Science of Reading Act of 2026

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Bill ID: 119/hr/7890
Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

ID: H001093

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 0.

March 17, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another exercise in legislative theater, courtesy of the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce and get to the real diagnosis.

**Main Purpose & Objectives**

The Science of Reading Act of 2026 is a masterclass in Orwellian doublespeak. Its primary objective is to exclude certain instructional approaches from comprehensive literacy instruction, while prioritizing funds for evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with the "science of reading." In reality, this bill is a thinly veiled attempt to impose a specific ideology on education policy.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law**

The bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by:

1. Excluding the three-cueing model from comprehensive literacy instruction. 2. Defining the "science of reading" as an interdisciplinary body of evidence-based research that emphasizes phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing. 3. Requiring states to align their comprehensive literacy instruction plans with the science of reading.

These changes are nothing more than a Trojan horse for a specific educational agenda. The real purpose is to restrict alternative instructional approaches and funnel funds to preferred programs.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders**

The usual suspects:

1. Educational institutions: forced to conform to the "science of reading" ideology. 2. Teachers: expected to adopt a narrow, evidence-based approach, stifling creativity and innovation. 3. Students: subjected to a one-size-fits-all educational model that may not cater to their individual needs. 4. Lobbyists and special interest groups: the real beneficiaries of this bill, as they'll reap financial rewards from promoting their preferred programs.

**Potential Impact & Implications**

This bill will:

1. Limit educational freedom and creativity, as institutions are forced to adopt a rigid approach. 2. Favor certain educational programs and ideologies over others, creating an uneven playing field. 3. Waste taxpayer dollars on ineffective or unproven programs, thanks to the bill's narrow focus on "evidence-based" instruction. 4. Perpetuate the myth that there's only one "right" way to teach reading, ignoring the complexities of human learning.

In conclusion, this bill is a classic case of legislative malpractice. It's a cynical attempt to impose an ideological straitjacket on education policy, while lining the pockets of special interest groups. The real disease here is not a lack of evidence-based instruction, but rather the corruption and groupthink that pervades our educational system.

Related Topics

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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$111,070
23 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$12,400
Committees
$0
Individuals
$98,670

No PAC contributions found

1
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE TRIBE OF CALIFORNIA
1 transaction
$3,300
2
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
1 transaction
$3,300
3
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA OF NORTH DAKOTA
1 transaction
$3,300
4
CHEROKEE NATION
1 transaction
$2,500

No committee contributions found

1
BANKE, BARBARA
2 transactions
$9,900
2
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
1 transaction
$6,600
3
GRIFFIN, KENNETH
1 transaction
$6,600
4
ROWAN, CAROLYN
1 transaction
$6,600
5
ROWAN, MARC
1 transaction
$6,600
6
KIESLER, DOUGLAS M MR.
1 transaction
$6,600
7
VIELEHR, BYRON
1 transaction
$6,300
8
SMITH, JONATHAN
1 transaction
$6,000
9
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
1 transaction
$5,600
10
DUHAMEL, WILLIAM
1 transaction
$5,000
11
LUCAS, CHARLOTTE
1 transaction
$5,000
12
TARZIAN, THOMAS N. MR.
1 transaction
$4,100
13
CROWE, KEVIN
1 transaction
$3,700
14
BRALY, ANGELA
1 transaction
$3,435
15
BRALY, DOUG
1 transaction
$3,435
16
MORGAN, MATTHEW
1 transaction
$3,300
17
JENNINGS, ROBERT
1 transaction
$3,300
18
PURUCKER, JIM
1 transaction
$3,300
19
ARNOLD, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]

ID: M001231

Top Contributors

10

1
POLITY GROUP LLC
Organization PORTLAND, OR
$2,500
Oct 28, 2024
2
LYNN D'ELIA TEMES & STANCZYK
Organization SYRACUSE, NY
$1,000
Mar 12, 2024
3
SLOME, IAN
SLOME CAPITAL LLC INVESTOR
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
May 18, 2024
4
SPITZER, ELIOT
SELF-EMPLOYED REAL ESTATE
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
May 1, 2024
5
CUTLER, RANDI
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual BOSTON, MA
$6,600
Jun 11, 2024
6
MCDOLE, MORGAN
CITY OF SYRACUSE FIREFIGHTER
Individual FAYETTEVILLE, NY
$6,600
Jun 20, 2024
7
ALBERTS, EDWARD
LITTLE LUKES SELF-EMPLOYED
Individual BALDWINSVILLE, NY
$6,600
Jul 13, 2023
8
STONE, JAMES M
PLYMOUTH ROCK COMPANY, INC. EXECUTIVE
Individual BOSTON, MA
$5,000
Oct 11, 2024
9
FAIVUS, HARRY E.
NOT EMPLOYED RETIRED
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$5,000
Oct 25, 2024
10
BASCH, ELI B.
BASCH &KEEGAN LLP ATTORNEY
Individual KINGSTON, NY
$5,000
Oct 28, 2024

Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3]

ID: K000401

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
COM ARLINGTON, VA
$30
Oct 24, 2024
2
WINRED
COM ARLINGTON, VA
$10
Oct 29, 2024
3
BENNETT WEST ROSEVILLE LLC
NOT INCORPORATED
Organization ORANGEVALE, CA
$3,000
Oct 21, 2024
4
NICHOLSON & OLSON, CPAS
UNINCORPORATED PARTNERSHIP
Organization ROSEVILLE, CA
$750
Jun 28, 2023
5
NASH, JILL
N/A NOT EMPLOYOED
Individual LINCOLN, CA
$6,600
Jul 22, 2024
6
ROWE, SUSAN
N/A NOT EMPLOYED
Individual BAKERSFIELD, CA
$6,600
May 20, 2024
7
BURKE, TIM
QUEST TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS OWNER
Individual ORANGEVALE, CA
$6,600
Oct 10, 2024
8
SMYTH, CHARLES
Individual GRANITE BAY, CA
$6,600
Nov 3, 2024
9
FRANCK, KASI
SELF DENTIST
Individual ROCKLIN, CA
$6,600
Dec 28, 2023
10
BRADLEY, KATHERINE
CITYBRIDGE FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIR
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$5,000
Sep 11, 2024

Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]

ID: F000450

Top Contributors

10

1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Apr 26, 2024
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
Organization CHEROKEE, NC
$2,000
Dec 18, 2023
3
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF CHUMASH INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Mar 11, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 31, 2023
5
CATAWBA NATION TRIBE
Organization ROCK HILL, SC
$1,500
Mar 1, 2024
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$1,500
Jun 30, 2023
7
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$1,500
Apr 29, 2024
8
MOORE, JOHN T. MR.
MARWOOD GROUP CEO
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$5,000
Aug 26, 2024
9
BARKER, PATRICIA M. MRS.
BOB BARKER CO CORP SECRETARY
Individual FUQUAY VARINA, NC
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
10
DRESCHER, STEPHANIE MS.
APOLLO PARTNER
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 35 nodes and 33 connections

Total contributions: $131,510

Top Donors - Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

Showing top 23 donors by contribution amount

4 Orgs19 Individuals