ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - June 30, 2025

Senate Begins Vote on Reconciliation Bill

Washington Update

Appropriations/Reconciliation

In the three weeks remaining until the August recess, House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (OK) plans to move three more fiscal funding bills — Transportation-HUD, Commerce-Justice-Science and Energy-Water — through subcommittee and full committee. Five of the FY2026 funding bills (Agriculture-FDA, Defense, Legislative Branch, Homeland Security and Military-Construction-VA) passed in full committee last week, leaving only four remaining to be considered including Labor-HHS-Education, Interior-Environment, Financial Services and State-Foreign Operations. 

Because the committee is releasing its 302(b) totals for each of the subcommittees all at once this year, we will have to wait and see what overall sum House Republicans are proposing for the upcoming fiscal year. 

Reconciliation

Late Saturday night, Senate Republicans narrowly overcame a critical procedural step as they strive to pass President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act by July 4th. On a 51-49 vote, with only two Republicans joining all Democrats to oppose the motion to proceed, the bill moved forward to voting today. 

The legislation would make permanent several tax breaks from President Trump’s first term which would expire by the end of the year without congressional action, and add new tax breaks, including no taxes on tips. The bill also includes $350 billion for national security, including funding for the President’s deportation agenda. Cutbacks to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy investments in the proposal are giving some GOP lawmakers pause, however. At the same time, conservatives with concerns about the nation’s debt, are pushing for steeper spending cuts. 

Recently released bill text shows that GOP lawmakers made changes to the rules around student loan repayment systems; and removed their proposals to expand Pell grants to non-accredited schools and end student aid eligibility for certain foreign nationals. They also lifted a restriction on when doctors’ and dentists’ debt payments would count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. 

College presidents are rallying behind Senate Republicans to help avert a $27 billion shortfall in the Pell Grant program later this year, as the House’s version of the ‘big, beautiful bill” advanced tighter eligibility rules that concerned them. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the changes could shrink the amount of funding most participants receive and kick nearly 10 percent of Pell recipients off the award. 

The Senate began its vote-a-rama on 370 proposed amendments to the bill at 9 a.m. this morning, and the House could vote as soon as Wednesday morning, as President Trump wants to be able to sign the legislation into law by July 4.

It is not yet clear if the 50 Senate Republicans needed to pass the bill are all on board and it can be further altered on the Senate floor to secure the votes if needed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune can only lose one more vote as Senators Thom Tillis (NC) and Rand Paul (KY) have already announced their opposition to the bill. The House could also further amend the legislation if Speaker Mike Johnson has trouble securing enough votes for the measure.

Click here to read the bill.

Click here to read the bill summaries.

House Education and Workforce Committee Hearing

On Tuesday, June 24, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held the hearing “Child Care and the American Workforce: Removing Barriers to Economic Growth” to examine the impact of child care on the economy, focusing on affordability, accessibility, and parental choice. Witnesses for the hearing included Bipartisan Policy Center Managing Director of Human Capital Caitlin Codella Low, City of Crawfordsville Mayor Todd D. Barton, The Century Foundation Senior Fellow Dr. Ruth Friedman, and The Abecedarian Group President and Founder Celia Hartman Sims.

Subcommittee members and witnesses emphasized that the high cost of child care can push parents, especially mothers, out of the workforce, affecting families and the economy. They stressed the importance of parental choice and the role of Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) in supporting diverse options, including faith-based care. Lawmakers noted the need for policies that reflect regional and cultural differences, particularly in rural areas and U.S. territories. Witnesses recommended federal investments to expand supply, while concerns were raised about the limitations of the current voucher system. Some members warned that capping family co-payments could strain state budgets and limit access. The hearing reflected broad agreement on the need to strengthen the child care system, though views differed on how to achieve that.

Click here to access a video of the hearing.

Job Corps

On Wednesday, June 25, a federal judge in New York blocked the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) plan to indefinitely suspend operations at 99 Job Corps centers, ruling that the move improperly bypassed congressional authority. DOL has indicated it is reviewing its legal options with the Justice Department but maintains it acted within its authority. The National Job Corps Association, a plaintiff in the case, urged collaboration with lawmakers to improve the program rather than shut it down.

Senate HELP Committee

On Thursday, June 26, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted to advance several Department of Education and Labor nominations. Two Department of Education nominees advanced were Penny Schwinn for Deputy Education Secretary and Kimberly Richey for Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. Thursday’s vote moved their nominations for consideration by the full Senate. The Labor nominees who advanced include Andrea Lucas for a second term to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Just prior to the vote, the committee dropped former New York Congressman Anthony D’Esposito from its list of nominees they planned to consider — possibly taking up his nomination at a later date.

Click here to access a video of the vote.

Department of Labor

Tim Cummings has been appointed deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), previously having served as chief of staff to Congressman William Timmons (SC). Sylvester Giustino has been named Director of Intergovernmental Affairs after previously serving as director of secretary representatives at DOL. Candee J. Chambers is now Director of the Office of Public Liaison, after leading the DirectEmployers Association.

H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

On Tuesday, June 24, the House Appropriations Committee approved a bipartisan amendment to provide greater flexibility in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs. The amendment would allow H-2A agricultural workers to remain in the U.S. for the full duration of their job offer, up to one year. It would also permit employers using the H-2B program to hire the same number of non-agricultural seasonal workers annually, bypassing current visa caps and the lottery system. Additionally, carnival and circus workers would be reclassified under P visas, typically used for performers, to ease visa availability. While the underlying bill is unlikely to become law, lawmakers intend it to influence future immigration policy discussions.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is also establishing a new office under Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer aimed at streamlining the process for employers seeking work visas, including H-2A, H-2B, and H-1B. The initiative highlights the role of these programs in addressing workforce needs but comes amid ongoing friction with the agricultural sector over immigration enforcement, as well as calls from some conservatives to reduce employer reliance on foreign labor.

Finally, on Friday, June 27, DOL released a final rule to add more employee protections under the H-2A temporary farm worker program. The new rule updates existing law, increasing protections for workers including wage transparency and adding further protections against labor trafficking and employer retaliation. The rule is expected to be published in the federal register today and will take effect in 60 days. 

Click here to read the final rule.