The Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2026 updates eligibility rules and benefit amounts for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which provides financial assistance to low-income individuals with limited resources. The bill increases income and resource limits for SSI recipients, exempts certain retirement accounts and tribal welfare payments from counting toward eligibility limits, and extends the SSI program to U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. Additionally, the legislation repeals a marriage penalty that previously reduced benefits for married couples and clarifies how various state tax credits and in-kind support are treated when determining eligibility.
This bill, titled the Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act of 2026, would prohibit the Department of Defense from selling or purchasing certain weapons and ammunition in the commercial marketplace. It directly affects the Department of Defense, private contractors, and firearms dealers by restricting access to military-grade assault weapons and high-caliber ammunition. The law requires dealers to meet strict background check standards, maintain detailed electronic records, implement security measures, and complete mandatory training on recognizing illegal activity. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reporting to Congress on government-owned plants that produce firearms and ammunition for commercial sale.
This bill, titled the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act, aims to increase competition in the U.S. meatpacking industry by requiring the Federal Trade Commission to break up large companies that control multiple types of meat processing. It prohibits major meatpacking firms from operating in more than one protein line (beef, pork, or poultry) and mandates divestiture of assets for companies that exceed market concentration thresholds. The legislation also targets foreign-owned meatpacking companies by requiring them to divest U.S. operations and includes provisions to prevent vertical consolidation between packers and feedlots. Additionally, the bill directs the FTC to use existing authority to address unfair pricing practices and authorizes funding for farmers' cooperatives and small businesses to acquire divested meatpacking facilities.
The Promoting Dental Health Act extends federal funding for oral health programs through 2031, directly supporting community dental health initiatives and disease prevention efforts. The bill updates the authorization periods for two specific programs under the Public Health Service Act, shifting coverage from previous years to the 2027-2031 timeframe. This reauthorization allows continued government support for oral health promotion activities without requiring new legislation to maintain existing funding streams.
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct an audit of a 2026 energy deal between the United States and Venezuela that involves selling Venezuelan oil and managing the proceeds through U.S.-controlled accounts. The audit will examine the roles of multiple federal agencies including the Departments of State, Energy, and Treasury, as well as any contractors or entities involved in implementing the agreement. Key provisions mandate that the audit begin within 30 days of the bill's enactment, with interim briefings provided to congressional leadership and a final unclassified report submitted to Congress within 90 days of completion. The legislation also ensures that any delays or denials of access to information during the audit are promptly reported to congressional committees.
This bill, titled the No Getting Rich in Congress Act, establishes new ethics rules for Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependents to prevent conflicts of interest and financial conflicts. It prohibits Members and their families from trading certain investments like digital assets and derivatives unless held in a blind trust, while also banning former Members and those appointed to Senate-confirmed positions from lobbying specific foreign countries after leaving office. Additionally, the bill requires spouses of senior federal officials to register and disclose lobbying activities, prohibits Members and their spouses from serving on corporate boards, and expands gift disclosure rules to include spouses as covered relatives.
This bill, known as the Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education Act of 2026, amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to expand federal funding for arts and music programs in public schools. It directly affects school districts and educators by allowing Title I funds to support sequential, standards-based instruction in dance, media arts, theater, visual arts, and music. The legislation requires these programs to be taught by certified educators and aligns them with state academic standards to ensure quality instruction. Additionally, the bill allows targeted assistance schools to use federal funds for supplies, professional development, and equipment needed for arts and music education.
HR 7827 restricts the Department of Defense from purchasing or selling military-style assault weapons and certain high-capacity ammunition (like .223 Remington) in commercial markets. It imposes strict requirements on dealers selling firearms or ammunition, including mandatory NICS background checks, limits on high-volume sales, security measures (like surveillance systems), and electronic recordkeeping for transactions. Dealers must also meet crime trace limits (fewer than 24 crime guns traced annually) and implement training on recognizing straw purchases and preventing illegal sales. Government-owned weapons plants must annually report commercial sales data to Congress, including customer locations and revenue.
This bill creates an independent National Weather Safety Board to investigate severe weather disasters that meet specific criteria, such as being declared major federal disasters or causing at least 10 fatalities. The seven-member board would be appointed by the President with Senate confirmation and would have the authority to examine how federal agencies like the National Weather Service, FEMA, and the Army Corps of Engineers prepared for and responded to these events. The board would develop a system to receive disaster information, vote on whether to investigate specific incidents, and issue subpoenas to gather testimony and data from relevant entities. After completing investigations, the board must submit preliminary and final reports to Congress with findings and recommendations for improving disaster preparedness and response, while also making its recommendations and implementation status public online.
This bill, titled the Medicines for the People Act, would create a new National Institute for Biomedical Research and Development within the Public Health Service Act. The new institute would conduct full-cycle research and development of drugs, devices, and biological products using federal laboratories, contracts with public and private entities, and acquisitions of existing technologies. Key provisions include government ownership of patents and trade secrets from institute-funded research, mandatory sharing of clinical trial data with the public, and licensing agreements that prioritize nonprofit and public entities while allowing some for-profit licensing under public interest terms. The institute would be overseen by a 15-member governing board with restrictions on members from the pharmaceutical industry, and it would receive an initial authorization of $90 billion for fiscal year 2027.
This bill establishes the United States Immigration Courts as an independent judicial system under Article I of the Constitution, separate from the executive branch. It creates three divisions (appellate, trial, and administrative), sets qualifications for judges, and defines jurisdiction for immigration proceedings. The bill transfers functions from the Executive Office for Immigration Review to this new court system, with detailed provisions for appointment, compensation, and retirement of judges. It also requires annual reporting to Congress on court workload and outcomes, including demographic information and case processing times.
This bill, the PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026, requires most health insurance plans to cover HIV prevention medication without charging patients any out-of-pocket costs. It directly affects people with private insurance, government health programs like Medicare and Medicaid, military health care, and the Indian Health Service. The law mandates that insurance companies cannot require pre-approval for these medications, cannot charge deductibles or copayments for them, and cannot deny or charge higher premiums for life, disability, or long-term care insurance based on someone taking HIV prevention medication. The bill also creates a new public education campaign to increase awareness about HIV prevention options and provides federal funding to states and community organizations to expand access to these services.
