ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - September 8, 2025

Full Committee Markup on Labor-HHS-Education Bill Set for Tomorrow

Washington Update

Appropriations

In the final weeks before the funding deadline, competing strategies are emerging with fiscal conservatives wanting to extend current spending levels, or potentially reduce them, into January or longer. Top appropriators, meanwhile, are pushing to complete full-year funding for at least some agencies while relying on short-term measures for others. House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (OK) said Republicans have not settled on a strategy but noted discussions are ongoing with the administration and the Senate. 

On Tuesday, September 9, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) is scheduled for full committee markup, which is expected to be lengthy as it covers the largest non-defense funding bill. How the process unfolds depends in part on whether House Republicans again pass a continuing resolution (CR) without Democratic support, as they did in March. Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Patty Murray (WA) has warned that such an approach could fail if Democrats withhold their votes, potentially triggering a shutdown. Murray supports a bipartisan package that would finalize three bills the Senate has already passed — Agriculture-FDA, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-VA — while temporarily extending funding for the remaining nine.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) said health care funding is a priority for Democrats, pointing to concerns about expiring subsidies, proposed cuts in the House Labor-HHS bill, and Medicaid reductions in broader GOP proposals. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) has also called for a bipartisan deal to avert a shutdown, criticizing Republicans for not engaging.

Education organizations are urging Senate leaders to advance their chamber’s bipartisan $79 billion Labor-HHS bill, which increases Title I and special education funding and requires timely distribution of certain funds. The groups argue it offers stability in contrast to the House bill, which would make significant cuts to Title I and eliminate programs such as Title II and Title III.

Click here to access a livestream of the Labor-HHS markup.

H-2A Visas

On Wednesday, September 4, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins expressed support for U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer leading the Administration’s effort to overhaul the H-2A visa program. Rollins pointed to rising labor costs under recent policy changes and underscored the need for reform. DOL holds primary authority over farmworker visas, and Chavez-DeRemer has established a new office to assist H-2A applicants and employers. DOL submitted an interim final rule to the White House aimed at revising how farmworker wages are calculated under the H-2A program. The proposal could accelerate changes to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, which sets minimum pay for foreign agricultural workers. While this process allows immediate implementation, it also carries legal and policy risks. The administration faces pressure from agricultural groups to lower costs and streamline the program, while critics argue that the uncapped system disadvantages U.S. workers.

Artificial intelligence

On Thursday, September 5, at a White House convening of the Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education, First Lady Melania Trump emphasized both the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. She stressed the importance of managing AI’s growth responsibly while recognizing its potential to reshape education and other industries. At the event, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said her agency is incorporating AI into its operations and encouraging its use in federal grant applications, as well as in schools. This week,she is scheduled to visit an AI-focused school in Texas. The event brought together Cabinet officials, education leaders, and technology executives, including the CEOs of Alphabet, IBM, OpenAI, and Microsoft, to discuss AI’s applications in solving real-world challenges and preparing a future-ready workforce.

Click here to access a press release of the convening. 

Unemployment Rate

On Friday, September 5, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the August unemployment report, which showed nonfarm payrolls increased by only 22,000 — short of the 80,000 economists predicted. In addition, though July’s payroll data was revised slightly up, June’s was revised downward to a loss of 13,000 — marking the first month of job losses since December 2020. The unemployment rate inched up to 4.3%, the highest rate in four years. Hiring was driven by the health care and social assistance industries with health care companies creating 31,000 new jobs and social assistance adding 16,000 last month. Other sectors had stagnant or even declining job growth, such as manufacturing, which shed 12,000 jobs in August, and professional and business services, which lost 17,000. The loss of momentum in creating new jobs raises concerns about the overall strength of the economy. Economists believe the subpar August jobs report means the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates when policymakers meet on September 17.

Click here to access the full report.

Click here to read Secretary Chavez-DeRemer’s statement on the August jobs report.