Last Week in Congress (9/15–9/19/25)
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 its last full week in session before the end of the fiscal year, the Senate spent time considering the National Defense Authorization Act and various amendments, while the House focused on a package of bills related to crime and the limitation of Home Rule in the District of Columbia, including lowering the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses in the District to 14 years of age.
Congress is largely out of session next week, focusing on State work, and will not move forward on any long-term spending bills. Negotiations are ongoing for a short-term continuing resolution, but with only two days in session before the end of the fiscal year, the likelihood of a government shutdown has increased.
· H.R. 5351 (Fong, R-CA), to support National Science Foundation education and professional development relating to artificial intelligence (Science, Space, and Technology).
· H.R. 5352 (Van Orden, R-WI), to prohibit Federal funding for entities that employ individuals who condone and celebrate political violence and domestic terrorism (Oversight and Government Reform).
· H.R. 5353 (Beyer, D-VA), to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a pilot program to support evidence-based mental health peer support activities for students (Energy and Commerce; Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5357 (Flood, R-NE), to provide limited licensing reciprocity for a college mental health provider to furnish mental health services through telehealth technology to students of the institution of higher education that employs such provider (Energy and Commerce; Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5370 (Davis, D-IL), to provide low-income individuals with opportunities to enter and follow a career pathway in the health professions (Ways and Means).
· H.R. 5371 (Cole, R-OK), to provide continuing appropriations for federal agencies, provide additional funding for security for federal officials, and extend various expiring programs and authorities. The bill would provide continuing FY2025 appropriations to federal agencies through the earlier of November 21, 2025, or the enactment of the applicable appropriations act. The Continuing Resolution funds most programs and activities at the FY2025 levels with several exceptions to provide funding flexibility and additional appropriations for various programs. (Appropriations; Budget).
· H.R. 5372 (Davis, D-IL), to provide grants for the conduct of demonstration projects designed to provide education and training for eligible individuals with an arrest or conviction record to enter and follow a career pathway in the health professions through occupations that are expected to experience a labor shortage or be in high demand, under the health profession opportunity grant program under section 2008 of the Social Security Act (Ways and Means).
· H.R. 5374 (Doggett, D-TX), to ensure that health professions opportunity demonstration projects train project participants to earn a recognized postsecondary credential, and to clarify that community colleges are eligible for grants to conduct such a demonstration project (Ways and Means).
· H.R. 5375 (Chu, D-CA), to remove barriers to health professions by providing resources to access foundational educational training, such as English language proficiency and adult basic education, and to require the provision of child care, in demonstration projects funded under the health profession opportunity grant program under section 2008 of the Social Security Act (Ways and Means).
· H.R. 5376 (Schneider, D-IL), to ensure an evidence-based funding approach to study the effects of health profession opportunity grant demonstration projects, and to evaluate the demonstration projects (Ways and Means).
· H.R. 5378 (Gomez, D-CA), to provide a set-aside of funds for Indian populations under the health profession opportunity grant program under section 2008 of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes (Ways and Means).
· See also, H.R. 5379; H.R. 5380; H.R. 5382; H.R. 5383; H.R. 5384; H.R. 5385; H.R. 5386; H.R. 5406
· H.R. 5399 (Kamlager-Dove, D-CA), to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to support arts education at minority-serving institutions of higher education (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5405 (Mace, R-SC), to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic continuing resolutions (Appropriations).
· H.R. 5425 (Cisneros, D-CA), to direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a uniform policy to provide tuition assistance after on year of active duty service (Armed Services).
· H.R. 5428 (Cole, R-OK), to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program to award grants to accredited public institutions of higher education (Energy and Commerce).
· H.R. 5430 (Gonzales, R-TX), to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the funds under the matching grant program for school security to be used to hire school resource officers (Judiciary).
· H.R. 5436 (Mannion, D-NY), to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit an educational institution from withholding a transcript from an individual who pursued a course or program of education at such institution using Post-9/11 educational assistance (Veterans’ Affairs).
· H.R. 5442 (Panetta, D-CA), to build on America's spirit of service to nurture, promote, and expand a culture of service to secure the Nation's future, address critical needs of the Nation, and strengthen the civic fabric of American society (Education and Workforce; Armed Services; Foreign Affairs; Agriculture; Natural Resources; Ways and Means; Oversight and Government Reform; Veterans' Affairs; Homeland Security; Intelligence (Permanent Select); House Administration; Judiciary; Energy and Commerce).
· H.R. 5450 (DeLauro, D-CT), the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026, to make continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026 (Appropriations; Ways and Means; Budget).
· H.R. 5458 (Clark, D-MA), to amend the Child Care Access Means Parents In School Program under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5468 (Kelly, R-MS), amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to authorize capacity building grants for community college agriculture and natural resources programs (Agriculture).
· H.R. 5476 (McBath, D-GA), direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to support the recruitment and retention of paraprofessionals in public elementary schools, secondary schools, and preschool programs (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5482 (Nunn, R-IA), require the Secretary of Education to issue a rule requiring schools to implement protocols for suicide prevention, postvention, and trauma-informed care (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5486 (Pocan, D-WI), to prevent harassment at institutions of higher education (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5493 (Smucker, R-PA), to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against tax for charitable donations to nonprofit organizations providing workforce training (Ways and Means).
· H.R. 5505 (Walberg, R-MI), to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups (Education and Workforce).
· S. 2802 (Husted, R-OH), to require the Secretary of Education to disclose information about career and technical education and funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, and require FAFSA applications to include a career and technical education acknowledgement (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 2806 (Johnson, R-WI), to provide for automatic continuing appropriations (Placed on the Legislative Calendar).
· S. 2812 (Young, R-IN), to direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a national public safety messaging campaign relating to the dangers of illegal passing of stopped school buses (Commerce, Science, and Transportation).
· S. 2841 (King, I-ME), to amend the American History and Civics Education program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require hands-on civic engagement activities for teachers and students and programs that educate students about the history and principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 2849 (Cotton, R-AR), to bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit certain foreign nationals from serving on the board of directors of tax-exempt organizations (Finance).
· S. 2855 (Blunt Rochester, D-DE), 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 (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 2859 (Lankford, R-OK), to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 2862 (Duckworth, D-IL), to amend the Child Care Access Means Parents In School Program under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 2876 (Murray, D-WA), to prevent harassment at institutions of higher education (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 2882 (Murray, D-WA), to make continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026 (Placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar).
· S. 2886 (Padilla, D-CA), to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize lawful permanent resident status for certain college graduates who entered the United States as children (Judiciary).
· S. 2889 (Durbin, D-IL), to promote minimum State requirements for the prevention and treatment of concussions caused by participation in school sports (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 2892 (Markey, D-MA), to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 2908 (Scott, R-FL), to ensure equal treatment for religious organizations in the Federal provision of social services programs, grantmaking, and contracting (Finance).
· S. 2913 (Alsobrooks, D-MD), to prohibit the use of appropriated funds to eliminate, consolidate, or otherwise restructure any office within the Department of Education that administers or enforces programs serving individuals with disabilities (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· S. 2921 (Luján, D-NM), to amend section 7014 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to advance toward full Federal funding for impact aid (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· September 16, 2025 – The House Committee on Education and Workforce, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, held a hearing entitled “No More Surprises: Reforming College Pricing for Students and Families.”
· September 17, 2025 – The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing entitled “Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Successes and Opportunities at the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service.”
· September 17, 2025 – The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, held a hearing entitled “Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees.”
· September 18, 2025 – The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing to “Examine the State of K-12 Education.”
· September 15, 2025: House passed H.R. 2034, the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act, which would expand eligibility for and modify administration of the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship. The scholarship allows individuals who are entitled to Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance and are pursuing eligible degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or health care to receive up to nine additional months of benefits (capped at $30,000). The bill would eliminate the requirement that an individual must have less than 180 days of remaining educational assistance entitlement (or no entitlement remaining) to be eligible for the scholarship. Additionally, the bill would reduce by 25% the number of credits an individual must have completed in order to be eligible for the scholarship. In situations where there are insufficient funds available in a fiscal year, the bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to give priority to individuals who have used the most months of their educational assistance entitlement and those who are using their entitlement to pursue a program of post-secondary education in specified fields (e.g., engineering). The bill specifies that individuals who receive the scholarship benefit may only use the benefit after they have used all of their educational assistance entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
· September 16-19, 2025: The Senate considered the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 and passed a resolution designating September 2025 as “National Literacy Month.
· September 16, 2025: The House passed a package of bills related to crime in the District of Columbia, including H.R. 5140, which would lower the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses in the District to 14 years of age.
· September 16, 2025: The House passed H.R. 20234, the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act. The bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
· September 19, 2025: The House passed H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, a short-term spending bill to extend government funding for seven weeks to avoid a partial government shut-down. The bill, which would generally continue existing funding levels through 21, passed the House with a vote of 217-212. The Senate failed to pass the bill by a vote of 44 yeas to 48 nays (60 affirmative votes required).
· September 19, 2025: The Senate failed to pass S. 2882, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026, a short-term spending bill to extend government funding through October 31, 2025. The bill, which requires 60 votes in the affirmative, failed by a Yea-Nay note of 47-45.