The Kira Johnson Act establishes a federal grant program to support community-based organizations in improving maternal health outcomes for populations facing higher rates of maternal mortality and health disparities. It allocates $100 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for grants that fund programs addressing social determinants of health, culturally congruent care, and support for midwifery practices. The bill also creates a separate $5 million annual funding stream for training all maternity care employees on bias reduction, trauma-informed care, and respectful service delivery. Additionally, the legislation requires hospitals and health systems to establish compliance programs that allow patients to report bias and mandates regular public reporting on these efforts. A study by the National Academies and ongoing evaluation by the GAO will assess the effectiveness of these initiatives in improving patient experiences and health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups.
The Data to Save Moms Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes by increasing funding and support for maternal mortality review committees across the United States. The bill provides $10 million annually from 2027 to 2031 to help these committees recruit more diverse community members, including people with personal experiences of maternal mortality or severe health complications, and to address barriers like transportation and compensation that prevent participation. It also requires committees to conduct outreach to racial and ethnic minority communities and publicly report on their review processes and diversity efforts. Additionally, the legislation directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to study maternal health data collection methods, conduct a specific study on American Indian and Alaska Native maternal health outcomes, and award grants to minority-serving institutions for research on maternal mortality disparities.
This bill would prohibit federal laws from requiring manufacturers to install emissions control devices or onboard diagnostic systems on diesel trucks and other motor vehicles. It removes the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to enforce existing emissions regulations and eliminates liability for anyone who manufactures, sells, or modifies vehicles without these devices. The legislation also repeals current federal regulations related to emissions controls and would erase criminal or civil penalties for past violations of these rules.
The Perinatal Workforce Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance encouraging hospitals, insurers, and maternity care providers to recruit and retain diverse healthcare professionals, including midwives, physician assistants, and perinatal health workers, while incorporating implicit bias and racism training into their practices. The bill authorizes $15 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for grants that establish or expand accredited education programs for perinatal health professionals, prioritizing schools that recruit students from racial and ethnic minority groups and those planning to practice in areas with maternal health disparities. Additionally, the legislation creates a separate grant program for nursing schools to provide scholarships to students pursuing careers in maternal and perinatal health, with similar diversity and training requirements. The act also requires the Secretary of HHS to conduct a study on respectful maternity care practices and mandates periodic reports from the Government Accountability Office on barriers to maternal health education and access to care.
This bill amends the 1965 Public Works and Economic Development Act to expand how federal grants can be used. It adds two specific purposes: (1) facilitating the relocation of jobs from outside the U.S. to American workers, and (2) supporting growth in the manufacturing sector. Grants for public works, economic development planning, training, and economic adjustment must now include these new objectives. The changes apply to state and local governments receiving these federal funds, directing them to prioritize domestic job relocations and manufacturing expansion. The bill modifies existing grant program rules but does not create new funding.
This bill establishes new safety and medical requirements for "unified boxing organizations" (UBOs), which are boxing groups that manage title belts and rankings without separate sanctioning bodies. It directly affects UBOs and boxers under their contracts by mandating comprehensive medical screenings (including annual physicals, brain MRIs, and pregnancy tests for female boxers), requiring two ambulances and three physicians at ringside during matches, and providing boxers with mandatory health insurance covering $25,000 in injury costs. Key provisions include strict anti-doping testing protocols (with no cost to boxers), prohibitions on boxers betting on matches, and UBOs covering all medical expenses. The bill also requires UBOs to register publicly with the Federal Trade Commission and adhere to updated industry standards for boxer compensation and safety.
This resolution expresses support for designating March 24, 2026, as National Agriculture Day to honor the agricultural industry. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a symbolic gesture to recognize agriculture's economic importance in the United States. The measure is a non-binding expression of appreciation rather than a legislative action with enforceable provisions.
This bill, the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2026, removes restrictions that currently reduce Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits for older Americans who work after reaching retirement age. The key provision repeals the Retirement Earnings Test, which previously lowered monthly payments for beneficiaries who earned income from employment or self-employment. By eliminating these deductions, the legislation allows seniors to continue working without facing benefit reductions, directly affecting retirees who wish to remain in the workforce. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after the bill is enacted and include technical updates to related provisions in the Social Security Act and Railroad Retirement Act.
This bill establishes federal rules for college student athletes, primarily affecting institutions of higher education and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It guarantees that student athletes have five consecutive years of eligibility to compete in intercollegiate sports, regardless of injuries or other circumstances. The legislation also sets new transfer portal regulations, requiring athletes to sit out one academic year after transferring except for their first transfer, and mandates that schools honor financial aid commitments when students move to new institutions. Additionally, the bill prevents states from passing laws that conflict with these federal provisions or restrict student athlete rights under the new rules.
This bill creates a Federal Clearinghouse to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities find and access federal research funding opportunities. The Clearinghouse will be established within the Department of Education and will include representatives from multiple federal agencies to provide information on grants for research and building research capacity. It will also offer best practices and recommendations to help HBCUs strengthen their research programs and compete for federal funding. The bill requires federal agencies to review their grant programs and report annually to Congress on how they can better support HBCU research capacity through the Clearinghouse.
This bill establishes safety and security standards for online platforms and delivery services that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. It requires the Food and Nutrition Service to create rules for digital privacy, cybersecurity, fair working conditions including prevailing wages, and food safety for stores and wholesalers participating in the program. Retailers must report their compliance with these standards within 18 months of the rules being finalized, and noncompliance could result in losing authorization to accept SNAP benefits. The legislation aims to protect users and workers while ensuring food safety in the growing digital food assistance landscape.
Extending WIC for New Moms Act This bill amends the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to extend the eligibility periods for breastfeeding and postpartum women. Specifically, a state program may elect to certify a breastfeeding woman for up to 24 months (currently 1 year) postpartum. The bill also expands the eligibility period for postpartum women to up to 24 months after termination of pregnancy (currently 6 months). The Department of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress evaluating the effect of these changes to the program on (1) maternal and infant health outcomes, (2) breastfeeding rates, and (3) qualitative evaluations of family experiences under WIC.
