This bill, titled the Ban Abortion by Mail Act, aims to restrict how abortion medications like mifepristone are prescribed by requiring an in-person visit between the patient and the doctor. It directly affects health care providers who are currently certified by the FDA to dispense these drugs, threatening their certification status if they prescribe them without a physical examination or to patients living in states where the provider lacks a medical license. The legislation mandates that the FDA report annually to Congress on any providers who lose this certification due to violations or unsafe prescribing practices. By enforcing these specific conditions, the bill seeks to ensure that all prescriptions for abortion drugs are administered under strict supervision and within the legal boundaries of the patient's state.
The Stop Lawmakers From Predicting Act prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children from trading on prediction markets regarding government policies, actions, political outcomes, or any events related to their congressional duties. This restriction applies to any purchase, sale, or agreement dependent on these specific outcomes while the individual is in federal service. If a covered individual violates these rules, they must pay a fee equal to the greater of $2,000 or 10% of the transaction value, plus any net profit made from the trade. The law also forbids paying these penalties using personal allowances, campaign funds, or other official accounts, and it requires the supervising ethics office to issue guidance on how to interpret the new restrictions.
This bill redesignates the existing National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund as the America's Legacy Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance on federal lands. It directs revenue from recreation fees and a portion of energy development income into the fund, which must be used primarily for repairing critical infrastructure like roads, trails, and buildings managed by agencies such as the National Park Service and the Forest Service. The legislation establishes strict rules requiring that most funds go toward non-transportation projects, mandates transparency through public dashboards tracking project status, and sets aside a small percentage for matching private donations. Additionally, the bill increases entrance fees for foreign visitors to ensure they contribute to the fund, while prohibiting the use of these specific funds for land acquisition or employee bonuses.
The NO FAKES Act of 2026 establishes a new property right for individuals to control the creation and use of their digital voice and visual likeness replicas, extending protection to both living people and their heirs for up to 70 years after death. The bill requires companies and platforms that distribute these digital replicas or sell tools to create them to obtain explicit authorization from the right holder, while also setting up a notification system for online services to remove unauthorized content. Additionally, the law preempts existing state laws regarding digital likeness rights and includes specific penalties and safe harbor protections for platforms that comply with the new requirements.
This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted. The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending against an attack on the United States or its personnel or facilities in other nations.
HR 2986, the Expediting Generator Interconnection Procedures Act of 2025, requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to create new rules within 18 months to speed up the process for new energy projects (like solar, wind, and battery storage) to connect to the electric grid. The bill mandates transmission providers (utilities) to use realistic technical modeling for each project type, offer cost-effective solutions for grid upgrades, and share clear information with project developers. It also requires transmission providers to adopt better queue management practices and improve transparency to reduce delays and costs. This directly affects new energy developers and transmission providers by making grid connection faster and more predictable.
This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of women enrolling in the U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force, and Coast Guard Academies. It formally designates a specific day to honor the history and achievements of female cadets and graduates, noting their significant contributions to military leadership and combat roles since 1976. The text highlights specific milestones, such as women earning the Army Ranger tab and commanding aircraft carriers, while acknowledging their continued service in both uniform and civilian sectors. Ultimately, the bill serves as a symbolic gesture to recognize the progress made by women in the armed forces without altering any existing laws or policies.
This resolution condemns the Lebanese group Hezbollah for repeatedly breaking ceasefire agreements by launching attacks against Israel and calls on the Lebanese government to stop these attacks and disarm Hezbollah forces in the South Litani Sector. It highlights specific incidents where Hezbollah violated terms set in 2024 and 2026, including the use of rockets and drones that endangered civilians and undermined Lebanese sovereignty. The measure also supports direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon to resolve their conflict while rejecting outside interference from Iran or Hezbollah in Lebanon's internal affairs.
The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to increase financial aid for college students by doubling the maximum Federal Pell Grant award to $10,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, with amounts rising annually to reach $15,000 by 2031-2032. The bill also changes the funding structure so that Pell Grants become a mandatory program that automatically adjusts for inflation rather than relying on annual congressional appropriations. Additional provisions expand eligibility to include students with negative financial aid indexes, provide special rules for recipients of means-tested benefits, and allow Dreamer students who become citizens or permanent residents to qualify for aid. The legislation further restores the total number of semesters a student can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18 and modifies how institutions determine satisfactory academic progress to reduce penalties for students struggling with course requirements.
The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to increase financial aid for college students by raising the maximum Pell Grant amount to $15,000 by the 2031-2032 award year and ensuring the program is fully funded through mandatory spending rather than annual appropriations. The bill also expands eligibility for students who receive means-tested government benefits by automatically assigning them a lower financial need score, while simultaneously allowing Dreamer students - undocumented immigrants who meet specific criteria such as graduating high school or serving in the military - to qualify for federal aid. Additional provisions restore the total number of semesters a student can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18 and adjust the rules for satisfactory academic progress to reduce penalties for students who struggle to meet grade requirements. Finally, the legislation restores Pell Grant eligibility for some students who previously received outside scholarships and sets the law's effective date for July 1, 2026.
The Open Meetings Act of 2026 requires the Judicial Conference to publish notice of its meetings at least 30 days in advance on its official website. It mandates that these meetings be live-streamed with audio accessible to the public without charge or registration, and the recordings must be archived and published online within seven days. The bill allows for exceptions to public access when matters are legally prohibited from disclosure or when a majority vote determines a session should be closed for sensitive reasons, provided the reason is stated publicly. These changes directly affect the transparency and public accessibility of proceedings within the federal judicial system.
The VA Home Loan Navigator Act establishes a free, voluntary program to help veterans and eligible borrowers navigate VA home loan benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs will fund independent, neutral organizations to provide education, counseling on loan processes, and assistance with issues like foreclosure prevention and understanding costs. To ensure fairness, the law strictly prohibits these service providers from receiving payments from lenders or real estate agents and requires them to remain operationally separate from any mortgage or brokerage businesses. Designated entities must meet specific criteria, including HUD approval and a primary mission of serving military families, while individual counselors must be certified and recertified every three years. The program will be monitored through regular reports to Congress evaluating borrower satisfaction and outcomes such as foreclosure prevention rates.
