HR 5691119th CongressIn Committee

To prohibit the provision of Federal funds to a local educational agency that imposes or enforces a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on students at the schools served by such agency.

Introduced: Oct 3, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-New Jersey)

EducationHealthcare

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would block the federal government from providing any federal funds to a local educational agency (LEA) that imposes or enforces a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on students enrolling in the public schools run by that LEA. The terms “elementary school,” “local educational agency,” and “secondary school” are defined by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). In practice, if an LEA requires a student to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enroll in a public school within that LEA, federal funds to that LEA would be prohibited. The bill does not specify exemptions, enforcement mechanisms, or carveouts beyond the mandate itself, nor does it detail how funds would be withheld or appealed. The measure was introduced in the House by Rep. Van Drew and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. It focuses narrowly on student vaccination requirements for enrollment and uses existing ESEA definitions to determine which schools and agencies are covered.

Key Points

1Prohibition: No federal funds may be provided to a local educational agency that imposes or enforces a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for a student seeking enrollment in a public elementary or secondary school under the agency’s jurisdiction.
2Definitions: The terms elementary school, local educational agency, and secondary school are as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
3Scope of funds: The prohibition targets federal funding to the LEA, potentially affecting all federal dollars routed through the agency (e.g., Title I, IDEA, and other federal education programs), not just a subset.
4Enforcement and exceptions: The text does not specify enforcement procedures, exemptions, or remedies if an LEA ceases to impose mandates; it does not provide a safe harbor or sunset provision.
5Legislative status: Introduced in the House as H.R. 5691 by Rep. Van Drew on October 3, 2025; referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce.

Impact Areas

Primary affected group/area: Local educational agencies (school districts) and their student enrollments. If an LEA imposes a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for enrollment, it would lose eligibility to receive federal funds.Secondary affected group/area: Families and students in districts that have or would consider vaccination requirements for enrollment; potential shifts in district policy away from mandates to retain federal funding.Additional impacts:- Federal education funding landscape: Could influence how federal funds are allocated or withheld from districts, potentially affecting program operations such as Title I support, special education (IDEA), and other federal initiatives.- Public health policy dynamics: Signals a legislative preference against student vaccination mandates at the local level, potentially limiting school-based public health strategies that rely on vaccination requirements.- Compliance and administration: States and LEAs would need to monitor for compliance with the mandate prohibition, determine which districts are subject to withholding, and adjust funding applications accordingly (pending any implementing regulations).

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