The Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2026 amends federal law to enhance support for victims of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. The bill authorizes $270 million annually for fiscal years 2027-2031 to fund state, tribal, and community programs, with specific funding reserved for tribal programs (12.5%), national hotlines ($20.5 million for general hotline, $4 million for Indian hotline), and services for underserved populations. It requires grantees to provide trauma-informed, culturally appropriate services while prohibiting discrimination and protecting victim confidentiality, and mandates accessibility for people with disabilities and limited English proficiency. The bill also establishes new technical assistance centers, Tribal resource centers, and community-based prevention programs to address the needs of underserved populations including Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives, and racial and ethnic minorities.
HR 4469, the PRESUME Act, simplifies eligibility for veterans exposed to radiation during military service. It removes the requirement for veterans to provide specific radiation dose evidence to qualify as "radiation-exposed veterans" under VA benefits. This change directly affects veterans who participated in nuclear testing or other radiation-related military activities and previously had to prove exact exposure levels. The bill amends 38 U.S.C. § 1112(c) to state the VA Secretary "may not require evidence of a certain dose of radiation" for this classification, streamlining access to medical benefits.
This bill ensures that unpaid veterans' pension benefits due at the time of a veteran's death are paid to surviving family members in a specific order: first the spouse, then children equally, then dependent parents equally, and finally the estate (unless it would otherwise go to the state). It applies to veterans approved for pension benefits before death but whose payments are issued after death. Family members must apply within one year of the veteran's death to claim the benefits; otherwise, the unpaid amount goes to the estate. The law directly affects surviving spouses, children, and dependent parents of veterans who qualify for pension benefits.
This bill extends dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), treating ALS-related deaths as qualifying for benefits regardless of how long the veteran had the disease before death. It requires surviving spouses to have been married to the veteran for at least eight continuous years prior to death to qualify for compensation. The changes apply to veterans dying from ALS on or after October 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill requires the Veterans Affairs Secretary to submit a report within 180 days of enactment identifying other service-connected disabilities with high mortality rates that might warrant similar treatment.
HJRES 147 is a joint resolution to terminate a national emergency declared by the President on July 30, 2025, which authorized additional duties on imports from Brazil. Ending this emergency would remove the legal basis for those extra tariffs, eliminating the additional import costs for Brazilian goods. The resolution relies on Section 202 of the National Emergencies Act to formally end the emergency declaration. This change directly affects U.S. importers of Brazilian products and Brazilian exporters by removing the extra duties imposed under the emergency authority.
This bill (S 3759, the SAF Act) boosts financial incentives for producers of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by increasing tax credits and extending their availability. It raises the credit rate to $1.75 per gallon for certain SAF facilities (up from $1.00) and to 35 cents per gallon for others (up from 20 cents), while extending the credit period through December 31, 2033 (previously ending in 2029). The bill specifically defines SAF to exclude palm oil-based fuel and petroleum, requiring compliance with ASTM International fuel standards. These changes directly affect SAF producers meeting the defined criteria, providing greater financial support for clean aviation fuel production.
HR 7307, the SUPPLIES Act, requires the State Department and USAID to create procedures within 60 days for handling unused supplies (like medicine, vaccines, or food) after foreign aid projects end. These procedures must prioritize preventing waste by ensuring supplies aren't destroyed, diverted, or expired without use. The bill mandates that these procedures be published online by both agencies. It directly affects U.S. government agencies and foreign aid partners managing aid supplies. The law defines "commodity" broadly to include perishable items held in warehouses or storage facilities for foreign assistance programs.
HR 6821, the Protect Our Students Act, redirects federal highway safety funds to improve school zone safety. It increases the required allocation of these funds for school zone improvements from 40% to 50% and authorizes specific safety measures including crossing guards, flashing lights, visible signage, crosswalks, traffic calming, and automated enforcement. The bill directly affects students walking to school, local schools, and communities by mandating that federal highway safety programs fund these targeted school zone upgrades. This changes how existing federal transportation funds can be used, focusing resources on proven safety infrastructure.
The MOVE Act requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to study how micromobility devices (like e-scooters, e-bikes, and electric skateboards) impact road safety, particularly for children, young adults, and other vulnerable road users. It mandates the creation of best practices and a public education program covering device safety, speed limits (max 20 mph for micromobility), and state laws on age, helmets, and registration. The bill also updates federal safety programs to include emerging micromobility safety issues. It directly affects nonmotorized road users and micromobility device operators by providing safety guidance based on data, not by changing existing laws. The focus is on improving safety awareness through education, not imposing new regulations.
The Emergency Alert Grant Fairness Act requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to open applications for its Next Generation Warning System grants for at least 30 days each year. It also explicitly includes public broadcasting entities (as defined in the Communications Act of 1934) as eligible recipients for these grants. This bill directly affects FEMA's grant administration process and public broadcasting organizations that provide emergency alert services. The key change is standardizing the application window and expanding eligibility to ensure public broadcasters can access funding for emergency alert systems.
HR 7276 would impose a 30% tariff on sheep and lamb products imported from Australia or New Zealand, effective 30 days after the bill becomes law. This directly affects Australian and New Zealand exporters of these goods, including meat (lamb), wool, and wool-containing products like pelts. The bill requires the President to add this specific duty to existing import tariffs on all covered products, as defined in the legislation. Key terms clarify that "lamb" refers to meat from young sheep (not mutton), "sheep products" include wool, and "lamb products" encompass items made from lamb. The policy change is a straightforward trade measure increasing import costs for these specific agricultural exports.
The PBM Reporting Transparency Act requires the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to produce two reports analyzing pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) agreements with Medicare prescription drug plans. The first report, due 2 years after data becomes available, must detail trends in PBM contracts, their impact on beneficiaries' out-of-pocket costs and pharmacy reimbursement rates, and include recommendations. A second report, due 2 years after the first, will track changes in this data over time and provide updated recommendations. This legislation directly affects Medicare drug plan participants by increasing transparency around PBM practices that influence prescription drug costs.
