Stories / Issue · Sep 3 – Oct 2, 2026
Members of Congress are advancing education initiatives through multiple bills and funding announcements. Democrats introduced bills to make community college tuition-free, increase Pell Grant access, and remove phones from classrooms, while Republicans introduced measures on school choice, childcare incentives, and student aid for ministry students. Bipartisan efforts include extending rural school funding and expanding 529 education savings accounts. Members announced approximately $35 million in federal funding for early childhood programs, community colleges, and university research initiatives.
AI summary of the releases below · Oct 6, 2026
| Action type | Wk ofSep 315 | Wk ofSep 1025 | Wk ofSep 1739 | Wk ofSep 2433 | Wk ofOct 110 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Requested actionDeclarations, investigations, decisions | 1 | |||||
| Sent lettersTo agencies, companies, officials | 10 | |||||
| HearingsHeld, testified or questioned | 1 | |||||
| StatementsResponses to news | 2 | |||||
| CriticizedA policy, decision or person | 1 | |||||
| PraisedCredit for a decision or person | 5 | |||||
| Visits and eventsTours, town halls, site visits | 14 | |||||
| Announced fundingGrants and approvals | +1 | +2 | 35 | |||
| Filed or pushed billsNew, reintroduced or passed | +12 | +1 | 50 | |||
| Other | 3 |
+34 more with fewer actions
Praised Trump administration implementation of Education Freedom Tax Credit school choice program.
DAguilar CA $4.9M
Announced $4.9 million in grants for childcare and STEM/healthcare programs at Cal State San Bernardino.
Introduced bipartisan bill to extend Secure Rural Schools funding for three years.
Senate passed Lummis-Barrasso bill modernizing Wyoming school trust fund investment rules.
Introduced bipartisan bill eliminating $35,000 lifetime cap on 529 education savings account rollovers to Roth IRAs.
Introduced America's College Promise Act to make community college tuition-free for eligible students.
Introduced bill to make community college tuition-free for eligible students.
Reintroduced the Higher Education Grant Flexibility Act to increase Pell Grant access for students with disabilities.
Led colleagues in urging Department of Education to rescind new higher education accreditation rule.
RMcCormick PA $3B
Celebrated $3 billion investment in Carnegie Mellon University from Citadel founder Ken Griffin.
Introduced bipartisan bill eliminating $35,000 lifetime cap on 529 education savings rollovers.
DKaptur OH $280K
Announced $280,000 federal investment in Owens Community College TRIO Educational Opportunity Center.
Introduced bill to protect students pursuing ministry from losing federal student aid based on earnings tests.
Filed Supreme Court amicus brief defending homeschool parents' right to use religious curriculum.
RCramer ND $1.3M
Announced $1.33 million in HHS funding to three North Dakota universities for rural health and education programs.
DHernández Rivera PR $27.2M
Announced $27.2 million in federal Head Start funding for Puerto Rico early childhood programs.
DThompson MS $992K
Announced $992,477 in federal TRIO Talent Search funding for three Mississippi HBCUs.
Submitted comment opposing proposed rule weakening Head Start program requirements.
Celebrated bipartisan effort securing federal guidance clarity on service dogs in research facilities.
Led 25 colleagues opposing Education Department changes allowing political appointees to cancel education grants.
Called on New Orleans school officials to keep L.B. Landry High School open and secure its future.
DKaptur OH $5.1M
Secured $5.1 million federal grant for Defiance Head Start building renovations.
DPadilla CA, DTorres CA $1B
Introduced bill establishing $1 billion grant program for college student basic needs assistance.
Hosted discussion on bipartisan RISE Act to help students with disabilities access college.
Introduced bill to cover college costs for children of educators, first responders, social workers.
Reintroduced bipartisan bill to provide tax relief for AmeriCorps volunteers on education awards.
DUnderwood IL $6M
Announced $6 million in federal funding for childcare, nursing education, substance abuse treatment and flood prevention.
RGriffith VA $1.2M
Announced $1.2 million grant to Wytheville Community College for student support.
Introduced bill to establish emergency grants for students facing financial hardship.
Introduced legislation to protect students from for-profit college exploitation.
Led bipartisan resolution recognizing National Hazing Awareness Week.
DHernández Rivera PR $11.8M
Announced $11.8 million in federal funding for Puerto Rico colleges and universities.
Introduced bill to modernize aging school buildings using historic tax credits.
DHirono HI $51B
Held forum examining how national private school voucher program diverts $51 billion annually from public schools.
Introduced bill to help school districts afford quality meals and address rising childhood hunger costs.
Introduced bipartisan bill to expand financial literacy resources for high school students.
DKaptur OH $4K
Announced $4,130 federal grant for Wauseon Public Library literacy programs.
RHarris MD $2.1M
Announced $2.1 million in federal funding for University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
RFleischmann TN $2.5M
Secured $2.5 million for Tennessee Wesleyan University health science and STEM programs.
DLofgren CA $250K
Secured $250,000 for Hartnell College's Child Development Center renovations and safety upgrades.
Reintroduced bipartisan bill to improve financial literacy education in high schools.
Co-sponsored bill to expand Head Start early education program in Puerto Rico.
RBresnahan PA $248K
Announced $248,247 in federal funding for Head Start programs in two Pennsylvania counties.
Opposed federal proposal to weaken Head Start quality standards affecting 40,000 New York children.
DVindman VA $680K
Announced over $680,000 in federal funding for Head Start programs in Virginia.
Joined Democratic Women's Caucus letter demanding HHS Secretary withdraw plan to gut Head Start standards.
Reintroduced Equity in Research Act to fund NSF grants for under-resourced institutions.
Introduced three bills to support English language learners, families, and educators.
Reintroduced legislation to expand federal support for magnet schools nationwide.
Reintroduced bill to increase school mental health resources and reduce police presence in schools.
Reintroduced bill to ban corporal punishment in federally funded schools nationwide.
Celebrated bipartisan SEED Act being signed into law expanding tax deduction for early childhood educators.
Called on HHS to withdraw proposed rule slashing Head Start Program Performance Standards by 90%.
Pressed Education Secretary to maintain dedicated leadership for students with disabilities.
Reintroduced bipartisan bill to fund education research and development center.
Introduced Debt-Free College Act to reduce college costs and provide states matching grants for affordable higher education.
Introduced bicameral package expanding educational opportunities through federal scholarship tax credit.
Introduced legislation providing up to $250 tax credit per child for back-to-school supplies.
Introduced bipartisan bill to help families learn about tax-favored savings accounts for children.
Announced service academy nomination information session for interested students and parents.
Introduced bipartisan bill to help Kansas families access tax-favored savings programs for children.
Introduced comprehensive legislation to modernize K-12 education system and address pandemic effects.
DVan Hollen MD $10M
Announced $10 million federal investment for Morgan State University research programs.
Introduced bill to provide states matching grants for debt-free college programs.
Announced bipartisan passage of Science of Reading Act to improve elementary reading outcomes.
Rallied with bipartisan members and advocates against Trump administration's proposed Head Start rule changes.
DHeinrich NM $87.5M
Toured educational facilities and secured $87.5 million for youth challenge academy programs.
Joined letter opposing Trump administration's proposed rollback of Head Start program standards.
Joined letter demanding HHS withdraw proposed rule gutting Head Start program standards.
RGriffith VA $145K
Announced $144,785 HHS grant to People Incorporated for Head Start programs.
RGriffith VA $340K
Announced combined $339,771 in HHS grants for Head Start programs across district.
RGriffith VA $69K
Announced $69,434 HHS grant to New River Community Action for Head Start.
Released a four-pillar plan to reform and strengthen America's public education system.
Met with school officials to discuss leveraging federal and local resources.
Sent letter to HHS Secretary Kennedy urging withdrawal of proposed Head Start funding cuts.
DThompson MS $1.3M
Announced more than $1.3 million in federal grants for Delta State University.
Attended ribbon-cutting ceremony for University of Arizona's new Wildcat Welcome Center.
RCramer ND $1.1M
Announced $1.1 million NSF grant to North Dakota State University for graduate research.
RHusted OH $875K
Secured $875,000 for Stark State College's Commercial Driver's License program.
DWilliams GA $700K
Announced $700,000 in federal funding for community schoolyard projects in Atlanta.
Expressed support for Head Start program and opposition to proposed federal changes affecting Puerto Rico.
DAguilar CA $241K
Announced $241,332 grant for CSUSB to expand educational and career opportunities.
DCasten IL $950K
Secured $950,000 in federal funding for Elmhurst University health research equipment.
Attended grand opening of University of Arizona's new Wildcat Welcome Center.
Released four-pillar plan to reform and strengthen America's public education system.
RDe La Cruz TX $225M
Visited Head Start program and announced $225 million in funding for Head Start programs nationwide.
Applauded Western Pacific Maritime Academy for earning federal Center of Excellence designation.
Toured Maine Energy Marketers Association technical education center in Brunswick.
Toured Wisconsin communities criticizing Trump administration attacks on Head Start program.
DMannion NY $1M
Secured $1,031,000 for Onondaga Community College advanced manufacturing and semiconductor workforce training.
Reintroduced bill requiring economic development districts to increase access to child care services.
Announced Service Academy Information Night for high school students on September 9, 2026.
Hosting seventh Federal Judiciary Youth Summit for Iowa high school students.
Announced relaunch of Congressional Youth Advisory Council for high school students.
Led bipartisan effort to introduce bill creating matched-savings program for higher education.
Summaries, action types, amounts and positions are read from each press release by AI and can be wrong. Joint releases (same day, same action, matching title or amount) count once. How it works