This House Resolution recognizes the efforts and public safety contributions of linemen and the important role they play in maintaining the nation's energy infrastructure. It expresses support for designating April 18, 2026, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day" and acknowledges linemen as first responders.
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that stable housing is a fundamental human right that keeps families together, regardless of immigration status. It condemns a past administration's proposal to ban mixed-immigration status families from receiving prorated federal housing assistance and calls on the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to withdraw any such rule. The resolution also urges Congress to increase funding for federal housing programs and calls for a Government Accountability Office report on the impact of such proposals on family separation and homelessness.
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' strong support for designating April 19 through April 25, 2026, as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week." It recognizes the impact of crime on victims and survivors, appreciates organizations that assist them, and encourages continued efforts to support victims' rights and services.
The PARITY Act modifies the Higher Education Act to remove specific federal regulations that currently govern the classification of independent study programs and the requirements for accrediting certain educational entities. By repealing two existing sections, the bill eliminates rules that previously mandated these programs be treated as traditional degree-granting institutions and altered how accreditation standards are applied. This change directly affects colleges and universities offering independent study or online degrees, as well as the accrediting agencies that evaluate them. The legislation aims to provide regulatory relief by simplifying the compliance framework for these educational models without introducing new mandates.
This bill, HR 8391, proposes to expand the types of services covered under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid recipients by requiring coverage for certain food and nutrition services. Under Medicare, these services would be covered, with Medicare paying 80% of the actual charge. For Medicaid, these services would also be covered and become a mandatory benefit that states must provide. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will specify the exact requirements for these services, and the changes would take effect 180 days after the bill's enactment.
The National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2026 proposes to establish a federal grant program for states to create or expand "Food as Medicine" initiatives under Medicaid waivers. These programs would provide medically supportive food and nutrition interventions, like tailored meals or produce prescriptions, to Medicaid-eligible individuals with nutrition-related chronic conditions or food insecurity. The bill also directs the Department of Agriculture to provide technical assistance to farmers, especially socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers, to help them supply regeneratively or organically produced local food to these programs. Furthermore, it mandates federal guidance for states on implementing these programs, including eligibility criteria, provider roles, and procurement methods, aiming to integrate food interventions into healthcare.
The Equal Treatment for Farmers Act removes references to 'socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers' from multiple federal agricultural laws and programs. This bill amends various statutes including the Federal Crop Insurance Act, Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, and other agricultural legislation to eliminate special preferences or categories based on social disadvantage status. The legislation also prohibits the USDA from providing any preference, priority consideration, or enhanced benefits based on race or gender in its programs. These changes affect how federal agricultural assistance, loans, and benefits are categorized and distributed to farmers and ranchers.
The Improving Access to Financial Coaching Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to support financial coaching services for individuals and households, particularly those with low and moderate incomes, racial and ethnic minorities, and residents of rural areas. Administered by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Consumer Policy, the program awards grants to eligible nonprofit organizations, community development financial institutions, and minority depository institutions. These funds are intended to help recipients provide or subgrant financial coaching services to improve consumer financial well-being, manage debt, and build savings. Additionally, the bill directs the Treasury to develop standardized practices for certifying financial coaches and the agencies that employ them, aiming to enhance service quality. The act authorizes $100 million for appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to fund these initiatives.
The Momnibus Act is a comprehensive legislative bill designed to improve maternal health outcomes across the United States by addressing social determinants of health, expanding access to care, and reducing disparities among pregnant and postpartum individuals. The bill establishes a federal task force to coordinate efforts between agencies and stakeholders to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and severe morbidity, while providing sustained funding to community-based organizations to address nonclinical factors like housing, nutrition, and transportation. Key provisions include extending WIC eligibility to 24 months postpartum, creating grants to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce, implementing respectful maternity care training for all healthcare employees, and establishing compliance programs to track and address bias in maternity care settings. The legislation also includes specific measures for incarcerated mothers, veterans, and vulnerable populations affected by climate change, alongside funding for maternal mental health services and technology-enabled care models to expand access in underserved areas.
The Faster Department of Veterans Affairs Construction Act of 2026 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to use commercial building codes alongside or instead of federal codes when constructing or altering facilities, provided there are no legal conflicts. To test this approach, the bill mandates that the Department run at least three pilot projects each year from 2027 through 2031 using these commercial standards for various construction and leasing initiatives. Additionally, the Secretary must submit annual reports to Congress detailing how these codes were applied and the results of the pilot projects. This legislation aims to streamline the building process for VA facilities by adopting widely accepted industry standards such as those from the National Fire Protection Association and the International Code Council.
This bill amends the Title X family planning program to prohibit the use of federal funds for entities that perform or financially support abortions. It allows exceptions for cases involving rape, incest, or life-threatening medical conditions, while also permitting hospitals to receive funding as long as they do not give those funds to non-hospital abortion providers. To enforce these rules, the bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit annual reports detailing which organizations receive grants and the specific number of abortions performed under the medical and criminal exceptions.
This bill requires the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to review new drug applications from companies based in China to determine if they are affiliated with the Chinese government, Communist Party, or military. If an application comes from such an affiliated entity, the FDA will deny approval for the drug, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will refuse entry and destroy any imported drugs from these sponsors. The law also allows for a process where affected companies can prove they are no longer affiliated or sell their drug rights to a non-affiliated company within 180 days to avoid having their products blocked. Additionally, the bill authorizes $5 million in funding to carry out these review and enforcement activities.
