House Resolution 1221 is a bipartisan proposal introduced by Representative Jahana Hayes and co-sponsored by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Brian K. Fitzpatrick. The resolution aims to designate the week of April 27 through May 1, 2026, as 'National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week.' This week is intended to recognize and honor over one million specialized instructional support personnel (SISP) across the United States, including school counselors, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. These professionals provide essential services that support students' academic success and well-being by addressing various barriers to learning and collaborating with educators, families, and communities.
Media coverage has highlighted the bipartisan nature of H.Res. 1221 and its focus on acknowledging the critical contributions of specialized instructional support personnel in schools. Reports emphasize the importance of these professionals in fostering student success and well-being, noting that the resolution brings much-needed attention to their roles. The involvement of both Democratic and Republican sponsors is seen as a positive step toward bipartisan support for educational initiatives.
While there is limited negative media coverage specifically addressing H.Res. 1221, some critiques have emerged regarding the effectiveness of symbolic resolutions. Critics argue that while designating an appreciation week raises awareness, it does not address underlying issues such as funding, staffing shortages, or policy changes needed to support specialized instructional support personnel more substantively. There is concern that without accompanying legislative action, the resolution may have limited impact on improving conditions for these professionals.
The bill H.Res. 1221, sponsored by Jahana Hayes, seems to have a low risk of conflict of interest. The main donor industries for Hayes are Health Professionals and Retired individuals. The bill is related to education, and there is a $37,500,000 overlap with the Retired sector. However, this overlap is not necessarily indicative of a conflict of interest, as retired individuals often contribute to a wide range of political causes. Furthermore, the lobbying activity related to this bill's policy area is mostly undisclosed, with the exception of a few organizations such as the National Tribal Telecommunications Association and Mescalero Apache Telecom, Inc. However, these disclosed amounts are relatively small and there is no clear connection between these organizations and the bill's subject matter.
These industries are both affected by this bill and among the sponsor's top donors.
| Industry | Match Type | Related Subject | Donations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retired (W06) | Sector | Education | $37,500,000 |
| Total from overlapping industries | $37,500,000 | ||
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FEDERATED INDIANS OF THE GRATON RANCHERIA | PACE, LLP | $60,000 |
| SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS | PACE, LLP | $60,000 |
| CATAWBA INDIAN NATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA | PACE, LLP | $60,000 |
| QUAPAW NATION | PACE, LLP | $50,000 |
| NOTTAWASEPPI HURON BAND OF THE POTAWATOMI | PACE, LLP | $40,000 |
| PENOBSCOT NATION | PACE, LLP | $30,000 |
| NATIONAL TRIBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION | SYNCHRONICITY STRATEGIES LLC | $15,000 |
| MESCALERO APACHE TELECOM, INC. | SYNCHRONICITY STRATEGIES LLC | $15,000 |
| CELESTIAL.AI | CLARK STREET ASSOCIATES | undisclosed |
| CLARK STREET ASSOCIATES ON BEHALF OF CELESTIAL AI | HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP | undisclosed |
| BARRY UNIVERSITY INC | BARRY UNIVERSITY, INC. | undisclosed |
| TAI GINSBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC ON BEHALF OF INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFAR | SYNCHRONICITY STRATEGIES LLC | undisclosed |
| TAI GINSBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY | SYNCHRONICITY STRATEGIES LLC | undisclosed |
| TAI GINSBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC ON BEHALF OF ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND | SYNCHRONICITY STRATEGIES LLC | undisclosed |
| WEST LOS ANGELES VETERANS' COLLECTIVE | PACE, LLP | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Jahana Hayes, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
