Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase the amounts payable for wartime disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Specifically, the VA must increase the amounts by the same percentage as the cost-of-living increase in benefits for Social Security recipients that is effective on December 1, 2026. The act requires the VA to publish the amounts payable, as increased, in the Federal Register. The VA is authorized to make a similar adjustment to the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who have not received compensation for service-connected disability or death.
The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 restricts the importation, sale, and manufacture of vehicles and related technology from specific countries, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, to address national security concerns. The law defines prohibited items as connected vehicles, their software, and hardware components and sets different effective dates, with vehicle bans starting in 2027 and hardware restrictions beginning in 2030. A government official can grant exceptions for specific items after reviewing security risks and notifying Congress, while the agency must publish annual reports on enforcement actions and compliance.
This bill creates an online portal to help surviving spouses and estate executors prepare and file their taxes after a death. The portal will offer tools like checklists, pre-filled forms, and secure document uploads while automatically connecting with Social Security death records. To support this system, the bill also establishes a grant program to help states improve how they record and report death information to the Social Security Administration.
The GUARD Act requires companies providing AI chatbots to verify users' ages using reliable methods (like government IDs, not just self-reported birth dates) and prohibits minors under 18 from accessing "AI companions" designed for emotional interaction. It mandates clear disclosures that chatbots are not human and cannot falsely claim to be licensed professionals (e.g., therapists), while banning features that solicit minors for explicit content or promote violence. Covered entities must implement secure age verification processes for all accounts, including periodic checks, and face civil penalties up to $100,000 per violation for noncompliance. The law directly affects tech companies operating AI chatbots in the U.S. and aims to reduce minors' exposure to harmful AI interactions.
This bill amends federal carjacking law to change how the offense is defined and prosecuted. It removes the requirement that a carjacking must involve "intent to cause death or serious bodily harm" for it to be considered a federal offense (now only requiring the act to be done "knowingly"). For cases where death occurs, it now requires prosecutors to prove both the intent to cause death *and* that death actually resulted, rather than just showing death occurred. This directly affects federal prosecutors, carjacking defendants, and the legal standards used in such cases.
This bill moves the Transportation Security Administration from the Department of Homeland Security to the Department of Transportation, placing its leadership directly under the Secretary of Transportation. The law ensures that all existing rules, contracts, licenses, and legal cases involving the TSA continue without interruption and that the agency retains its current funding and personnel. It also updates federal statutes to reflect the new organizational structure while allowing the head of the new department to delegate specific duties as needed.
This resolution expresses support for designating the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as "National Small Business Week." It aims to honor the contributions of small businesses and entrepreneurs across the United States, acknowledging their role in supporting millions of jobs. The bill does not create new laws or regulations but serves as a formal statement of appreciation from the House of Representatives.
This bill prohibits the U.S. government from spending money on military actions against Iran between its enactment and December 31, 2026, unless Congress explicitly approves the use of force. It allows for military action only if Congress declares war, passes a specific authorization, or if the action is necessary to defend the United States or its allies from an imminent attack while following reporting requirements. The law directly restricts the President's ability to deploy troops without legislative approval during the specified timeframe.
This bill officially designates the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism, a status that triggers existing U.S. laws allowing for sanctions and restrictions on foreign aid and arms exports. The legislation is based on findings that the Russian government has supported international terrorism through actions in Chechnya, Ukraine, and Syria, as well as by utilizing mercenary groups like the Wagner Group. While the designation enables broader accountability measures, the bill includes specific protections to ensure that sanctions do not block the export of Ukrainian agricultural products or the provision of humanitarian assistance. The designation will remain in effect for five years or until the U.S. Secretary of State determines that negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine have begun.
This bill proposes to allow taxpayers to deduct interest payments on loans used to purchase certain vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles. The legislation defines eligible vehicles as those with fewer than 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating or those designed for temporary living quarters like campers and trailers. These tax benefits would only apply to debts incurred after December 31, 2025, expanding the current rules that previously excluded most vehicle loans from interest deductions.
This bill, titled the "Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act," amends federal law to allow current and honorably discharged military special operations personnel to carry concealed firearms nationwide. It directly affects those who served in specific special operations roles across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. The bill expands the existing Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) to include these "qualified special operators," granting them similar concealed carry privileges. Unlike law enforcement officers under LEOSA, these individuals would not be subject to annual firearms qualification requirements, and their authority would be permanent, contingent on maintaining honorable discharge status and federal firearm eligibility. To exercise this authority, they must carry proof of identity and qualification, which can include a new Department of Defense or Veterans Affairs photo identification or official service documentation.
The Afterschool for All Act significantly increases funding for the Community Learning Centers program, raising the annual appropriation from $1 billion to $10 billion for the fiscal years 2026 through 2035. This expansion aims to support after-school programs in elementary and secondary schools, directly benefiting students and educational institutions that rely on these grants. Additionally, the bill amends the name of the relevant section in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to remove the term "21st Century," and it raises the corporate income tax rate from 21% to 22% for taxable years beginning after the law is enacted.
