The Airpower Acceleration Act of 2026 grants the Department of Defense authority to purchase F-35 and F-15EX fighter jets through multiyear contracts. It also permits the procurement of key aircraft components in advance to streamline production schedules. The legislation establishes minimum inventory levels for Air Force fighter aircraft that must be maintained between 2026 and 2035. Additionally, it authorizes an increase in the F-15EX fleet size to 329 aircraft, requiring new planes to replace older F-15E models.
The Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act creates a pilot program allowing experienced Air Force fighter pilots and navigators to take temporary breaks from active duty to help retain them in the service. Eligible officers can choose to serve in the Individual Ready Reserve for a period between four months and one year while maintaining certain benefits like security clearances, housing access, and pay. In exchange for this time off, participants must agree to undergo specific training to keep their skills sharp and will owe a service commitment equal to double the length of their break upon returning to active duty. The legislation also ensures that taking part in this program will not negatively impact a pilot's promotion or career advancement opportunities. Finally, the Air Force must submit a report to Congress within four years to evaluate the program's success in reducing early separations and preserving experienced personnel.
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed water project supplying municipal, rural, and industrial water from the Missouri River to Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc. (a nonprofit entity serving communities in western South Dakota). The study will assess whether the project should be built and determine the required non-Federal cost share (minimum 25% of construction costs), with the federal government covering up to 50% of the study’s $10 million cost. The study must include consultation with tribal, state, and local authorities, and the resulting report will be submitted to relevant congressional committees and made public. The bill does not authorize construction but sets the process for evaluating the project’s feasibility over a 10-year period.
The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026 reauthorizes and expands federal efforts to advance quantum information science, engineering, and technology through 2034. The bill establishes new workforce development programs, including quantum education initiatives, traineeships, and a Quantum Reskilling, Education, and Workforce Coordination Hub to address talent needs. It creates an International Quantum Cooperation Strategy to foster partnerships with allies and addresses quantum supply chain vulnerabilities through mapping and planning efforts. The act includes specific funding allocations for quantum research centers, testbeds, and post-quantum cryptography development, with annual evaluations required to assess program effectiveness. The legislation directly affects federal agencies, research institutions, and the quantum industry by providing structured funding and coordination for quantum technology advancement.
This bill, known as the Rx ACCESS Act, aims to improve medication access for military beneficiaries enrolled in the TRICARE health program by allowing them to choose how they receive non-generic prescription maintenance medications starting in October 2026. It requires pharmacy benefit managers to reimburse retail pharmacies at least the actual cost of acquiring drugs plus a professional dispensing fee, and prohibits hidden fees on pharmacies. The bill also mandates annual audits by the Government Accountability Office to review reimbursement rates, pharmacy network adequacy, and beneficiary access, with results reported to congressional defense committees.
The JROTC POWER Act requires the Department of Defense to update its guidance on pay for Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps instructors and evaluate how the current pay scale affects hiring and keeping instructors. The bill mandates the creation of standardized metrics to measure recruitment outcomes, retention rates, vacancy rates, and geographic differences in instructor hiring across the military services. Defense officials must submit annual reports to Congress for two years detailing how the pay system impacts instructor recruitment and retention, along with recommendations for any necessary changes. This legislation focuses on improving data collection and oversight for the JROTC instructor workforce rather than changing the pay scale itself.
This bill requires fertilizer manufacturers and wholesalers to report weekly prices and quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and fertilizer products to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The reporting must distinguish between domestic and foreign sources while exempting agricultural cooperatives and non-manufacturer retailers from mandatory requirements, though they may voluntarily provide data. The Secretary of Agriculture will make this information publicly available on a weekly basis through a dashboard that aggregates data to protect confidential business details. A separate retail survey program will supplement manufacturer reports with regional price estimates, and the Secretary must review reporting requirements every two years to ensure they remain accurate. The legislation explicitly states that these reporting requirements do not override existing antitrust laws.
This bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act to exclude certain financing from rate calculations. Specifically, it prevents the Export-Import Bank from counting financing that helps replace or compete with products/services from entities on U.S. sanctions lists (like the Commerce Department's Entity List or Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals list) when determining its fee structure. The key mechanism adds a new provision (B) to the law, excluding such financing from the rate calculation under section 8(g)(1). This directly affects the Export-Import Bank's internal fee calculations and the entities receiving financing that meets the exclusion criteria.
This bill provides new grant and low-interest loan options (zero percent or 1 percent interest) for rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems. It directly assists eligible rural facilities facing public health/safety needs or financial hardship in disadvantaged or economically distressed areas. Key provisions allow the Secretary to forgive loan principal/interest, modify loan terms, or refinance existing loans - though new loans cannot be combined with these modifications for the same facility. Eligibility for hardship-based assistance requires the Secretary to establish affordability metrics based on water costs relative to median household income in each area. The bill amends existing rural water programs under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
This bill, the Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026, would require manufacturers and wholesalers of fertilizer to report weekly price and quantity data to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The reporting would apply to nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and fertilizer products sold in the United States, with separate data categories for domestic and foreign companies. Cooperatives and non-manufacturer retailers would be exempt from mandatory reporting but could choose to report voluntarily. The collected information would be published weekly on a public dashboard to help farmers and market participants make more informed marketing decisions and promote competition in the fertilizer industry.
This bill requires all states to submit detailed data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud to the Department of Agriculture. The data must include information on fraud cases, enforcement actions, recoveries, and specific instances involving deceased individuals or false social security numbers. States must provide this information within 180 days of enactment for historical data and annually thereafter, with funds withheld if they fail to comply. The Secretary of Agriculture will compile and publish annual reports to Congress based on the submitted data.
This bill prohibits public colleges and universities receiving federal funding from denying religious student groups access to campus facilities or official recognition solely because of their religious beliefs, practices, or standards. It directly affects public higher education institutions and religious student organizations seeking equal treatment alongside secular groups. The key mechanism requires institutions to provide religious groups with the same rights, benefits, and privileges - such as meeting space, event scheduling, and official status - as non-religious student organizations. This policy change ensures religious groups cannot be discriminated against in campus activities through the threat of withheld federal funding.
