As Congress returns from its August recess, lawmakers face a busy fall agenda with government funding, fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations, and higher education policy among the issues at the forefront. The House returns for legislative business this week, while the Senate is scheduled to reconvene September 14. Throughout the recess, ASPPH members continued engaging lawmakers through District Advocacy Day, including welcoming members of Congress to their campuses and meeting with lawmakers and staff in district offices. ASPPH will build on this engagement while closely following developments affecting public health and research funding, federal grantmaking, and access to graduate education.
 
What's happening:

• House Republican leaders are considering an early vote on the Senate-passed continuing resolution (CR), which would extend current government funding through December 11 and avert a shutdown ahead of the midterm elections. Leaders are reportedly considering an expedited process requiring a bipartisan two-thirds majority.
• Importantly, the Senate bill would also pause implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed federal grants rule through December 11, temporarily preventing changes that could increase political involvement in federal grantmaking. ASPPH has opposed the OMB proposal and continues to advocate for Congress to permanently block the rule while calling others to action.
• Student loan affordability will also be on the agenda. Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) are seeking action on legislation to cap federal student loan interest rates, while Democrats have introduced competing proposals. The debate comes amid broader concerns about recent changes to federal graduate lending and college affordability.

Why it matters for academic public health:

• While the CR would provide short-term funding certainty, Congress still must complete its FY 2027 appropriations work. 
• ASPPH continues to advocate for robust investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Prevention Research Centers (PRC), Fogarty International Center (FIC), and public health workforce development programs.

ASPPH recently joined more than 210 medical, health, public health, and patient advocacy organizations in opposing the White House executive order (EO) recommending changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)-led coalition emphasized the importance of clear, evidence-based vaccine guidance, particularly as measles cases continue to rise across the country.
 
What's happening:

• The coalition raised concerns that recommendations to reduce and space out childhood vaccines could create confusion among families and undermine confidence in routine immunization.
• The organizations also rejected claims linking vaccines and autism, noting that such claims have been repeatedly disproven and can divert attention and resources from promising areas of autism research.
• HHS has taken an initial step toward implementing the EO by issuing a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on how federal vaccine recommendations should be categorized. While the RFI does not change the current vaccine schedule, responses will help inform potential changes to the federal vaccine framework. ASPPH encourages members to review the RFI and consider submitting comments by September 20, particularly on the public health implications of changes to federal vaccine recommendations.

Why it matters for public health:

• At a time of declining vaccination coverage and ongoing measles outbreaks, ASPPH joins the broader health community in supporting vaccine guidance grounded in scientific evidence and encouraging families with questions to consult trusted health care providers.

As the nation approaches the midterm elections, ASPPH will host Voting is Public Health: Polling, Civic Engagement, and the Road to the Midterms on September 28 from 1:00–2:00 PM ET. The webinar will explore the connection between civic engagement and public health and opportunities for the academic public health community to support voter participation.

 What to expect:

• Moderated by ASPPH Chief External Relations & Advocacy Officer Tim Leshan, the discussion will feature Gnora Mahs of the Institute for Responsive Government, ASPPH’s Beeta Rasouli, and Amy Souders of Cornerstone Government Affairs.
• Panelists will discuss how civic engagement influences health outcomes and what recent polling indicates about trends heading into the midterm elections.
• The conversation will also explore the role schools and programs of public health can play in supporting informed, nonpartisan civic engagement in their communities.

Why it matters for public health:

• Voting and civic participation can shape policies and investments that influence community health and well-being.
• The webinar will highlight ASPPH’s Voting is Public Health campaign and practical resources for promoting voter participation.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said last Sunday that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is not lethal, clarifying recent comments from President Donald Trump that raised questions about the vaccine’s safety.

 What’s happening:

• During an interview on CBS’ Face the Nation, Oz was repeatedly asked about Trump’s assertion that the combined MMR vaccine could potentially be lethal. Oz ultimately stated, “The MMR vaccine is not a lethal vaccine.”
• Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order calling for changes to childhood vaccine recommendations, including separating the MMR vaccine into individual shots, which are not currently available in the United States.

Why it matters for public health:

• Oz’s comments come amid continued concern about vaccine confidence and rising measles cases. Two recent measles deaths in Pennsylvania underscore that, while evidence does not support claims that the MMR vaccine is lethal, measles itself can cause severe complications and death.
• Conflicting messages from federal health leaders could contribute to public confusion about vaccine safety as measles outbreaks continue and childhood vaccination coverage declines.

A coalition of four labor unions filed a new lawsuit challenging the Department of Education’s (ED) RISE rule, marking the third major legal challenge to its definition of “professional degree.” The case joins ongoing litigation over which graduate programs qualify for higher federal student loan limits, including the lawsuit in which ASPPH is a plaintiff.

 What’s happening:

• The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and National Nurses United (NNU) argue that ED’s definition unlawfully excludes professions including public health, nursing, teaching, and social work.
• The case follows a June preliminary injunction that temporarily paused portions of the definition. ED subsequently expanded the list of eligible programs, but those changes remain tied to the court-ordered pause.

Why it matters for academic public health:

• ASPPH is separately challenging the RISE rule, along with other professional organizations, arguing that excluding public health degrees from the professional degree designation threatens students’ ability to finance graduate education and could worsen workforce shortages.
• With multiple lawsuits now underway, rulings in one case could affect the rule’s implementation and the other legal challenges. ASPPH will continue to monitor developments and advocate for public health students’ access to federal graduate loans.

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