This bill ensures continued pay for specific Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel and Coast Guard members during government shutdowns in fiscal years 2026-2027. It directly affects DHS law enforcement officers (including those in job series like 0083, 1801, and 1811), DHS administrative and payroll staff, and Coast Guard personnel. The bill authorizes emergency funding from the Treasury to cover their pay and allowances when regular appropriations are not in place. This funding expires on January 1, 2027, or earlier if Congress passes a new appropriations bill covering these costs.
This bill permanently bans nitazenes and all structurally related synthetic opioids under federal law, creating a broad definition that covers numerous chemical variations designed to evade current restrictions. It directly affects anyone manufacturing, distributing, or possessing these substances without authorization, including illicit drug producers and users. The key mechanism is a class-wide Schedule I classification that includes specific structural features (like modified benzimidazole rings) and excludes new analogs from legal loopholes. This approach aims to prevent new nitazene variants from entering the illegal market and addresses their role in overdose deaths. Substances previously temporarily banned under similar rules will now be permanently prohibited as of the bill's enactment.
HR 5401, the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026, ensures military personnel, civilian Defense workers, and supporting contractors receive pay during government funding gaps in fiscal year 2026. It appropriates emergency funds for active-duty service members, reserves, and their supporting personnel (including Coast Guard staff under DHS) if regular appropriations aren't enacted by the end of the fiscal year. The bill provides necessary pay and allowances during any period when full-year funding is unavailable, covering both active service and support roles. Funding expires when regular appropriations are passed, a funding resolution is enacted, or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first. This is a procedural measure to prevent pay delays for military and support staff during fiscal year 2026 funding lapses.
HR 5399, the Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act, provides competitive federal grants to Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) to expand access to arts education for Black, Indigenous, and people of color students. The bill directs grant funds toward specific activities, including financial aid for arts students, mentorship programs, career counseling, and preserving BIPOC art collections. MSIs must prioritize initiatives directly benefiting minority students, such as outreach programs, paid internships with arts organizations, and training for future arts educators. This legislation aims to address systemic underfunding and lack of diversity in arts education by supporting institutions uniquely positioned to serve diverse artists and students.
The FAMILY Act would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program that provides wage replacement benefits for workers needing time off for caregiving or medical reasons. It defines "qualified caregiving" to include caring for a family member with a serious health condition, personal medical needs, or recovery from violence (including domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking). Benefits would be calculated based on earnings, with a minimum monthly benefit of $580 and maximum of $4,000, administered by a new Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Social Security Administration. Eligible individuals would need to have worked for at least 8 quarters in the previous year and file an application with required documentation, while existing state paid leave programs would continue to operate alongside this federal program.
HR 5100 extends the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through fiscal year 2026, instead of ending on September 30, 2025. This bill directly affects small businesses and research institutions that rely on federal funding for research and development through these programs. The key mechanism is updating expiration dates across multiple program provisions in the Small Business Act to maintain funding authority and program operations for one additional year. The extension does not alter program eligibility, funding levels, or core requirements.
HR 3579 requires veterans to submit an application before the VA can begin an initial evaluation for vocational rehabilitation services. It limits employment assistance under the program to a maximum of 365 days per veteran. The bill also mandates the VA to annually report veterans' regional office assignments, pre- and post-program wages, and average wait times for counselor meetings to Congress and the public. Additionally, it requires an independent review of VA rehabilitation programs within one year of enactment to recommend improvements.
HR 2334, the Servicemember Residence Protection Act, amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to prevent state "squatter's rights" laws from applying to properties owned by active-duty military members. The bill specifically blocks states from allowing squatters to claim ownership of a servicemember's home during the member's period of military service. This directly protects deployed servicemembers and their families by ensuring their property rights remain secure while they serve. The key mechanism is a new federal provision (Section 301A) that overrides conflicting state laws for military-owned properties occupied by squatters during active service.
The Family Building FEHB Fairness Act (HR 1670) adds fertility treatment benefits to the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. It directly affects federal employees and their families who use FEHB coverage, expanding what medical services the program pays for. Key provisions define "fertility treatment" to include services like in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo preservation, genetic testing of embryos, artificial insemination, and related medications. The bill amends existing law to require FEHB plans to cover these services starting one year after the bill becomes law. This change ensures federal employees have access to fertility care as part of their health benefits package.
The TICKET Act requires ticket sellers and resellers to clearly show the total price (including all fees) before purchase, ban selling tickets before having them in hand, and mandate refunds for canceled or postponed events. It prohibits misleading claims like "official" tickets unless authorized, and forces clear refund policies for consumers. The law applies to all event ticket sellers - both primary issuers and secondary platforms - for concerts, sports, and theater events with over 200 seats. Key changes include upfront price transparency, a ban on speculative sales, and standardized refund rules for cancellations or postponements. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce these rules and report on related laws within six months.
HR 1107, the *Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025*, allows Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health professionals to prescribe and dispense medications regulated under federal law (like opioids or stimulants) via telemedicine without requiring an in-person medical exam first. This directly affects veterans receiving VA care and VA-employed health professionals who provide telemedicine services. The bill requires providers to hold a valid state license, act within their professional scope, and ensure prescriptions serve a legitimate medical purpose. It does not change existing federal drug laws but streamlines access to controlled medications for veterans through telehealth, particularly benefiting those in rural or remote areas.
Equal COLA Act This bill applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for annuities paid under the Federal Employees Retirement System that is equal to the increase in inflation, regardless of the amount of the increase. Specifically, for any year in which the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased over the previous year, the COLA amount shall be increased by the change in the CPI from the previous year. Current law applies an adjustment equal to the change in CPI only if the change is 2% or less. If the change is between 2% and 3%, the adjustment is limited to 2%. If the change is more than 3%, the adjustment is limited to 1% less than the change.
