The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 mandates that all children enrolled in participating schools receive free breakfast and free lunch, eliminating previous income-based eligibility requirements. The bill establishes specific funding rates for these meals, adjusts them annually for inflation, and requires states to disburse funds directly to selected schools. Additionally, the legislation prohibits schools from collecting unpaid meal debts from parents and forbids practices like segregating students or publicly identifying those who cannot pay. The act also expands summer food programs to include all children, updates poverty measurement standards for federal data, and extends free lunch eligibility to incarcerated juveniles in eligible detention centers.
The Patients Before Monopolies Act prohibits companies from owning both pharmacy benefit managers and insurance businesses or pharmacies to eliminate conflicts of interest. It requires existing violators to sell off their pharmacy operations within one year and grants the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice the power to block new mergers that would recreate these combined ownership structures. The bill also allows private citizens and state officials to sue for violations, seeking penalties like disgorgement of profits and treble damages if the law is broken.
This bill establishes a compensation fund to provide financial support to law enforcement officers who actively defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and suffered injuries, emotional distress, or death as a result. The program is administered by a Special Master appointed by the Attorney General, who will review individual claims for economic and non-economic losses while ignoring any questions of negligence. Eligible officers can receive specific payments for their injuries or the death of a colleague, with a guaranteed minimum of $4.975 million for death claims, plus an additional equal distribution to all qualifying officers regardless of injury status. The legislation also includes provisions to reduce payouts by any other compensation the claimant has already received and grants the federal government the right to recover funds if they are later paid out in related legal settlements.
The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 mandates that all public schools provide free breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, regardless of income. It establishes specific funding rates for these meals, adjusts payments based on the use of locally sourced food, and eliminates the ability of schools to collect debt for unpaid charges. Additionally, the bill expands free meal access to summer programs, afterschool care, and incarcerated juveniles while updating poverty measurement standards across various federal education and nutrition laws.
The IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act authorizes federal grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to fund long-term improvements to their campus facilities and infrastructure. These grants are awarded competitively to eligible HBCUs based on criteria such as the age of their facilities, deferred maintenance needs, financial capacity, and student enrollment levels. Recipients may use the funds to construct or renovate buildings, upgrade technology and broadband systems, improve safety measures, and develop workforce training hubs, while being prohibited from using the money for routine maintenance or athletic facilities. The legislation also includes provisions for reporting on project outcomes and requires institutions to create comprehensive master plans that involve consultation with diverse campus and community stakeholders.
The INVEST Act amends the federal tax code to expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for employers who hire veterans with specific renewable energy skills. To qualify for this credit, a veteran must be certified by a local agency as having military training in renewable energy fields, a recent vocational degree in the sector, or a LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The legislation defines renewable energy broadly to include sources like solar, wind, and geothermal power. Additionally, the bill addresses tax implications for U.S. territories by providing compensation for any lost tax revenue and ensuring coordination between federal and local tax credits. These provisions will take effect for employees who start working for an employer after December 31, 2025.
The Patients Before Monopolies Act aims to break up large health care companies that currently own both insurance or pharmacy benefit management services and physical pharmacies. It directly affects major health care conglomerates by making it illegal for them to own pharmacies while also managing drug pricing or insurance, requiring them to sell off their pharmacy operations within one year. The bill empowers federal agencies like the FTC and the Department of Justice to enforce these rules, impose financial penalties for non-compliance, and block future mergers that would recreate these conflicts of interest.
This resolution expresses support for police officers and other law enforcement personnel. The resolution further recognizes law enforcement officers across the United States in the pursuit of preserving safe and secure communities; the need to ensure that such officers have the equipment, training, and resources necessary to protect their health and safety while they are protecting the public; and the law enforcement community for acts of sacrifice and heroism. The resolution expresses condolences and appreciation to the loved ones of each law enforcement officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
This bill designates the U.S. Chancery building in Pristina, Kosovo, as the "Eliot L. Engel Building" to honor a specific individual. It requires all future legal documents, maps, and official records to use this new name instead of the current designation. The change is purely symbolic and does not alter the building's function or the operations of the U.S. government in Kosovo.
This House resolution condemns the ongoing civil war in Sudan and calls for an end to external support provided to the warring parties, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. It urges the Trump Administration to stop supplying weapons or other assistance to these groups and to negotiate a peaceful settlement that restores democratic governance. The bill also highlights the severe humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people and demands that aid workers be granted safe, unrestricted access to deliver essential supplies. Additionally, it calls on the international community to support post-conflict reconstruction and establish a justice mechanism to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable.
HRES 64 is a non-binding House resolution affirming the U.S.-South Korea alliance. It highlights historical ties (dating to 1882), economic partnerships (including 2023 trade data), and security cooperation (like the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty), while celebrating Korean American contributions to U.S. society. The resolution formally supports strengthening security, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations and notes the 2025 anniversary of Korean liberation. It does not create new laws or funding, but serves as a symbolic statement of congressional support for the alliance.
The YALI Act of 2025 establishes the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) to support emerging leaders in sub-Saharan Africa aged 18-35, focusing on business, civic engagement, and public administration. It creates at least four regional leadership centers in Africa for training, expands the Mandela Washington Fellowship (for 25-35-year-olds with demonstrated leadership), and requires annual reports on program outcomes. The bill mandates partnerships with private sector entities to fund networking, entrepreneurship, and leadership development, while requiring the State Department to submit implementation plans within 180 days of enactment. The program expires five years after enactment, with reports assessing its impact on U.S.-Africa relations, including trade, governance, and youth empowerment.
