This bill designates the Chí'chil Biłdagoteel Historic District, a traditional cultural place significant to Western Apache and other Native American tribes, as protected land within the Tonto National Forest. It prohibits mining, toxic waste disposal, pipeline construction, and other development activities on the area to preserve its cultural and natural integrity. The legislation requires the Secretary of Agriculture to maintain the land in its natural condition, consult with affected tribes, and ensure continued access for traditional religious and cultural practices. By withdrawing the land from public land laws and mining rights, the bill prevents future extraction projects that could damage sacred sites, water sources, and ecosystems.
This bill, known as the FAIR Act, would allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve certain medicines and permit clinical trials for life-threatening diseases more quickly by recognizing approvals from trusted international regulatory authorities. It directly affects drug manufacturers, patients with serious illnesses, and U.S. healthcare providers by creating a new pathway where medicines already approved by agencies like the European Medicines Agency or Health Canada could receive reciprocal marketing approval in the United States. The legislation establishes a 30-day timeline for FDA review of these reciprocal requests and includes provisions for clinical trials authorized abroad, while maintaining safety oversight through withdrawal mechanisms if adverse events occur. The bill specifies that only products intended for immediately life-threatening conditions would qualify under this streamlined process.
This bill establishes a dedicated Transportation Security Trust Fund to ensure money collected from airline passenger security fees is used exclusively for aviation security purposes. The fund would support the Transportation Security Administration by paying salaries and benefits for its personnel, funding passenger and baggage screening operations, and purchasing security technology and infrastructure. Additionally, the legislation guarantees that aviation security operations can continue without interruption during government funding lapses, prioritizing frontline staff compensation and operational expenses before using remaining funds for technology upgrades.
Home School Graduation Recognition Act This bill clarifies that students who complete their secondary education in a home school setting recognized under state law are high school graduates for purposes of eligibility for federal student aid.
The ERISA Litigation Reform Act (HR 6084) changes how lawsuits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) are handled, directly affecting retirement and health plan beneficiaries who sue plan fiduciaries over alleged violations. It requires plaintiffs to specifically allege and prove that transactions (like purchases of company stock) aren’t exempt under ERISA rules before proceeding. The bill also temporarily halts discovery (gathering evidence) during early court motions to dismiss, mandates document preservation during this pause, and allows courts to impose penalties for failing to preserve relevant evidence. These changes aim to streamline litigation by reducing early-stage discovery costs and frivolous claims.
HR 2294 reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, extending funding and updating governance for the nation's ocean and coastal observation network. It changes references from "Council" to "Committee" throughout the law and adds requirements for federal agencies to collaborate with regional coastal observing systems on data sharing. The bill specifically directs agencies to conduct operational oceanography measurements and establishes $56 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support this system. This bill directly affects federal agencies managing ocean observation programs and regional coastal data networks.
Deploying Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions And Legacy Applications Act or the DIGITAL Applications Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to each establish an online portal for accepting, processing, and disposal of applications for communications use authorizations. These are requests for easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, or other authorizations to locate or modify a transmitting device, support structure, or other communications facility on public lands or National Forest System land. Interior and the Forest Service must also notify the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within three business days of establishing their respective portals, and once the portals are established, the NTIA must link to them from its website.
Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 This bill imposes sanctions on certain foreign persons (individuals and entities) that are involved in Iran's petroleum sector as well as certain associated persons. The bill also requires or authorizes actions to facilitate the enforcement of sanctions on Iran. Specifically, the bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on any foreign person that, after the bill's enactment, knowingly engages in any transaction related to the processing, export, or sale of oil, condensates, gas, liquefied natural gas, or other petrochemical products in whole or in part from Iran. The President must also impose sanctions on certain foreign persons associated with a sanctioned individual or entity. For example, the President must sanction the subsidiaries and corporate officers of a sanctioned business. The bill provides certain exceptions to these sanctions, including specifying that sanctions do not apply to the importation of goods or to conducting or facilitating transactions for humanitarian assistance. The Department of State must establish an interagency working group that shall seek to establish a multilateral contact group to coordinate international efforts to enforce sanctions on Iran. The bill expands the State Department rewards program to authorize a reward payment to any individual who furnishes information leading to the identification of a person (1) subject to sanctions under this bill, or (2) that has attempted or is attempting to evade sanctions under this bill.
The Semi-Trailer Tax Parity Act modifies federal tax rules to allow floor plan financing interest rules to apply to semi-trailers and their chassis. This change directly affects businesses that finance semi-trailers for commercial use, such as trucking companies and logistics firms. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include semi-trailers in the category of property eligible for specific interest deduction treatments previously reserved for other types of vehicles. This adjustment ensures that financing costs for semi-trailers are treated similarly to those for other commercial vehicles under existing tax provisions. The policy change takes effect for taxable years beginning after the bill is enacted.
This bill requires all motor carriers (including subcontractors and owner-operators) transporting Department of Defense freight to certify they are not owned/controlled by, or have significant business ties to, entities on the U.S. list of Chinese military companies (per Section 1260H of the 2021 Defense Authorization Act). It also creates a mandatory "Secure Defense Freight Carrier Registry" managed by the FMCSA and DoD, which carriers must join to bid on DoD contracts. To qualify, carriers must pass vetting for ties to Chinese military entities or other foreign adversaries, meet driver security standards, and undergo biennial reviews. The registry becomes mandatory one year after enactment, with false certifications risking contract suspension or fines.
HCONRES 77 is a ceremonial resolution authorizing the use of the U.S. Capitol rotunda for a military honor called "lying in state" for the remains of seven fallen soldiers: Army Major Jeffrey R. O'Brien, Captain Cody A. Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, and four Sergeant First Classes (Noah L. Tietjens, Nicole M. Amor, Declan Coady, and Benjamin Pennington). The bill permits their remains to lie in state in the Capitol rotunda, a tradition reserved for military and civilian leaders who served with distinction, specifically citing their service in Operation Epic Fury. The resolution directs the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Architect of the Capitol to coordinate the arrangements for this honor. This is a procedural measure with no new policy or funding impact, solely recognizing the service of these seven soldiers.
HCONRES 78 is a symbolic resolution designating March 10, 2026, as "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day" to honor abortion providers and staff. It recognizes their work amid rising violence, clinic closures, and abortion restrictions following the Dobbs decision, citing threats and challenges faced by providers. The resolution expresses congressional support for providers' safety and access to abortion care, condemning policies that restrict access. It does not create new laws or alter existing policies - it solely affirms Congress’s stance through a symbolic gesture. This is a procedural resolution focused on recognition, not policy change.
