Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
This bill designates the American mastodon as the national fossil mammal and the Tyrannosaurus rex as the national fossil dinosaur for the United States. It achieves this by amending Title 36 of the U.S. Code to officially recognize these specific species within the legal framework for national symbols. The changes update the relevant chapter heading to include "fossil" and add a new section to formally establish these designations.
The Pennington County Land Conveyance Act directs the transfer of approximately 8.97 acres of federal land from the Black Hills National Forest to Pennington County, South Dakota. This transfer is made without payment and includes any existing improvements on the property. Upon completion, the boundary of the national forest will be adjusted to reflect the change in ownership. The county is authorized to use the land for a public works facility or other necessary purposes determined by local officials.
The Nitrous Oxide Safety Act of 2026 would classify consumer products containing nitrous oxide as banned hazardous items under federal law, except for specific exceptions. The bill prohibits the sale of nitrous oxide products for recreational use while allowing continued sales for medical and dental treatments, food production in commercial kitchens, research and development activities, and food propellant applications. This legislation directly affects manufacturers, retailers, and consumers by restricting access to nitrous oxide in consumer products after 180 days from enactment. The law defines nitrous oxide as the gas known as laughing gas or whippits and specifies which entities and activities are exempt from the ban.
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct feasibility studies for three proposed water supply projects in the Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. The legislation requires the federal government to work with specific regional water entities to evaluate whether these projects should be built and to determine the appropriate financial contributions from non-federal sources, which must be at least 25 percent of total costs. To fund these initial studies, the bill authorizes up to $10 million for each project, with the federal share of study expenses capped at 50 percent. The authority to carry out these studies expires ten years after the bill is enacted, and the resulting reports will be submitted to Congress and made public.
The Pennington County Land Conveyance Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer approximately 8.97 acres of federal land within the Black Hills National Forest to Pennington County, South Dakota. This transfer occurs without any payment from the county and allows local officials to use the property for a public works facility or other necessary purposes. The legislation also requires the federal government to adjust the boundary of the national forest to reflect this change in ownership.
The ARCH Act requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a records preservation program for specific Afghan individuals who served with U.S. forces between 2001 and 2021. This program allows eligible applicants, including former military personnel, intelligence operators, and justice sector officials, to submit applications through a secure online portal to have their service records and biometric data preserved by the Department of Defense. The bill mandates that these records be kept for potential future use by the applicant or their designee, while prohibiting fees for the application process. Applicants who are denied classification based on eligibility or derogatory information are granted the right to file one written appeal and may request to reopen their case to provide additional clarifying information.
The USPS Executive Benefit and Bonus Removal Act restricts specific perks for high-ranking Postal Service executives, including the Postmaster General and senior career officials. It prohibits these individuals from receiving exclusive benefits such as personal financial planning services, premium travel amenities, and certain wellness or parking allowances that are not offered to all employees on equal terms. Additionally, the bill caps the total compensation of any Postal Service worker at the salary level of the President and bans first-class or business-class air travel for executives. Finally, it prevents the Postmaster General from receiving performance bonuses in any fiscal year where the Postal Service's expenses exceed its revenues.
The Affordable Housing Credit Carryback Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to claim a five-year carryback for unused low-income housing tax credits. This provision enables developers and investors who have not fully utilized their allocated credits in the current year to apply them against taxes owed in previous years. By extending this refund mechanism, the bill provides financial flexibility to entities involved in affordable housing projects, potentially accelerating the development of such units.
This Senate resolution commemorates the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union and recognizes the resilience of the Ukrainian people in pursuing sovereignty and democracy. The text affirms U.S. support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, specifically rejecting the annexation of Crimea, while condemning Russia’s 2022 military invasion. It encourages the U.S. government to provide strong security guarantees to facilitate a lasting peace agreement and to integrate lessons from Ukraine’s defense innovations into American military readiness. Additionally, the resolution urges Ukraine to continue implementing reforms related to anti-corruption measures, free markets, and the rule of law.
This Senate resolution celebrates the July 2026 NATO Summit held in Ankara, Türkiye, and reaffirms the United States' commitment to collective defense under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. It commends NATO allies for pledging $80 billion in military support for Ukraine in 2026 and highlights the alliance's goal for members to spend at least 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense by 2035. The resolution also urges the Department of Defense to consult with all NATO allies during its force posture review and encourages continued support for Ukraine through initiatives like the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List.
