Review – HR 5304 Introduced – FY 2026 LHH Spending

Back in September Rep Aderhold introduced HR 5304, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026. The House Appropriations Committee published their Report on the bill. The bill contains specific spending authorizations for cybersecurity activities and CBRN response initiatives. The Report contains cybersecurity, chemical safety and UAS discussions.

HR 5304 is similar to HR 9029, the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies [LHH] Appropriations Act, 2025, that was introduced by Alderholt in July, 2024. The House Appropriations Committee published their Report on the bill the same day. No further action was taken on that bill (or its Senate counterpart, S 4942) in the 118th Congress. The Senate version of the FY 2026 LHH spending bill, S 2587, may be included in the text of the substitute language that will be considered for HR 4016 when the Senate comes back to Washington in January.

Moving Forward

It does not currently look like the House will take up this bill as this is one of the more controversial spending bills, even within the Republican caucus. Spending hawks do not think that enough cuts were made, and moderates are concerned with some of the language related to abortions, transgender issues, and vaccine support. It still looks like the Senate will include the language from their more moderate LHH spending bill as a Division in the language they have been ‘debating’ for HR 4016, the FY 2026 DOD spending bill. The Senate leadership is working towards considering that minibus spending bill early in July. What ever spending bills remain unpassed at the end of the month will likely be dealt with under a year-end continuing resolution, hopefully before the current CR runs out on January 31^st.

 

For more information on the cybersecurity and chemical safety provisions of the bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-5304-introduced-fy-2026-lhh-spending - subscription required.

Review - S 2587 Introduced – FY 2026 LHH Spending

Back in July Sen Capito (R,WV) introduced S 2587, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026. The Senate Appropriations Committee published their Report on the bill at the same time. There are two cybersecurity mentions in passing in the bill and five cybersecurity discussions in the Report. There are also three cybersecurity mentions in passing and six cybersecurity earmarks in the Report.

S 2587 is similar to S 4942, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025, that was introduced by Sen Baldwin (D,WI) in August 2025. No action was taken on that bill (or its House counterpart – HR 9029) in the Senate in the 118^th Congress.

Moving Forward

It has been reported that the Senate is considering adding the language from this bill to the substitute language that will be considered when the Senate takes up HR 4016, possibly as early as next week. As of yesterday, no amendments to HR 4016 have been proposed in the Senate, so we do not know what language will be considered.

 

For more information about the provisions of this bill, including a commentary about the reason that the Senate is resorting to multi-bill mini-bus spending bills.

Review - Bills Introduced – 9-11-25

Yesterday, with both the House and Senate in session, there were 88 bills introduced. Two of those bills will receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 5301 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced safety in pipeline transportation, and for other purposes. Graves, Sam [Rep.-R-MO-6]

HR 5304 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026.  Aderholt, Robert B. [Rep.-R-AL-4]

 

For more information on these bills, including legislative history for similar bills in the 118th, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/bills-introduced-9-11-25 - subscription required.