The ABLE Tomorrow Act expands and strengthens the ABLE program, which allows people with disabilities to save money in tax-advantaged accounts without risking their eligibility for essential government benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. Key changes include removing limits on transferring funds from 529 college savings plans into ABLE accounts and creating exceptions to annual contribution caps for specific lump-sum payments. The bill also permits employers to contribute directly to an employee's ABLE account as part of a retirement plan and requires various federal agencies to inform beneficiaries about these savings opportunities. Additionally, the legislation authorizes $50 million in grants over five years to help states and tribes promote ABLE accounts and increase participation among eligible individuals.
This bill amends the Higher Education Act to allow grants for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to support arts, arts education, and cultural programs. The legislation directly affects HBCUs by enabling them to receive federal funding for specific activities such as establishing outreach offices, providing wraparound student services, and preserving Black art collections. Key provisions also include creating well-paid apprenticeships and internships through partnerships with nonprofit arts institutes and allowing HBCUs to collaborate with the National Endowment for the Arts. By adding these new uses for funds, the bill aims to address historical underfunding and help maintain essential arts departments at these institutions.
American Cures Act This bill permanently funds several federal agencies and programs that perform biomedical research. The bill provides specified funding for the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense health program, and the Department of Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research program. The bill exempts the funding from sequestration, which is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals. It also exempts the budgetary effects of the funding from the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Act of 2010 and the Senate PAYGO rule.
This bill clarifies that individuals are legally permitted to use direct deposit to make contributions to ABLE accounts, which are savings plans designed to help people with disabilities save for qualified expenses. By explicitly stating that no existing law prohibits this method of payment, the legislation removes potential confusion or barriers for donors and financial institutions. The change does not alter the core rules of ABLE programs but simply confirms a practical way for people to fund these accounts.
This bill creates a new federal tax credit that matches contributions to ABLE savings accounts, which are designed to help people with disabilities save for qualified expenses. The government will contribute up to 100% of an individual's annual contributions, capped at $2,000, provided the taxpayer's income falls below specific thresholds that phase out the benefit. To receive the match, individuals must file a tax return claiming the credit, and the funds are typically deposited directly into their ABLE account. The legislation also requires state programs to report demographic data about account holders and authorizes $5 million in annual grants to help states promote these savings accounts.
This bill introduces a new annual tax on the total value of assets held in certain trusts, requiring owners to file detailed reports of trust holdings and beneficiary interests. The tax is calculated using a progressive rate structure that ranges from 1% to 3%, with specific thresholds that are adjusted for inflation starting in 2027. To offset this new liability, the legislation creates a "trust withholding credit account" that allows beneficiaries to claim credits against future estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes based on the taxes paid by the trust. Additionally, the bill modifies rules for grantor trusts by treating payments made by grantors to cover trust taxes as taxable gifts, while simultaneously denying any tax deductions for those payments.
The PICTURE Act requires the Bureau of Prisons to maintain a photographic directory for all federal prisoners. This directory must include a clear, unobstructed photo of each prisoner's face. The bill amends existing federal law to establish this requirement for record-keeping purposes.
The TREE Act prohibits the import and sale in the U.S. of goods linked to deforestation, starting in 2029, and directly affects companies that trade or sell commodities like cattle, soy, palm oil, and wood. To enforce this ban, the bill requires importers to submit detailed due diligence statements proving their products are deforestation-free, while also mandating increased customs inspections for goods from countries categorized as high or moderate risk. The U.S. Trade Representative will annually assess and rank countries based on their deforestation rates and environmental laws, with higher-risk nations facing stricter scrutiny and potential trade restrictions. Additionally, the law establishes civil penalties for violations and directs half of the collected fines toward providing financial assistance to developing countries for forest management.
This bill expands the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund to include retired pay for members of the uniformed services beyond the current military branches. It specifically adds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service to the list of agencies whose commissioned officers receive pensions from this fund. The legislation requires a calculation of the financial gap for these new groups by 2027 and establishes a schedule for paying off that debt over time. Additionally, the bill updates various legal definitions and administrative procedures to ensure these new services are treated consistently with existing military personnel regarding retirement benefits and survivor protections.
The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 restricts the importation, sale, and manufacture of vehicles and related technology from specific countries, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, to address national security concerns. The law defines prohibited items as connected vehicles, their software, and hardware components and sets different effective dates, with vehicle bans starting in 2027 and hardware restrictions beginning in 2030. A government official can grant exceptions for specific items after reviewing security risks and notifying Congress, while the agency must publish annual reports on enforcement actions and compliance.
This resolution expresses support for designating July 15, 2026, as Glioblastoma Awareness Day to raise public awareness about this aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. The bill honors patients and caregivers while encouraging greater understanding of the urgent medical needs associated with the disease, which currently has a low survival rate and limited treatment options. It also calls for increased collaboration among government, private, and nonprofit organizations to advance research and develop better therapies for those affected.
This House Resolution designates the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as National Postpartum Awareness Week for Communities of Color. It formally acknowledges the unique health challenges and disparities faced by pregnant people of color during the postpartum period. The measure does not create new laws or allocate funding but aims to raise awareness and encourage support for maternal health equity initiatives.
