The Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2026 directs the Federal Communications Commission to create two grant programs for states to improve access to the Lifeline broadband subsidy. The first program provides funding to help states inform low-income residents who qualify for the Lifeline benefit but are not yet enrolled about how to apply and what the program offers. The second program funds states to connect their local benefit databases with the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, ensuring that receipt of other government assistance is properly recorded for eligibility checks. To receive these grants, states must submit detailed plans outlining their outreach strategies and expected reach, with the FCC prioritizing areas with more eligible individuals and diverse geographic regions. The bill also requires the FCC to report on the programs' effectiveness to Congress within three years and authorizes funding for the first five fiscal years.
The Puppy Protection Act of 2026 amends the Animal Welfare Act to impose stricter housing and care standards on dog dealers. It requires dealers to provide dogs with solid flooring, sufficient indoor space based on size, and temperature control between 45 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The bill also mandates daily nutritious food, unrestricted outdoor exercise for most dogs over 12 weeks, and at least 30 minutes of daily social interaction with humans. Additionally, it establishes specific rules for breeding, such as limiting the number of litters a female dog can produce and requiring health screenings before breeding. These new requirements must be implemented through final regulations issued by the Secretary within 18 months of the law's enactment.
This bill, known as the Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Foreign Assistance Act, directs federal agencies to ignore three specific final rules issued by the Department of State. It explicitly prohibits any government department from implementing, enforcing, or creating new policies similar to these existing rules, effectively treating them as if they never existed. The targeted regulations concern protecting life, combating discriminatory equity ideology, and addressing gender ideology within foreign aid programs. By nullifying these rules, the legislation removes the current administrative requirements related to these topics from U.S. foreign assistance activities.
This bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to restrict how background information is shared with landlords when screening potential tenants. It directly affects individuals with criminal records by prohibiting consumer reporting agencies from including specific data in reports used for rental housing decisions. Key provisions ban the inclusion of arrest records, juvenile adjudications, expunged convictions, and cases resolved through diversion programs, while also preventing the reporting of convictions that have been completed or where the individual is currently on probation or parole. Additionally, the legislation requires landlords who deny housing based on these reports to provide applicants with the specific reasons for the denial within three days. Finally, the bill prevents states from setting their own time limits for how long certain types of criminal information can be excluded from these reports.
This bill, titled the Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Foreign Assistance Act, aims to cancel specific regulations issued by the Department of State. It directly affects the federal government by prohibiting any department or agency from enforcing, implementing, or proposing rules related to protecting life, combating discriminatory equity ideology, and combating gender ideology in foreign aid programs. The legislation treats these cancelled rules as if they never existed, effectively nullifying their impact on future foreign assistance policies.
The Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026 requires the President to submit a written explanation to Congress within 24 hours if they refuse a major disaster declaration requested by a governor, specifically when that refusal contradicts FEMA's recommendation or established precedent. This bill establishes a streamlined legislative process allowing Congress to override such refusals by passing a joint resolution that cannot be amended and is subject to limited debate time in both the House and Senate. The measure also includes specific rules to expedite committee consideration and waive certain procedural objections to ensure the resolution moves quickly through the legislative process.
This bill creates a new grant program administered by the Federal Communications Commission to help states reach low-income individuals who qualify for the Lifeline broadband subsidy but have not yet signed up. Under the first provision, states can apply for funding to run outreach campaigns that inform these people about their eligibility and guide them through the application process, often by partnering with local community organizations. The second provision provides separate grants to states to connect their existing databases with the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, ensuring that benefits from programs like SNAP are automatically recognized when determining who qualifies for free internet services.
The STOP Act prohibits healthcare providers and others from performing gender transition procedures on minors under 18, defining these procedures broadly to include hormone treatments, surgeries, and puberty blockers. The bill allows for exceptions in cases of disorders of sex development, acute physical injuries, or precocious puberty, but imposes federal civil penalties of at least $100,000 for violations. Additionally, the legislation establishes a federal grant program to fund nonprofit organizations that provide detransition services, education, and mental health support to individuals seeking to reverse gender transition procedures.
This bill, known as the Lowering Utility Bills Act, aims to reduce electricity and natural gas costs by regulating how utility companies calculate their profits and what expenses they can pass on to customers. It requires transmission providers and investor-owned utilities to determine a reasonable profit range based on historical stock market returns from academics, large financial institutions, and major global banks, then generally limits their authorized profit to the lowest point in that range. Additionally, the legislation bans utilities from recovering specific costs in customer rates, including lobbying fees, political contributions, executive travel, and entertainment expenses. The bill also mandates that utilities prioritize lower-cost grid technologies in their planning and requires them to publicly justify any decision to use a higher profit rate than the standard minimum.
This bill, known as the ATIIP Reauthorization and Improvement Act, extends funding for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program through fiscal year 2031. It authorizes $250 million annually from the Highway Trust Fund to support projects that improve walking and biking infrastructure. The funds must be used within the same administrative framework as previous years but will remain available until spent and cannot be transferred to other purposes.
This bill establishes a new Office of Novel Therapeutics within the Veterans Health Administration to prepare for the implementation of emerging mental health treatments, such as psychedelic-assisted therapies, that are currently under FDA review. The office will develop national clinical standards, create training programs for staff, and designate specific medical centers as centers of excellence to lead research and implementation efforts. It also requires the VA to submit an annual report to Congress on research activities, clinical outcomes, and workforce readiness, while coordinating with other federal agencies on regulatory and reimbursement issues. The legislation focuses on ensuring patient safety, maintaining evidence-based practices, and providing integrated care for veterans with conditions like PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders.
This bill, known as the Carlton H. Ingram Veterans' Benefits Protection Act, amends the Department of Veterans Affairs' disability rating system to ensure that a veteran's disability level is assessed without considering the positive effects of medication or treatment. The key provision requires the VA to establish a baseline disability rating that reflects the veteran's condition before treatment, ensuring compensation is based on the underlying disability rather than improvements from medical care. Veterans seeking compensation for additional disabilities caused by or worsened by their treatment for service-connected conditions remain eligible for benefits under this change. The legislation aims to provide a more accurate reflection of a veteran's true disability status when determining compensation levels.
