The AI Grand Challenges Act of 2026 directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish prize competitions for U.S.-based researchers and companies to solve specific, measurable problems in critical areas like health, national security, energy, and cancer research. It requires the NSF to publish clear problem statements and success metrics for each challenge, including a mandatory $10 million prize competition focused on AI-driven cancer breakthroughs for detection, treatment, or diagnostics. Eligibility is limited to U.S. entities or citizens/permanent residents, with annual reporting to Congress on competition results and public accessibility via the Challenge.gov platform. The bill mandates public input on challenge selection and biennial reports detailing program activities and outcomes.
Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2025 This bill specifies that the Indian Health Service (IHS) must reimburse patients for their out-of-pocket costs for authorized purchased/referred care services within 30 days. (The IHS provides medical and dental services directly to American Indian and Alaska Native patients whenever possible. However, when services are not available, IHS beneficiaries may be referred to private providers. This is called purchased/referred care.) Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and implement procedures to allow a patient who paid out of pocket for purchased/referred care services authorized by the IHS to be reimbursed by the IHS for that payment no later than 30 days after the patient submits required documentation. Additionally, the bill requires HHS to update applicable provisions of and exhibits to the Indian Health Manual, contracts with providers, and other relevant documents and administrative authorities to incorporate the provisions of the bill. The bill also replaces statutory references to contract health service with purchased/referred care .
HR 7364, "Kamisha's Law," removes time limits for prosecuting specific non-capital homicide offenses under federal law. It amends Title 18 to allow federal prosecutors to file charges for second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, or attempted manslaughter at any time - without a statute of limitations - for offenses listed under sections 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1116, 1118, 1119, 1120, and 1121. This change directly affects federal criminal cases involving these specific homicide charges, ensuring they can be prosecuted regardless of how much time has passed. The bill does not alter the legal definitions of these offenses but removes the usual deadline for bringing charges. It applies solely to federal prosecutions under the cited sections of the U.S. Code.
HR 7373, the Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2026, directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to redistribute accumulated interest on past antidumping and countervailing duty payments to eligible businesses. It specifically targets interest earned since October 1, 2000, with two distribution phases: one for interest from 2010 onward (within 210 days of enactment) and another for interest from 2000-2010 (within 210 days after the first phase). Eligibility requires prior receipt of payments under the repealed 2000 Act, timely certification, and meeting original eligibility criteria. The funds are distributed pro-rata based on the relevant duty orders, using existing Treasury accounts without new appropriations. This bill affects businesses that previously qualified for duty payment distributions but did not receive the interest component.
This bill modifies federal budget rules for unspent agency funds. It requires federal agencies to allocate 49% of unused funds to the next fiscal year, 49% toward paying the national debt, and 2% for retention bonuses (capped at 10% of an employee's base pay). Agencies must also limit future budget requests to the previous year's amount adjusted for inflation. The bill directly affects all executive branch agencies (excluding the Red Cross), altering how they manage leftover budget authority. It does not create new savings programs for individuals but changes government fiscal management procedures.
HRES 1034 modifies House rules for "questions of privilege" resolutions during the 119th Congress. It requires that any privilege resolution offered by the Majority Leader or Minority Leader must have at least one-fifth of all House members as cosponsors when introduced. Additionally, Members must maintain this one-fifth cosponsorship threshold for at least one legislative day after a resolution's introduction before making an oral announcement about it. This procedural change affects how Members can formally raise conduct issues involving other Members, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners.
S 3767, the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2026, reorganizes administrative leadership within the Indian Health Service. It changes the title of the position from "Director of the Indian Health Service" to "Assistant Secretary for Indian Health" throughout federal law, including the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and related statutes. The bill updates all references to this role in existing laws, executive orders, and documents, and specifies that the Assistant Secretary's salary will be paid from the Indian Health Services account. This is an administrative reorganization bill with no new funding or policy changes for tribal health programs. It directly affects the structure of the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Make Elections Great Again Act (HR 7300) would require voters to present photo identification to cast ballots in person or by mail for federal elections, with limited exceptions for religious objections or military voters. It would establish new requirements for proving U.S. citizenship during voter registration, including documentary proof of citizenship and proof of state residency. The bill would change mail-in ballot procedures by requiring voters to request mail-in ballots (rather than universal mail-in voting), implementing barcode tracking for mail-in ballots, and setting strict deadlines for ballot receipt. These provisions would apply to all states for federal elections held in 2027 or later, affecting how voters register, vote in person, and submit mail-in ballots for federal office elections.
Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE America Act This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote, and requires photo identification to vote, in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship. Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process to demonstrate U.S. citizenship. Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources. Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters. The bill (1) provides for a private right of action for certain violations, and (2) establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses. Individuals voting in federal elections must present an eligible photo identification document. An individual who votes by absentee ballot must submit a copy of their identification document with both the request for, and the submission of, the absentee ballot.
The SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2026 prohibits the FDA from approving new abortion drugs or granting investigational exemptions for them. It requires existing approved abortion drugs to be dispensed only in-person by certified healthcare providers in clinics or hospitals (not pharmacies), mandates providers to verify pregnancy duration and handle complications, and enforces strict adverse event reporting to the FDA. The bill directly affects healthcare providers prescribing abortion drugs, patients seeking these medications, and the FDA’s regulatory authority over such drugs. Key provisions include banning use after 70 days gestation, requiring provider certification for specific medical capabilities, and mandating documentation of risks to patients.
HR 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, requires federal agencies to pay covered employees (including most federal workers and military personnel) and covered contractors their regular pay during government shutdowns. It appropriates funds from the Treasury to cover standard employee compensation and contractor payments for work performed during a lapse in regular appropriations, ensuring pay continues without delay (within 7 days if a shutdown is ongoing at enactment) and aligns with regular pay schedules. The bill applies only to individuals employed or with accepted offers before the shutdown began and mandates that these payments be charged to future appropriations. It does not change agency obligations under existing contracts or authorize new spending beyond the specified shutdown period.
The SECURE Minerals Act of 2026 establishes a new Strategic Resilience Reserve Corporation to secure U.S. supply chains for critical minerals and materials essential to technology, defense, and energy sectors. The Reserve will finance domestic and partner country production, acquire critical minerals for strategic stockpiling, and develop market data to support responsible production practices. With $2.5 billion in initial funding, the Reserve aims to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources, particularly China, by developing alternative supply chains and ensuring production rates meet specific targets. The legislation includes provisions for transparency, oversight, and annual reporting to Congress, with the Reserve prioritizing domestic projects, recycling, and repurposing of critical minerals.
