Public Policy for the People: Federal Update

During the summer, President Trump provided a plan on how the government should spend (appropriate) its money. Congress is reviewing the plan to decide if it agrees with it or wants to make changes. These changes are called markups.

Cathy Harmon-Christian, Public Policy DirectorThere are 12 appropriations subcommittees and committees in Congress. They are debating and marking up appropriation (funding) bills for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget. The funding bills that are most important to the disability community come from the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education committees. These committees are in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Federal Appropriations Bill: Senate

On July 31, 2025, the Senate Committee on Appropriations passed out of committee the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2026. This act (bill) passed by a vote of 26-3. The bill funds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at $116.6 billion. That is a $446 million increase in discretionary funds. Discretionary funds are money that the government can choose how to spend. For more information, you can read the Senate’s appropriation bill text and report language.

Now the bill goes through these steps:

1. The Senate votes on the bill.
2. The House and Senate work out any disagreements they have about the bill.
3. The President decides whether to sign or reject the bill.

You can follow the progress of all appropriation bills in both the Senate and House by viewing Congress’ Appropriations Status Table.

Federal Appropriations Bill: House

After Congress came back from its August break, a group of House members met to review and make changes to a spending bill that covers jobs, health, education, and related programs for 2026. That bill is called the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill. The subcommittee passed the bill with a vote of 11-7.

The bill then went to the full House Appropriations Committee for discussion. On September 9, 2025, the markup of the bill was voted on and passed out of the Committee by a vote of 35-28. The legislation funds $108.6 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services. That amount is a decrease of $6.8 billion.

Like the Senate bill, the House bill will now go through these steps:

1. The House votes on the bill.
2. The House and Senate work out any disagreements they have about the bill.
3. The President decides whether to sign or reject the bill.

Funding to keep the government open runs out on September 30, 2025. To avoid a government shutdown, Congress will do one of the following:

• Approve a new government funding package for FY26, or
• Pass a continuing resolution (CR) that keeps the government operating on current funding levels for a specified time.

The timeline is very tight, and there may not be enough time to pass a full spending bill before the deadline.

Key Takeaways for Georgia’s Developmental Disability Community

Both the Senate and House rejected the President’s proposal to eliminate funding for the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs). They also rejected the President’s proposal to make major changes to HHS departments and agencies. Both are positive signs.

Additionally:

• From Senate report:
  • $43.1 million to UCEDDs (same as FY 2025)
  • $56.3 million to Autism and Other Developmental Disorders (same as FY 2025)
  • $38.2 to Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities programs (LENDs) (increase of 1 million)
  • $1.7 billion to Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) – this is where Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRCs) are housed (increase of $20 million)
  • $45 million to DD Protection and Advocacy(P&As) (same as FY 2025)
  • $81 million to State DD Councils (same as FY 2025)
  • $13.8 million to Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) (same as FY 2025)
• From House bill:
  • $43.1 million to UCEDDs (same as FY 2025)
  • $57 million to Autism and Other Developmental Disorders
  • $38.2 to LENDs
  • $1.76 billion Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (where IDDRCs are housed) (same as FY 2025)
  • $45 million to DD Protection and Advocacy (same as FY 2025)
  • $81 million to DD State Councils (same as FY 2025)
  • $13.8 million to TPSID (same as FY 2025)

Originally, the President’s Budget proposed $228 million for the Center for Independent Living (CIL). This would give CIL $100 million more. But this extra money was to come from funding cuts to UCEDDS, Protection & Advocacy Systems (P&As), Limb Loss Resource Center, Paralysis Resource Center, and the Voting Access for People with Disabilities program. The CIL was expected to assume the duties of those programs if they were eliminated. However, both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees chose to continue with these programs and fund them at the following levels:

• From Senate report:
  • $128 million for Center for Independent Living (same as FY 2025)
  • $4 million for the Limb Loss Resource Center (same as FY 2025)
  • $10.7 million for the Paralysis Resource Center (same as FY 2025)
  • $10 million for Voting Access for People with Disabilities (same as FY 2025)
  • $12 million for the Developmental Disabilities Projects of National Significance (same as FY 2025)
  • $119 million for Voting National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research NIDILRR (same as FY 2025)
• From House report:
  • $128 million for Center for Independent Living (same as FY 2025)
  • $4 million for the Limb Loss Resource Center (same as FY 2025)
  • $10.7 million for the Paralysis Resource Center (same as FY 2025)
  • $10 million for Voting Access for People with Disabilities (same as FY 2025)
  • $12 million for the Developmental Disabilities Projects of National Significance (same as FY 2025)
  • $100 million for Voting NIDILRR (cut of $19 million)

Reach out to your representatives to educate them about the importance of these programs!

Department of Labor Released Proposed Changes to Two Rules that Could Impact People with Disabilities

During September, the Department of Labor (DOL) asked people to give their opinions on two big changes they want to make.

DOL wants to go back to rules from 1975 about paying workers who help people with disabilities in their homes. This rule is called the Fair Labor Standards Act to Domestic Service. GCDD does not support this change. GCDD wants to keep the newer rules from 2013 that make sure these home care workers get paid at least $7.25 per hour. GCDD also believes they should receive extra pay when they work more than 40 hours a week.

The DOL also wants to get rid of a goal that says companies working with the federal government should try to hire seven people with disabilities for every 100 people they hire without disabilities. This goal started in 2014 because people with disabilities have a much harder time finding jobs than other people. The goal was made to help fix this problem by making sure companies working for the federal government hire more people with disabilities. GCDD does not support this proposed change.

While the comment periods have been closed, the ruling has not been finalized. GCDD will provide updates as it learns more.