Dingell Health Priorities Included in HHS Funding Bill

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today voted to pass the fiscal year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies funding bill, which includes several of her key health care priorities, including extended telehealth flexibilities for two years, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, National Institute of Health (NIH) funding protections, and increased funding for cancer research and training.

"I voted to pass the Labor HHS funding bill, which was not perfect, but has a number of critical legislative priorities I have worked hard on. This bill will institute bipartisan PBM reforms to cut out the middle man and lower prescription drug prices, extended telehealth flexibilities for two years under Medicare, protect essential funding for medical research, and invest in critical priorities, including support for the caregiving workforce, home heating assistance, early childhood education, efforts to combat violence against women, and essential funding for emergency medical services. It also included two bills that I lead - the Give Kids A Chance Act to expand research into childhood cancer and the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act to prevent suicide and reduce burnout among health care professionals. I also fought against efforts to rollback the progress we have made in ending drunk and impaired driving by opposing an amendment that would repeal my HALT Drunk Driving Act, that was signed into law in 2021 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)."

The FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill includes the following priorities championed by Rep. Dingell:

• $7.4 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), an increase of $128 million above the 2025 level
• $106 million for the Office of Research on Women's Health, an increase of $30 million above the 2025 level
• $13.5 million for grants to EMS agencies
• Medicare telehealth flexibilities extended for nearly two years
• The Give Kids a Chance Act, which accelerates drug development for pediatric rare diseases
• The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals
• $3 million for grants that support family caregivers
• Pharmacy Benefit Manager reforms
• $12.4 billion for Head Start
• $4 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• A $5 million increase for Family Violence and Prevention Services