The Maternal Health for Veterans Act establishes a new program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate maternity care for enrolled veterans from the start of pregnancy through 12 months after birth. This initiative requires the VA to systematically track mental health screenings, implement performance goals to improve care quality, and provide specialized training to community providers regarding the unique needs of veterans with service-related mental or behavioral health conditions. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reports detailing maternal health outcomes, such as mortality and severe morbidity, broken down by demographics like race, disability status, and rural residence to address specific disparities. The legislation also updates legal definitions for terms like "maternal mortality" and repeals a previous section of the Protecting Moms Who Served Act to align with these new requirements.
This bill directs the United States Postal Service to review and implement specific recommendations from its own Inspector General regarding how to handle undelivered and partially delivered mail routes. The Postal Service must complete these changes within one year of the bill's enactment to improve the identification and notification processes for customers. This legislation directly affects mail carriers and customers by aiming to resolve issues related to mail that fails to reach its destination or is only partially delivered.
The SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 strengthens protections for veterans by increasing penalties for unauthorized fees and requiring that only recognized agents or attorneys assist with benefit claims. It mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs provide clear online tools for veterans to search for accredited representatives and report unaccredited individuals who charge fees. The bill also requires the department to update its website warnings to explicitly discourage veterans from sharing login credentials and to include questions on claim forms about any coaching or assistance received. Additionally, the legislation expands restrictions on automated telephone equipment to prevent unsolicited calls from automated systems to federal agencies. Finally, the act directs the VA to conduct a review of its current recognition processes and establish a more accessible digital system for managing agent accreditation and complaints.
This bill, known as the Email Privacy Act, amends existing federal laws to clarify how information about stored emails can be shared and how government agencies can access email content. It requires internet service providers to use the term "disclose" rather than "divulge" when sharing subscriber data and expands the definition of who can receive this information to include agents of the customer. The legislation also changes rules for government warrants by allowing providers to notify customers about the receipt of a warrant unless the government requests otherwise, while maintaining exceptions for communications made public by the sender. Additionally, the bill removes a specific time limit that previously required a warrant for emails stored for less than 180 days, ensuring consistent warrant requirements for all stored communications.
This Senate resolution reaffirms congressional support for the Taiwan Relations Act and longstanding bipartisan U.S. policy toward Taiwan. It explicitly upholds provisions such as maintaining defensive arms sales to Taiwan and opposing any efforts to determine Taiwan's future by force or coercion. The measure also reiterates the U.S. commitment to regional peace and stability while recognizing Taiwan's role as a significant economic partner and democracy. By restating these principles, the bill aims to clarify the United States' position without altering existing legal frameworks.
The Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2026 changes how Medicare counts time spent in hospital observation toward the three-day waiting period required for skilled nursing facility coverage. Starting in 2026, individuals receiving outpatient observation services will be treated as inpatients for this purpose, and the date they stop receiving such care will count as their official hospital discharge date. This provision applies to observation periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026, with limited exceptions for appeals made within 90 days of the bill's enactment. The law also allows the Department of Health and Human Services to implement these changes through interim regulations before the official start date.
The 9-8-8 Connect Act establishes a new grant program to help crisis centers provide follow-up care to individuals who contact the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via call, text, or chat. These grants, totaling $30 million for fiscal year 2026, will fund activities such as well-being check-ins, outreach to ensure continued support, and referrals to appropriate care, all of which require the individual's informed consent. The bill also directs the Federal Communications Commission to create rules ensuring that all mobile phone calls and texts are routed to 9-8-8, including those from devices without a service plan. Additionally, the legislation updates federal communications laws to officially include 9-8-8 alongside 9-1-1 as a dialable number on multi-line telephone systems.
This bill, known as the IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act, strengthens protections and incentives for individuals who report tax violations to the Internal Revenue Service. It ensures that whistleblower award decisions are reviewed de novo by the Tax Court based on the original administrative record and any new evidence, while also granting whistleblowers the right to remain anonymous unless a specific societal interest outweighs the potential harm to them. The legislation further safeguards these awards from budget cuts and mandates that interest be paid on awards if the IRS delays notifying the whistleblower of a preliminary recommendation. Additionally, it requires annual reports to list top tax avoidance schemes revealed by whistleblowers and corrects a technical error regarding attorney fee deductions.
The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act creates a new funding program to hire more counselors, psychologists, and social workers for schools with high numbers of low-income students. These funds are distributed to states, which then award subgrants to local school districts to help them reach recommended staffing ratios of 250 students per counselor, 500 per psychologist, and 250 per social worker. To qualify for the money, states must match the federal grant with their own funds and submit detailed plans showing how they will prioritize high-need schools. The bill also requires regular reporting on how many mental health staff are hired and the current student-to-staff ratios in participating schools.
This joint resolution seeks to officially reject a final rule issued by the Department of Education regarding federal student loan programs. If passed, the measure would prevent the new regulations from taking effect, leaving the previous rules in place. The bill directly impacts borrowers, lenders, and the Department of Education by nullifying the specific changes outlined in the "Reimagining and Improving Student Education" proposal. It is a procedural action that uses the Congressional Review Act to disapprove the agency's policy without altering the underlying law.
This bill creates a new federal tax credit to encourage owners of manufactured home communities to sell their land to residents or nonprofit organizations that agree to keep the community affordable. The credit allows sellers to claim 75% of their profit from the sale, provided the buyer agrees to a binding 50-year covenant that the land will remain used for manufactured housing. To qualify, the new owner must be a resident-owned cooperative or a nonprofit corporation with democratic governance where residents elect the board of directors. The legislation aims to prevent community closures and protect low-income homeowners from rising rents by promoting long-term resident ownership. This change takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
This bill, titled the No Presidential Self-Serving Lawsuits Act of 2026, prevents the current or former President of the United States from filing civil lawsuits against the federal government. It specifically invalidates an existing settlement agreement between a former President and the Internal Revenue Service and bars the use of federal funds to create compensation for such lawsuits. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the Treasury Secretary to recover any money already spent in violation of these new restrictions. The primary goal is to stop a President from using taxpayer money to settle legal disputes with the government they lead.
