The Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Congressional Gold Medal Act authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to individuals who fought for or with the United States in the Pacific theater during World War II and were taken as prisoners of war. This recognition specifically honors those who participated in the defense of Bataan and Corregidor, including Filipino soldiers and civilians who served alongside American forces, as well as nurses and other personnel who endured the Bataan Death March and subsequent imprisonment. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike the medal, which will be presented to the Smithsonian Institution for display, while also permitting the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.
This bill, the Budgeting for a Better America Act, fundamentally changes how the federal government plans its spending by shifting the congressional budget process from an annual cycle to a biennial one, covering two consecutive fiscal years. It establishes a new National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform composed of 18 members from both political parties to propose specific policies that would reduce the federal deficit to 3% of the gross domestic product within a decade. The legislation also mandates that any joint resolution implementing the commission's recommendations be given expedited floor consideration in both the House and Senate without the possibility of amendment. Additionally, the bill requires the President to submit supplemental budget estimates annually, mandates a hearing on the nation's fiscal state, and ensures new members of Congress receive budgetary training before taking their seats.
This bill redesignates the existing National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund as the America's Legacy Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance on federal lands. It directs revenue from recreation fees and a portion of energy development income into the fund, which must be used primarily for repairing critical infrastructure like roads, trails, and buildings managed by agencies such as the National Park Service and the Forest Service. The legislation establishes strict rules requiring that most funds go toward non-transportation projects, mandates transparency through public dashboards tracking project status, and sets aside a small percentage for matching private donations. Additionally, the bill increases entrance fees for foreign visitors to ensure they contribute to the fund, while prohibiting the use of these specific funds for land acquisition or employee bonuses.
The FIRE SMART Act of 2026 directs the Environmental Protection Agency to update its regulations regarding rural water infrastructure projects. Specifically, the bill requires the EPA to define "communities at high risk from fire or wildfire" and to prioritize funding for water system improvements that aid in fire suppression within these areas. Additionally, the legislation mandates that projects benefiting both drinking water and fire suppression receive priority if the community has adopted a wildfire protection plan or taken steps to reduce private property fire risks. These regulatory changes aim to ensure that federal funding for rural water systems explicitly supports wildfire prevention efforts.
The Duty Status Reform Act reorganizes federal laws to consolidate how reserve military members are ordered to active duty, creating a unified framework that applies to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Space Force. The bill establishes four distinct categories of duty - ranging from mandatory training and remote assignments to emergency mobilization - and aligns the benefits, pay, and survivor protections for National Guard members with those of other reserve components. It also updates the legal definition of a "contingency operation" to include these new reserve duty categories and repeals older, overlapping statutes to streamline the system. Notably, the legislation includes a transition provision that delays the law's effective date by ten years, allowing time for agencies to prepare for implementation.
The FREEDOM Act aims to speed up energy infrastructure development by establishing strict federal deadlines for reviewing applications for oil, gas, and mineral projects on public lands. It requires agencies to publish project schedules and issue final decisions within specific timeframes, with automatic legal consequences if those deadlines are missed. The bill also creates a new Permitting Performance Fund to pay for independent contractors who can help complete stalled environmental reviews when agencies fail to meet their timelines. Additionally, the legislation introduces specific measures for geothermal energy, including a new ombudsman to resolve disputes, updated permitting guidelines, and revised royalty rates for electricity generated from geothermal sources.
The Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act expands legal protections for firearm manufacturers and sellers by immediately dismissing any lawsuits currently pending against them that allege harm caused by the criminal or unlawful misuse of their products. The bill defines these protected cases as those where the injury resulted from a third party's illegal actions rather than a defect in the product itself, while explicitly excluding claims involving negligent entrustment, specific federal violations, or design defects. To enforce these protections, the law allows defendants to remove such cases from state courts to federal court and grants them the right to appeal dismissal orders immediately. Additionally, the legislation preempts state and local laws that attempt to hold these companies liable for product misuse and provides for attorney's fees for defendants who successfully assert their immunity.
This bill extends the expiration date for certain authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act from June 12, 2026, to July 2, 2026. The change directly affects the legal framework governing the government's ability to conduct specific types of electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes. By amending the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, the legislation ensures these powers remain in effect for an additional month beyond the original timeline. The update applies to the sections of law that outline the scope and limitations of these surveillance authorities.
This bill extends the expiration date for certain authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act from June 12, 2026, to June 19, 2026. The change directly affects the legal framework governing electronic surveillance and other intelligence-gathering activities authorized by the law. By updating specific dates in the statute, the legislation ensures these powers remain in effect for an additional week without requiring new legislation. The provision takes effect immediately upon enactment or on June 11, 2026, whichever occurs first.
This bill, known as the Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act, expands legal protections for firearm manufacturers and sellers by strengthening their immunity from civil lawsuits. It requires courts to immediately dismiss any pending cases against these companies that are based on the criminal or unlawful misuse of a gun by a third party, while also clarifying that sellers are not liable for negligence in entrusting products to others. The legislation further restricts who can file such suits by prohibiting foreign governments from bringing these claims and adding a specific exception for victims under the age of 17, though it maintains immunity for cases involving design or manufacturing defects. Additionally, the bill allows companies to move these cases to federal court and grants them the right to appeal dismissal orders immediately, along with the ability to recover legal fees if they win. Finally, it preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability on these entities for the same types of misuse-related harms.
The Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act of 2026 strengthens federal penalties for the illegal transport of biological agents or toxins into the United States. It directly affects individuals convicted of conspiring to smuggle these materials, making false statements related to their importation, and attempting to smuggle them. Under the new provisions, anyone found guilty of conspiring to smuggle biological agents faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years, while those who make false statements in connection with such activities face a mandatory minimum of 5 years. The bill also updates existing smuggling laws to explicitly include biological agents and ensures that forfeiture rules apply to these specific offenses. These changes take effect immediately upon the bill's enactment.
The TSP Modernization Act allows individuals to electronically transfer money from their Thrift Savings Fund accounts to qualified retirement plans at brokerage firms, a change that takes effect one year after the law is passed. To initiate this transfer, account holders must provide the necessary information to the Federal Retirement Thrith Investment Board. Additionally, the bill requires the board to submit a report to Congress one year after enactment detailing how the electronic transfer process was implemented.
