal options. It authorizes $10 million for grants to school food authorities (specifically those serving 50%+ students eligible for free/reduced-price meals) over three years to cover staff training, meal preparation, community partnerships, and procurement from underserved farmers. The bill also establishes a separate $2 million pilot to reimburse schools for nondairy beverage substitutions for students with dietary needs, prioritizing schools with high lactose intolerance rates. Both pilots require annual reporting on participation, meal counts, and fund usage, with final reports submitted to Congress.
The PROTECT Students Act of 2025 establishes new financial transparency requirements for higher education programs, measuring debt-to-earnings ratios and earnings premiums to help students evaluate program value and financial outcomes. It strengthens borrower defense mechanisms allowing students to seek loan forgiveness for misleading practices by institutions and prohibits schools from restricting students' legal rights through arbitration agreements. The bill requires institutions to spend at least 30% of tuition revenue on instruction and student services, with annual reporting to the Department of Education. It creates an enforcement unit within the Office of Federal Student Aid to investigate misconduct and increases transparency by requiring public disclosure of complaint data, financial information, and oversight activities.
HR 1409, the College Thriving Act, authorizes $50 million in grants to fund "skills-for-success" courses for first-year college students at eligible institutions. The bill requires participating colleges to develop non-graded, low-student-to-teacher courses covering mental wellbeing, time management, conflict resolution, and campus resource connections - available to all first-year students at the start of their enrollment. Grants are awarded competitively, with priority to schools where at least half of students qualify for Pell Grants, and must be used over a 5-year period across four phases: course development (year 1), pilot testing (year 2), and full implementation with ongoing evaluation (years 3-5). The program mandates annual reporting on course implementation and outcomes to the Department of Education.
The Jumpstart on College Act would provide $250 million annually for six years to expand early college high schools and dual enrollment programs, with a focus on serving low-income students and underrepresented groups. It creates two grant programs: one for partnerships between institutions of higher education and local schools, and another for states to develop statewide strategies for program expansion. Recipients must serve at least 51% low-income students, provide matching funds (ranging from 20-50% of grant amounts), and collect data on student outcomes. States must identify barriers to program access and update high school diploma requirements to align with college readiness standards. The law requires annual reporting on program effectiveness, including disaggregated data for different student populations to track progress toward postsecondary credential completion.
The VALOR Act of 2025 modifies the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to better support military service members and veterans with federal student loans. It directly affects borrowers who served in covered active duty, including National Guard members and the NOAA commissioned corps, during their loan repayment period. Key provisions count deferred or forbearance payments made while serving as qualifying payments, waive the standard 10-year full-time public service requirement if the borrower completed 10 years of active duty during the loan term, and allow borrowers to receive forgiveness regardless of when they enrolled in PSLF.
SRES 132 is a Senate resolution designating March 24, 2025, as "National Women of Color in Tech Day." It recognizes the contributions of women of color in technology and highlights ongoing challenges they face in the tech industry, including underrepresentation and systemic barriers. The resolution urges public observance of the day, commits the Senate to supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives in tech, and calls for strengthening STEM education access through partnerships with minority-serving institutions. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of diversity's importance in the tech workforce.
