This resolution (HRES 946) formally honors Rita Moreno, a pioneering Puerto Rican actress and cultural icon, for her historic achievements and advocacy. It recognizes her as the first Latina to win an Academy Award (1962), her EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), and her lifelong work advancing civil rights and Latino representation in the arts. The resolution calls on the U.S. public to celebrate her legacy, which embodies the American dream and cultural contributions of Latinas. As a commemorative resolution, it has no legal effect but symbolically celebrates her impact on American culture and the performing arts.
The FAAN Act (S 3435) provides $1 billion in federal grants to nursing schools in underserved areas to address nursing workforce shortages. It directly affects nursing schools located in medically underserved regions, rural communities, or areas with health professional shortages, prioritizing institutions serving underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, low-income students, and rural populations. Key provisions require grantees to expand enrollment (especially for underrepresented students), modernize facilities with technology like simulation labs, strengthen clinical partnerships, and hire diverse faculty. Schools must report annually on outcomes, including student demographics and program impacts, with a comprehensive report to Congress after five years. The bill aims to strengthen nursing education capacity and emergency response readiness through these targeted funding mechanisms.
This bill amends federal law to remove a specific deadline for completing background checks on firearm purchases. It deletes the requirement that background checks must be completed within 10 business days, as previously established under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. The change directly affects firearm sellers (such as licensed dealers) who conduct these checks, removing a strict timeline for completing the process. The bill focuses on technical adjustments to existing background check procedures without altering the underlying requirements for the checks themselves.
The Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits inappropriate seclusion and restraint in schools, including mechanical, chemical, and certain physical restraints that pose safety risks. It requires schools to use less restrictive interventions first, train staff in crisis intervention, and notify parents within 24 hours of any restraint incident. The law mandates meetings between schools and parents after incidents to discuss prevention strategies and provides documentation requirements. It applies to all public schools receiving federal funding, with specific protections for students with disabilities. States must submit compliance plans and report on restraint use, including demographic data on affected students.
This bill creates a new federal grant program to fund public transit improvements in cities. It provides 80% federal funding for urban transit systems to cover operating costs (like vehicle service), security enhancements (including personnel), and safety projects identified by safety committees. Recipients must certify they will maintain or increase their own funding levels for these services and cannot use funds to switch to third-party on-demand transit providers. The grants are allocated based on each city's reported transit operating expenses from the previous year.
The Zero Food Waste Act (S 3443) creates a federal grant program to reduce food waste by 50% by 2035 (compared to 2015 levels). It authorizes the EPA Administrator to award competitive grants to eligible entities - including state/local governments, tribes, nonprofits, and partnerships - for three key activities: studying food waste sources and reduction strategies, collecting and reporting food waste data, and implementing projects like food rescue, prevention, or landfill disposal restrictions. Grants prioritize communities of color, low-income areas, and tribal communities disproportionately impacted by food waste, with $650 million annually allocated for 2026-2035. The program requires grantees to report results and tracks progress toward the 2035 target through annual EPA reports to Congress.
The NOTICE Act (S 3449) requires the President to notify Congress within 24 hours before deploying National Guard members into federal service under specific circumstances (like invasions, rebellions, or law enforcement failures). The notification must detail the exact reason for deployment, location, duration, unit training, and command structure. For deployments lasting over 48 hours, the President must provide written updates every 72 hours with specific details on ongoing conditions. This bill directly affects the President’s authority to deploy National Guard forces and enhances congressional oversight of such actions.
The HIRRE Prosecutors Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help state, local, tribal, and territorial prosecutor offices hire, retain, and train prosecutors and support staff. It authorizes $10 million annually (2026-2030) for competitive grants, covering up to 75% of eligible costs, with preference given to rural, tribal, and areas rehiring laid-off prosecutors. Grantees must cover the remaining 25% of costs (or qualify for a waiver), and funds cannot replace existing state/local funding but must supplement it. All funded projects require data tracking and annual performance evaluations by the Attorney General.
HR 6682, the Endometriosis CARE Act, requires federal agencies to advance research, improve treatment access, and increase awareness for people with endometriosis - a chronic condition causing pelvic pain and fertility challenges affecting an estimated 10% of reproductive-age individuals. The bill mandates $50 million annually for NIH research on endometriosis treatments and cures, directs HHS to analyze barriers like insurance coverage and provider shortages in accessing care, and funds public education campaigns targeting underserved racial, ethnic, and minority groups. It also requires HHS to develop provider training materials on diagnosis and care, and to commission a National Academies study on disparities in endometriosis treatment across race, geography, and insurance status. The legislation focuses on data collection, education, and research rather than altering existing insurance coverage or treatment protocols.
The Empowering App-Based Workers Act requires digital labor platforms (like ride-hail and delivery services) to disclose how they use algorithms and electronic monitoring tools to determine worker pay and assignments. It caps the percentage of consumer payments that platforms can keep (take rate) at 25% for ride-hail services and mandates detailed weekly pay statements showing compensation, take rate, and other work metrics. The bill prohibits platforms from using algorithms to set different pay rates for similar work based on protected characteristics like race or gender. These provisions directly affect app-based workers, platform companies, and consumers, aiming to create more transparent and fair working conditions in the gig economy. The bill does not override existing state or local laws that provide greater protections for workers.
The Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits the use of unlawful seclusion and restraint in schools receiving federal funding, including physical restraint that restricts breathing or blood flow, chemical restraint not prescribed for medical treatment, and mechanical restraint. The bill requires schools to use less restrictive interventions first, mandates that staff using physical restraint be trained and certified through State-approved programs, and requires immediate parent notification after any restraint incident. States must develop plans to monitor compliance, collect and report data on restraint incidents (disaggregated by race, disability status, and school type), and implement positive behavioral interventions. The bill provides $40 million annually for five years to support states in implementing these requirements and improving school climate through evidence-based approaches.
HR 6651 requires federal agencies (including the FBI, Homeland Security, and USPS) to develop a coordination strategy within 180 days to improve information sharing on organized retail crime networks. The strategy must help state/local law enforcement gather evidence for prosecutions and boost collaboration between agencies, retailers, and crime task forces. Agencies must submit a joint report within 180 days, and the Comptroller General will publish a separate report on private-sector law enforcement cooperation within one year. The bill defines "organized retail crime" as coordinated theft or fraud for interstate distribution of stolen goods, directly affecting federal agencies, law enforcement, and the retail industry.
