# Summary of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
This is a comprehensive federal appropriations bill that allocates funding for multiple government agencies, with significant restrictions on how those funds may be used. The bill is structured into four main titles:
## Key Components
1. **Title I: Health and Human Services Appropriations** - Contains detailed funding allocations for:
- Public health programs
- Social Security Administration
- Medicaid and CHIP programs
- Various health research and services
- Specific restrictions on abortion funding (sections 506-508)
2. **Title II: Department of Education Appropriations** - Funds for:
- Higher education programs
- K-12 education initiatives
- Career and technical education
- Student financial assistance
- Prohibitions on certain gender-related policies (section 312)
3. **Title III: Related Agencies** - Includes funding for:
- Corporation for National and Community Service ("America First Corps")
- Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
- Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
- Various other independent agencies
4. **Title IV: General Provisions** - Contains numerous restrictions on fund usage, including:
## Notable Restrictions and Prohibitions
- **Abortion restrictions** (sections 506-508): Prohibits funding for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment
- **Research restrictions** (section 508): Bans funding for human embryo research
- **Prohibitions on Critical Race Theory** (section 534): Bans funding for programs promoting Critical Race Theory
- **Restrictions on diversity initiatives** (section 535): Prohibits funding for programs teaching concepts related to systemic racism
- **Executive order prohibitions** (sections 532-533): Prohibits implementation of various climate-related executive orders
- **Restrictions on transgender policies** (section 311): Prohibits funds for educational institutions allowing males to participate in women's athletic programs
- **Restrictions on certain international collaborations** (sections 537, 540): Prohibits funding for certain Chinese research institutions
- **Prohibitions on certain technology procurement** (section 541): Bans purchasing from companies with Chinese ownership stakes
The bill also includes:
- Rescission of $12.8 billion from the Child Enrollment Contingency Fund (section 528)
- Rescission of $183 million from various American Rescue Plan Act funds (section 529)
- Specific requirements for reporting on fund usage and contract awards
- Restrictions on flag display at federal facilities (section 531)
This appropriations bill represents a highly restrictive approach to federal funding, with numerous specific limitations on how money can be spent across multiple government agencies.
HRES 697 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing suicide as a preventable public health issue and supporting the designation of September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" and September 10, 2025, as "World Suicide Prevention Day." It does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally expresses congressional support for these designations to raise awareness. The resolution cites statistics showing suicide as a leading cause of death across age groups, including among veterans and adolescents, and emphasizes mental health as equally important as physical health. It acknowledges the need for diverse prevention strategies without specifying new policies or programs. This resolution is purely declarative, aiming to bolster public awareness rather than enact concrete changes.
This bill amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to change how banks count "reciprocal deposits" (deposits from other banks) when calculating brokered funds. It sets tiered percentage limits: banks with under $1 billion in total deposits can count up to 50% of reciprocal deposits as local, while larger banks face lower percentages (40% for $1B-$10B, 30% for $10B-$250B, etc.). The rule directly affects banks that use deposit brokers, particularly medium and large institutions, by allowing them to count more reciprocal deposits toward local deposit requirements. This reduces the portion of deposits classified as "brokered," potentially easing compliance for banks seeking to maintain local deposit ratios.
HR 5279, the "THE DON-ument Act," designates the existing southern border wall as a National Monument covering approximately 289,920 acres across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It directs the Bureau of Land Management (within the Department of the Interior) to administer the monument, protect the wall from alteration, and coordinate with federal agencies and tribal governments over adjacent lands. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop a management plan within three years and submit it to Congress. This is a procedural designation that formally treats the border wall as a protected monument, not a policy change affecting people or programs.
HR 5278, the Affordable Inhalers and Nebulizers Act of 2025, limits out-of-pocket costs for patients using prescription inhalers and nebulizers to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The bill requires private health insurance plans, Medicare Part B and Part D, and new payment programs to cover these products with no deductible and a maximum cost of $15 per 30-day supply. It directly affects patients with asthma or COPD who rely on covered inhalers, nebulizers, and related equipment like spacers. The law applies to all specified inhaler products (including medications and administration equipment) and takes effect for plan years beginning January 1, 2026.
The RESULTS Act (HR 5269) changes how Medicare calculates payment rates for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. It requires Medicare to collect data on private payor rates for widely available non-Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory Tests (non-ADLTs) from a qualifying independent claims data entity (a national nonprofit organization meeting specific criteria) rather than relying on data reported directly by laboratories. For tests where data is unavailable, the bill establishes default payment rates based on previous years' rates adjusted for inflation. The law also requires Medicare to publicly explain payment rates with supporting data, affecting Medicare beneficiaries, clinical laboratories, and private payors that provide services covered by Medicare.
This bill reaffirms that certain lands taken into trust by the U.S. for federally recognized tribes under the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act remain in trust status. It specifically applies to land taken into trust before the bill's enactment for tribes that were federally recognized at the time the land was acquired. The bill does not create new policy but formally confirms existing trust status for these specific parcels. It directly affects tribes that held federal recognition when their land was taken into trust under the 1934 Act.
HR 3593, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025, reauthorizes and expands federal funding for nursing education programs to address workforce shortages. It directly affects nursing schools, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery, nurse anesthesia, and clinical nurse specialist programs by expanding grant eligibility to include these specific training pathways. Key provisions include increasing annual funding from $137 million to $184 million (2026-2030), requiring schools to use funds for simulation/technology resources and faculty/student expansion, and adding clinical partnerships with healthcare facilities. The bill also updates terminology and adds protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in nursing education settings.
This bill modifies the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to extend eligibility to school support staff, including paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and clerical staff. It allows these employees to qualify for FMLA leave if they work 60% of their expected monthly hours (instead of the standard 1,250 hours), based on their school’s assigned schedule. Employers must maintain records of expected hours for each staff member. The change directly benefits part-time and seasonal education support staff who previously faced barriers to FMLA coverage.
The Endometrial Cancer Research and Education Act of 2025 requires the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand research on endometrial cancer, ensure African-American women are represented in clinical trials proportional to their higher incidence rates, and coordinate with health agencies focusing on minority health and women’s health. It also directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop public education materials about endometrial cancer risk factors, treatments, and disparities, with specific resources targeted to African-American women. The bill authorizes $1 million annually for NIH research and necessary funding for CDC programs from 2026 through 2028. These measures directly affect federal health agencies and aim to address documented disparities in diagnosis and mortality rates among women, particularly African-American women.
This bill amends the definition of "unauthorized alien" in immigration law by removing the phrase "or by the Attorney General" from Section 274A(h)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It is a procedural change to an existing legal definition with no new policy requirements or direct impact on specific groups. The bill does not alter enforcement mechanisms or create new obligations for employers or immigrants. This is a technical revision to statutory language, not a substantive policy change.
This resolution (HRES 680) recognizes suicide as a serious public health issue and designates September 8, 2025, as "988 Day" to highlight the national three-digit crisis hotline (988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). It does not create new laws or funding but formally supports existing efforts to raise awareness about the 988 hotline, which connects people in mental health crisis to 24/7 support services. The resolution emphasizes the hotline's role in suicide prevention, citing data showing it handled nearly 18 million contacts since 2022 and was reported as helpful by 98% of users. It urges continued public education about the hotline, particularly for high-risk groups like LGBTQI+ youth, and encourages broader access to mental health services.
