This bill modernizes housing assistance programs for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiians by streamlining environmental reviews, extending funding authorization through 2032, and expanding loan guarantee options. Key provisions include consolidating environmental review requirements to reduce paperwork for tribes, allowing 99-year leasehold interests on trust lands for housing, and creating new rental assistance specifically for homeless or at-risk Native American veterans. The legislation also clarifies rent rules, waives certain housing counseling certifications for tribal entities, exempts tribal housing projects from some federal civil rights and Buy America requirements, and establishes a direct loan guarantee process for tribal housing projects.
The No Bias in the Baseline Act modifies how the federal government calculates its long-term budget projections to ensure they reflect current laws without automatic adjustments for inflation. This change primarily affects the Office of Management and Budget and Congress, which use these projections to determine if the nation is on track to meet deficit reduction goals. The bill instructs agencies to assume that all existing spending and revenue laws continue unchanged while explicitly excluding emergency funds and supplemental appropriations from the baseline. Additionally, it removes the practice of adjusting these baseline figures for inflation or other economic factors, resulting in a more static view of future federal finances.
The Homegrown Fertilizer Act directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide grants and loans to domestic businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, tribes, and local governments that manufacture, process, or store fertilizer and nutrient alternatives. To qualify, recipients must be independently owned, located within the United States, and certify that they do not hold a market share equal to or greater than the fourth-largest company in the fertilizer industry. Funds can be used for building or expanding facilities, purchasing equipment, improving production efficiency, reducing emissions, and training workers, with grants capped at $100 million requiring matching non-Federal funds. The program prioritizes projects that enhance innovation, increase domestic production capacity, and improve competition to reduce fertilizer prices and volatility for American farmers, while requiring repayment if the recipient facility is sold to a larger competitor within 10 years.
The Rural Child Care Access Act establishes a federal grant program to assist child care facilities in rural areas with fewer than 50,000 residents. The Department of Health and Human Services can award up to $4 million per facility for projects that upgrade infrastructure or improve provider recruitment and training. Congress has authorized $250 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2029, requiring the agency to report on project progress and ensure funds are distributed equitably across regions. Additionally, the bill mandates a study to assess the ongoing construction and renovation needs of child care facilities nationwide.
HR 5543, the Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025, requires the U.S. State and Defense Departments to submit a report within 180 days of enactment. The report will assess emerging military, cyber, hybrid, and political threats to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, including the roles of Russia, Belarus, China, Iran, and other actors. It will also evaluate U.S. and NATO military presence in the region, opportunities for defense cooperation, and recommendations to strengthen deterrence, cybersecurity, and democratic resilience in the Baltic countries. This bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy and defense planning regarding the Baltics, but does not create new programs or funding.
The Health Savings Account Expansion Act modifies tax rules to allow individuals with government-sponsored health plans, such as Medicare or Medicaid, and those in health care sharing ministries to contribute to Health Savings Accounts. It also clarifies that payments for these specific types of coverage can be made using HSA funds and expands the definition of eligible medical expenses to include membership fees and administrative costs for health care sharing ministries. Additionally, the bill permits the use of HSA funds to purchase over-the-counter drugs and insulin without a prescription. These changes are scheduled to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
The SERVE Act extends various Veterans Affairs benefits to former military members who were discharged specifically due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. This legislation amends existing laws to include these individuals in access to hospital care, mental health counseling, burial in national cemeteries, post-9/11 education assistance, and VA housing loans. The bill also requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to notify affected service members about available benefits and mandates a report within 15 months detailing how many individuals have received these services.
The 21st Century Entrepreneurship Act directs the Small Business Administration to develop and implement an entrepreneurship curriculum for students in community learning centers, primarily targeting youth from disadvantaged communities. The bill requires the SBA to work with the SCORE program, which consists of retired business executives, to create teaching materials and train volunteers to deliver this curriculum in partnership with education specialists and other business groups. Additionally, the legislation amends existing laws to formally include entrepreneurship education in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and mandates that the SBA submit biennial reports to Congress on program implementation, funding usage, and student outreach.
This bill establishes a grant program to help vulnerable mothers and babies in areas with high climate-related health risks, such as extreme heat and air pollution. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award up to $105 million over four years to community groups, healthcare providers, and local organizations for initiatives that provide cooling resources, health education, and support services. The program prioritizes areas with high rates of maternal and infant health disparities and requires grantees to address racial and ethnic inequities. Additionally, the bill creates a research consortium at the National Institutes of Health to study climate impacts on birth outcomes and funds training programs for health profession schools to better prepare providers for these risks.
This resolution supports the recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The resolution also supports the efforts of the Department of Transportation, state and local governments, and state and local law enforcement to prevent and stop distracted driving.
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 Parents Over Platforms Act requires app stores and developers to verify user ages and restrict access to adult-only content for minors. App stores must ask users to declare their age and allow parents to block specific applications, while developers are prohibited from showing personalized ads to minors and must prevent them from accessing age-gated features. The law grants the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce these rules and includes a preemption clause that stops states from passing their own conflicting regulations. Developers are solely responsible for identifying which of their apps require age restrictions, and the bill includes protections for companies acting in good faith when technical limitations prevent perfect age verification. These measures will take effect two years after the legislation is enacted.
