The SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2026 allows state agencies managing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to hire external contractors to help process applications when they face surges in demand or staffing shortages. These contractors can be used during specific situations such as health emergencies, seasonal workforce cycles, or natural disasters, provided they do not replace existing state employees or have financial ties to food retailers. The bill includes safeguards to prevent delays in benefit approvals and requires state agencies to notify the Department of Agriculture about their hiring decisions and submit annual reports on their efforts to handle increased application volumes.
The Bank Fraud Technology Advancement Act of 2026 directs federal banking agencies to conduct a comprehensive study on how banks and credit unions use advanced fraud detection tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning. This study will examine the effectiveness of these technologies, identify barriers for smaller community financial institutions, and analyze issues related to data sharing and regulatory clarity. Within 18 months of enactment, the agencies must submit a public report with their findings and recommendations to Congress on how to improve fraud prevention. Following the study, the bill allows the agencies to launch a voluntary pilot program designed to help smaller banks access shared fraud detection tools and technical support.
Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act This bill repeals the Corporate Transparency Act. The act requires existing companies and newly created companies to report beneficial ownership information to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for purposes of addressing the financing of terrorism and money laundering.
The CHIP IN for Veterans Act of 2026 permanently extends a program allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept donated facilities and improvements for its buildings. This legislation also authorizes the department to accept donations for construction services, minor construction projects, and nonrecurring maintenance work related to existing or new facilities. To qualify, donations must align with identified capital needs and come from eligible entities, while donors must sign formal agreements that ensure compliance with laws and codes without increasing federal project costs. The bill streamlines requirements for these contributions by simplifying agreements for services and targeted contributions that do not involve transferring real property ownership. Additionally, the department will separately track these donations in its annual reports to maintain transparency.
The Tribal Conservation Priorities Inclusion Act amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to formally include tribal lands alongside state and local areas in federal conservation programs. Specifically, it updates provisions for environmental quality incentives, conservation stewardship, stewardship contracts, and critical conservation areas to ensure tribal regions are eligible for these initiatives. By adding the phrase "or on tribal land" to existing definitions, the bill ensures that tribal territories are treated with the same priority as other regions when determining conservation needs and funding. This legislative change directly affects Indian Tribes by expanding their access to federal resources aimed at protecting natural resources.
The Foreign-Trade Zone Export Enhancement Act of 2026 aims to support U.S. manufacturing and job creation by allowing specific goods to enter foreign-trade zones without paying import duties. This change applies to items classified under a specific tariff heading that are manufactured or altered within these zones and then exported directly to countries in the USMCA trade agreement. To put this into effect, U.S. Customs and Border Protection must issue new regulations within 90 days of the bill becoming law.
The Build Housing Affordably Act requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to study how the Build America, Buy America Act affects affordable housing projects, including costs, delays, and the efficiency of the waiver process. The bill mandates that the department must complete this study and submit a report to Congress within 90 days. Until that report is delivered, the new material sourcing rules will be paused for 60 days, and any waiver requests submitted during that time must be decided within 90 days or automatically granted. This legislation directly impacts builders, developers, and contractors working on federally assisted housing projects by temporarily removing compliance requirements and setting strict timelines for administrative decisions.
First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.
HR 2675, the Protecting Our Courts from Foreign Manipulation Act of 2025, requires parties and their lawyers in federal civil cases to disclose any foreign funding tied to case outcomes. It mandates written disclosure of foreign funders' identities (including country of origin) and certification about funding sources, while banning foreign states or sovereign wealth funds from funding litigation. The law also requires annual reports to Congress detailing foreign-funded cases, including amounts and jurisdictions. This directly affects parties using foreign-funded litigation, courts handling such cases, and foreign entities seeking to influence U.S. courts through financial support.
HR 1468 establishes a new "CCP Initiative" within the Department of Justice's National Security Division to counter threats from the Chinese Communist Party. The initiative specifically targets intellectual property theft, economic espionage, and unauthorized technology transfers by Chinese entities, focusing on protecting U.S. businesses, academic institutions, and critical infrastructure. Key mechanisms include developing enforcement strategies, prioritizing cases involving trade secret theft and hacking, and requiring annual congressional reports on progress, resource use, and economic impacts. The initiative is designed to operate separately from other DOJ programs and will expire six years after enactment.
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a public list of healthcare providers who have completed annual, evidence-based training on preventing veteran suicide. To qualify for this preferred provider list, providers must either finish VA-sponsored training or demonstrate completion of substantially similar external training that meets military healthcare standards. The VA must review this list annually to ensure compliance and submit regular reports to Congress detailing participation numbers and the effectiveness of the program in influencing veteran care choices.
This resolution designates the second Friday of June as National Service and Conservation Corps Day to honor the work of over 140 organizations that engage young adults and veterans in community and environmental projects. These programs, which are descendants of the Civilian Conservation Corps, provide participants with skills training, stipends, and opportunities to work on conservation, disaster response, and infrastructure improvements. The bill formally recognizes the contributions of these groups and encourages citizens to value civic engagement as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
