Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act or the GUARD VA Benefits Act This bill imposes fines on individuals for soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving any unauthorized fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The attempted commission of such offenses is also punishable by fine.
This resolution formally recognizes 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, acknowledging the ecological and economic importance of these lands to the United States. The bill highlights that rangelands cover a significant portion of U.S. territory and support domestic production of food, fiber, and energy while providing critical ecosystem services like carbon storage and wildfire risk reduction. It encourages federal agencies, universities, and organizations to engage in education, research, and outreach activities related to sustainable rangeland management during the designated year. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves to raise awareness and promote collaboration among stakeholders involved in rangeland stewardship.
This bill designates the Chí'chil Biłdagoteel Historic District, a traditional cultural place significant to Western Apache and other Native American tribes, as protected land within the Tonto National Forest. It prohibits mining, toxic waste disposal, pipeline construction, and other development activities on the area to preserve its cultural and natural integrity. The legislation requires the Secretary of Agriculture to maintain the land in its natural condition, consult with affected tribes, and ensure continued access for traditional religious and cultural practices. By withdrawing the land from public land laws and mining rights, the bill prevents future extraction projects that could damage sacred sites, water sources, and ecosystems.
The Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act creates a new fund within the U.S. Treasury to consolidate the Southwestern Power Administration's (SPA) existing receipts, unspent balances from prior appropriations, and future funding. This fund will directly support the SPA - a federal agency managing hydroelectric power marketing - by covering operational costs for power transmission systems, electricity marketing, infrastructure construction, and related administrative expenses. The bill transfers unspent balances from three specific past funds into this new account and updates budget laws to redirect future SPA funding to it. The fund remains available until spent, with excess amounts annually returned to the U.S. Treasury.
Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 This bill imposes sanctions on certain foreign persons (individuals and entities) that are involved in Iran's petroleum sector as well as certain associated persons. The bill also requires or authorizes actions to facilitate the enforcement of sanctions on Iran. Specifically, the bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on any foreign person that, after the bill's enactment, knowingly engages in any transaction related to the processing, export, or sale of oil, condensates, gas, liquefied natural gas, or other petrochemical products in whole or in part from Iran. The President must also impose sanctions on certain foreign persons associated with a sanctioned individual or entity. For example, the President must sanction the subsidiaries and corporate officers of a sanctioned business. The bill provides certain exceptions to these sanctions, including specifying that sanctions do not apply to the importation of goods or to conducting or facilitating transactions for humanitarian assistance. The Department of State must establish an interagency working group that shall seek to establish a multilateral contact group to coordinate international efforts to enforce sanctions on Iran. The bill expands the State Department rewards program to authorize a reward payment to any individual who furnishes information leading to the identification of a person (1) subject to sanctions under this bill, or (2) that has attempted or is attempting to evade sanctions under this bill.
The Semi-Trailer Tax Parity Act modifies federal tax rules to allow floor plan financing interest rules to apply to semi-trailers and their chassis. This change directly affects businesses that finance semi-trailers for commercial use, such as trucking companies and logistics firms. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include semi-trailers in the category of property eligible for specific interest deduction treatments previously reserved for other types of vehicles. This adjustment ensures that financing costs for semi-trailers are treated similarly to those for other commercial vehicles under existing tax provisions. The policy change takes effect for taxable years beginning after the bill is enacted.
This bill, known as the Improving Dental Administration Act of 2026, would allow certain state laws about dental benefits to override federal rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. It directly affects states that have their own regulations governing dental insurance and benefit plans for employees. The key provision creates an exemption that takes effect 18 months after the bill is enacted, permitting state laws related to dental benefit administration to apply even if they differ from federal requirements. The exemption only applies to state laws that do not conflict with existing federal laws in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
This bill, titled the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act, aims to revoke federal approval for the drug mifepristone (also known as RU-486) for use in terminating pregnancies. If enacted, the Food and Drug Administration's approval for mifepristone for this indication would be withdrawn within 14 days, making its introduction into interstate commerce for pregnancy termination a violation of federal law. Additionally, the bill establishes a new federal right for individuals to sue manufacturers of mifepristone if they experience bodily injury or harm to mental health attributed to its use for pregnancy termination. This legislation directly affects drug manufacturers, distributors, healthcare providers, and individuals seeking or having used medication abortion.
This bill, known as the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026, makes two main changes to federal healthcare programs. First, it allows Medicaid to cover foot and ankle care services provided by podiatric physicians, ensuring patients have access to this specialized care. Second, it updates Medicare rules to clarify documentation requirements for diabetic shoes, specifying conditions under which patients can receive extra-depth or custom-molded footwear. The changes take effect on January 1, 2026, for Medicaid services and January 1, 2028, for Medicare shoe coverage.
HR 7932, the HONOR Gold Star Families Act, increases the death gratuity paid to families of service members who died in the line of duty. It raises the current $100,000 payment to $200,000 for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026. The bill also adds an annual cost-of-living adjustment to this amount, increasing it each January 1 based on the previous year’s inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index. This directly affects Gold Star Families - those who have lost a service member in military service - by providing a larger initial payment and ensuring future payments keep pace with inflation.
This bill, known as the AADAPT Act, would expand the Project ECHO Grant Program to include public and nonprofit private entities in addition to existing eligible organizations. The legislation specifically adds dementia care to the list of health areas the program can support, alongside palliative care. By broadening eligibility and scope, the bill aims to increase the number of healthcare providers trained to address Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The changes would be implemented through amendments to the Public Health Service Act, allowing for greater knowledge sharing and capacity building in dementia care across the healthcare system.
HCONRES 76 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing Wichita Police Chief Richard LaMunyon for founding the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) in 1981. It highlights how LETR, starting with a $300 fundraising run in Wichita, has grown into a global movement involving over 150,000 law enforcement officers across 50 U.S. states, Canada, and 25+ countries. The resolution notes LETR has raised $1.14 billion since its inception to support Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities. It does not create new laws or affect policy, but formally commends LaMunyon's leadership and the movement's role in promoting inclusion.
