This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Cuba unless Congress provides a specific declaration of war or authorization for military force. The bill relies on the War Powers Resolution and existing expedited procedures to require immediate congressional approval for any ongoing military actions in Cuba. It explicitly allows the United States to continue defending itself from armed attacks, countering imminent threats, and conducting lawful counternarcotics operations. The measure is based on the constitutional principle that Congress holds the sole power to declare war.
This bill, known as the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, directs the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the discharge of pre-production plastic pellets and related materials into wastewater and runoff from specific industrial facilities. It requires the EPA to issue new rules within 60 days that prohibit these discharges from factories that make, use, package, or transport plastic pellets, as well as from facilities regulated under existing federal water pollution regulations. The law mandates that these new restrictions be included in all wastewater and stormwater permits issued by the EPA and state programs, as well as in performance standards for affected industrial point sources. This legislation directly impacts manufacturers and distributors of plastic pellets and aims to prevent plastic pollution from entering water systems during the production and packaging stages.
This bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to include Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations alongside States in receiving federal funding for child abuse prevention and treatment programs. It specifically changes how funds are allocated by directing 5 percent of the appropriation to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, while maintaining 1 percent for migrant programs. The legislation directly affects tribal communities by ensuring they have access to federal resources for addressing child abuse and neglect. These changes modify existing distribution rules within the federal child welfare funding system.
The Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2026 extends federal funding through 2030 to prevent and investigate elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bill primarily affects states, Indian tribes, and community organizations by providing grants to train nursing home workers and improve retention through wage subsidies, tuition assistance, and childcare support. It also allocates money to expand adult protective services, strengthen long-term care ombudsman programs, and address social isolation among older adults. Additionally, the legislation authorizes medical-legal partnerships to help older adults resolve legal barriers to healthcare and requires regular reporting on program effectiveness.
This bill creates a new Subcommittee on Emerging Technology within the Defense Production Act Committee to study how advanced technologies impact national defense. The subcommittee will analyze artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing, and other specified fields to identify ways they can improve efficiency, encourage innovation, and address supply chain gaps. Additionally, the bill requires the subcommittee to submit a report to Congress within 18 months evaluating the feasibility of creating a strategic reserve for critical biomanufacturing materials needed for national defense. The legislation also updates meeting requirements for the Defense Production Act Committee and corrects a citation error in the original Defense Production Act.
The SPARK Act establishes a new program within the Small Business Administration to provide financial assistance to organizations that support startups and small businesses in underserved communities, including rural areas, low-income neighborhoods, and areas with high rates of economic distress. The bill creates two main components: the Spark Program, which offers grants to incubators and accelerators to help them provide mentorship and resources to entrepreneurs, and the Spark Financing Program, which provides funds to those same organizations to make low-interest loans or grants directly to small business owners from underserved groups. Eligible recipients include community development financial institutions, minority depository institutions, and other organizations serving low-income, minority, rural, and veteran entrepreneurs. The legislation requires the SBA Administrator to develop selection criteria prioritizing projects in economically distressed areas and mandates annual reporting on job creation, capital access, and participant demographics.
This bill establishes safety and security standards for online platforms and delivery services that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. It requires the Food and Nutrition Service to create rules for digital privacy, cybersecurity, fair working conditions including prevailing wages, and food safety for stores and wholesalers participating in the program. Retailers must report their compliance with these standards within 18 months of the rules being finalized, and noncompliance could result in losing authorization to accept SNAP benefits. The legislation aims to protect users and workers while ensuring food safety in the growing digital food assistance landscape.
Extending WIC for New Moms Act This bill amends the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to extend the eligibility periods for breastfeeding and postpartum women. Specifically, a state program may elect to certify a breastfeeding woman for up to 24 months (currently 1 year) postpartum. The bill also expands the eligibility period for postpartum women to up to 24 months after termination of pregnancy (currently 6 months). The Department of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress evaluating the effect of these changes to the program on (1) maternal and infant health outcomes, (2) breastfeeding rates, and (3) qualitative evaluations of family experiences under WIC.
The GUARDRAILS Act (HR 8031) repeals the December 11, 2025 Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence, which previously established a national policy framework for AI development. By removing this executive order, the bill prevents the federal government from using funds to implement, enforce, or administer the policies outlined in that directive. This change directly affects federal agencies and any organizations that were relying on the executive order's framework for AI regulation. The legislation does not create new AI rules but instead eliminates the existing executive mandate that had been in place.
This bill establishes a new Office of Small Farms within the USDA's farm production and conservation mission area to better serve small agricultural operations. It defines "small farm, ranch, or forest operation" as those under 180 acres or with less than $350,000 annual income, directly affecting these operators. Key provisions include creating a Director to coordinate USDA programs, reviewing barriers to participation, developing new initiatives (including $25,000 grants for repairs, land access, or conservation), and requiring State coordinators in each state to improve local program delivery. The bill authorizes $15 million annually for the Office's administration and $10 million for grants/technical assistance from 2027-2031, with annual reports to Congress on progress.
HR 7522, the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2026, removes work requirements from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It directly affects approximately 6.1 million SNAP recipients currently subject to these requirements, including people with health issues, Black Americans disproportionately impacted by such rules, families with children, and individuals experiencing homelessness. The bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 by striking subsection (o) and related provisions that mandate work requirements for SNAP eligibility. This change would eliminate a barrier that studies show reduces participation without reducing poverty and increases administrative burdens. The bill does not create new benefits but removes an existing eligibility requirement affecting vulnerable populations.
This resolution honors the USS Massachusetts (SSN-798), a Virginia-class nuclear submarine, and its crew on the occasion of its commissioning on March 28, 2026. The bill formally recognizes the historical significance of this vessel as the eighth U.S. Navy ship to carry the Massachusetts name and acknowledges its connection to the state's maritime tradition. It expresses the Senate's best wishes for the submarine's service and confirms that its official service begins with its commissioning ceremony in Boston Harbor.
