This bill, titled the No TSA Data for ICE Act, prohibits the Transportation Security Administration from sharing passenger data with U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It specifically bars these agencies from using TSA information or data from private brokers to perform immigration enforcement functions. Additionally, the legislation prevents the denial, suspension, or early termination of Trusted Traveler programs like PreCheck and Global Entry if an individual's participation in First Amendment-protected activities is the reason. The law defines the restricted data as personally identifiable information about flight passengers obtained from the TSA or private sector entities.
The College Transparency Act establishes a federal data system to collect and analyze student-level information about college enrollment, costs, completion rates, and post-graduation outcomes. The National Center for Education Statistics must develop this system within 4 years, collecting data on student demographics, program of study, financial aid, and earnings while prohibiting sensitive information like health data or citizenship status. The system will provide public, aggregated data through an online tool that allows students and families to compare institutions and make informed education decisions. The bill repeals a previous prohibition on such a data system and amends requirements for colleges to submit data, aiming to reduce reporting burdens while improving transparency. It includes privacy protections, an advisory committee with diverse representation, and prohibits using the data for federal rankings or to limit student services.
This resolution expresses support for designating the first week of August as National Community Health Center Week to honor the contributions of these facilities. It encourages all Americans to visit their local health centers during this time to celebrate the partnership between these organizations and the communities they serve. The bill highlights how community health centers provide affordable, comprehensive care to millions of people, particularly in rural and underserved areas, while integrating services like dental care, behavioral health, and pharmacy support. By recognizing these centers, the resolution aims to raise awareness of their role in improving public health outcomes and supporting local economies.
The NO PROFIT Act prohibits social media platforms from selling or offering prioritized access to posts made by government officials, their family members, or federal agencies. This law aims to prevent unfair advantages in financial markets by banning the early access to material information that could influence investment decisions. Under the bill, it is also illegal for individuals to trade stocks, commodities, or futures while in possession of such non-public information obtained through these exclusive channels. Violations by social media companies can result in civil penalties equal to the revenue earned from the prohibited access, while financial regulators are tasked with creating specific rules to enforce these provisions within 180 days.
This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a comprehensive study on how federal workforce reductions impact the services provided to the public. The investigation will examine specific areas such as processing times, call center wait times, service backlogs, and the ability of agencies to respond to congressional inquiries. It aims to analyze the effects of staff cuts on high-volume agencies like those handling Social Security, veterans benefits, and immigration services, while also looking at the long-term costs and operational challenges faced by remaining employees. The resulting report, due within 18 months, will offer findings and recommendations to help Congress better understand and address potential disruptions to essential government services.
This bill, titled the Permanent CBDC Ban Act, aims to permanently prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency. It achieves this by amending the Federal Reserve Act to remove the specific legal authority that allows the Reserve to create such a digital currency. The legislation directly affects the Federal Reserve by stripping away its power to launch a digital version of the dollar. By deleting the relevant subsection of the law, the bill ensures that the Reserve cannot issue a CBDC in the future.
The Compassionate Care Act aims to improve how patients and their families plan for future medical decisions by promoting advance care planning, which involves discussing treatment preferences while a person is still able to participate. The bill directs the federal government to launch a public education campaign and create a dedicated website to help healthcare providers understand and integrate these planning tools into patient care. It also mandates the development of standardized quality measures for end-of-life care and requires medical schools to include specific training on palliative care and advance directives in their curricula. Additionally, the legislation makes permanent the use of telehealth for certain hospice recertifications and removes geographic restrictions on telehealth services used for advance care planning. Finally, the act authorizes several studies to evaluate barriers to a national uniform policy for advance directives and to explore the feasibility of a national registry for these documents.
This resolution designates August 1, 2026, as Gold Star Children's Day to honor the sacrifices and hardships faced by children of fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill does not create new laws or change government operations; instead, it serves as a formal expression of gratitude from the Senate and encourages the public to observe this day in support of these families. By establishing this specific date, the measure aims to raise awareness about the legacy carried by children who lost a parent in military service.
This bill creates a new visa category that allows U.S. states to sponsor foreign nationals to come to the United States temporarily to work, invest capital, or contribute to local economic development. Under this program, a state must first get approval from the federal government to run its own specific rules regarding how these workers are employed and where they live, which can last for up to three years. The legislation requires these sponsored workers to pass background checks, pay bonds if their state chooses, and strictly adhere to the sponsoring state's regulations, with federal penalties including revocation of work authorization and removal for violations. Additionally, the bill includes provisions that generally exclude these workers from receiving federal means-tested benefits and establishes a system where states can adjust their future visa quotas based on how well they comply with program requirements.
The Restoring Justice for Workers Act prohibits employers from requiring workers to sign agreements that force them to resolve disputes through individual arbitration rather than in court or as part of a group. It bans retaliation against employees who refuse to arbitrate and mandates that any post-dispute arbitration agreements be truly voluntary, requiring plain language explanations, a 45-day waiting period, and written consent. The bill also amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it illegal for employers to enter into or enforce contracts that prevent workers from joining together to file joint or class-action lawsuits regarding workplace rights. These changes apply to all workers, including independent contractors, and take effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill updates federal laws to ensure that members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force cannot be excluded from jobs or assignments based on their gender. It requires the Department of Defense to establish occupational standards using scientifically rigorous methods that evaluate technical, tactical, cognitive, and physical abilities without gender bias. Additionally, the legislation mandates annual reports to Congress detailing any involuntary reclassifications or separations and requires a detailed review of the operational effectiveness of Army and Marine Corps ground combat units. These changes are scheduled to take effect on September 30, 2026, with the first required report due the following year.
The Audit the Pentagon Act requires the Department of Defense to reduce its funding by 2 percent if it fails to receive a clean financial audit for a given year. This penalty applies to all departments, agencies, and elements within the Pentagon starting after fiscal year 2024. The withheld money is distributed proportionally across various programs and projects, while the remaining funds are sent to the Treasury to help reduce the national deficit.
