The All Students Count Act of 2026 requires schools to break down educational data into more specific categories for Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students, moving beyond broad groupings to include distinct ethnicities like Chinese, Vietnamese, and Samoan. This change mandates that states report performance metrics for these detailed subgroups within their existing accountability systems to better reflect the diverse backgrounds of these communities. The bill takes effect 18 months after enactment, allowing time for states to adjust their data collection and reporting processes to accommodate the new requirements.
The Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act bans the imposition of the death penalty for any federal crime committed after the law takes effect. It also requires that individuals currently sentenced to death under federal law be resentenced to a different punishment. This legislation directly affects the federal criminal justice system by eliminating capital punishment as a sentencing option.
This bill, known as the Department of Energy Drone Defense Act, expands the authority of the U.S. Secretary of Energy to manage certain drone systems. Specifically, it allows the Secretary to procure, operate, and use federal funds for drones that are classified as "covered" and originate from "covered foreign entities." These changes modify existing restrictions found in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which previously limited such activities primarily to the Secretary of State. By adding the Department of Energy to the list of authorized agencies, the legislation enables the department to participate in these drone-related activities without violating current prohibitions.
This bill modifies the Case-Zablocki Act to require the Secretary of State to report additional agreements with foreign nations to Congress. Specifically, it mandates that any deal allowing foreign countries to accept U.S. individuals facing removal orders must be disclosed, including oral agreements that are subsequently written down. The legislation also updates a reporting deadline, requiring the Comptroller General to submit audit reports within 30 days of completion rather than on a fixed date. These changes directly affect the State Department's transparency obligations regarding international cooperation on immigration enforcement.
The No Taxpayer-Funded Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026 prohibits the use of federal money to pay specific settlements involving high-ranking government officials and their close associates. It bars payments to the President, Vice President, their immediate families, cabinet members, senior executive staff, political appointees, and individuals connected to these roles, as well as any entity owned by the President or Vice President. Additionally, the bill restricts settlements related to claims about the January 6 Capitol attack, foreign election interference, or previously dismissed lawsuits, while requiring Treasury reports for large settlements and allowing the government to seek repayment if rules are broken.
The Resolution Act establishes a Veterans Affairs-Public Health Service Joint Scholarship Program, requiring Public Health Service officers to attend the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences with VA funding and serve full-time at VA medical facilities after graduation. It creates a $1 billion grant program for nonprofit theaters to support employment, facility improvements, and community arts development, with specific eligibility criteria including minimum compensation rates and a 3-year history of programming. The bill also includes provisions for reporting on terrorist acts, protecting Native American seeds, extending small business innovation programs, and prohibiting AI-based impersonation of federal officials. Additional sections address appropriations for various agencies and include procedural requirements for committee hearings.
The Governing for the People Act (HR 7007) includes several key policy changes: it extends film and television production tax deductions through 2030 with increased dollar limits ($30 million for most productions, $40 million for certain areas), creates grants for AI literacy programs targeting marginalized communities, and requires health insurers to cover annual lung cancer screenings without cost-sharing for eligible individuals aged 50-80 at increased risk. The bill also establishes new provisions to prevent fraud against veterans' benefits by making it a crime to defraud individuals of such benefits and modifies House of Representatives conduct rules to prohibit certain sexual relationships between members and employees. These changes directly affect film producers, AI education providers, health insurers, veterans, and House members.
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act to exclude specific cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) from SNAP income calculations. It removes from consideration increases in Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or VA benefits that take effect after January 1st of a fiscal year. As a result, households receiving SNAP benefits would no longer see their allotments reduced due to these government-provided income increases. The change applies to income assessed for the entire fiscal year and takes effect October 1, 2027.
This bill reauthorizes the Farmers' Markets and Local Food Promotion Program with increased funding, raising annual appropriations from $50 million to $100 million for 2019-2026 and $50 million annually thereafter. It requires grantees to provide 25% matching funds (cash or in-kind) for most projects, though priority grants for new markets by entities without recent grants are exempt from this requirement. The bill reserves 30% of annual funds specifically for new farmers' markets established by organizations that haven't received prior grants, aiming to expand access to local food systems. It also mandates two new reports: one detailing grant applications and participation trends, and another assessing program integrity and the impact of the funding changes. The primary beneficiaries are local food businesses, farmers' markets, and communities seeking to develop new agricultural market opportunities.
HR 6776, the Farmers to Families Act, allows WIC participants to use their nutrition benefits to purchase fresh, local foods directly from farmers, farmers' markets, and food hubs. It requires states to integrate cash-value benefits and coupons into the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system within 18 months, enabling participants to pay for unprepared, locally grown foods through a single EBT card. The bill also automatically authorizes farmers to sell to WIC participants and establishes a Technical Assistance Center to help farmers and markets accept nutrition benefits. This directly affects WIC participants and farmers' markets, expanding where benefits can be spent while simplifying access for sellers. The law focuses on concrete changes to program rules, not outcomes.
This bill creates federal programs to advance alternative protein production through biomanufacturing and bioprocessing. It authorizes $15 million annually for research centers focused on protein diversification, $50 million for grants to companies building food biomanufacturing facilities, and $25 million for workforce development programs. The bill also requires a national strategy on protein security coordinated across multiple federal agencies. These provisions aim to strengthen food supply chains, create jobs in the growing protein sector, and reduce reliance on foreign commodities. The bill explicitly excludes insect-based food production from its scope.
Dental Care for Veterans Act This bill expands eligibility for veterans for dental care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill makes all veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system eligible for VA-provided dental services. Currently, only veterans who have a service-connected dental issue or meet other narrow criteria are eligible for certain dental services. The bill phases in eligibility over four years based upon existing eligibility, degree of service-connected disability or other disability, prisoner of war status, award of a Purple Heart, financial need, or VA health care eligibility.
