ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - July 27, 2026

House Advances CR; Mack Confirmed as FL Education Commissioner

Appropriations

On Tuesday, July 21, the House passed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to extend federal government funding through December 4 by a vote of 220-205, with six Democrats joining the Republican majority and one Republican voting against the measure. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where leaders in both parties are expected to negotiate a revised version, as the House-passed bill is unlikely to advance unchanged. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (SD) said the Senate’s immediate priority is reaching a bipartisan agreement on a CR before turning to the other major legislative priorities, signaling that avoiding a government shutdown will take precedence over budget reconciliation. The House has adjourned for its extended summer recess. Lawmakers left Washington on Thursday, July 23, 2026, to start their multi-week district work period through late August. The Senate is scheduled to begin its August recess on Monday, August 10. 

Sonderling Vote Postponed

On Thursday, July 23, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) postponed a scheduled vote on the nomination of Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) due to attendance issues. The committee is expected to consider his nomination on Tuesday, July 28. During his confirmation hearing, Sonderling faced questions from Senate Democrats about the Department’s role in administering education and workforce programs that are expected to transfer from the Department of Education. The committee also postponed a vote on Sean Kaufman, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Senate HELP Committee Markup/Department of Education

On Wednesday, July 22, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee unveiled two bills aimed at limiting the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) ability to transfer key responsibilities to other federal agencies without congressional approval. The measures come after the House Education and Workforce Committee advanced a 10-bill legislative package early this month that would authorize the Trump Administration’s proposed reorganization of ED, legislation that is expected to face significant challenges in the Senate.

Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (LA) introduced the Special Education Administration Protection Act, which would prohibit the transfer of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additionally, Senators Tim Kaine (VA), Susan Collins (ME), and Lisa Murkowski (AK) introduced S. 5046, a bipartisan bill that would prohibit the transfer of the Department of Education’s OFfices of Elementary and Secondary Education, Postsecondary Education, Indian Education, and certain special education functions to other federal agencies. 

The bills wouldn’t stop all of the Education Department's efforts to transfer programs to other federal agencies. The legislation doesn’t impact interagency agreements to shift career and technical education programs to the Labor Department, civil rights enforcement to Justice, or oversight of federal student loan programs to the Treasury Department. 

On Thursday, July 30, the Committee is scheduled to markup both measures, along with several other education-related bills and the nominations of Keith Sonderling to serve as Secretary of Labor and Sean Kaufman to be assistant HHS secretary. Additional legislation to be considered includes the 21st Century Dyslexia Act, the College Transparency Act, the RISE Act, the State-Based Loan Awareness Act, the READ Act, and the Railroad Retirement Board Stability Act, among others.

Click here to access more information about the markup.

Department of Labor ETA Secretary

On Wednesday, July 22, the Florida State Board of Education unanimously approved Henry Mack as the state’s Commissioner of Education. Most recently, Mack served as Assistant Secretary of Labor for the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and previously served as Senior Chancellor at the Florida Department of Education, where he oversaw Florida Colleges, career and adult education, vocational rehabilitation, and services for the blind. As Commission, Mack is expected to continue Florida’s efforts to strengthen workforce education and align education with workforce needs. 

Senate HELP Committee Hearing

On Wednesday, July 29, at 2:00 pm ET, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold the hearing “The Impact of AI on the Workforce.” Witnesses for the hearing include EmployIndy President and CEO Ken Clark, Indiana Business Research Center Director Carol Rogers, Mercatus Center at George Mason University Director of the Labor Policy Project Dr. Liya Palagashvili, BBB of Southern Colorado CEO Jonathan Liebert, and Opportunity@Work Senior Director of Research and Data Production Dr. Justin Heck.

Click here to access more information on the hearing.

House Education and Workforce Committee Field Hearing

On Friday, July 24, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held the field hearing “Building an AI-Ready America: How is AI Creating Opportunities Across America’s Workforce” in Augusta, Georgia — its eighth hearing in a series examining artificial intelligence (AI). Hearing witnesses include Manus Bio Founder and CEO Ajikumar Parayil, RT Farms Inc. Farmer and General Manager Brad Edenfield, and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Professor and Department Chair in AI and Health Dr. Jeffery Talbert.

Click here to access more information about the hearing.

Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act

On Wednesday, July 22, Senators Michael Bennet (CO) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE) reintroduced the Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act, which would establish a Workforce Development Innovation Fund at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to expand support for evidence-based and innovative workforce development programs. The bill aims to help workers develop in-demand skills and improve long-term employment and earnings outcomes while addressing evolving workforce needs, including those related to technological change and artificial intelligence (AI).

It would create a three-tiered funding structure to test, evaluate, and scale workforce training and employment programs with demonstrated effectiveness, while supporting rigorous evaluation of promising new approaches. The goal is to direct federal investments toward programs that improve outcomes for jobseekers and employers and strengthen the evidence base for workforce development strategies.

Click here to access the full press release and more information on the bill.