This week’s Federal Update covers Congressional, Executive, and Judicial activities of interest in Washington, D.C.
Congressional Branch activities of interest
Floor Activity
Both the House and Senate were in Session this week. On January 6, Indiana Senator Jim Banks (R) spoke on the Senate floor about Indiana University’s football program and 2025 Heisman award winner Fernando Mendoza. Watch Senator Banks’ floor speech here.
FY 2026 Appropriations
On January 5, the House Appropriations Committee released a three-bill minibus containing conferenced versions of the FY26 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS), Energy-Water, and Interior-Environment bills. House floor votes on the package are expected to take place on January 8.
The bills provide:
- $8.75 billion for the National Science Foundation, a 3% decrease from the FY 2025 level.
- $207 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the same funding as FY 2025.
The bills do not reflect the large cuts proposed by the President’s Budget Request (PBR) for FY26. The PBR proposed a 56% cut to NSF from FY25 levels and proposed elimination of the NEH altogether.
With regard to both the CJS and Energy-Water bills within the package, both contain provisions directing federal agencies funded by the bills to maintain the indirect cost rates that were in place for FY24 and prohibit the agencies funded by the bills from using appropriated funds to “develop, modify, or implement changes” to the FY24 indirect cost rates.
The package may be found here.
Markups
On January 8, The House Education and Workforce Committee marked up the Pregnant Students Rights Act (H.R. 6359). The bill would require colleges and universities to communicate information about how to file a complaint under Title IX if a student believes they have been discriminated against during their pregnancy. Schools would be required to provide resources and information about accommodations that would help pregnant students. Read the bill text here. Watch the markup here.
Bills Introduced
National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act (Bill number not yet assigned) - Indiana Senator Todd Young (R) and Washington Senator Maria Cantwell (D) have introduced the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, which would authorize five years of support for quantum research and development funded through several federal agencies. The bill would expand the work of the National Quantum Initiative to advance basic research and develop practical quantum applications. Read the press release here. Read the bill text here.
Respond, Innovate, Support, and Empower (RISE) Act (S.3589) - Indiana Senator Jim Banks (R) and Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have introduced the RISE Act, which would allow college students to use previous documentation as proof of disability when seeking accommodations in academic courses instead of receiving new evaluations. The bill also requires colleges and universities to inform students about available accommodations under the legislation. Read the press release here. See the bill text here.
Executive Branch activities of interest
Department of Education Begins Negotiated Rulemaking on Accountability Provisions of One Big Beautiful Bill Act
On January 5, the Department of Education started the Accountability in Higher Education Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) Committee to begin negotiations on the accountability framework and transparency provisions enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The committee is expected to do a final consensus check at the end of the week to determine the regulatory language that will be subject to public comment later this year. Negotiated rulemaking is a process used by federal agencies that brings together stakeholder groups to negotiate and draft the text of a proposed regulation before it is officially published.
Judicial Branch activities of interest
1st Circuit Court Upholds Block on Cuts to Indirect Costs Rates at NIH
On January 5, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's decision blocking implementation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s February 7, 2025 guidance imposing a 15% cap on indirect costs. The court held that NIH’s policy conflicts with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations and violates an appropriations rider that prevents HHS from modifying negotiated indirect cost rates.