This bill updates federal law to prohibit excluding military members from assignments or career fields based on their gender, affecting all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. It requires the Secretary of Defense to submit annual reports detailing changes to occupational standards and data on involuntary reclassifications or separations, broken down by military job and gender. The legislation also modernizes how the military evaluates job requirements, mandating that standards be based on scientifically rigorous assessments of technical, tactical, cognitive, and physical abilities rather than gender. Additionally, it directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a full review of ground combat unit effectiveness to Congress and requires an independent audit of that review within 180 days.
The Protein for Every Plate Act of 2026 amends the Food and Nutrition Act to increase funding for animal protein purchases under the National School Lunch Program. Specifically, it adds $200,000,000 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the existing commodity funds designated for food distribution. This change directly affects schools and food programs that receive federal nutrition assistance by allowing them to purchase more animal protein items. The bill modifies existing statutory language to formally include this additional funding amount in the program's financial provisions.
This resolution designates April 2026 as National Native Plant Month to raise awareness about the importance of indigenous plant species in the United States. The bill directly affects environmental advocates, land managers, and the general public by encouraging recognition of native plants' ecological benefits, such as supporting wildlife habitats and improving soil and water quality. It formally acknowledges that native plants are better adapted to local conditions and play a critical role in ecosystem resilience compared to non-native species. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the value of preserving native plant diversity.
This resolution recognizes the 205th anniversary of the War of Greek Independence and extends congratulations to the people of Greece. It highlights the shared democratic values between the United States and Greece, noting historical ties from the American Revolution to modern NATO cooperation. The bill also acknowledges the contributions of the Greek-American community and Greece's strategic role in the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans. This is a ceremonial measure that does not create new laws or require funding, but rather expresses official appreciation for the historical and ongoing partnership between the two nations.
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 bill directs the President, through the Department of Defense and the National Intelligence Director, to create strategies for identifying stolen sensitive data and classified information held by foreign entities. It specifically targets financial, medical, biometric data, intellectual property, and trade secrets belonging to U.S. persons. The legislation authorizes these officials to determine if destroying, manipulating, or recovering such stolen data serves U.S. economic and national security interests, and if so, permits them to attempt those actions while potentially informing the data owners. Officials must submit a report to Congress within one year outlining their strategies, actions taken, and recommendations for future legislative or administrative steps.
The AFFIRM Act of 2026 introduces several changes to the federal crop insurance program, primarily affecting farmers, insurance providers, and the federal government. The bill requires the USDA to publicly disclose information about who receives premium subsidies and how much in indemnities they receive, while exempting those with catastrophic risk protection plans. It also limits premium subsidies to individuals with adjusted gross income under $250,000 and caps annual premium payments at $40,000 per person. Additionally, the Act prohibits premium subsidies for harvest price policies starting in 2027 and sets an 8.9 percent cap on the average rate of return for crop insurance providers. The legislation also places a $900 million annual cap on administrative and operating expense reimbursements for insurance companies, with adjustments for inflation in subsequent years.
This bill, the Expedited Disability Insurance Payments for Terminally Ill Individuals Act of 2026, would allow individuals diagnosed with terminal illnesses to receive Social Security disability insurance benefits earlier than the standard waiting period. Under the proposed changes, terminally ill applicants would receive 50% of their monthly benefit in the first month and 75% in the second month, with full benefits starting in the third month if they continue to qualify. The legislation requires certification from at least two independent physicians to confirm the terminal illness diagnosis before these expedited payments begin. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reports from the Social Security Administration and the Government Accountability Office to Congress on the number of recipients, costs, and recommendations for preventing fraud. These provisions would take effect for benefits payable for months beginning after December 31, 2026.
This bill targets Hungarian government officials who continue to facilitate Russian oil and gas imports or block financial aid to Ukraine, requiring the President to impose sanctions on them within 30 days of enactment. The sanctions include blocking U.S. property and interests held by these officials and making them inadmissible to the United States, with automatic visa revocation for any existing entry documents. The bill includes exceptions if Hungary adopts a public plan to end Russian energy dependence before 2028 and stops obstructing Ukraine assistance for at least 180 days, with sanctions terminating once these conditions are met. Additionally, the bill mandates Treasury and State Department officials to submit a report detailing any U.S. government licenses or actions that enabled Hungarian purchases of Russian energy since October 2025.
This bill establishes a funding mechanism to support youth vaping prevention efforts by increasing tobacco industry user fees and expanding how those fees are collected and allocated. It requires tobacco manufacturers and importers to submit detailed sales data to the FDA, which will use this information to calculate fees based on market share and distribute funds for public education campaigns targeting teens and minors. The legislation also mandates annual reporting to Congress on how user fees are spent between different types of tobacco products and requires the FDA to explain how it ensures sufficient funding for youth vaping prevention education.
This bill, known as the Veterans Benefits Information Protection Act, amends the Communications Act to strengthen protections against automated robocalls targeting government agencies. It specifically prohibits the use of automated telephone equipment that can make repeated calls to federal numbers and exchange information without human intervention when operated by someone other than the intended recipient. The primary effect is to prevent third parties from using automated systems to access or interact with federal departments and agencies, including those handling veterans benefits. This measure aims to reduce unwanted automated communications directed at government institutions while maintaining existing protections for individual consumers.
Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act of 2025 This bill requires the Industry and Analysis office of the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce to monitor and respond to disruptions in critical industries and supply chains. Specifically, the office must (1) establish the Supply Chain Resilience Working Group; (2) assess, map, and model critical supply chains; (3) identify high-priority supply chain gaps and vulnerabilities in critical industries; (4) identify and evaluate the effect of potential supply chain disruptions on market stability; and (5) collaborate with other governmental bodies and key international partners to identify opportunities to reduce supply chain gaps and vulnerabilities. Additionally, the office, in consultation with the working group and specified nongovernmental entities, must make recommendations and implement a strategy to improve the security and resiliency of manufacturing capacity and supply chains for critical industries (including critical industries for emerging technologies). The bill includes various reporting requirements.
