The FLEETS Now Act aims to strengthen the U.S. shipbuilding industry by creating new government roles, establishing international partnerships with allies, and investigating unfair practices by Chinese state-owned shipbuilding companies. It creates a new Assistant Secretary position at the State Department to oversee maritime and space affairs, designates a lead official for international shipbuilding investment, and sets up an exchange program for shipbuilding experts between the U.S. and other countries. The bill also requires regular reports on Chinese shipbuilding entities, establishes a framework for allied countries to collaborate on ship production, and directs U.S. diplomats to advocate for changes at the International Maritime Organization regarding environmental regulations and leadership positions.
Logan's Law directs the Attorney General to create a free, public database listing individuals with qualifying violent convictions, requiring states that receive federal crime grants to submit their records. The database will allow searches by various personal details and conviction specifics, such as the judge and prosecutor involved, and must be updated at least every three months. Additionally, the bill requires the Attorney General to report on current barriers to sharing criminal records between states and the federal government and to propose solutions for improving this data exchange. States that fail to submit the required data could face penalties, including the withholding of federal Byrne JAG grant funds or the direct distribution of those funds to local governments within the state.
HR 8603, the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026, prohibits physicians from performing abortions that involve dismembering an unborn child and extracting it piece by piece or crushed from the uterus. The law allows exceptions only when the procedure is necessary to save the mother's life, while explicitly permitting other abortion methods for reasons such as rape or incest. It imposes criminal penalties of up to two years in prison or fines on physicians who violate the ban and creates a civil lawsuit system where women or parents of minors can seek monetary damages and attorney fees against providers. The bill also defines an 'unborn child' as a human organism from fertilization until birth and clarifies that the woman undergoing the procedure cannot be prosecuted or held financially liable.
This bill, titled the No Capital Gains Tax on Family Farms Act, would allow farmers to sell their land to immediate family members without paying capital gains tax on the profit. To qualify, the property must have been used as a farm for at least two years within the eight years prior to the sale, and the buyer must be a spouse, lineal descendant, or their spouse. If the new owner keeps the farm for ten years, the property's tax basis will be adjusted upward to reflect its fair market value at the time of the sale. The law applies to sales occurring after its enactment and requires the IRS to issue regulations to guide its implementation.
This Senate resolution formally recognizes the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as National Small Business Week to honor the contributions of small business owners and entrepreneurs across the United States. The measure expresses appreciation for the economic role these businesses play and acknowledges the resilience of their owners and employees. By adopting this designation, the Senate aims to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit within every community without imposing any new laws or regulations.
Clinical Trial Modernization Act This bill authorizes a grant program and provides certain exemptions to support the participation of individuals in clinical trials. Specifically, the bill authorizes a grant program to support outreach, education, and recruitment efforts for clinical trials that may benefit certain underrepresented populations or communities in need, such as rural or tribal areas. The bill also exempts from anti-kickback laws for federal health care programs (1) remuneration that is offered to cover participants' expenses to participate in clinical trials, (2) the provision of free digital health technologies to support participation of underrepresented populations in clinical trials, and (3) payment for participants' cost-sharing obligations in relation to clinical trials. Finally, the bill exempts up to $2,000 in remuneration that is received for participating in a clinical trial from income tax.
White House Safety and Security Act of 2026 This bill provides appropriations to the President for the East Wing Modernization Project and extends certain customs user fees. Specifically, the bill appropriates $400 million to the President for design, construction, and other appropriate expenses to complete the East Wing Modernization Project, including a secure State Ballroom and visitor screening facility and any other related national security facility. The funding provided by the bill remains available until January 20, 2029. The bill also extends certain customs user fees through March 31, 2032. (Under current law, the fees are authorized through December 31, 2031).
The STOP Act prohibits healthcare providers and others from performing gender transition procedures on minors under 18, defining these procedures broadly to include hormone treatments, surgeries, and puberty blockers. The bill allows for exceptions in cases of disorders of sex development, acute physical injuries, or precocious puberty, but imposes federal civil penalties of at least $100,000 for violations. Additionally, the legislation establishes a federal grant program to fund nonprofit organizations that provide detransition services, education, and mental health support to individuals seeking to reverse gender transition procedures.
This bill, known as TREY's Law, aims to make nondisclosure clauses in contracts void and unenforceable if they prevent the reporting of sexual abuse involving minors. It directly affects victims of such abuse, their families, and anyone with knowledge of the abuse by allowing them to disclose these incidents without fear of civil liability. The law applies retroactively to agreements made before or after its passage and overrides any state laws that allow the enforcement of these specific clauses. While it invalidates clauses that silence abuse details, it permits parties to keep confidential other settlement terms like payment amounts, provided this does not stop the disclosure of the abuse itself.
This concurrent resolution establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2026, sets forth budgetary levels for FY2027-FY2035, and provides reconciliation instructions for legislation that increases the deficit. The resolution recommends levels and amounts for FY2026-FY2035 for federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits, public debt, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. It also recommends levels and amounts for Social Security and Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses for the purpose of budget enforcement in the Senate. The resolution includes reconciliation instructions that direct the House Homeland Security Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Senate Judiciary Committee to submit recommendations for legislation that will increase the deficit over FY2026-FY2035 by not more than $70 billion. Each committee must submit the recommendations to the House or Senate Budget Committee by May 15, 2026. (Under current law, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) In addition, the resolution establishes reserve funds that allow certain adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels to accommodate (1) reconciliation legislation, and (2) legislation that would not increase the deficit over FY2026-FY2035 and supports changes to immigration enforcement and border security policy undertaken by the President. Finally, the resolution sets forth budget enforcement procedures that address issues such as budget points of order in the Senate and emergency spending requirements in the House.
This bill requires states to implement an "Enhanced Income Verification Platform" within one year of enactment to verify income for federal benefit programs. It directly affects states administering programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or housing assistance, as they must use this platform to access comprehensive income data - including gig work, rental income, and bank transactions (with user permission) - to prevent improper payments. The platform uses real-time data matching to identify unreported income or inconsistencies, consolidating overlapping financial records. States must adopt this system to remain eligible for federal funds supporting these benefit programs. The law focuses on improving verification accuracy, not altering benefit eligibility or amounts.
This Senate resolution formally welcomes King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States for a state visit where the King will address a joint session of Congress. The document highlights the long-standing diplomatic and security partnership between the two nations, noting shared values and cooperation on issues like defense and technology. It also marks the occasion as the first time a British monarch has addressed Congress since 1991, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence.
