Senate Appropriations Committee reports FY2026 Labor, HHS, Education bill, rejects proposed cuts and adds NIH funding

The Senate Appropriations Committee reported favorably an original bill making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and related agencies for fiscal year 2026.

Committee leaders described the bill as a bipartisan compromise that increases funding for medical research and a range of programs serving families, students and workers while rejecting deep cuts proposed by the administration. Subcommittee Chair Capito and Ranking Member Baldwin—leaders of the Labor, HHS, and Education subcommittee—said the bill preserves funding for NIH priorities, childcare, TRIO, Job Corps, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and workforce development.

The committee adopted a manager’s package by unanimous consent and then voted to report the bill favorably; the clerk recorded “On this vote, there are 26 ayes and 3 nays.” The bill includes a $400,000,000 increase for the National Institutes of Health, targeted funding for Alzheimer's, cancer, Parkinson’s and other research priorities, and modest increases for early childhood programs and 988 crisis lifeline operations.

Debate and amendments Member…