CSWE Advocacy Update - September 9, 2025

House Appropriations Committee Convenes to Markup the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Bill

Congress continues to convene as members aim to negotiate an appropriations package to fund the federal government for fiscal year (FY) 2026. On September 9, the House Appropriations Committee convened for a full markup of the released FY 2026 Appropriations Bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education (ED), and Related Agencies. The Appropriations Committee also released the bill report, which contextualizes the committee’s decision making in further detail. At the time of writing, the committee markup is still ongoing, with members voting on various amendments to the legislation.

Department of Health and Human Services

The bill provides a total of $108.6 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a decrease of $6.8 billion compared to current levels.
  • $7.1 billion is allocated to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a decrease of $298 million below the FY 2025 level. In particular:
    • $2.7 billion for Mental Health services, a decrease of $108 million below the FY 2025 level.
    • $4 billion for Substance Use Treatment services, a decrease of $150 million below the FY 2025 level.
    • $205 million for Substance Use Prevention services, a decrease of $32 million below the FY 2025 level
  • The bill includes $7.1 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a decrease of $886 million below the FY 2025 level.
  • The Committee includes $158 million for the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program.
  • The Committee includes $130 million for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).
  • The Committee provides $520 million for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is the same as the FY 2025 enacted program level.

Department of Education

The bill provides a discretionary total of $67 billion to the Department of Education (ED), in line with President Trump’s budget request, which is $12 billion (15%) below the FY 2025 enacted level. Of note:
  • The bill maintains funding for Pell Grants at the discretionary maximum award level of $6,335, which when combined with mandatory funding under current law would continue to support a total maximum award of $7,395.
  • The bill also maintains FY 2025 funding levels for several higher education programs, including TRIO ($1.2 billion), GEAR UP ($388 million), but reduces funding for Federal Work Study ($780 million, roughly $450 million less than the FY 2025 enacted).
It is important to note that the funding amounts in the bill are not yet final, as the House and Senate will have to negotiate the funding amounts before the September 30 deadline. Both chambers will have limited time to reach a deal to either pass an appropriations package or a continuing resolution (CR). If a CR is passed, this will only fund the government through the end of October, meaning chambers would then need to negotiate funding levels again later in the Fall. CSWE will continue to monitor these negotiations ahead of the September 30 deadline.