Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to award grants to eligible crisis centers to provide follow-up services to individuals receiving suicide prevention and crisis intervention services, to and the Communications Act of 1934 to improve the accessibility of 9-8-8, and for other purposes.

The bill would provide federal grants to crisis centers that offer follow-up support to people who have received suicide prevention and crisis intervention services, helping ensure they get continued care after their initial crisis contact. It would also improve how accessible the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is to people who need it, making it easier for Americans to reach help when they're in distress. These changes aim to strengthen the mental health safety net by supporting both immediate crisis response and longer-term recovery services.

Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act

Parental Rights Over The Education and Care of Their Kids Act or the PROTECT Kids Act This bill requires public elementary and middle schools, as a condition of receiving certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education, to obtain parental consent before changing a student's gender on school forms or changing a student's sex-based accommodations. Specifically, an elementary school or a school consisting of only grades 5-8 must obtain parental consent before changing a minor student's (1) gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or (2) sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.

SAFE for Survivors Act of 2026

The bill would help survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking become more economically independent and safe by providing resources and protections related to employment, housing, and financial security. It aims to address barriers these survivors face when trying to leave abusive situations and rebuild their lives, affecting both the survivors themselves and potentially employers and housing providers who would need to comply with new requirements. The legislation is currently under review by the Senate committee responsible for health, education, labor, and pension matters.

Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act

The bill would provide funding and support to hire more mental health professionals like counselors and psychologists in public schools that serve low-income or underserved communities. This would help students get access to mental health services at school, addressing issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma that can affect learning and wellbeing. The measure aims to reduce the shortage of mental health staff in schools that need these services most.

A resolution expressing support for the designation of the month of May 2026 as "Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Degeneration Awareness Month".

This resolution asks Congress to officially recognize May 2026 as a month dedicated to raising awareness about progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration, two rare neurological diseases that affect how the brain controls movement and thinking. The designation would help patients, families, and medical professionals draw attention to these conditions and encourage research and support for people living with them. This is a symbolic measure that doesn't create new laws or funding, but shows congressional support for these disease awareness efforts.

A bill to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish the Office of LGBTQI Inclusion and a rural outreach grant program, and for other purposes.

The bill would create a new Office of LGBTQI Inclusion within the federal government's aging programs to help ensure older LGBTQ adults receive appropriate services and support. It would also establish a grant program to help bring aging services to rural communities where older adults often have limited access to care. These changes aim to address gaps in services for both LGBTQ seniors and elderly people living in remote areas.

Job Corps Shipbuilding-Defense Industrial Base Pipeline Act of 2026

The proposal would connect the Job Corps job training program more closely with industries that support military and defense manufacturing, helping prepare workers for careers in defense-related fields. This could affect young people and low-income adults who participate in Job Corps training, as well as defense contractors looking to fill skilled positions in manufacturing and related sectors.

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program".

Congress is considering blocking a new Department of Education rule about federal student loans, which would overturn the rule if approved. The resolution would prevent changes the Education Department made to how the Direct Loan Program operates, affecting millions of student borrowers and how they repay their loans. If passed, the rule would be canceled and the previous version would remain in effect.

SCREEN for Type 1 Diabetes Act of 2026

The government would launch a public awareness campaign to educate Americans about screening for type 1 diabetes, a condition where the body's immune system attacks cells that produce insulin. This campaign would help people, especially children and families, recognize early warning signs and seek medical testing sooner, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment. The bill also includes other provisions related to diabetes prevention and management.

Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026

The bill would change how the federal government identifies areas that don't have enough general surgeons, which could help direct more resources and incentives to recruit doctors to underserved communities. This affects patients in rural and low-income areas who struggle to access surgical care, as well as hospitals trying to attract surgical specialists to their regions. The proposal is currently being reviewed by the Senate health committee.

Gateway to Careers Act of 2026

The federal government would create a new grant program to help community colleges, workforce agencies, and other organizations develop training programs that guide students and workers through connected educational steps leading to good-paying jobs. These "career pathways" would combine classroom learning with work experience, allowing people to earn credentials at different levels while moving toward higher-skilled positions in fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. The grants would support programs serving workers of all ages, including those returning to the workforce or switching careers.

A resolution supporting the designation of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week".

The resolution would officially recognize May 3-9, 2026, as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week" to draw attention to mental health issues affecting young people. This designation would encourage schools, healthcare providers, and communities to focus on educating families about children's mental health and available support resources during that week. The resolution does not create new programs or funding, but rather serves as a symbolic statement to raise awareness about an important public health issue.

Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026

The federal government would provide competitive grants to partnerships of schools, colleges, and organizations to create or expand training programs that prepare students for careers working with young children in early childhood education settings. These programs would teach students the skills needed for jobs like preschool teachers, childcare workers, and early childhood specialists. The Education and Health departments would work together to distribute the grants to communities that need more trained workers in this field.

All Students Count Act of 2026

States would be required to use the same racial and ethnic categories on their school report cards that the U.S. Census Bureau uses in the decennial census, ensuring consistency in how student achievement data is reported and compared across different demographic groups. This change would affect how schools, districts, and states track and publicly report academic performance for students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. The goal is to create more standardized reporting that aligns with federal census categories rather than allowing each state to define its own racial classifications.

Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026

Teachers and other educators would receive expanded forgiveness of their federal student loans if they meet certain service requirements, making it easier for them to have portions of their debt canceled after working in schools for a specified period. The bill modifies existing loan forgiveness programs to provide more generous relief to education professionals who often carry significant student debt. This change would primarily benefit teachers, school administrators, and other education workers struggling with loan repayment.

Nursing is a Professional Degree Act

The bill would change how the federal government defines "professional student" under higher education law, which affects which students qualify for federal financial aid, loans, and other education benefits. The specific changes would determine whether certain graduate and professional degree programs—such as those in medicine, law, or other specialized fields—meet the requirements for federal student aid eligibility. This could expand or restrict access to federal education funding for students pursuing advanced professional degrees.

Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act

The federal government would fund efforts to collect data and monitor maternal health during public health emergencies, such as pandemics or disease outbreaks, to better understand how these crises affect pregnant women and new mothers. This would help researchers and health officials identify problems quickly and improve medical care for mothers and babies when emergencies occur. The bill allocates money for these data collection and research activities.

Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026

The bill would set a minimum salary level that salaried workers must earn to be classified as executives, administrators, or professionals who don't qualify for overtime pay, and would automatically increase that threshold each year to keep up with inflation. Currently, employers can classify many salaried workers as exempt from overtime rules even if they earn relatively low salaries, but this change would require them to pay overtime to salaried workers below the new threshold. The automatic annual updates would mean the salary requirement would grow over time without Congress having to pass new laws each year.

Moms Matter Act

The bill would expand mental health and addiction treatment services for pregnant women and new mothers, including improving access to screening, counseling, and medication-assisted treatment. It aims to help healthcare providers better identify and treat conditions like postpartum depression and anxiety, as well as substance use disorders during pregnancy and after childbirth. The legislation would affect pregnant women, new mothers, healthcare providers, and hospitals that serve these populations.

IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act

The bill would provide funding and support to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) improve their facilities, programs, and financial stability over the long term. This would benefit students attending these institutions, many of whom come from lower-income backgrounds, by enhancing their educational experience and career opportunities. The legislation aims to strengthen these universities' ability to compete with other colleges and universities across the country.