At the opening of the House Appropriations Committee markup for the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) funding bill, Representative Rosa DeLauro voiced strong opposition to the proposal, arguing that it would significantly harm working families, students, and vulnerable communities.
Setting the Stage
DeLauro began by thanking committee leaders and staff on both sides of the aisle for their work. She acknowledged past bipartisan collaboration, but said the current bill—cutting $24 billion from education, health, and labor programs, more than 10 percent overall—would have far-reaching negative consequences.
Key Criticisms
According to DeLauro, the bill dismantles programs that make health care more affordable, support public schools, and fund job training. She pointed to proposed reductions in Medicaid and Medicare, elimination of certain nutrition benefits, and major cuts to teacher training, after-school programs, and financial aid for college students.
She also raised alarms about reductions in funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, as well as biomedical research through the National Institutes of Health. DeLauro argued that these cuts undermine longstanding bipartisan priorities and could slow progress on life-saving cures.
Public Health and Education Impacts
DeLauro emphasized that education programs are especially at risk. She warned that eliminating Title I funds could remove tens of thousands of teachers from classrooms in low-income areas, and that eliminating English language acquisition support would harm millions of students. Cuts to federal work-study and supplemental grants, she added, would reduce opportunities for low-income college students.
She also criticized provisions that eliminate family planning and teen pregnancy prevention programs, as well as restrictions that could allow discrimination against LGBTQ individuals.
A Broader Message
Throughout her remarks, DeLauro argued that the bill reflects misplaced priorities. She said it prioritizes tax cuts for corporations and wealthy individuals while cutting essential services for ordinary Americans. For her, the message is clear: government should protect the middle class, working families, and vulnerable citizens, not make life harder for them.
DeLauro closed by urging her colleagues to reject the measure, warning that it would deepen existing challenges in health care, education, and economic stability.
Source: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
