03/17/2026

 

Samuel Clifford

 

H.R. 7894 (Truman Scholarship Clean House Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21)

 

Purpose: To reform governance and accountability requirements for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, including oversight of board operations, financial management, and scholarship administration.

 

Effect: This bill increases transparency and internal oversight within the Truman Scholarship Foundation by strengthening reporting requirements, clarifying board responsibilities, and establishing stricter standards for managing scholarship funds. The intent is to ensure the scholarship program honoring President Harry S. Truman operates efficiently and that federal resources supporting public-service scholarships are administered responsibly.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7894/text

 

H.R. 7890 (Science of Reading Act of 2026)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN-9)

 

Purpose: To promote evidence-based literacy instruction in federally supported education programs by emphasizing phonics-based and structured literacy approaches commonly referred to as the “science of reading.”

 

Effect: This bill encourages states and school districts receiving federal education funding to adopt reading instruction methods supported by cognitive science and literacy research. It aims to improve early reading outcomes by prioritizing proven instructional strategies, teacher professional development, and materials aligned with research on how children learn to read.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7890/text

H.R. 7891 (Student Aid Fraud Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15)

 

Purpose: To strengthen oversight of federal student aid programs and prevent fraud or abuse involving federal education funding.

 

Effect: This bill enhances monitoring and enforcement tools used by the Department of Education to detect fraudulent activity involving student aid programs. It increases reporting and auditing capabilities and improves coordination between federal agencies to ensure taxpayer funds used for financial aid are distributed only to eligible students and institutions.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7891/text

 

H.R. 7892 (No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT-4)

 

Purpose: To prevent federal student aid funds from being issued to “ghost students,” individuals fraudulently enrolled or fabricated to obtain federal financial aid payments.

 

Effect: This bill requires stronger identity verification, enrollment confirmation procedures, and institutional accountability measures to prevent fraudulent student records from being used to access federal financial aid. These safeguards aim to protect taxpayer funds and ensure federal aid is distributed only to legitimate students pursuing postsecondary education.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7892/text

H.R. 7893 (FAFSA Verification Efficiency Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI-5)

 

Purpose: To streamline the federal financial aid verification process used for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and reduce administrative burdens on students and institutions.

 

Effect: This bill modernizes and simplifies verification procedures required when reviewing information submitted through the FAFSA. The changes aim to reduce delays in financial aid distribution, limit unnecessary documentation requirements, and improve the efficiency of aid processing for both students and colleges.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7893/text

 

H.R. 7661 (Stop the Sexualization of Children Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL-15)

 

Purpose: To prohibit the use of federal education funds to develop, implement, or promote programs, activities, or materials for minors that include sexually oriented content.

 

Effect: This legislation amends provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to restrict federal funding for educational programs or materials directed at minors that include sexually oriented content. The bill is intended to ensure federal education funds are used only for age-appropriate instruction and programming for children.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7661/text

 

H.R. 6084 (ERISA Litigation Reform Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL-6)

 

Purpose: To reform litigation practices under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by addressing legal standards and procedures governing lawsuits related to employee benefit plans.

 

Effect: This bill modifies rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to address litigation involving employer-sponsored retirement and benefits plans. The reforms aim to clarify fiduciary liability standards, discourage abusive or excessive lawsuits, and help employers maintain retirement benefit plans while continuing to protect plan participants.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6084/text