This bill requires the military to approve leave for abortion and fertility care without commanders needing to know the specific procedure. It mandates reimbursement for travel, lodging, meals, and transportation costs when care isn't available nearby, and prohibits punishment for using this leave. It directly affects active-duty service members and their dependents who face barriers to reproductive care due to military restrictions or location. The policy change removes command discretion in approving leave for time-sensitive reproductive health services.
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for designating February 2026 as "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month." It cites CDC statistics showing teen dating violence affects nearly half of teens (44.3%) and disproportionately impacts young women, with 1 in 9 females and 1 in 36 males reporting sexual dating violence in the past year. The resolution urges schools, communities, and the public to observe the month through awareness and prevention activities but does not create new laws or allocate funding.
HRES 1056 is a non-binding House resolution calling for the U.S. to formally end the Monroe Doctrine as official policy and develop a "New Good Neighbor" approach to relations with Latin American and Caribbean nations. It proposes specific policy shifts, including ending unilateral sanctions (like the Cuba embargo), reforming international financial institutions to support equitable development, and ending U.S. interference in regional judicial processes. The resolution directly affects U.S. foreign policy toward 34 countries in the region and aims to reshape diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation. As a resolution, it does not create new law but urges the State Department and Congress to adopt these changes.
This bill requires the U.S. State Department, working with the FCC and Treasury, to submit a report to Congress within 120 days of enactment. The report must update previous assessments and specifically analyze: (1) using direct-to-cell wireless technology to expand internet access in Iran, (2) how drone-based systems and signal jamming might affect that technology, and (3) the ownership and foreign involvement of telecom providers operating in Iran. The report will assess the feasibility, security, and implications for communications freedom. It does not change U.S. law or policy but mandates a detailed study on internet access opportunities in Iran.
The Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026 aims to protect critical subsea fiber-optic cables that form the backbone of global internet infrastructure. It requires the U.S. government to increase engagement in international bodies like the International Cable Protection Committee, establish an interagency committee for coordination, and impose sanctions on foreign entities damaging cables. The bill mandates annual reports on Chinese and Russian cable activities, strengthens information sharing between government and private cable owners, and creates new reporting requirements for U.S. agencies. These provisions directly affect U.S. government agencies, private cable companies, and foreign entities that might threaten cable security. The act focuses on enhancing the security, resilience, and protection of subsea cable networks that are vital for global communications.
The SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026 imposes sanctions on vessels and foreign entities supporting Russia's shadow fleet - vessels used to circumvent sanctions on Russian oil exports. It targets foreign vessels engaging in unsafe maritime behavior, lacking proper insurance, or evading the crude oil price cap, as well as foreign persons facilitating such activities through ship-to-ship transfers, insurance, or port services. The bill requires sanctions on port terminals in China or India accepting oil from sanctioned vessels and establishes a public database of vessels suspected of sabotage activities. It also creates reporting requirements and a strategy to counter China's role in evading sanctions on Russian energy products.
This bill establishes the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative to protect undersea communication cables critical to Taiwan's security and economy. It directs the State Department to coordinate with defense and maritime agencies to create real-time monitoring systems, rapid repair protocols, enhanced surveillance of suspicious vessels near Taiwan, and international partnerships for cable protection. The bill also authorizes U.S. sanctions - including property blocking and visa bans - against individuals or entities from China found responsible for sabotaging cables near Taiwan. It requires semiannual reports to Congress detailing cable incidents and U.S. responses.
S 1369, the Protecting Global Fisheries Act of 2026, authorizes the U.S. government to impose sanctions on foreign vessels and entities involved in illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing or the illegal trade of endangered species. The bill targets foreign persons or vessels responsible for IUU fishing or illegal wildlife trade, including those acting on behalf of governments like China’s, with sanctions such as asset blocking, travel bans, port access denial, and financial restrictions. It requires the President to submit annual reports to Congress on sanctions implementation and mandates a detailed assessment of China’s IUU fishing activities and global enforcement efforts. The law includes exceptions for humanitarian aid, safety-related vessel provisions, and compliance with international agreements.
HR 7480, the FAIR Act, sets pay adjustments for federal employees in 2027. It increases base pay by 3.1% for most federal workers under standard pay systems and for employees paid according to local civilian wages in high-cost areas. Additionally, it raises locality pay adjustments by 1% for 2027. The bill directly affects all federal employees covered by these pay systems through concrete, formula-based adjustments.
HR 7460, the Airborne Act of 2026, creates a new tax credit for property owners to improve indoor air quality in commercial, public, and nonprofit buildings. It provides tax credits of $1 per square foot for air quality assessments, $5 per square foot for air cleaning system upgrades, and $50 per square foot for HVAC upgrades, with higher rates ($25/$250) if projects meet prevailing wage and 15% apprentice labor requirements. The credit applies only to properties meeting ASHRAE air quality standards (62.1-2022 or 241-2023) and requires certification by the Department of Energy. Property owners can claim the credit against federal taxes, with annual limits capping upgrade credits at 50% of related costs.
This bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to visibly display license plates on all vehicles used for civil immigration enforcement activities, funded by federal money. It directly affects ICE and CBP operations by mandating that these vehicles show license plates at all times, making their presence more transparent to the public. The key provision ties federal funding for such vehicles to this transparency requirement, ensuring compliance with the rule. The bill aims to increase public awareness of enforcement vehicle locations during civil immigration activities.
HR 6688, the ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act, requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop guidelines within 24 months to ensure Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in passenger vehicles (model year 2028+) maintain safety after modifications like tire changes or suspension adjustments. The guidelines will specify allowable modification ranges (e.g., ride height, sensor alignment), calibration procedures, and verification tests for repair shops and owners. This directly affects vehicle manufacturers, independent repair facilities, and car owners who customize or modify vehicles. The bill mandates that guidelines be based on empirical data and reference existing safety assessment methods, with penalties for non-compliance.
