This bill would transition Puerto Rico from its current nutrition assistance block grant system to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), aligning it with how other U.S. states receive food aid. The legislation requires Puerto Rico to submit an operational plan within 180 days, with the Department of Agriculture providing technical assistance and approval or feedback on the plan. During a five-year transition period, Puerto Rico would continue receiving consolidated block grant funds while gradually shifting to SNAP, with annual reports tracking funding adjustments needed for the change. Once the transition is complete, Puerto Rico would be formally recognized as a state for SNAP purposes and would receive funding based on the same cost-of-living adjustments applied to other states.
This bill, known as the Quantum in Practice Act, amends the National Quantum Initiative Act to formally include quantum modeling and simulation as a core area of research. It directly affects federal agencies and researchers involved in quantum information science by updating the legal definition and adding specific funding priorities for quantum molecular modeling. The legislation aims to support scientific work that could lead to breakthroughs in areas like fertilizer production, drug development, battery technology, and new materials. By making these changes, the bill ensures that federal quantum research programs explicitly cover the development and study of quantum simulations for practical applications.
This resolution designates February 21-28, 2026, as "National FFA Week" to honor the National FFA Organization’s work in agricultural education. It recognizes FFA’s role in developing leadership and career skills for students (with over 1 million members nationally) and celebrates the 50th anniversary of Alaska’s State FFA Association, which has 19 chapters and 493 members. As a symbolic resolution, it has no legal effect but formally expresses Senate support for FFA’s mission.
This resolution (SRES 617) designates February 2026 as "Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month" to symbolically recognize CTE programs nationwide. It supports CTE's role in preparing students for high-demand careers by promoting workforce readiness through academic and technical skills training. The resolution encourages educators, counselors, parents, and school administrators to advocate for CTE as a valid educational pathway. As a non-binding Senate resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funds but affirms bipartisan support for CTE's importance in workforce development.
SRES 618 is a Senate resolution recognizing the vital role of career and technical education (CTE) educators and work-based learning coordinators in preparing students for careers, classrooms, and life. It highlights that these professionals deliver hands-on skills training, support workforce pipelines in critical economic sectors, and address persistent shortages in CTE staffing (reported in 25 states for the 2025-2026 school year). The resolution formally commends CTE educators and coordinators for their contributions and emphasizes that improving their wages, benefits, and working conditions would help reduce staffing gaps. It does not create new programs or funding but serves as a symbolic endorsement of CTE’s importance to U.S. economic competitiveness.
SRES 621 designates the week of February 23-27, 2026, as "National Public Schools Week" to recognize the role of public schools in U.S. education. The resolution highlights public schools' importance in fostering inclusive learning environments and preparing students for civic and economic participation, citing that 87% of U.S. children attend public schools. It does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes - it is a symbolic gesture by the Senate without binding effect. The resolution aligns with broader efforts to support public education but focuses solely on commemoration.
SRES 623 is a symbolic Senate resolution commemorating Team USA's historic ice hockey achievements at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. It specifically honors both the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team (winning their third gold, with Megan Keller scoring the overtime winner and Laila Edwards becoming the first Black woman to win gold in women’s hockey) and the Men’s Hockey Team (winning their first gold since 1980). The resolution applauds the athletes, coaches, and supporting families, and highlights the significance of both teams winning gold in the same Olympics for the first time. As a non-binding commemorative resolution, it has no policy impact and serves solely to recognize these athletic accomplishments.
SRES 620 designates February 28, 2026, as "Rare Disease Day" to promote awareness, encourage early diagnosis, and support research for rare diseases. The resolution recognizes the impact of rare conditions on over 30 million Americans living with more than 10,000 known rare diseases, acknowledging challenges like limited treatment options and diagnostic difficulties. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies but highlights ongoing efforts to address rare disease needs.
HRES 1086 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the Clotilda as the last known ship to illegally bring enslaved Africans to the U.S. in 1860 (carrying 110 people) and condemning the U.S. government's historical role in enabling the transatlantic slave trade. It acknowledges the lasting harm of slavery on African Americans, specifically honoring the descendants who established Africatown in Alabama and maintaining cultural heritage. The resolution urges support for preserving Africatown and encourages the Architect of the Capitol to consider a memorial on Capitol grounds for the Clotilda and all victims of the slave trade. As a non-binding resolution, it has no policy or funding impact.
This resolution (HRES 1088) is a non-binding House of Representatives measure recognizing the importance of Black history museums and cultural institutions. It formally acknowledges their role in preserving Black American history and contributions, particularly in relation to the 2026 100th anniversary of Black History Month and the U.S. 250th anniversary. The resolution urges the House to affirm that Black history is foundational to American history and calls for federal agencies to support these institutions through funding and partnerships. It also encourages the public to visit these museums, support them financially, and engage with their educational resources. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding, but serves as a symbolic endorsement of these institutions' cultural and historical significance.
This bill, titled the African American History Act of 2026, authorizes the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to use up to $4 million annually for five years to support African American history education programs. The funding can be used to create digital and print educational resources, provide teacher training and professional development, expand museum collections, and develop online content for educators, students, and families. The legislation also requires the museum director to submit annual reports to Congress and provide briefings to congressional committees on how the funds are being used. Additionally, the bill includes a sense of Congress statement encouraging the federal government to lead efforts in improving the teaching of African American and other minority group histories.
This bill, titled the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026, requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to update cybersecurity and digital service regulations for Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards used in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The law mandates that states issue chip-enabled EBT cards within four years, ban magnetic stripe cards on new cards, and eliminate replacement fees for cards lost, stolen, or damaged due to fraud. It also requires online transaction security measures, provides funding for retailers to upgrade payment terminals, and establishes reporting requirements to track fraud and system performance.
