This bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to change how bonus payments are made for specific coal leases. Under the new rules, the total bonus amount would be split into ten equal annual payments instead of being paid all at once. The first installment must be submitted with the initial bid, while the remaining nine payments are due over the following nine years. This provision directly affects companies bidding for coal leases and the government agencies managing those leases.
This bill extends the authorization period for the Fort Peck Reservation's rural water system from 2026 to 2028. It amends Section 9 of the 2000 Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act to update the expiration date in two specific provisions. The change directly affects the water system serving the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana, ensuring continued federal authorization for its operations.
This bill requires the United States Postal Service to continue selling the Alzheimer's semipostal stamp for an additional six years. The proceeds from these sales will be transferred to the National Institutes of Health at least twice a year to support medical research on Alzheimer's disease. By extending the sale period, the legislation ensures that the public has more time to purchase the stamp and contribute to funding for this specific health research initiative.
This bill, the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, proposes to stop the issuance of H-1B work visas for three years and then restrict them to primary workers rather than their families. It would require employers to prove a shortage of qualified American workers and pay a minimum wage of $200,000 per year, while also banning the use of staffing agencies to hire these workers. The legislation further limits the total number of H-1B visas to 25,000 annually, removes the current lottery system in favor of prioritizing higher wages, and prohibits H-1B workers from holding jobs with more than one employer or working for third-party agencies. Additionally, the bill bars federal government agencies from hiring H-1B workers, eliminates optional training programs for foreign students, and generally prevents nonimmigrant visa holders from changing their status to permanent residents while in the United States.
The STRATA Act of 2026 establishes a new program within the Department of State to foster international partnerships focused on advancing critical minerals technologies, aiming to strengthen U.S. supply chains and national security. This initiative allows the Secretary of State to form alliances with allied and partner nations, universities, and private companies while explicitly prohibiting collaborations with designated countries of concern such as China and Russia. Key provisions include the creation of International Centers of Excellence for research and training, the development of a digital platform to connect stakeholders with funding opportunities, and the establishment of clear guidelines for intellectual property and data security within these partnerships. The program authorizes the use of specific funding sources to support joint projects in extraction, recycling, and manufacturing, with a requirement that all activities conclude within ten years of the bill's enactment.
The Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act directs the Federal Communications Commission to improve how it shares information with emergency managers during disasters. Within 180 days of passing, the FCC must review and update its procedures for notifying states, local governments, and public safety officials when its reporting system is activated. The bill also requires the FCC to create plain-language educational materials within a year to help these officials understand how to access communication status reports and coordinate with service providers. Additionally, the FCC is tasked with evaluating how to better serve as a central contact point for officials seeking communication updates during emergencies. Throughout these efforts, the law explicitly states that no new mandatory reporting rules will be imposed on communications service providers.
The Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to improve transparency and predictability in certifying new aircraft and technologies. It directs the FAA to publish a plan within 180 days to streamline handling technical issues during certification, set standard timelines for key steps (like applicant responses), and convert stable issues into published policies. The bill also mandates updated guidance on delegating certification tasks to ensure safety and efficiency, especially for emerging sectors like advanced air mobility. The FAA must consult with industry stakeholders and report annually to Congress on implementation progress.
The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act (S 1759) requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update regulations within one year of enactment to permit civil aircraft to fly supersonically (Mach >1) in U.S. airspace without causing sonic booms to reach the ground. This directly affects commercial aircraft manufacturers and airlines seeking to operate new supersonic passenger or cargo planes. The key provision eliminates the current need for special authorization by mandating FAA rules that ensure no ground-level sonic booms occur during flight. The bill focuses solely on enabling regulated supersonic flight operations, not on environmental impacts or economic outcomes.
The Main Street Capital Access Act reduces regulatory burdens for smaller banks, particularly those with less than $10 billion in assets. Key provisions include a 3-year phase-in period for new banks to meet capital requirements, lower leverage ratio requirements for rural banks (7.5% for the first 2 years), and a 30-day review process for business plan deviations. The bill also establishes an Office of Independent Examination Review, sets specific timelines for examinations (270 days) and reports (90 days), and creates a "least cost exception" for bank resolutions to prevent excessive concentration of the banking system. These changes aim to promote new bank formation, improve regulatory efficiency, and support community banking while maintaining financial stability.
The Expanding AI Voices Act directs the National Science Foundation to issue competitive grants aimed at broadening participation in artificial intelligence research, education, and workforce development. These funds are specifically targeted at institutions that are not among the top 100 in federal research spending, as well as minority-serving institutions and Tribal colleges, to help them build capacity and partnerships. Grant recipients may use the money to expand AI research programs, recruit faculty, create bridge programs for students, provide access to computing resources, and host workshops that promote safe and secure AI practices. The legislation also requires the NSF to consider geographic diversity and resource constraints when selecting applicants to ensure broad national participation.
The Artificial Intelligence Physical Systems Coordination Act of 2026 directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to create a working group of 12 to 20 experts from industry, academia, and civil society. This group will study how advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and sensors might affect the safety and security of physical systems, while developing voluntary best practices and research guidelines. The bill explicitly ensures that the group's work remains non-regulatory, protects private trade secrets, and imposes no new legal obligations on private companies. Within 540 days of enactment, the institute must publish a public report summarizing its findings and recommendations, with updates required every two years.
The Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a National Chronic Pain Information System to better understand and track chronic pain in the United States. This system will use existing federal data and collect new information on pain causes, demographics, treatment effectiveness, and associated costs to identify gaps in current research. The bill also requires the establishment of a public website called the Chronic Pain Information Hub to share these findings and provide updated clinical tools for researchers and medical professionals. Additionally, the legislation mandates that any experts collaborating on this research must disclose potential financial conflicts of interest related to drug or device manufacturers. To fund these efforts, the act authorizes appropriations for the fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
