HR 7322, the True Shutdown Fairness Act, requires federal agencies to pay regular wages to most employees and contractor workers during government shutdowns in fiscal year 2026, instead of furloughing them. It applies to all standard federal employees (excluding those on emergency duty) and contractor workers whose jobs would normally halt during a funding gap. Agencies must pay covered employees within 7 days of the bill's enactment for ongoing shutdowns, and contractors receive reimbursement for costs incurred keeping workers paid. The bill also prohibits agencies from implementing layoffs or placing employees on administrative leave for more than 10 days during a shutdown.
HR 7317, the Golden Thirteen Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 Black Navy officers (the "Golden Thirteen") who became officers in 1944 despite systemic barriers. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal and present it to the Smithsonian Institution for display, recognizing their historic achievement as the first Black officers in the U.S. Navy. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure with no policy or regulatory changes, solely honoring the group's legacy.
HR 7307, the SUPPLIES Act, requires the State Department and USAID to create procedures within 60 days for handling unused supplies (like medicine, vaccines, or food) after foreign aid projects end. These procedures must prioritize preventing waste by ensuring supplies aren't destroyed, diverted, or expired without use. The bill mandates that these procedures be published online by both agencies. It directly affects U.S. government agencies and foreign aid partners managing aid supplies. The law defines "commodity" broadly to include perishable items held in warehouses or storage facilities for foreign assistance programs.
HR 6925, the Kennedy Center Protection Act, voids a December 2025 vote by the Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees that renamed the facility "The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts." The bill mandates the immediate removal of all changed signage and restores the original name "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" in all official references, documents, and records. It also permanently prohibits the Board from voting to rename the Center, amending existing law to restrict their authority in this regard. The bill requires the Board to report on any public or private funds used for the previous renaming effort within 30 days of enactment.
The Federal Property Integrity Act (HR 6926) prohibits federal agencies from naming, renaming, designating, or redesignating any federal building, land, or asset after the current President. This law directly affects the process of naming federal properties during a President's term in office. It would prevent the practice of honoring sitting Presidents with federal property names, such as naming a courthouse or park after the President while they are still in office. The bill does not apply to properties named before a President took office or to post-presidency naming.
The D-BLOC Act (HR 6790) requires railroads to limit train blockages at public highway-rail crossings to 10 minutes or less, except in emergencies like accidents, track obstructions, or safety compliance. Railroads must report all blockages exceeding 10 minutes via a federal portal, maintain detailed records of incidents, and face civil penalties for repeated violations after a 60-day notice period. The law exempts penalties if an alternate route exists within half a mile or a grade separation project is underway with funding. It directly affects Class I railroads (major freight carriers) and applies to all public highway-rail crossings nationwide, excluding Amtrak and commuter rail operations. The bill builds on an existing FRA portal established in 2019 to track and address recurring blockages.
HR 6821, the Protect Our Students Act, redirects federal highway safety funds to improve school zone safety. It increases the required allocation of these funds for school zone improvements from 40% to 50% and authorizes specific safety measures including crossing guards, flashing lights, visible signage, crosswalks, traffic calming, and automated enforcement. The bill directly affects students walking to school, local schools, and communities by mandating that federal highway safety programs fund these targeted school zone upgrades. This changes how existing federal transportation funds can be used, focusing resources on proven safety infrastructure.
HR 6635, the Bus Operator Safety and Security Act, requires new fixed-route buses over 30 feet long (with a 10+ year lifespan) purchased using federal transit funds to have physical barriers at the driver's workstation. These barriers must extend from floor to ceiling, fully enclose the workstation to block entry of people or objects, and not obstruct the driver's view. Transit agencies must install these barriers within two years of the law's enactment, unless the labor union representing bus drivers agrees to waive the requirement. The rule applies only to new buses bought with federal funds (excluding those from rural transportation programs) and directly affects transit agencies and bus drivers operating large fixed-route vehicles.
The CARE for First Responders Act (HR 6601) provides mental health support specifically for first responders, including emergency personnel and 911 operators (defined as "qualified emergency response providers"). It requires the creation of a 24/7 confidential hotline via the 988 Suicide Lifeline, peer support programs staffed by trained responders, and mobile crisis units that offer on-site mental health services during major disasters. The bill mandates trauma-informed, culturally appropriate care and education to reduce stigma around mental health, with a focus on helping responders and their families adjust after disaster work. It authorizes $5 million annually (2026-2030) for these services through grants to state/local health entities.
HR 6357, the TVA IRP Act, creates a new Office of Public Participation at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to improve public engagement in TVA's planning processes. The bill requires TVA to establish a formal public participation process for its integrated resource planning, including a 100-day public comment period before releasing draft plans and requiring responses to public discovery requests within 15 days. TVA must now include specific elements in its resource plans, such as long-term demand forecasts, transmission investment summaries, and sensitivity analyses for factors like fuel costs and extreme weather. The bill mandates that TVA disclose its modeling assumptions 100 days before draft plan release and document how public input influenced the final plan.
HR 7281, the Justice for Shireen Act, requires the FBI and State Department to submit a public report within 30 days of enactment. The report must identify those responsible for journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s death, detail any U.S. defense materials, funds, or services involved, and include relevant unredacted documents. It mandates the report be unclassified and published online simultaneously for public access. This bill directly affects federal agencies by imposing specific reporting obligations, with no direct impact on citizens or changes to existing laws. The focus is solely on documenting the circumstances of Abu Akleh’s death through a mandated government review.
HR 7278, the Cost of Police Misconduct Act of 2026, requires federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies receiving Byrne JAG program funds to collect and report detailed data on misconduct settlements and judgments. Agencies must track information like the type of allegation (e.g., use of force, racial profiling), costs paid, officer demographics, and funding sources, then submit annual reports to the Attorney General. Non-compliant states or localities face up to a 10% reduction in Byrne JAG or Cops on the Beat program funding. The Attorney General will create a public, searchable database of this aggregated data (excluding personal identifiers) and issue annual reports with recommendations for reducing misconduct. The bill mandates a GAO study after two years of data collection to analyze trends and costs across agencies.
