Less Bureaucracy, Better Family Engagement Act
Sponsored By: Representative Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
In Committee
Summary
Transfers administration of four education-focused federal programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill would move staff, contracts, assets, and funds so HHS runs family engagement, school safety, and Ready to Learn grants.
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- Families and students: Programs that fund family engagement, community supports for school success, school safety activities, and Ready to Learn content would be run by HHS instead of ED.
- Local schools and grantees: Grants, contracts, and unexpended balances connected to these programs would transfer to HHS and must be used for their original purposes.
- Federal employees and operations: DOE personnel, assets, liabilities, records, and contracts tied to the programs would move to HHS, and the Office of Management and Budget director must avoid any net increase in federal full-time employees.
- Legal and administrative continuity: Existing orders, proceedings, suits, applications, and administrative reviews tied to these programs would continue and apply to HHS.
- Authority and delegation: HHS could exercise the same legal authorities ED previously used to run these programs and may delegate responsibilities within HHS while the HHS Secretary retains final responsibility.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Ongoing grants and cases would continue
If enacted, existing orders, permits, grants, loans, contracts, and licenses tied to the moved programs would stay in effect until lawfully changed. Proceedings, applications, and suits pending at ED about these programs would continue, with HHS substituted or added as a party when appropriate. Administrative and judicial review rules that applied before transfer would continue to apply to HHS.
HHS gets ED legal powers for transfers
If enacted, HHS would be able to use the same legal authorities ED had to run the transferred programs. References in law and official documents to the Secretary or Department of Education would be read as referring to HHS for those functions. The Secretary of HHS could delegate these functions within HHS but would keep final responsibility.
HHS would run four school programs
If enacted, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would take over four programs that Education now runs. Those are: Family Engagement in Education programs, Community Support for School Success, National Activities for School Safety, and Ready to Learn grants. The change follows the Act's effective-date rules and moves authority for these programs from ED to HHS. Households that use those programs would see administration shift to HHS.
OMB limits hires and sets timing rules
If enacted, the Office of Management and Budget must ensure the transfers do not cause a net increase in federal full‑time equivalent employees compared to the count on the date of enactment. OMB may decide which functions transfer and handle incidental moves of personnel and assets, and must certify compliance to relevant Congressional committees. The Act would generally take effect six months after enactment, though many transfers may begin on the date of enactment and must finish by the six‑month effective date.
Staff, contracts, and funds move to HHS
If enacted, personnel, contracts, property, records, and unspent balances tied to the moved programs would transfer to HHS. Any unexpended funds must still be used only for their original authorized purposes and transfers follow federal financial rules. Beginning on the date of enactment, HHS would also be allowed to temporarily use Education Department staff, related assets, and funds for as long as reasonably needed to make the change orderly.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
IL • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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