S 3768 (ABODE Act) creates a HUD grant program for developers to build or rehabilitate affordable homes for households earning no more than 50% of area median income. Grants require projects to reduce development costs while meeting specific energy efficiency, resiliency, and accessibility standards - particularly for people with disabilities. Priority is given to projects in areas with severe housing shortages or using universal design. HUD must report to Congress within two years on funded projects, home pricing, and cost savings from the efficiency measures.
This bill expands Medicare incentives to increase mental health and substance use disorder care in underserved areas. It adds a 15% bonus payment to Medicare for specific mental health and substance use services provided by qualified non-physician providers (like clinical social workers, psychologists, and counselors) in designated "mental health professional shortage areas." The bonus applies to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027, directly benefiting Medicare beneficiaries in these areas and encouraging more providers to work there. The change modifies existing Medicare payment rules to include these new provider types and service categories.
HR 7326 (ABODE Act) creates a grant program to fund the development or rehabilitation of affordable housing. It directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award grants to organizations building or rehabbing single- and multi-family homes for households earning 50% or less of the area median income. Projects must prioritize reducing costs, improving energy efficiency, enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities, and using resilient designs. HUD will require grantees to build a set number of homes meeting these standards before receiving full payment, and must report results to Congress within two years.
HR 7327, the Empowering Young Readers Act of 2026, creates a $10 million pilot program to fund book access initiatives for children under 19. It authorizes the Education Secretary to award competitive grants (max $200,000 per grant for two years) to eligible nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations for activities like purchasing books, hosting reading events, or donating to public libraries. Grant applications must be reviewed using viewpoint-neutral criteria, and recipients must report on book distribution numbers and community impact. The program runs through fiscal year 2027, with a final report due to Congress six months after completion.
This bill would improve Medicare reimbursement for specific care services needed by people with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). It creates a new payment system for eight key services including specialized physician support, occupational therapy, speech pathology, physical therapy, dietary support, respiratory support, registered nurse support, and coordination of medical equipment. The bill sets a base payment of $800 for these services in 2027, with annual increases based on a specific formula. This directly affects ALS patients who would have better access to these services and the medical facilities that provide them.
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2026 amends federal law to enhance support for victims of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. The bill authorizes $270 million annually for fiscal years 2027-2031 to fund state, tribal, and community programs, with specific funding reserved for tribal programs (12.5%), national hotlines ($20.5 million for general hotline, $4 million for Indian hotline), and services for underserved populations. It requires grantees to provide trauma-informed, culturally appropriate services while prohibiting discrimination and protecting victim confidentiality, and mandates accessibility for people with disabilities and limited English proficiency. The bill also establishes new technical assistance centers, Tribal resource centers, and community-based prevention programs to address the needs of underserved populations including Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives, and racial and ethnic minorities.
This bill extends dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), treating ALS-related deaths as qualifying for benefits regardless of how long the veteran had the disease before death. It requires surviving spouses to have been married to the veteran for at least eight continuous years prior to death to qualify for compensation. The changes apply to veterans dying from ALS on or after October 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill requires the Veterans Affairs Secretary to submit a report within 180 days of enactment identifying other service-connected disabilities with high mortality rates that might warrant similar treatment.
HR 988 is a procedural bill that changes the legal location of the National Woman's Relief Corps. It moves the Corps' incorporation and legal domicile from the District of Columbia to Illinois, and shifts its principal office from Springfield, Illinois, to Murphysboro, Illinois. The bill also updates service-of-process requirements to reference Illinois officials instead of District of Columbia authorities. This is purely an administrative relocation with no impact on the Corps' operations or members.
This symbolic resolution honors school counselors' contributions and encourages Americans to observe National School Counseling Week (February 2-6, 2026) through public activities. It has no funding or policy changes - it simply expresses congressional support for recognizing school counselors' role in student development. The resolution acknowledges their work in academic, social-emotional, and career guidance but does not alter any existing laws or resources. It directly affects public awareness, not school counseling programs or budgets.
HRES 973 is a House resolution stating that redesignating the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the "Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center" violates the 1964 John F. Kennedy Center Act, which prohibits additional memorials at the site and designates it as the sole national memorial to President Kennedy. The resolution demands the restoration of the original signage and requires President Trump-appointed board members to resign, citing the lack of congressional authorization for the name change. It directly addresses the Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees and the Trump administration's actions, referencing the specific legal prohibition in Public Law 88-260. The resolution expresses the House's position but does not impose legal requirements.
This bill establishes uniform eligibility requirements for foreign graduate medical schools seeking U.S. federal student aid under the Higher Education Act. It requires schools outside the U.S. and Canada to meet specific standards, including having at least 60% of students not classified as non-U.S. citizens and a 75% passing rate on licensing exams, to qualify for federal loans. The bill repeals special exemptions allowing certain Caribbean for-profit schools to bypass these rules, aiming to increase accountability. Current students enrolled at affected schools before the law's enactment will retain loan eligibility for up to four years after the school loses eligibility, but new students will face the new requirements starting July 2026.
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.
