This bill reorganizes Title 54 of the U.S. Code by converting it into a positive law title and correcting technical errors in related statutes. It directly affects federal agencies managing national parks, historic preservation, and recreation programs by updating cross-references between different laws. The bill amends specific sections across multiple titles of the Code to fix spelling errors, update section numbers, and clarify definitions for programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act. It also repeals outdated laws and establishes transitional rules to ensure existing regulations and legal actions remain valid under the new structure.
HR 1869 creates a new DOJ task force within the Criminal Division to investigate and prosecute international trade crimes, such as customs evasion, smuggling, and trade-based money laundering. It requires the DOJ to hire specialized prosecutors, coordinate with agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and focus on specific violations covered under statutes like 18 U.S.C. §§ 541-546 and 21 U.S.C. § 331. The bill authorizes $20 million in funding for fiscal year 2026 (with 80% dedicated to criminal prosecutions), mandates annual reports to Congress on enforcement activities, and requires the DOJ to develop multi-agency partnerships to address these crimes. This directly affects federal prosecutors, border enforcement agencies, and industries impacted by trade violations.
H.Res. 1497 is a House resolution that commemorates the fifth anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing, in which 13 U.S. servicemembers were killed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The bill lists the names of the fallen soldiers and formally condemns the Biden-Harris administration for what it describes as dereliction of duty and the forfeiture of military property to the Taliban. It asserts that the withdrawal was a disastrous failure that ignored security warnings and left Americans at risk, while also criticizing the lack of accountability from officials involved in the decision-making process.
The STORMWATER Act extends the funding period for stormwater control infrastructure technology centers from fiscal years 2022-2026 to 2027-2031. It mandates that exactly five of these centers be established, rather than a range of three to five as previously allowed. Additionally, the bill requires that one of the designated centers be located in and focused on the Great Lakes region.
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
The EXIM Bank Continuity in Competitiveness Act modifies the rules for the Export-Import Bank of the United States to ensure the institution can continue operating when its board lacks a full complement of members. It reduces the required waiting period before a temporary board can be formed from 120 days to 60 days if the main board loses its quorum. Additionally, the bill clarifies that this temporary board will automatically end when a new President takes office or when the original board regains a full quorum. These changes are set to take effect on December 31, 2026.
The Improving Health Through Integrated Food and Nutrition Services at Federally Qualified Health Centers Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a competitive grant program for federally qualified health centers. These grants would fund activities such as screening patients for food insecurity, operating on-site food pantries, hiring nutrition professionals, and partnering with local food banks. The bill also requires the administration to coordinate with federal agencies to streamline patient enrollment in existing assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, while exploring ways to make nutrition services reimbursable through Medicaid. Recipients must submit annual reports detailing their impact, and the legislation authorizes $100 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support these efforts.
The BAD DEAL Act of 2026 repeals Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which previously allowed the President to impose tariffs on foreign countries that engaged in unfair trade practices. This legislation directly affects importers and businesses by removing the legal authority for these specific duties and invalidating any presidential proclamations issued under that section. The bill requires the President to refund all tariffs or other duties collected before, on, or after the enactment date that resulted from actions taken under the repealed provision.
The American Mariner Tax Fairness Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow U.S. merchant mariners working on qualifying vessels in foreign trade to treat their earnings as foreign earned income for tax purposes. This change directly affects U.S. citizens or residents who are actively employed on large, U.S.-flagged ships of at least 6,000 deadweight tons used exclusively in international commerce. To qualify, a mariner must work at least 90 full days during any 12-consecutive-month period while the vessel is engaged in U.S. foreign trade. The bill effectively grants these workers the same tax exclusion benefits currently available to individuals working abroad, applying to taxable years beginning after the law's enactment.
The Stopping Foreign Influence in Elections Act of 2026 imposes new financial penalties on specific tax-exempt organizations that accept money from foreign nationals and subsequently donate to political committees. This law directly affects larger non-profits with significant assets or revenue, requiring them to pay fines ranging from 100% to 200% of the donation amount if they fail to screen donors properly. The bill also mandates that organizations making repeated violations lose their tax-exempt status for two years. These rules apply to contributions made after one year following the bill's enactment.
The Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026 changes how the IRS determines if a group qualifies for tax-exempt status based on its religious beliefs. Specifically, it ensures that beliefs regarding marriage, sexuality, or gender identity are not automatically considered illegal or against public policy when evaluating a religious organization's purpose. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a belief does not need to be central to a religion to be recognized as a valid religious belief for tax purposes. These rules will apply to tax years starting after December 31, 2025, affecting how various faith-based groups are assessed under the Internal Revenue Code.
HR 2555, the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, protects students who join or form single-sex social organizations (like fraternities or sororities) at colleges. It prohibits colleges receiving federal funds from taking negative actions against these students or organizations solely because they limit membership to one sex - such as denying housing, financial aid, leadership roles, or recognition. The bill ensures students can join such groups without coercion and stops colleges from imposing unfair recruitment rules on single-sex organizations compared to others. It does not require colleges to recognize single-sex groups, allow organizations to set their own membership rules, or override Title IX protections.
