The Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act requires the IRS to enhance how taxpayers interact with the agency through four main provisions. First, it mandates a public dashboard showing real-time wait times, call statistics, and backlog information for IRS phone lines. Second, it expands online access to allow taxpayers to view their tax returns, refunds, and notices through a website or mobile app. Third, it directs the IRS to offer callback options for calls that go unanswered within five minutes. Fourth, it enables authorized tax professionals to access taxpayer accounts and submit responses on behalf of their clients. These changes aim to improve transparency and convenience for taxpayers without altering tax laws or rates.
Clergy Act This bill establishes a two-year window for certain members of the clergy and Christian Science practitioners to revoke their exemption from Social Security and Medicare taxes on ministerial earnings. Under current law, such individuals who object to participation in public insurance programs on religious or conscientious grounds may apply to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for an irrevocable exemption and will not receive Social Security or Medicare benefits in retirement unless they have qualifying credits from other employment. The IRS must develop a plan to inform members of the clergy and Christian Science practitioners of their eligibility to revoke prior exemptions, pursuant to the bill's changes.
The FIRE Act amends the Clean Air Act to clarify when air quality monitoring data affected by wildfires or prescribed fire (a state-approved wildfire risk mitigation practice) can be excluded from compliance calculations with air quality standards. It expands the definition of "exceptional events" to include natural wildfires and human activities mimicking natural events (like prescribed burns), while excluding common weather patterns and pollution from noncompliance. The bill requires the EPA to conduct regional analysis for multistate wildfire events and create a public website tracking state petitions for data exclusion. This change primarily affects how states and the EPA handle air quality data during wildfire seasons and when using prescribed fire as a management tool.
HR 2319, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2025, requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to lead an interagency review with Defense and Veterans Affairs. This review will assess current research on lung cancer in women and underserved populations, identify gaps in knowledge, and evaluate opportunities to improve access to preventive screenings and develop public awareness campaigns. The bill mandates a comprehensive report to Congress within two years, detailing findings on collaborative research, environmental/genomic factors, imaging technology, national screening strategies, and education efforts. The review directly involves federal agencies but will ultimately aim to inform future policy changes affecting women and underserved groups eligible for lung cancer screening.
SRES 627 is a Senate resolution designating March 5, 2026, as "National Slam the Scam Day" to raise public awareness about government imposter scams. It specifically targets scams where fraudsters impersonate agencies like the IRS, Social Security, or Medicare to steal money or personal information, disproportionately affecting older adults. The resolution encourages education through community groups, law enforcement, and financial institutions to help people recognize and report these scams, without creating new laws or regulations.
Count the Crimes to Cut Act of 2025 This bill establishes public databases of federal criminal offenses. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Justice to report on and create a public database of all criminal statutory offenses. Additionally, the bill requires federal agencies to report on and create public databases of criminal regulatory offenses that they enforce.
Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act This bill provides appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the remainder of FY2026. It also ends the partial DHS shutdown that began on February 14, 2026, because the continuing resolution (CR) that was funding DHS expired and a regular FY2026 DHS appropriations bill had not been enacted. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to DHS for Departmental Management, Intelligence, Situational Awareness, and Oversight, including the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management; the Management Directorate; Intelligence, Analysis, and Situational Awareness; and the Office of Inspector General. In addition, the bill provides appropriations for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service. The bill provides appropriations for Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The bill provides appropriations for Research, Development, Training, and Services, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Science and Technology Directorate. The bill also authorizes back pay, in accordance with current law, for federal employees who were affected by the partial DHS shutdown. Finally, the bill ratifies and approves certain obligations that were incurred during the partial DHS shutdown, including obligations incurred to maintain the essential level of activity to protect life and property and bring about an orderly termination of government functions.
HR 6618, the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act, requires the Federal Aviation Administration to study how private drones interfere with wildfire suppression efforts on federal lands managed by the Interior Department or Agriculture Department. The study will count drone incursions over the past five years and assess their impact on firefighting timelines, response delays, and government costs. It will also evaluate prevention methods like counter-drone technology, public education, and drone seizure techniques. The findings must be reported to Congress within 18 months of the bill's enactment.
This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) and Federal Protective Service to create emergency communication guidance within one year of enactment. The guidance must include standard procedures for informing building tenants about threats and safety protocols during life safety events (like active threats or natural disasters) at federally owned buildings. Facility security committees at each building are responsible for implementing this guidance. The GSA must also submit a report to Congress within 18 months detailing the implemented protocols.
HR 6480 requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to submit an annual report to Congress by January 31st detailing the state of federal government real estate. The report must include specific data points like the number of lease agreements signed or terminated, total leased square footage, vacant space, building ownership counts, financial metrics for space utilization, and plans for relocating agencies from buildings the GSA plans to sell or stop leasing. This bill directly affects GSA's management of federal buildings and leasehold properties, providing Congress with detailed transparency on federal real estate operations. The report aims to inform congressional oversight of federal property use and costs without changing existing laws or policies.
Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals Act or the BOWOW Act This bill establishes that a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) convicted of, or who admits to having committed, an offense related to harming animals used in law enforcement is inadmissible and deportable.
Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026 This bill makes certain acts related to public benefits fraud grounds for (1) barring a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) from admission into the United States, or (2) deporting the individual. The bill also makes such an individual ineligible for immigration enforcement relief, including relief for an individual in danger of subjection to torture. Specifically, this bill applies to individuals who have been convicted of, admit to having committed, or admit to acts which constitute certain offenses. Offenses covered by this bill include (1) fraud involving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, (2) fraud involving Social Security benefits, (3) fraud involving programs that receive federal funds, and (4) the production of fraudulent identification documents.
