The MAWS Act of 2026 establishes a 3-year pilot program (2027-2029) to purchase invasive blue catfish from watermen and seafood processors within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. It authorizes $2 million annually to fund covered entities - manufacturers of pet food, animal feed, or aquaculture feed - to buy blue catfish caught in the watershed, requiring certification of origin and setting minimum prices based on market factors. The program mandates detailed reporting on environmental impacts, economic effects on watermen, and market responses to inform future policy. This directly supports watermen and processors by creating a market for invasive blue catfish while collecting data for potential expansion to other watersheds.
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 bill exempts H-1B visa holders working in healthcare from a presidential restriction that requires a $100,000 payment for entry into the United States. It directly affects foreign medical professionals and healthcare workers who hold H-1B nonimmigrant visas. The legislation removes the additional fee requirement for these workers while limiting any fees that may be charged to the standard amount already established under immigration law. The bill defines healthcare workers using the existing definition from the Affordable Care Act and was introduced in the 119th Congress in March 2026.
HR 2294 reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, extending funding and updating governance for the nation's ocean and coastal observation network. It changes references from "Council" to "Committee" throughout the law and adds requirements for federal agencies to collaborate with regional coastal observing systems on data sharing. The bill specifically directs agencies to conduct operational oceanography measurements and establishes $56 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support this system. This bill directly affects federal agencies managing ocean observation programs and regional coastal data networks.
Deploying Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions And Legacy Applications Act or the DIGITAL Applications Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to each establish an online portal for accepting, processing, and disposal of applications for communications use authorizations. These are requests for easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, or other authorizations to locate or modify a transmitting device, support structure, or other communications facility on public lands or National Forest System land. Interior and the Forest Service must also notify the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within three business days of establishing their respective portals, and once the portals are established, the NTIA must link to them from its website.
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.
This bill reauthorizes conservation programs for the Delaware River Basin by extending the program's funding period through 2033. It officially adds Maryland as a fifth state to the basin, expanding the geographic scope of the program beyond the original four states. The legislation also allows the Secretary to prioritize funding for projects that benefit small, rural, or disadvantaged communities. These changes amend the existing Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act to provide continued support for water conservation efforts in the region.
SRES 629 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., recognizing his lifelong leadership in the Civil Rights Movement and advocacy for justice, equality, and human rights. It specifically commemorates his work founding organizations like Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition, his presidential campaigns, and his role as a civil rights leader from the 1960s until his death on February 17, 2026. The resolution expresses the Senate's tribute to his legacy, commends his contributions to American society, and extends condolences to his family. As a non-binding resolution, it contains no policy changes or direct effects on legislation or constituents.
This bill, known as the Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act, would change federal labor rules to require overtime pay and minimum wage protections for certain babysitters who currently do not receive these benefits. It specifically targets casual babysitting jobs that are irregular or intermittent and not performed by individuals whose primary occupation is babysitting. The law would also clarify that trained medical professionals like nurses and home health aides remain exempt from these new requirements, ensuring the changes apply only to casual domestic caregivers. By amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the bill aims to extend wage protections to a specific group of home care workers while maintaining existing exemptions for professional medical staff.
This bill requires the Secretary of State to investigate and report to Congress about the January 29, 2024, attack in Gaza City that killed 5-year-old Hind Rajab and two paramedics, specifically examining whether the incident involved war crimes and the use of U.S.-origin weapons. It mandates that if credible evidence suggests the attack constituted war crimes involving U.S. weapons, personnel, or training, the Secretary must refer the matter to the Attorney General for potential prosecution under U.S. law. The legislation also directs the State Department to compile a detailed report within 45 days covering the identities of involved Israeli units, their motivations, any U.S. actions taken, and whether the incident meets the legal threshold for a gross human rights violation that could affect U.S. military aid. Additionally, the bill expresses congressional support for compensation to the victims' families from the Israeli government and the U.S. government if U.S. weapons were involved.
This bill, titled the Working Americans' Tax Cut Act, proposes two main tax changes: it creates an alternative maximum tax rate of 25.5% for low- and middle-income individuals earning less than 175% of a cost-of-living exemption, and it imposes a progressive surcharge on high-income individuals earning over $1 million. The low-income provision calculates taxes based on income above a living expense threshold that adjusts annually with inflation, while the high-income surcharge applies rates of 5%, 10%, and 12% to income brackets above $1 million, $2 million, and $5 million respectively. Both provisions use modified adjusted gross income as the base for calculations and apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. The bill would directly affect individual taxpayers by altering how their income is taxed under the Internal Revenue Code.
This bill, titled the Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act, would create a new tax credit for eligible individuals in 2026, providing $600 per adult and $600 per qualifying child. The credit is limited to taxpayers with adjusted gross income below $180,000 for joint filers, $120,000 for heads of household, and $90,000 for other filers. The legislation states that the revenue for these rebates would come from tariffs described as unlawful, including those imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Payments would be issued rapidly after enactment, with no interest allowed on the refunds, and the bill includes provisions for coordinating payments with U.S. territories.
