The 'Less Bureaucracy, Better K–12 Education Act' (H.R. 9610) proposes transferring the management of various federal K–12 education programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor. This shift includes programs like Title I aid for disadvantaged schools, teacher training grants, and English learner support. The goal is to streamline administration by placing these programs under the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, aiming to reduce bureaucratic layers and enhance efficiency in delivering educational services.
Supporters, including Congressman Mark Harris, argue that this bill will reduce unnecessary federal bureaucracy and ensure that education policies are more effectively administered. By aligning K–12 education programs with the Department of Labor, they believe the government can better serve students, families, and taxpayers by focusing on results rather than maintaining existing bureaucratic structures.
Critics express concern that moving K–12 education programs to the Department of Labor could disrupt existing educational services and oversight. They argue that the Department of Education is specifically designed to handle educational matters and that such a transfer might lead to inefficiencies or a lack of specialized focus on K–12 education needs.
The analysis of H.R. 9610, sponsored by Mark Harris, reveals no direct industry overlaps between the bill's subject matter and the sponsor's top donor industries. The lobbying activity related to this bill includes significant contributions from various organizations, such as Coinbase, Inc. with $180,000 and Owen G. Dunn Co., Inc. with $100,000. However, these contributions do not directly correlate with the educational focus of the bill. The lack of direct industry ties suggests that while there is lobbying activity present, it does not pose a significant conflict of interest for the sponsor. Voters should be aware that while lobbying exists, it does not necessarily indicate a compromise in the integrity of the bill's intent.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COINBASE, INC. | CHECKMATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $180,000 |
| AMERICA FIRST AGRICULTURE, INC. | CHECKMATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $110,000 |
| OWEN G. DUNN CO., INC. | CHECKMATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $100,000 |
| MURPHY OIL CORPORATION | MURPHY OIL CORPORATION | $50,000 |
| THE RITESCREEN COMPANY, LLC | BUCHANAN INGERSOLL & ROONEY PC | $40,000 |
| PARALLEL SYSTEMS | CROSSROADS STRATEGIES, LLC | $40,000 |
| BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE (HOLDINGS) USA INC (FORMER CLIENT BOMBARDIER TRANSIT CORP) | COVINGTON & BURLING LLP | $30,000 |
| CENTER FOR HEALTH AND DEMOCRACY | PORT SIDE STRATEGIES, LLC | $20,000 |
| CENTREPOLIS | STRATEGIC MARKETING INNOVATIONS | $20,000 |
| SOCIAL SECURITY WORKS | PORT SIDE STRATEGIES, LLC | $20,000 |
| SHEPHERD CENTER | STRATEGIC HEALTH CARE | $18,000 |
| BEMIDJI STEEL COMPANY | STRATEGIC MARKETING INNOVATIONS | $10,000 |
| NUCOR STEEL | STRATEGIC MARKETING INNOVATIONS | $10,000 |
| XONA SPACE SYSTEMS, INC. | COVINGTON & BURLING LLP | undisclosed |
| POLARIS INDUSTRIES, INC. | BUCHANAN INGERSOLL & ROONEY PC | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Mark Harris, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
