This bill creates a new "Red Tape Hotline" to help small businesses report rules or government actions they find burdensome. The Chief Counsel for Advocacy must set up this hotline, along with an accessible website and submission methods, within 180 days of the law passing. Once established, the hotline will collect complaints about specific regulations, and the office must submit annual reports to Congress detailing the most common issues and suggesting ways to reduce the workload on small entities.
The Protecting Student Privacy Act prevents federal student aid data from being shared with immigration enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing immigration laws. This rule applies to information held by the Department of Education regarding students and their financial contributors, such as parents or spouses, and blocks its use for arrests, interviews, or surveillance by the Department of Homeland Security and other authorized entities. The law includes specific exceptions for court orders related to criminal offenses and for cases where a student or contributor voluntarily and without pressure consents to sharing their information. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Education to report any unauthorized disclosures to Congress and states that this new rule overrides any conflicting state or local laws.
The Accountability for Government Censorship Act requires federal agencies to report any instances where they contacted private platforms to remove speech, add disclaimers, or restrict access over the five years prior to the law's enactment. These reports must be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget and include detailed information such as the names of involved officials, the specific platforms contacted, and the justifications for the actions taken. An Office of Management and Budget report will then summarize these communications for Congress, while agency Inspectors General will review compliance and mandate briefings for any agencies found to have failed in their reporting duties.
This bill, known as the Preventing International Surrogacy Exploitation Act, aims to stop foreign nationals from using U.S. surrogate mothers for commercial surrogacy arrangements. It would make any surrogacy contract void and unenforceable if the intended parents are foreign citizens or permanent residents, with a specific exception for married couples where at least one partner is a U.S. citizen or resident. Additionally, the law prohibits surrogacy brokers from facilitating these agreements and imposes criminal penalties, including fines and up to 10 years in prison, for those who knowingly or recklessly assist in such contracts. Children born through these invalid agreements would have their custody determined by the state where the surrogate lives, focusing on the child's best interests rather than the contract. Finally, the bill prevents foreign parents from using their U.S.-born children to gain immigration benefits or rights under U.S. immigration laws.
The Protecting Kids from Creeps Act prohibits surrogacy agencies, their employees, and sex offenders from participating in surrogacy agreements, directly affecting fertility clinics, staff, and individuals required to register as sex offenders. The bill mandates severe criminal penalties, including fines and prison sentences of at least 10 to 20 years, for knowingly or recklessly facilitating such agreements, while also stripping convicted agencies of their tax-exempt status and eligibility for federal grants. Any surrogacy agreement formed in violation of these rules is declared legally void and unenforceable, meaning it cannot be used to establish parental rights. In cases where a child is born from an illegal agreement, custody decisions will be made solely based on the best interests of the child under the laws of the state where the surrogate lives, ignoring any prior contracts. Additionally, the Attorney General can pursue civil penalties equal to the compensation received or offered for prohibited conduct.
The BLAST Act prohibits former Members of Congress and elected officers from lobbying Congress after leaving office. Under this law, these individuals cannot register as lobbyists or make communications intended to influence legislation on behalf of others. The bill also expands the legal definition of a lobbyist to include former officials who are paid to engage in lobbying activities, even if they do not make direct contacts. These restrictions apply to anyone who leaves their position on or after the date the law is enacted.
This bill prevents the Air Force from reducing the number of MQ-9 aircraft or cutting personnel assigned to units that operate them until September 30, 2032. The law requires the Air Force to consult with National Guard leaders before making changes to these specific units and allows exceptions only for unsafe aircraft or approved mission conversions that maintain overall capability. Additionally, the bill mandates a detailed report within 180 days outlining a plan to modernize the MQ-9 fleet through 2035, including funding needs and the role of the Air National Guard.
This resolution formally designates the week of June 1 through June 7, 2026, as Hidradenitis Suppurativa Awareness Week to highlight a chronic skin condition affecting approximately 3.3 million Americans. The bill aims to increase public understanding of the disease, which causes painful lumps and scarring, and encourages better diagnosis, research, and access to treatment for those suffering from it. By recognizing the importance of these issues, the House intends to foster support for patients and promote initiatives that improve care and quality of life for individuals with this condition.
The Gig Is Up Act requires large companies with over $100 million in annual revenue and at least 10,000 independent contractors to withhold taxes from payments made to these workers. This provision treats the earnings of these specific contractors as wages for Social Security purposes, effectively doubling the employer's portion of the tax on their behalf. The law applies to payments made after December 31, 2026, and includes rules for grouping related businesses together to determine if they meet the size thresholds.
The Promoting Authenticity with Influencer Disclaimers Act requires political committees to clearly label online content they pay for, ensuring viewers know the material was sponsored by a political group. This rule applies to posts on websites, apps, and social media, mandating that the disclaimer be easy to read or hear, while excluding content on a committee's own site or posts by staff whose main job is managing their personal social media. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, and directs the Federal Election Commission to create specific regulations to enforce these requirements by that date.
This bill expands tax-advantaged financing options for small businesses and farmers by updating the rules for qualified small issue bonds. It allows these bonds to fund the creation of intangible property like software, alongside traditional manufacturing, and raises the borrowing limits for eligible projects from $10 million to $30 million. Additionally, the legislation increases the maximum loan amount for first-time farmers from $450,000 to $1 million and adjusts the calculation for farm size eligibility to use an average rather than a median. These changes are designed to provide more accessible funding for a broader range of agricultural and manufacturing initiatives while including automatic inflation adjustments for future years.
The American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act of 2026 establishes a new international exchange program designed to address skilled labor shortages in the U.S. manufacturing sector by sending American workers to allied nations for training. Administered by the Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs within the Department of State, the program will select up to 10 participants annually who must be U.S. citizens with prior apprenticeship or higher education experience in manufacturing fields. These selected individuals will travel to allied countries for up to 12 months to gain hands-on expertise in strategic industries such as robotics, semiconductors, and aerospace, while also serving as cultural ambassadors. Upon returning to the United States, participants are expected to share their newly acquired skills and knowledge with domestic employers and training institutions, and the program will conclude two years after its enactment.
