This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to individuals who fought for or with the United States in the Pacific theater during World War II and subsequently became prisoners of war. The legislation specifically recognizes the service and sacrifice of those who defended locations such as Bataan and Corregidor, including Filipino soldiers and civilians who served alongside U.S. forces. To implement this award, the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate will arrange for the creation of a gold medal by the Secretary of the Treasury, which will be presented to the Smithsonian Institution for display. The act also allows for the production of duplicate bronze medals to cover the costs of the original gold medals, with any proceeds from these sales deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
The Green Ribbon Act of 2026 establishes a new program to recognize schools and nonformal learning institutions that achieve high performance in environmental literacy, reducing their carbon footprint, and ensuring a positive impact on the health of their students and staff. Under this bill, the Department of Education would award grants to state agencies to support schools in meeting these goals, while the Institute of Museum and Library Services would create a similar award program for libraries, museums, and nature centers. The legislation also creates a new office within the Department of Education dedicated to providing technical assistance and resources for sustainable school infrastructure and facilities. Key provisions include setting aside specific funds for underresourced schools and Bureau of Indian Education schools, as well as requiring annual reports on the program's progress and outcomes.
This bill, known as the Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act, aims to combat unpaid wages by strengthening penalties for employers who violate federal labor laws and providing workers with better tools to recover stolen money. It directly affects employees across industries who are currently at risk of not receiving their full compensation for hours worked, tips, or benefits. Key provisions require employers to provide detailed paystubs and final payments within 14 days of termination, increase civil fines for violations, and extend the time limit for workers to file lawsuits from two to four years. Additionally, the legislation creates a new grant program to fund community partnerships between the Department of Labor and local organizations to educate workers, assist with claims, and improve enforcement efforts.
The Diversity Visa Protection and Modernization Act limits the executive branch's ability to completely stop the Diversity Visa Program, which provides immigration opportunities to applicants from countries with low rates of migration to the United States. Instead of allowing indefinite or broad pauses, the bill permits only targeted restrictions on specific countries, individual security denials, or temporary suspensions lasting no more than 60 days. Any such limitation requires the relevant government officials to notify Congress and publish details about the threat and legal basis at least seven days in advance. Additionally, the law ensures that individuals who have already received a Diversity Visa cannot lose their eligibility due to a temporary program-wide suspension.
The Next Generation Shipping Act establishes a $10 billion funding program over ten years to support the development and deployment of zero-emission vessels and clean alternative fuel technologies. Administered by the Department of Transportation, the program provides grants, low-interest loans, and loan guarantees to eligible entities such as shipowners, manufacturers, and port authorities, while explicitly prohibiting the use of funds for automated vessel systems. To guide these efforts, the bill creates an advisory committee representing diverse stakeholders including labor groups, environmental organizations, and industry leaders to evaluate technologies and identify gaps. Additionally, the legislation mandates that funded projects prioritize workforce training, community benefits, and environmental justice, ensuring that laborers receive prevailing wages and that local communities are engaged throughout the project lifecycle.
The Data Infrastructure Energy Measurement and Standards Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop better methods for measuring energy and water use in data centers, including those running artificial intelligence models. This research program aims to create standardized definitions and reporting guidelines that account for different power systems, cooling setups, and varying workload demands. The bill also requires the agency to coordinate with industry experts and international partners to establish global standards while sharing data to improve future energy demand forecasts. To support these efforts, the legislation authorizes $10 million in funding for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2029.
HR 2332, the SHARE Act of 2025, standardizes how states share criminal history background check information for professional licensing across state lines. It requires the FBI to provide this information to state licensing authorities through agreements with law enforcement, specifically for verifying applicants seeking licenses or practice privileges in multiple states. The bill strictly prohibits states from sharing detailed criminal history records with other states or the public, allowing only a simple "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" result to be shared. This directly affects licensed professionals (like nurses or contractors) seeking to practice in multiple states and the state agencies that issue their licenses.
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' sense that Congress must urgently restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to protect against racial discrimination in voting and ensure fair political representation for all Americans. It specifically calls for ending the 60-vote threshold in the Senate to allow for easier passage of legislation and proposes structural changes to the Supreme Court, including term limits for justices, a binding code of ethics, and potentially expanding the court's size. The text argues that recent Supreme Court decisions have weakened voting protections and enabled partisan gerrymandering, threatening the political power of communities of color and undermining democratic institutions. By outlining these specific legislative and structural goals, the bill aims to rebuild public trust in the judiciary and strengthen the mechanisms that guarantee equal access to the ballot box.
The Federal Workforce Reproductive Rights Protection Act prevents federal agencies from relocating headquarters or major operations to states with laws restricting or banning abortion, while also barring the use of funds to build or lease facilities in those locations. To support federal employees who need to access reproductive health care, the bill allows workers to decline transfers to restrictive states, grants up to 21 days of paid leave for travel to obtain such services, and provides reimbursement for travel costs without requiring disclosure of the specific medical procedure. Additionally, the legislation prohibits government agencies from investigating an employee's use of abortion services when reviewing security clearances or making personnel decisions and protects workers from retaliation if they exercise these new rights.
The SAFE Training for OB-GYNs Act creates a new federal grant program to help medical residents who must leave their home states to receive training in reproductive health care due to local abortion restrictions. Funded with up to $10 million annually from 2027 to 2031, these grants support residency programs that offer specialized training in sexual and reproductive health, including abortion care. The funding can be used to expand existing programs or establish new ones specifically for out-of-state residents and to cover their travel expenses. This legislation directly affects health care professionals seeking specialized training and the medical residency programs that provide it.
This bill creates a federal grant program to help states and tribal governments improve their licensing systems for firearms dealers. To qualify for funding, a state must have laws requiring dealers to hold licenses valid for no more than three years, complete an application process, and allow for inspections with penalties for noncompliance. The Attorney General will award up to $2.5 million per year on a competitive basis to eligible applicants who submit detailed plans for developing or improving their programs. Recipients must provide annual reports on inspection numbers, violations, and license status, while the Attorney General must report grant details and denial reasons to Congress.
The Right to Vote Act establishes legal protections against government actions that make it more difficult for citizens to vote in federal elections. It prohibits any rule or practice that diminishes voting ability unless the government proves it is the least restrictive way to achieve an important interest, and it similarly blocks substantial impairments unless they significantly further a specific government goal. The bill creates a new legal pathway for voters to challenge these restrictions in federal court, requiring judges to expedite these cases and shifting the burden of proof to the government to justify any voting barriers. These protections apply to all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia for elections occurring on or after September 1, 2026.
