Republicans Advance Bill Cutting Key Health and Education Programs
During a recent markup session, House republicans moved forward with a 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies funding bill that Democrats argue considerably weakens public health infrastructure and public education. Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) delivered opening remarks on september 2,2025,sharply criticizing the proposed cuts as detrimental to working and middle-class families.
The bill, according to DeLauro, proposes significant reductions impacting critical agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Substance abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Specifically, the bill includes major cuts to State and local health departments, tobacco prevention programs, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, substance use prevention and treatment, and mental health services.
DeLauro characterized the actions as “malicious and vindictive,” asserting they would take the nation “back decades” and exacerbate the current cost-of-living crisis. She urged her Republican colleagues to cease support for what she described as “anti-vaccine lies,” cuts to Medicaid, and the dismantling of public education and healthcare systems.
A meaningful portion of DeLauroS remarks focused on the appointment of robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. She reiterated her call for his removal from the position, citing his promotion of “anti-vaccine ideology” and lack of scientific or medical expertise. DeLauro pointed to a recent incident on August 8th, where a shooter attacked the CDC – an agency she described as formerly “the crown jewel of public health details” – and murdered police officer David Rose, a Marine veteran, motivated by misinformation regarding Covid vaccines. She further noted that Kennedy Jr. recently “doubled down on vaccine conspiracies” at a news conference in Texas,criticizing the CDC for recognizing vaccines as a top medical advancement.
Detailed information regarding the bill, including a summary, fact sheet, and the full text, can be found at the following links:
Summary: https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related-agencies-summary.pdf
Fact Sheet: https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/lhhs-fy26-fact-sheet.pdf
* Bill Text: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP07/20250902/118570/BILLS-119-SC-AP-FY2026-LaborHHS-FY26LaborHealthandHumanServicesEducationandRelatedAgencies-SubcommitteeMark.pdf
