The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act establishes a new Long-Term Disaster Recovery Fund to provide grants for housing, infrastructure, and economic revitalization in areas most affected by catastrophic major disasters. This legislation creates a new Office of Disaster Management and Resiliency within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to coordinate recovery efforts and ensures that at least 70 percent of the funding benefits low- and moderate-income households. The bill also introduces a formula-based allocation system that includes a specific portion of funds for mitigation activities designed to reduce future disaster risks and requires strict reporting to prevent the duplication of benefits with other federal aid.
The SAFER Transport Act aims to combat freight fraud and theft and enhance regulatory integrity for motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and commercial drivers. It phases out the use of MC numbers, mandating a unified USDOT number system with new provisions to detect fraudulent activity and withhold or revoke registrations for felony convictions or material misrepresentations. The bill also establishes an advisory committee and inter-agency coordination to address freight theft, while strengthening commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements for non-citizens and increasing oversight of
The Supporting VA Families Act grants unpaid parental leave to Department of Veterans Affairs employees. This provision allows employees to take four weeks of unpaid leave within a 12-month period for the birth of a child or for adoption and foster care placements. The leave is designed to supplement existing leave policies rather than replace them, ensuring employees can balance family needs with their work responsibilities. The act defines eligible employees and children according to existing federal definitions found in Title 5 of the United States Code.
The DPA Modernization Act of 2026 updates the Defense Production Act of 1950 to strengthen national defense manufacturing and supply chain resilience. It creates a Defense Production Act Committee with specific roles, establishes a Defense Production Act Fund with a new Fund manager, and adds new provisions for critical minerals resilience. The bill increases funding limits for certain programs (e.g., raising caps from $10,000 to $100,000) and requires new reporting requirements to improve transparency. It also creates a Defense Production Act Dashboard for tracking activities and adds fraud risk management requirements. The bill affects Federal agencies that use the Defense Production Act authorities to support national defense manufacturing and supply chains.
HR 7280, the Veteran DATA Act, prohibits Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contractors from selling or misusing veterans' sensitive personal data. The bill requires all VA contracts to include clauses banning the monetization, sale, or misuse of covered information - such as health records and personally identifiable data - and mandates VA to issue compliance guidance within one year. It also requires the VA to submit a report to Congress detailing the new contract clauses, compliance guidance, and other implementation steps. This law directly affects veterans whose data is handled by VA contractors and aims to strengthen privacy protections for their personal information.
This resolution formally recognizes April 10 as Dolores Huerta Day to honor the civil rights and labor leader's legacy. It does not create a federal holiday or change laws but expresses the House of Representatives' support for the designation. The text highlights Huerta's contributions to farm workers' rights, women's equality, and Latino political representation through a series of "whereas" clauses detailing her achievements. The resolution serves as a commemorative statement rather than a policy change, directing no new actions or funding.
This bill establishes a 17-member Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of the Office. This commission, composed primarily of medical professionals and former high-ranking executive officials, would be activated by a concurrent resolution of Congress. Its duty would be to conduct a medical examination of the President to determine if they are mentally or physically unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office due to conditions such as illness, disability, or substance use. Following the examination, the commission would report its findings and a declaration on the President's capacity to Congress and the Vice President, with any refusal by the President to undergo examination taken into consideration.
The ICU Bed Act of 2026 mandates that hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals participating in Medicare report their intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability in real time. To achieve this, these facilities must participate in shared regional data systems and develop shared strategies for efficiently transferring patients when any hospital approaches ICU capacity. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will establish these regions based on factors like geography, population, and travel time between facilities. Additionally, the bill amends the Public Health Service Act to include efficient patient transfer activities in state and regional hospital preparedness efforts, extending funding for these activities through fiscal year 2031.
The Every Dollar Counts Act of 2026 requires health insurance plans and issuers to count money spent by individuals on prescription drugs purchased directly, without applying their insurance benefits, towards their annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximums. This means that if an individual pays cash for a drug or uses a discount card instead of their insurance benefits, those expenditures will still contribute to reaching their yearly healthcare spending limits. This change directly affects individuals enrolled in group or individual health insurance coverage. The new rules will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
This bill, titled the "Biotechnology for All High School Students Act," aims to expand biotechnology education for secondary school students across the United States. It authorizes a competitive grant program for eligible entities, such as schools, colleges, and non-profit organizations, to support new and existing biotechnology education initiatives. Funds from these grants can be used for purposes like professional development for teachers, developing curricula, acquiring laboratory equipment, establishing partnerships, and creating transferable biotechnology credentials for students. The bill also establishes a National Biotechnology Education Consortium to provide support and recommendations for these programs, promoting coordination and resource sharing among various stakeholders.
The Empowering Shareholders Act of 2026 amends the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to change how investment advisers vote proxies for shares held in passively managed funds. For non-routine matters, it mandates that advisers choose one of four methods: follow beneficial owner instructions (which can include selecting a published voting policy), vote with the issuer's board recommendations, abstain, or mirror other shareholders' votes. The bill provides a legal safe harbor for advisers adhering to these rules and requires them to disseminate information and options for beneficial owners to select a voting policy. This directly affects investment advisers and investors in passively managed funds by altering proxy voting procedures and increasing investor influence over how their shares are voted.
The Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026 aims to reduce food insecurity among older adults and people with disabilities by modifying and expanding federal nutrition assistance programs. It streamlines the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by extending certification periods to 36 months for these groups, creating simplified application processes, and establishing a standard medical expense deduction. The bill also expands eligibility for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to include adults with disabilities, while increasing funding and benefits for these programs. Additionally, it establishes a pilot program for SNAP enrollment outreach, creates a new program to reimburse retail food stores for grocery delivery to eligible participants, and provides funding for farmers' market infrastructure and local produce procurement.
