This bill provides temporary funding to ensure Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees continue receiving standard pay and benefits during a potential government funding gap between February 14, 2026, and when regular fiscal year 2026 appropriations are enacted. It directly affects TSA employees who might otherwise face pay interruptions if Congress fails to pass a full-year budget by that date. The bill authorizes using Treasury funds for standard pay, allowances, and benefits during this interim period, with these costs later charged to the appropriate future appropriations. The funding expires automatically on September 30, 2026, or when regular appropriations are passed, whichever occurs first.
This bill, known as the Improving Dental Administration Act of 2026, would allow certain state laws about dental benefits to override federal rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. It directly affects states that have their own regulations governing dental insurance and benefit plans for employees. The key provision creates an exemption that takes effect 18 months after the bill is enacted, permitting state laws related to dental benefit administration to apply even if they differ from federal requirements. The exemption only applies to state laws that do not conflict with existing federal laws in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
This bill would create a new Commission on Land Reparations within the legislative branch to study and propose land reparations for African-American descendants of enslaved people who were promised land after the Civil War but never received it. The Commission would identify eligible descendants, determine suitable federal or municipal lands for compensation, and decide whether to provide land subsidies or one-time cash payments. A 15-member panel would be appointed by political leaders and civil society representatives to conduct hearings, gather evidence, and submit a report to Congress within 18 months before the commission dissolves.
This bill, titled the Protecting America's Working Dogs Act of 2026, would require the Attorney General to create a grant program to help cover medical expenses for retired working dogs that served in federal law enforcement, the military, or as service dogs for veterans and retired officers. The program would award grants of up to $575,000 each to eligible nonprofit organizations that primarily care for these dogs and use at least 70 percent of their spending on covered medical costs. Qualified working dogs include retired military working dogs, federal law enforcement dogs, and service dogs for veterans or retired federal law enforcement officers, with grants intended to pay for veterinary care, medical procedures, diagnostics, and necessary medications. The Attorney General would report annually to Congress on the number of dogs assisted and their average medical expenses, while grant amounts would be reduced if previous unspent funds remain.
This bill amends the Espionage Act to reform how whistleblowers and press freedom are protected under federal law. It requires prosecutors to prove that individuals leaked classified information with specific intent to harm the United States or benefit foreign nations, rather than just showing they knew the information was classified. The legislation also establishes an affirmative defense allowing defendants to argue they disclosed information to reveal illegal activities, constitutional violations, or significant threats to public health and safety. Additionally, it permits defendants charged under these sections to testify about their motivations for releasing the information. These changes directly affect government employees, contractors, and journalists who handle classified materials.
This bill, known as the Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act, would change federal labor rules to require overtime pay and minimum wage protections for certain babysitters. It specifically targets casual babysitting work that is irregular or intermittent, while excluding trained medical professionals like nurses and home health aides from these changes. The law would also allow babysitters to perform up to 20% of their work time on unrelated household tasks without losing their protected status. These amendments would apply to workers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 who provide custodial care for infants or children in private homes.
This bill, known as the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026, makes two main changes to federal healthcare programs. First, it allows Medicaid to cover foot and ankle care services provided by podiatric physicians, ensuring patients have access to this specialized care. Second, it updates Medicare rules to clarify documentation requirements for diabetic shoes, specifying conditions under which patients can receive extra-depth or custom-molded footwear. The changes take effect on January 1, 2026, for Medicaid services and January 1, 2028, for Medicare shoe coverage.
This bill requires the Secretary of State to investigate a January 2024 attack in Gaza City that killed 5-year-old Hind Rajab and two paramedics, and to report findings to Congress within 45 days. The report must determine whether U.S.-provided weapons were used, if any perpetrators were U.S. citizens, and whether U.S.-trained soldiers were involved. If credible evidence suggests war crimes occurred, the Secretary must refer the matter to the Attorney General for potential prosecution under U.S. law. The legislation also expresses congressional support for compensation to the victims' families and establishes a policy of collecting evidence for future war crimes prosecutions.
HR 7932, the HONOR Gold Star Families Act, increases the death gratuity paid to families of service members who died in the line of duty. It raises the current $100,000 payment to $200,000 for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026. The bill also adds an annual cost-of-living adjustment to this amount, increasing it each January 1 based on the previous year’s inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index. This directly affects Gold Star Families - those who have lost a service member in military service - by providing a larger initial payment and ensuring future payments keep pace with inflation.
This bill would restrict the Department of Energy from providing financial assistance to regulated investor-owned electric utilities that raise residential electricity rates above the level set on January 1, 2026. For the first year after enactment, the Secretary of Energy cannot give aid to any utility that increases rates for home customers. During the following two years, financial assistance is only allowed if the utility keeps compensation for its five highest-paid employees at or below 2026 levels and reduces their pay twice as much as the rate increase. The bill also requires utilities to submit reports to the Department of Energy detailing employee compensation changes if they receive funding.
This bill, titled the Take Back Our Hospitals Act of 2026, would prohibit Medicare from paying hospitals or skilled nursing facilities owned or controlled by private equity funds, real estate investment trusts, or corporations owned by those funds. The law defines control as owning 10 percent or more of voting securities or having the power to direct management and policies through contracts or other means. Facilities currently owned by these firms would have a three-year transition period before the prohibition takes full effect. The bill also establishes joint and several liability, meaning the owning firm would be responsible for any penalties if the facility violates the rule, and provides for notice, hearings, and judicial review for affected facilities.
This bill directs the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to commission and place a statue of Clarence Mitchell, Jr. in a permanent public location within the United States Capitol. The legislation authorizes the committee to enter into agreements with an artist or organization to create the statue and permits the Architect of the Capitol to handle related contracts on the committee's behalf. Funding is authorized to cover the costs of obtaining and installing the statue, with no specific time limit for spending the allocated funds. The bill honors Mitchell, Jr., a civil rights leader and former NAACP Washington Bureau director, by recognizing his contributions to civil rights legislation through a physical memorial in the Capitol.
