What the Senate HELP Committee’s Latest Votes Mean for Education

Last week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, known as the HELP Committee, took bipartisan action to protect key functions within the U.S. Department of Education while also advancing legislation aimed at addressing the nation’s literacy crisis.

The committee voted 13 to 9 to advance legislation that would prevent the transfer of four major Department of Education offices to other federal agencies. The measure also includes a requirement that the administration publicly report the costs associated with its Interagency Agreements.

The action comes as the administration continues efforts to move certain Department of Education responsibilities to other federal departments. Supporters of the legislation argue that these functions were assigned to the Department by Congress and should not be transferred without congressional approval.

One example often cited by education advocates is the transfer of the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, or OCTAE, to the Department of Labor. Critics argue the move has led to funding delays, additional layers of bureaucracy, and increased administrative costs.
The administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget request includes more than $9 million to hire 26 full-time employees, along with additional operating funds, to administer OCTAE programs at the Department of Labor.

Concerns have also been raised about plans to transfer the Department’s Office for Civil Rights to the Department of Justice.
According to the Government Accountability Office, the office received more than 9,000 discrimination complaints between March and September of 2025. During that period, roughly 90 percent of complaints were resolved through dismissal rather than investigation.
Meanwhile, staffing reductions have cut the office’s workforce in half, and seven of its twelve regional offices have been closed.

The committee also advanced the bipartisan Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development Act, better known as the READ Act. The legislation seeks to strengthen evidence-based literacy instruction and improve reading outcomes for students nationwide.

The push comes as national reading achievement continues to decline. According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 35 percent of twelfth-graders scored at or above the proficient level in reading.
At the same time, 32 percent scored below the basic level, the highest percentage ever recorded.

Supporters of the READ Act say those numbers underscore the urgent need for action. They argue that strong literacy skills are foundational not only for academic success, but also for college and career readiness.
By 2031, an estimated 66 percent of good jobs are expected to require at least a bachelor’s degree, making reading proficiency an increasingly important factor in economic opportunity and workforce success.

In a statement following the committee’s action, All4Ed CEO Dr. Amy Loyd said the votes demonstrate that bipartisan support remains possible for protecting the Department of Education and strengthening literacy outcomes for students.
All4Ed will continue to monitor these developments and advocate for policies that protect educational opportunities and ensure every student has access to high-quality pathways to success.

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