The SAFER Health Act of 2026 strengthens privacy protections for individuals by prohibiting healthcare providers and related entities from disclosing information about abortions or pregnancy losses in legal proceedings without the individual's explicit consent. This rule applies to all types of legal cases, including civil, criminal, and administrative matters, with specific exceptions for defending against professional liability claims or investigating physical harm caused to the individual. The bill also requires health IT systems to separate this sensitive data from other records and mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services update existing regulations to enforce these privacy standards. Additionally, the law preempts any conflicting state laws that offer less privacy protection for this specific type of medical information.
The Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act aims to combat unpaid wages by strengthening penalties, improving worker protections, and funding community enforcement efforts. It directly affects employers who may underpay workers and employees who face wage theft, particularly low-wage workers, immigrants, and minorities. Key provisions require employers to provide detailed pay stubs and final payments within 14 days of termination, while also granting workers the right to full compensation as agreed in employment contracts. The bill increases civil fines and criminal penalties for violations, extends the time limit for filing wage claims, and establishes a grant program to support partnerships between the Department of Labor and community organizations.
The Green Ribbon Act of 2026 establishes a new program to recognize schools and non-formal learning institutions that meet specific goals for environmental literacy, emission reductions, and positive impacts on student and staff health. Under this act, the Department of Education will award grants to states and provide $10,000 honoraria to schools that demonstrate high performance in these three areas, while also creating a similar award program for museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions. The legislation creates a new office within the Department of Education to oversee technical assistance and training for sustainable school infrastructure, ensuring that under-resourced schools receive at least 40 percent of grant funding. Additionally, the bill requires the Department to update its award criteria within six months to align with health standards from the EPA and CDC and mandates annual reports on the program's progress and impact.
The MOMMIES Act expands Medicaid and CHIP coverage for low-income pregnant individuals by extending postpartum benefits from 60 days to one year and mandating full coverage of oral health services during this period. To support these changes, the bill includes a maintenance of effort provision that prevents states from reducing eligibility standards or benefit levels for pregnant individuals until 2027, alongside a 100 percent federal funding match for states that increase spending on this population. A major component is a five-year demonstration project that provides grants to states to implement maternity care home models, which coordinate comprehensive medical and social support services like housing assistance and mental health care to improve birth equity and outcomes. The legislation also requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to issue guidance on covering doula services and directs the Government Accountability Office to study the use of telehealth and gaps in coverage for pregnant and postpartum people.
The Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act authorizes the presentation of gold medals to the four crew members of the Artemis II Mission to recognize their historic contributions to space exploration. This legislation directs the U.S. Treasury to strike these medals, which must depict the mission's crew, and allows the mint to sell duplicate bronze versions to cover production costs. The bill highlights the mission's significance as the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since 1972 and notes the diverse achievements of the astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color to travel around the Moon. By designating these awards as national medals, the act formally honors the crew's role in advancing human spaceflight capabilities.
The Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act establishes a national technical assistance center and provides $1 billion in grants to help recruit, train, and retain workers who assist older adults and people with disabilities. These funds will support projects run by states, community colleges, and other organizations to create career pathways, offer apprenticeships, and provide educational resources for both direct care professionals and family caregivers. A key requirement is that at least 30% of the funded projects must focus on advancing the careers of direct care workers through professional development and clear career ladders. The bill also mandates that grant recipients include people with disabilities, older individuals, and caregivers in planning and advisory roles to ensure programs meet community needs. Additionally, the legislation allocates $2 million annually for the technical assistance center to develop training curricula and address data gaps in the workforce.
The Medicare Cost Cap Act of 2026 establishes a $5,000 annual limit on out-of-pocket costs for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries starting in 2028, after which Medicare will cover 100% of additional covered expenses. This protection applies to all individuals enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B and includes tracking mechanisms to notify patients and providers once the cap is reached. The bill also modifies eligibility rules for low-income assistance programs, aligning income thresholds between Medicare Savings Programs and Medicaid and expanding data sharing to streamline enrollment for qualifying beneficiaries.
The Global Climate Resilience Act of 2026 establishes a program to reduce the debt owed by vulnerable countries to the United States, directing those savings toward climate adaptation and disaster recovery efforts. To qualify for these benefits, nations must be classified as low or middle-income or small island developing states, have democratically elected governments that respect human rights, and submit plans involving local communities to build resilience against extreme weather and slow-onset climate disasters. The bill authorizes the President to cancel or exchange existing U.S. loans for new obligations tied to resilience projects and directs U.S. representatives at international financial institutions to advocate for similar debt relief and a new parametric climate insurance program at the World Bank.
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.
This bill, titled the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act, halts the construction and upgrading of large-scale artificial intelligence data centers until specific federal laws are passed. It defines these facilities as sites with high power capacity or advanced cooling systems used for developing AI models. The moratorium remains in effect until new legislation ensures federal safety reviews for AI products, mandates that economic benefits reach workers rather than just wealthy owners, prevents increases in utility bills, avoids environmental harm, requires community approval, bans government subsidies, and guarantees union jobs with strong labor standards. Additionally, the bill restricts the export of computing hardware, such as semiconductors and networking equipment, to countries that do not adopt these same protective laws for AI development.
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.
