This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer administrative control of approximately 5,624 acres on Adak Island, Alaska, to the Secretary of the Navy. Once transferred, the land will be removed from the National Wildlife Refuge System and made available for military activities such as high-hazard explosive testing, aerial gunnery training, and electronic warfare development. The legislation also requires an adjustment to the boundaries of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge to exclude the transferred area from its jurisdiction.
This joint resolution expresses the U.S. Congress's disapproval of a specific law passed by the District of Columbia Council. The D.C. law, known as the Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Temporary Amendment Act of 2026, was designed to increase transparency regarding how police officers use force. By submitting this resolution, Congress formally objects to the local legislation but does not change any laws or policies. The measure serves as a symbolic statement of disagreement rather than a functional change to federal or local governance.
This bill, known as the Preventing International Surrogacy Exploitation Act, aims to stop foreign nationals from using U.S. surrogate mothers for commercial surrogacy arrangements. It would make any surrogacy contract void and unenforceable if the intended parents are foreign citizens or permanent residents, with a specific exception for married couples where at least one partner is a U.S. citizen or resident. Additionally, the law prohibits surrogacy brokers from facilitating these agreements and imposes criminal penalties, including fines and up to 10 years in prison, for those who knowingly or recklessly assist in such contracts. Children born through these invalid agreements would have their custody determined by the state where the surrogate lives, focusing on the child's best interests rather than the contract. Finally, the bill prevents foreign parents from using their U.S.-born children to gain immigration benefits or rights under U.S. immigration laws.
The Protecting Kids from Creeps Act prohibits surrogacy agencies, their employees, and sex offenders from participating in surrogacy agreements, directly affecting fertility clinics, staff, and individuals required to register as sex offenders. The bill mandates severe criminal penalties, including fines and prison sentences of at least 10 to 20 years, for knowingly or recklessly facilitating such agreements, while also stripping convicted agencies of their tax-exempt status and eligibility for federal grants. Any surrogacy agreement formed in violation of these rules is declared legally void and unenforceable, meaning it cannot be used to establish parental rights. In cases where a child is born from an illegal agreement, custody decisions will be made solely based on the best interests of the child under the laws of the state where the surrogate lives, ignoring any prior contracts. Additionally, the Attorney General can pursue civil penalties equal to the compensation received or offered for prohibited conduct.
This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to create an exception for northern sea otters in specific Alaskan regions. It allows for the transport, purchase, and sale of pelts from northern sea otters taken for subsistence purposes in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska. The bill also permits the transport, purchase, sale, and export of handicrafts, garments, and art made from these pelts. This applies whether the products are traditional or contemporary, and regardless of how much they have been altered.
The Polar Express Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study on creating a rail connection between Alaska and the rest of the North American rail network. This study must be launched within 180 days of the law's enactment and will involve consulting with various federal, state, tribal, and local entities before a final report is submitted to Congress two years later. Importantly, the bill does not authorize the construction of the rail line or commit any federal funds, serving only to gather information on the project's potential.
The Promoting Strong Native Families and Children Act increases funding and flexibility for Tribal child welfare programs by raising the minimum grant amount for Indian tribes to $5,000 and expanding the percentage of federal funds reserved for Tribes from 3 percent to 5 percent. The bill allows Tribes to use funds for customary adoptions, waives matching requirements to accommodate cultural needs, and enables Tribes to opt out of certain foster care and adoption plans if they only wish to run prevention services. Additionally, it creates a new direct grant program for Tribes to plan and carry out social services, including cultural preservation, and permits States to count Tribal caseworker visits toward their own monthly visit requirements. These changes aim to support Tribal sovereignty and improve child welfare outcomes by providing more resources and administrative flexibility to Native communities.
This bill extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program by an additional five years, allowing rural hospitals to continue receiving Medicare payment adjustments designed to help them compete with larger health systems. The legislation amends existing federal laws to change the program's timeline from a 15-year extension to a 20-year extension, ensuring these financial incentives remain in place for a longer period. It also includes specific rules for hospitals that joined the program later, ensuring they receive the same extended benefits during the final years of the new timeframe. The primary effect is to maintain current funding mechanisms for participating rural hospitals without altering the core rules of the demonstration.
This bill would add pharmacist services to Medicare Part B coverage for beneficiaries, specifically covering pharmacist-led testing and treatment for illnesses like flu, COVID-19, or strep throat during public health emergencies. It defines covered services as those performed under state law, often requiring collaboration with a physician, and sets payment at 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or 85% of physician payment rates. Pharmacists would be prohibited from balance billing for these services, ensuring Medicare beneficiaries pay only their standard copayment. The changes would take effect January 1, 2026.
The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act authorizes the creation of a new Smithsonian museum dedicated to women’s history, to be located within the National Mall Reserve in Washington, D.C. If the site is managed by another federal agency, the bill requires that agency to transfer the land after notifying Congress and relevant committees. The museum must ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent diverse women’s experiences by consulting a broad range of experts and community voices. The Smithsonian will submit biennial reports to Congress detailing how the museum meets these representation standards.
The Job Corps Shipbuilding-Defense Industrial Base Pipeline Act of 2026 aims to connect Job Corps training programs with the needs of the defense industry by allowing centers to adjust their courses and locations to match local shipbuilding and manufacturing requirements. It requires military recruiters to inform applicants who cannot enlist immediately about Job Corps as an alternative path to gain necessary skills. The bill also permits Job Corps centers to accept external grants and donations for specific purposes while restricting how those funds can be used, and it streamlines enrollment for veterans and military recruits by waiving certain background checks for those recently separated or who failed enlistment requirements.
The Legalizing Premium Health Care Act of 2026 allows Medicare beneficiaries to sign written contracts with doctors or other eligible professionals to receive services at agreed-upon rates that may exceed standard Medicare limits. Under this bill, patients who sign such contracts would be responsible for paying the difference between the contracted amount and what Medicare covers, while also handling their own claims unless they choose to delegate this task to the provider. The legislation prohibits these agreements during medical emergencies or urgent situations and prevents states from setting their own caps on the charges these professionals can bill. Additionally, the act explicitly excludes individuals who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid from entering into these private payment arrangements.
