HRES 996 is a resolution introduced by multiple House members to impeach Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, for alleged violations of law and the Constitution. It outlines three articles of impeachment: obstructing congressional oversight by denying access to detention facilities and withholding funds, violating public trust through warrantless arrests and excessive force (including tear gas on children), and self-dealing by awarding federal contracts to associates without competitive bidding. If approved by the House, this resolution would formally charge Noem, triggering a Senate trial to determine her removal from office. The resolution itself does not enact new policy but initiates the constitutional impeachment process against a sitting Cabinet official.
HR 7066, the SHIELD Act, requires electricity utilities to fully recover grid upgrade costs from large commercial or industrial facilities (those with peak demand over 75 megawatts) that drive these upgrades. It prioritizes new service requests from such facilities that use energy efficiency, onsite storage, or zero-emission energy (like solar or wind) to meet their needs. The bill also defines "large load facilities" to exclude existing sites where increased demand results from electrification or emissions-reduction efforts. Utilities must implement these requirements within 2 years, with states reporting progress to Congress. This directly affects major electricity consumers and shapes how grid costs are allocated.
This symbolic House resolution expresses U.S. congressional support for Iranian protesters demanding democracy and human rights. It condemns the Iranian regime's violent suppression of protests, including killings, mass arrests, and internet restrictions, while urging the regime to release political prisoners and restore communication access. The resolution reaffirms the Iranian people's right to self-determination through free elections and echoes a 2023 resolution (HCR 7) that similarly praised protesters. As a non-binding expression of support, it does not impose new policies or alter U.S. government actions.
HRES 990 is a resolution recognizing the 113th anniversary of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, founded in 1913 at Howard University. It honors the sorority's century of community service and global initiatives, including its focus on education, economic development, and international outreach. The resolution is symbolic and non-binding, celebrating the organization's legacy without creating new policy or affecting specific groups. It was introduced by multiple House members in January 2026.
This bill expands a federal grant program to help rural communities address water infrastructure needs. It directly affects small rural communities with populations under 35,000 (up from 10,000) by allowing them to apply for grants. Key changes include broadening eligible uses to cover potable water, wastewater, storm drainage, and solid waste facilities, and increasing the population cap for program eligibility. The bill modifies existing provisions under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to make these changes. It does not create new funding but adjusts who qualifies for existing grant opportunities.
S 3623, the Credit Card Competition Act of 2026, requires major credit card issuers (with over $100 billion in assets) to allow credit cards to process transactions through at least two payment networks, preventing exclusive agreements that limit consumer and merchant choice. It prohibits restrictions on how merchants route transactions between networks and bans requirements for security technologies exclusive to one network. The bill creates a public list of payment networks deemed a national security risk, updated every two years. This applies to most credit card processing but excludes credit cards issued under a "3-party payment system" model. The regulations take effect 180 days after final rulemaking.
HR 7025, the Evidence-Based Grantmaking Act, requires 15 federal agencies (including Education, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development) to use proven methods in awarding grants. It mandates that agencies clearly define grant goals in funding notices, prioritize applicants using evidence-based practices, and require grant recipients to implement such practices when delivering services. Agencies must also conduct regular evaluations of grant effectiveness, publicly share results, and use findings to improve future funding decisions. This law directly affects federal grant recipients and aims to ensure taxpayer funds achieve measurable outcomes through data-driven approaches.
This bill would increase the base pay for Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officers by 35 percent, replacing their current base rate for all pay calculations (including retirement and locality adjustments). It applies to officers whose duties involve inmate custody, control, or direct custodial contact, including certain supervisory staff and lower-grade Bureau of Prisons employees with similar duties. The pay increase is capped at the Executive Schedule level V rate and would expire after five years unless a Department of Justice Inspector General review finds progress in reducing non-custodial staff use for custodial duties and excessive overtime. The review, required 180 days before expiration, would assess impacts on recruitment, retention, and institutional safety.
This bill establishes minimum salary and wage standards for paraprofessionals and education support staff in public schools. It requires states to set a minimum annual salary of $45,000 for full-time staff (increasing with inflation after 2030) and a minimum hourly wage of $30 for part-time staff (also inflation-adjusted). The federal government will provide $25 billion in FY2026, with annual funding increases, to help states implement these standards through grants. States must ensure all local schools meet these minimums within 4 years of receiving funds, with 98% of grant money allocated directly to schools for salary increases or professional development.
This bill, the "Under Pressure Act," directs the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to prepare a report for Congress within 18 months of its enactment. The report must detail the rate and causes of rail tank car pressure relief device failures during derailments, including specific information like the presence of fire, its temperature and duration, and the device's compatibility and thermal protection. It also requires the FRA to provide recommendations to prevent future failures and an update on relevant National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations. The FRA must consult with various rail industry stakeholders and employee organizations while developing this report.
The Renewed Hope Act (HR 6998) requires the Department of Homeland Security to hire 200 new staff, including 40 forensics analysts and 30 child exploitation investigators for the Victim Identification Laboratory, plus 130 additional personnel for the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit, to improve identification and rescue efforts for victims of child sexual exploitation. It establishes a mandatory training program for law enforcement and related organizations to use updated victim identification techniques and mandates coordination between DHS and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to streamline investigations. The bill also includes strict privacy rules to secure victim information and allows temporary hiring of experts for forensic analysis at specified rates.
This bill requires state agencies administering the SNAP (food stamp) program to provide recipient-level data to the USDA Secretary upon request. It directly affects state SNAP agencies, which must submit this data within 30 days (or sooner for urgent cases) in secure electronic formats. Key provisions include mandatory data sharing for program oversight and integrity, strict privacy safeguards under the Privacy Act, and potential withholding of federal funds for non-compliance. The bill also clarifies that this does not limit the USDA's existing authority to access state data for program administration.
