Last Week in Congress (1/5–1/9/26)
An update will be shared every week that Congress is in session. This will include a short summary of the past week in Congress, as well as a listing of all education-related bills introduced in the House and Senate, relevant Committee and Floor activity, and education-related hearings.
During the first session week of the new year, Congress turned its focus on U.S. involvement in Venezuela and… H.R. 4593, the “Saving Homeowners from Overregulation with Exceptional Rinsing” or SHOWER Act. With the House in session for 8 more days, and the Senate in session for 10 before funding under the Continuing Resolution expires, there’s much to be done. This week, appropriators released bill text for a three-bill funding package to fund the Departments of Commerce, Justice, Energy, Interior, as well as the EPA, and various water programs and federal science initiatives through September 30, 2026. Negotiators continue to work on the remaining funding bills, including funding for Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education. The Senate Appropriations Committee reported out S. 2587 (S.Rept. 119-55) on July 31, 2025, and the House Appropriations Committee reported out H.R. 5304 (H.Rept. 119-271) on September 9, 2025. While congressional leadership seems to be in agreement on setting lower appropriation levels for the Department of Education, no significant reconciliation developments (including details or legislative text) have been publicly announced.
· H.R. 6965 (James, R-MI), the “Incentivize Motivated Parents with Responsible Options for Vital Education (IMPROVE) Safety for Schools Act”, to encourage local educational agencies to inform parents about gun safety (Ways and Means; Judiciary; Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 6968 (Mannion, D-NY), to direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a competitive grant program to support community colleges and area career and technical education centers in developing immersive technology education and training services programs for workforce development (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 6971 (Rogers, R-AL), to require congressional approval of major Executive Orders and major rules (Judiciary; Rules; Budget; Oversight and Government Reform).
· H.R. 6973 (Subramanyam, D-VA), to direct the Secretary of Education to collect and report information on the treatment of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate course credits at institutions of higher education (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 6979(Gottheimer, D-NJ), to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for youth sports, to establish a grant program for recreational youth sports (Ways and Means; Education and Workforce; Energy and Commerce).
· S. 3583 (Husted, R-OH), to establish a pilot program in which States may use consolidated funds, through Upward Mobility Grants, for antipoverty programs (Finance).
· S. 3589 (Banks, R-IN), to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide students with disabilities and their families with access to critical information needed to select the right college and succeed once enrolled (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 3601 (Schmitt, R-MO), to authorize a grant program to support institutions of higher education in hiring veterans as campus security, to prohibit Federal funding for Equity Assistance Centers (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 7005 (Watson Coleman, D-NJ), to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation (Judiciary).
· On January 7, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing entitled “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota, Part I.”
· On January 8, the House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup on H.R. 6359, the “Pregnant Students' Rights Act”; and H.R. 4307, the “Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act.”
· S. 356, to extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. Signed on December 18, 2025. (Public Law 119–58).
· S. 1071, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year. Signed on December 18, 2025. (Public Law 119–60)
· H.R. 983, to Amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disapprove courses of education offered by a public institution of higher learning that does not charge the in-State tuition rate to a veteran using certain educational assistance under title 10 of such Code. Signed on December 12, 2025. (Public Law 119–55).