Real bill currently in Congress c/o HR/119/9260
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027
Latest action (2026-06-11): Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 604.
The Framers
“Founders’ Verdict”
Confidence 0.75
Synthesis
The bill is constitutional in principle as an exercise of Congress's appropriation power under Article I, Section 9, Clause 7, but its constitutionality depends on whether each funded activity falls within the enumerated powers of the federal government, does not infringe upon state reserved powers under the Tenth Amendment, and does not violate separation of powers or other constitutional provisions.
This bill, exercising Congress's power to appropriate funds for specified departments and agencies, is consistent with the authority vested in the legislative branch under Article I, Section 9, Clause 7, which mandates that no money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law. The Constitution grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, and to provide for the common defense and general welfare (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1), which encompasses the funding of executive departments like Labor, Health and Human Services,…
This bill appropriates vast sums for departments whose powers, under our Constitution, are not enumerated. The Tenth Amendment expressly reserves to the States and to the People all powers not delegated to the United States. The Congress has no general authority to fund education, labor, or health care beyond the few specific grants of power in Article I, Section 8. To do so is to assume a general police power, which our compact expressly denies the federal government. Furthermore, the First Amendment guarantees the right of the people to petition the government for a redress of grievances, wh…
The bill, as an appropriations measure for several executive departments, is generally within the power of Congress under Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 (the Spending Clause) and Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 (the Appropriations Clause). However, the Constitution requires that appropriations be made only for purposes that are within the enumerated powers of the federal government. If any provision of this bill funds activities not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, or if it infringes upon the powers reserved to the States or the people by the Tenth Amendment, it would be unco…
The Constitution vests in Congress the power to appropriate funds for the execution of its enumerated powers. Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 requires that no money be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law. The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education are lawfully established to carry out federal responsibilities, and funding them through an appropriations bill is a necessary and proper exercise of congressional authority under Article I, Section 8, Clause 18. As held in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Congress possesses discretion in selec…
What should pass
“AI Consensus Solution”
No solution yet
Daily synthesis runs at 06:00 UTC. This bill's consensus draft will appear on the next pass.