Last week, you called and emailed your members of Congress.

This week, a Senate committee listened—and there’s still work to do.

On July 30, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted 13–9 to advance S. 5046, a bipartisan bill that would stop the Department of Education from transferring the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)—the office that administers IDEA and oversees special education services nationwide—to another federal agency. The administration had proposed moving OSERS to the Department of Health and Human Services; this bill would block that transfer.

It’s a real win for the ADHD and disability communities, and it happened the day after CHADD’s call to action went out. Thank you!

But, the bill still has a gap, and the fight isn’t over.

What’s protected

S. 5046 blocks the Department of Education from moving four offices to other federal agencies:

• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
• Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)
• Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)
• Office of Indian Education

The bill was introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) with Republican Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) as co-sponsors. Collins and Murkowski joined Democrats in voting to advance it.

“This bill is straightforward,” Collins said during the markup. “It keeps important landmark education programs at the Department of Education where Congress specifically put them and where they belong.”

Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) did not support the bill overall, although he has separately opposed moving OSERS specifically to HHS. The committee also adopted an amendment from Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) requiring the department to report to Congress on the cost of each interagency agreement used to move these functions elsewhere.

The part that didn’t pass

Senator Murray also offered an amendment to protect the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)—the office that enforces Section 504, which many students with ADHD rely on for classroom accommodations. It was tabled, 12–11. That means OCR’s planned move to the Department of Justice can proceed. CHADD is watching this closely. OCR enforcement matters directly to families navigating 504 plans, and this bill doesn’t touch it.

Also moving forward

Two other bills relevant to the ADHD and disability community cleared the same markup:

• RISE Act (S. 3589)—would allow students with disabilities use an existing IEP or 504 plan to document accommodation needs in college, rather than undergo new evaluations. Passed unanimously, 22–0.
• READ Act (S. 4689)—focuses on early literacy screening and state literacy grants. Passed 20–2.

What’s next

S. 5046 now heads to the full Senate. No floor vote is scheduled, and the outcome remains uncertain— the House is advancing a competing legislative package that would codify these transfers and go further, including shifting federal student aid programs to the Treasury Department.

As developments occur, CHADD will update the Advocacy Action Center with the latest information and any new opportunities to take action.

Thank you to everyone who answered CHADD’s call to action. Your participation strengthens our collective voice, and your continued engagement will remain essential as these proposals move through Congress.

Status current as of August 6, 2026.