Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Bill Number: S. 2587
Origin Chamber: Senate
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Economics and Public Finance
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-07-31: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 140.
Last Updated: 2026-04-10T17:07:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of S. 2587: Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Purpose

This legislation provides funding for the U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education (ED), along with related agencies, for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026). It supports programs in workforce development, public health, medical research, education, social services, and related activities, totaling approximately $270 billion in discretionary appropriations. The bill aims to sustain and expand federal efforts in employment training, healthcare access, student aid, and disability services while imposing restrictions on certain uses of funds.

Key Provisions

The bill is divided into four main titles allocating funds across agencies and programs, with Title V containing general restrictions and administrative rules.

Title I: Department of Labor (Approximately $15.5 Billion)

Employment and Training Administration: $3.98 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs, including adult training ($876 million), youth activities ($948 million), and dislocated worker support ($1.1 billion). Additional funds for national programs like apprenticeships ($285 million) and YouthBuild ($105 million).
Job Corps: $1.76 billion for operations, construction, and administrative expenses.
Unemployment Insurance and Employment Services: $4 billion from the Unemployment Trust Fund for state administration, reemployment services ($467 million), and foreign labor certifications.
Worker Protection Agencies: Funding for Wage and Hour Division ($260 million), Occupational Safety and Health Administration ($632 million), and Mine Safety and Health Administration ($388 million).
Other: $395 million for older Americans' community service employment; $104 million for program administration.

Title II: Department of Health and Human Services (Approximately $130 Billion in Discretionary Funding, Plus Mandatory Programs)

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): $7.4 billion for primary care, health workforce ($1.38 billion), maternal and child health ($1.16 billion), Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs ($2.57 billion), and rural health ($374 million).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): $9.1 billion for immunization ($358 million), infectious diseases ($2.1 billion), chronic disease prevention ($1.09 billion), and global health ($693 million).
National Institutes of Health (NIH): $48.6 billion for research institutes (e.g., cancer: $7.37 billion; infectious diseases: $6.59 billion) and innovation initiatives like the BRAIN Initiative and HEAL Initiative.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): $7.3 billion for mental health ($2.77 billion), substance abuse treatment ($4.1 billion), and prevention ($237 million).
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): $508 billion for Medicaid grants to states; $594 billion for Medicare trust fund payments; $3.7 billion for program management.
Administration for Children and Families (ACF): $28.5 billion for child support ($4.15 billion), refugee assistance ($5.69 billion), child care ($8.83 billion), and Head Start ($11.4 billion within broader services).
Other HHS Components: Funding for Administration for Community Living ($2.45 billion), strategic preparedness ($3.6 billion), and departmental management ($497 million).

Title III: Department of Education (Approximately $80 Billion)

Education for the Disadvantaged: $19.2 billion for Title I grants to support low-income students.
Special Education: $15.5 billion under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for state grants and preschool programs.
Student Financial Assistance: $24.6 billion for Pell Grants (maximum award: $6,335) and other aid.
Higher Education and Innovation: $3.3 billion for institutional aid, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities; $1.2 billion for innovation programs.
Other: $2.2 billion for career and technical education; $794 million for Institute of Education Sciences research.

Title IV: Related Agencies (Approximately $1.2 Billion)

Funding for Corporation for National and Community Service ($1.25 billion total, including AmeriCorps), National Labor Relations Board ($294 million), Social Security Administration ($14.7 billion administrative limit), and others like the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service ($54 million).

Title V: General Provisions

Authorizes transfers between accounts (up to 1% of discretionary funds, with limits).
Prohibits funds for abortions (except in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment), embryo research, gun control advocacy, and certain lobbying activities.
Requires operating plans, quarterly reports on balances, and notifications for grants over $500,000 awarded non-competitively.
Rescinds $11.7 billion from prior clean energy funds and $1.6 billion from a nonrecurring expenses fund.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

DOL: Introduces flexibility for H-2B visas in the seafood industry (e.g., extended entry periods) and amends the Fair Labor Standards Act for overtime exemptions during major disasters. Adds authority for DOL law enforcement officers to provide protection to the Secretary.
HHS: Waives certain requirements for National Health Service Corps loan repayments and expands telehealth grants. Authorizes new prize competitions for kidney disease innovation. Rescinds funds from prior laws (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act clean energy provisions).
ED: Extends Pell Grant maximum to $6,335; allows certain multi-year grants without full upfront funding. Permits non-competitive awards for specific programs like arts education.
General: Prohibits SSA from processing claims involving fraudulent Social Security numbers; extends Performance Partnership Pilots through 2030. Amends the Rehabilitation Act for extended fund availability.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Provides stable funding for core operations but imposes rescissions (e.g., $13.5 billion total) that could reduce prior-year initiatives. Enhances IT modernization (e.g., $6.9 million for DOL, $350 million for NIH facilities) to improve efficiency.
Citizens: Expands access to workforce training, healthcare (e.g., $286 million for family planning, $24.6 billion in student aid), and social services (e.g., $4 billion for low-income energy assistance). Restrictions on abortion funding and embryo research may limit certain reproductive health options. Increased disability reviews ($2.4 billion) could affect SSI/Medicaid eligibility for millions.
International Relations: Allocates $693 million for CDC global health (e.g., HIV/AIDS) and $111 million for DOL international labor programs, supporting U.S. efforts in disease prevention and worker rights abroad, potentially strengthening diplomatic ties.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Government Agencies and Employees: DOL, HHS, ED, SSA, and related bodies (e.g., CDC, NIH, CMS) receive primary funding; staffing mandates ensure timely program execution.
States and Local Governments: Formula grants (e.g., $508 billion Medicaid, $19.2 billion Title I education) support state-level services; flexibility in unemployment and child care funds aids implementation.
Citizens and Vulnerable Groups: Low-income families, students, workers, seniors, people with disabilities, and refugees benefit from training, healthcare, and aid programs. Veterans and ex-offenders gain targeted employment support ($110 million).
Educational and Healthcare Institutions: Universities, hospitals, and community colleges receive grants for workforce development, research, and facilities (e.g., $1.38 billion HRSA health workforce).
Businesses and Nonprofits: Employers in sectors like apprenticeships and H-2B visas; nonprofits via community service and research grants.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Reinforces Hyde Amendment-like restrictions on abortion funding, potentially facing challenges under equal protection clauses. New DOL protective authorities and H-2B flexibilities may invite lawsuits over labor rights. Rescissions from prior acts (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act) could spark legal disputes on congressional intent.
Constitutional: Aligns with First Amendment by prohibiting funds for gun control advocacy or misleading information, but ensures executive-legislative balance via notification requirements. Supports federalism by granting states flexibility in program administration (e.g., Medicaid, education grants).
Political: Reflects bipartisan priorities like workforce training and health research amid fiscal constraints (e.g., $13.5 billion rescissions). Emphasizes accountability (e.g., servicer performance metrics for student loans) and anti-fraud measures (e.g., $941 million for healthcare fraud control), potentially influencing debates on spending efficiency and program oversight.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]

Recent Actions

2025-07-31: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 140.
2025-07-31: Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Capito. With written report No. 119-55.
2025-07-31: Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Capito. With written report No. 119-55.
2025-07-31: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 — issued 2025-07-31 — PDF (216 pages)