The Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Energy to remove increasing amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, starting with 50,000 metric tons in 2026 and rising to 10 million metric tons per year by 2036. To achieve these targets, the government will contract with private entities to perform removals using specific technologies that capture carbon directly from the air or seawater and store it durably, such as in geological formations or building materials. The law mandates strict rules to ensure the removals are genuine and not double-counted, requiring independent third-party verification and setting a price cap that lowers over time to encourage cost reductions. Additionally, the bill prioritizes projects that create domestic jobs, support small businesses, and provide benefits to communities historically affected by fossil fuel industries, while also reserving at least 20 percent of the removals for smaller projects.
The Young Farmer Success Act expands student loan forgiveness to include individuals working full-time as employees or managers on farms and ranches. To qualify, these agricultural operations must generate at least $35,000 in gross revenue from selling agricultural products in 2026, with the required income increasing annually based on inflation adjustments. This change directly affects young people seeking loan relief who are currently employed in the farming and ranching sectors but were previously ineligible for this specific provision.
The Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act amends the Higher Education Act to support research, innovation, and professional training in global education. It allows universities, libraries, and nonprofits to receive competitive grants for studying the capacity and demand for foreign language programs, as well as for developing new teaching methods and digital resources. The bill also expands funding for global business and professional education to help students gain international skills in fields like science, engineering, and law, while creating a national database to track education trends. Additionally, the legislation updates definitions to include community colleges and heritage students, and repeals certain existing programs to streamline requirements.
The RESCUE Act of 2026 updates how the federal government reimburses ground and air ambulance services by changing the payment schedule and data collection rules. Starting in 2028, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will adjust payment rates every three years based on new data regarding costs, labor, and uncompensated care, while years in between will see payments increase only by the standard inflation rate. The bill also requires air ambulance providers to submit cost information to the government at least once every three years, aligning this process with existing rules for ground ambulance services. Additionally, the law mandates a review by 2029 to gather expert recommendations on whether further changes are needed to ensure ambulance providers are paid appropriately. These changes directly affect ambulance companies and the federal programs that fund emergency medical transport.
This bill establishes the Advanced Artificial Intelligence Nuclear Evaluation Program, requiring large AI developers to submit their systems for government testing to prevent incidents involving nuclear weapons or critical infrastructure. Under the program, the Department of Energy will conduct security assessments, including adversarial "jailbreaking" attempts and third-party reviews, to identify risks and develop safety protocols. Developers who refuse to participate or withhold necessary data face civil penalties of up to $1 million per day, while the information they provide remains confidential unless specific legal exceptions apply. Additionally, the Secretary of Energy must submit annual reports to Congress with recommendations for future legislation to further regulate AI safety and oversight.
The North Korean FAKER Act authorizes the U.S. State Department to coordinate with allied nations and private companies to stop North Korea from using fake identities and remote work scams to generate illegal money. This legislation specifically targets deceptive employment schemes that allow North Korea to fund its nuclear, missile, and other weapons programs by disrupting the networks involved. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress on these illegal activities and allows the government to increase rewards for information leading to the disruption of such schemes. Additionally, it empowers officials to publicly attribute these fraudulent operations to North Korea and to address the use of emerging technologies like artificial identity in these efforts.
The Green New Deal for Health Act establishes a comprehensive federal framework to address the health impacts of climate change by creating new offices, expanding funding, and mandating specific actions across the health care sector. It directly affects hospitals, medical facilities, health care workers, and communities, with a specific focus on protecting environmental justice and low-income populations from climate-related health risks. Key provisions include the creation of an Office of Climate Change and Health Equity to develop a national strategic plan, requirements for hospitals to provide extended notice before closing or reducing essential services, and significant grants to upgrade medical facilities for climate resilience. The bill also mandates that the health care sector reduce its own carbon emissions through new disclosure rules for medical supplies and grants for green manufacturing, while simultaneously funding education to train health professionals on climate-related health threats. Additionally, the legislation authorizes Medicare coverage for home resiliency services, such as heat pumps and solar batteries, for individuals at risk during climate disasters, and allocates billions of dollars to expand the community health workforce and support mental health resilience programs.
This bill, known as the No Campaign Funded Cover-Ups Act, restricts how candidates and federal officials can use campaign money or legal expense funds when facing accusations of sexual assault, abuse, or harassment. Under the new rules, these funds cannot pay for legal fees, settlements, court judgments, or private investigations aimed at discrediting the accuser. The legislation also requires detailed reporting of any legal expenses paid from these sources and applies retroactively to payments made in the two years before the law takes effect.
The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2026 expands federal protections and support services for homeless and foster care students in higher education. It requires colleges to designate trained staff liaisons to assist these students with accessing resources like housing, food, and financial aid, while also mandating that institutions provide priority access to on-campus housing for this population. The bill further updates various federal student aid programs to explicitly include homeless and foster youth, ensuring they are treated as independent students for financial aid purposes and are actively recruited and retained through targeted outreach. Additionally, the legislation establishes new reporting requirements for colleges to track the number of these students served and mandates that states offer in-state tuition rates to homeless and foster youth attending public institutions.
The Green New Deal for Public Schools Act directs over $700 billion in federal funding to public schools, prioritizing those serving the most vulnerable communities based on CDC social vulnerability rankings. The legislation establishes a new Office of Sustainable Schools and authorizes grants for "healthy green retrofits" that convert school buildings into zero-carbon facilities with clean air, water, and energy systems, while also providing funds to hire additional educators, mental health professionals, and support staff. Additionally, the bill mandates increased federal funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and creates a climate resiliency program that allows schools to function as community centers during natural disasters. All grant recipients must adhere to strict labor standards, including prevailing wage requirements, Buy American provisions, and local hiring goals that prioritize residents of the surrounding community.
The Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act of 2026 broadens eligibility for early childhood education services by including recipients of various public assistance programs, such as food stamps and Medicaid, in the definition of qualifying families. The bill authorizes $36 billion annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to support these expanded operations and creates a separate grant program providing $1 billion per year until 2030 for agencies to repair or upgrade aging facilities with safety hazards. Additionally, the legislation establishes a loan forgiveness program that cancels federal student loans for childcare workers who complete three years of full-time service in Head Start or Early Head Start programs. Finally, it authorizes $6.8 billion annually through 2032 to provide salary supplements to Head Start employees, with funding allocated based on local wage gaps and cost-of-living factors.
The Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act prohibits employers from retaliating against workers on the Outer Continental Shelf who report safety violations, oil spills, or unsafe conditions. It directly affects employees involved in oil and gas exploration, production, cleanup, and environmental protection by shielding them from being fired or discriminated against for raising these concerns. The bill establishes a formal process where workers can file complaints with the Department of Labor, which must investigate allegations within 90 days and provide remedies such as job reinstatement, back pay, and expungement of negative records if a violation is found. Employers are also required to post notices explaining these rights and provide regular training to ensure workers understand how to protect themselves under the new law.
