This bill establishes a new Congressional Office for International Leadership within the legislative branch to foster connections between U.S. lawmakers and emerging leaders from eligible foreign countries through exchange programs and grassroots diplomacy. The office will be overseen by a 12-member Board of Trustees composed of congressional leaders, committee chairs, and private citizens, who will decide which foreign states qualify for participation and manage grant programs for hosting foreign leaders in the United States. The Executive Director, appointed by House and Senate leadership based on Board recommendations, will oversee daily operations and manage a grant program that can host up to 3,500 foreign participants annually for short-term visits, with funds used for travel, lodging, and administrative expenses. The office will operate without partisan bias, submit annual audited financial reports to congressional committees, and receive administrative support from the Library of Congress while managing its own trust fund for donations and appropriations.
This bill creates a special prosecutor to investigate alleged unlawful actions by Department of Homeland Security officials that occurred on or after January 20, 2025. The special prosecutor would be appointed by a three-judge panel from outside the federal government and would have full authority to investigate and prosecute federal crimes, including obstruction of justice and witness intimidation. The bill also establishes protections for the special prosecutor and their staff, limits the Attorney General's ability to remove them without cause, and allows individuals whose rights were allegedly violated to sue for damages without relying on qualified immunity defenses.
This concurrent resolution formally recognizes the ongoing disparity between wages paid to men and women in the United States and reaffirms Congress's commitment to supporting equal pay. It highlights statistical data showing that women earn approximately 81 cents for every dollar earned by men, with significant variations across racial and ethnic groups, and notes that the gender wage gap has widened over the past two years. The document also identifies contributing factors such as occupational segregation, lack of family-friendly workplace policies, and workplace harassment, while emphasizing the economic impact on women's retirement security and family incomes.
This joint resolution seeks to overturn a Department of Labor rule that changes how the Adverse Effect Wage Rate is calculated for H-2A temporary agricultural workers. If passed, it would nullify the new methodology, reverting to the previous wage calculation standards. The bill directly affects employers and workers involved in temporary agricultural employment by restoring the prior regulatory framework. It uses the congressional review process to disapprove the specific rule published in October 2025.
This bill expresses support for designating March 26, 2026, as National Science Appreciation Day to recognize scientific achievements and encourage future STEM engagement. The resolution highlights the economic and societal contributions of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics across various government agencies and industries. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to celebrate the role of science in improving daily life and national progress. The measure is non-binding and does not require further legislative action to implement.
The NASA UAS Detection Act authorizes NASA to detect, identify, monitor, and track unmanned aircraft systems that pose a credible threat to its facilities and assets. This authority allows NASA personnel to intercept communications used to control drones without prior consent, subject to coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and compliance with privacy protections. The bill requires NASA to conduct risk-based assessments of its facilities, maintain an inventory of covered assets, and provide semiannual briefings to Congress on how these powers are used. It also establishes guidelines for technology use, data retention limits of 180 days, and restrictions on sharing intercepted communications with outside entities. The authority granted by this act is set to expire on September 30, 2031.
This bill extends federal funding for sport fish restoration and recreational boating safety through 2031, directly benefiting anglers, boaters, and conservation organizations. It updates the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act by changing the funding period from 2026 to 2031 and modifies how multistate conservation grants are distributed. The key provision ensures each state receives the greater of 0.0375 percent of total appropriations or $200,000 for conservation projects, replacing the previous $1.2 million cap. These changes aim to provide more predictable and flexible funding for fisheries management and water safety initiatives across the United States.
This bill directs the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to commission and install a statue of Shirley Chisholm in a permanent public location within the United States Capitol. The legislation requires the committee to secure the statue within two years of enactment and authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to handle related contracts on the committee's behalf. Funding is authorized to cover the costs of obtaining and placing the statue, with appropriated funds remaining available until used. This measure directly affects the Capitol's art collection and honors Shirley Chisholm through physical representation in the legislative building.
This bill, titled the Ensuring Better Interest Treatment and Deductibility Act, would change how businesses calculate the limit on interest expenses they can deduct on their taxes. It directly affects corporations and other businesses that pay interest on loans by modifying the rules for determining adjusted taxable income. The key provision removes a specific clause from the tax code that currently limits how much interest can be deducted based on a company's earnings, effectively allowing more interest to be treated as a deductible business expense. These changes would apply to tax years starting after December 31, 2025, meaning businesses would need to adjust their financial planning for future tax filings.
The Plug Offshore Wells Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit an annual report to Congress and make it publicly available. This report will detail the status of decommissioning offshore oil and gas wells, platforms, and pipelines. It must include information on the number of decommissioning applications received, instances where decommissioning deadlines were missed, and the status of enforcement actions by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. The report will also specify the number of wells and platforms approved for decommissioning in place, and the lengths of pipelines either decommissioned in place or fully removed.
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for military force in or against Cuba from its enactment until December 31, 2026, unless Congress declares war or passes specific statutory authorization. The restriction applies to all government funds and prevents military actions without congressional approval under the War Powers Resolution. An exception allows military force consistent with the War Powers Resolution's provisions for urgent situations requiring immediate action. The legislation directly affects the U.S. Department of Defense and federal budget processes by limiting how funds can be used for military operations targeting Cuba.
The Home Team Act of 2026 aims to keep professional sports franchises in their home communities by requiring teams to offer local governments, community cooperatives, nonprofits, and local residents a fair chance to buy the team before relocating or closing. The bill prohibits sports leagues from banning public or community ownership of franchises and mandates that any relocation offer local entities a fair market value purchase opportunity. It also establishes a Treasury Department appraisal team to determine fair franchise prices while deducting any public stadium subsidies from that value. The law applies to major leagues including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and NWSL, and includes penalties for owners who violate the purchase opportunity requirements.
