The Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act (HR 4642) requires the Treasury Secretary and OMB Director to annually examine how the federal government would respond to major crises like recessions, pandemics, natural disasters, or cyberattacks, including their short- and long-term fiscal impacts. It mandates these assessments be included in an existing annual report and specifies key crisis types to evaluate. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must then review the methodology and results of these assessments within one year of the first report. The bill directly affects federal agencies responsible for fiscal planning (Treasury and OMB) but does not create new spending or alter existing programs. It focuses solely on improving preparedness through structured risk analysis.
Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act or the GUARD VA Benefits Act This bill imposes fines on individuals for soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving any unauthorized fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The attempted commission of such offenses is also punishable by fine.
This resolution formally recognizes 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, acknowledging the ecological and economic importance of these lands to the United States. The bill highlights that rangelands cover a significant portion of U.S. territory and support domestic production of food, fiber, and energy while providing critical ecosystem services like carbon storage and wildfire risk reduction. It encourages federal agencies, universities, and organizations to engage in education, research, and outreach activities related to sustainable rangeland management during the designated year. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves to raise awareness and promote collaboration among stakeholders involved in rangeland stewardship.
This bill prohibits the admission of individuals from countries where the government cannot reliably verify identities or backgrounds due to instability, conflict, or lack of cooperation with U.S. security agencies. It expands existing restrictions by adding nations like Afghanistan, Sudan, Eritrea, and the Central African Republic to a list of designated countries, while maintaining exceptions for lawful permanent residents, refugees, military personnel, and those deemed in the national interest. The Secretary of State must publish an initial list of designated countries within 60 days and conduct annual reviews, with the Secretary of Homeland Security implementing enhanced vetting procedures within 180 days. Individuals attempting to enter the United States in violation of the bill face removal proceedings and a 10-year reentry ban.
This bill exempts H-1B visa holders working in healthcare from a presidential restriction that requires a $100,000 payment for entry into the United States. It directly affects foreign medical professionals and healthcare workers who hold H-1B nonimmigrant visas. The legislation removes the additional fee requirement for these workers while limiting any fees that may be charged to the standard amount already established under immigration law. The bill defines healthcare workers using the existing definition from the Affordable Care Act and was introduced in the 119th Congress in March 2026.
This bill establishes a new excise tax on crude oil extracted or imported by large oil companies and uses the revenue to provide rebates to eligible consumers. The tax would be imposed on companies that extract or import over 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day, at a rate of 50% of the difference between the current Brent crude oil price and a 2025 baseline price, adjusted for inflation. All revenue from this tax would be deposited into a new "Protect Consumers from Gas Hikes Fund." This fund would then be used to provide refundable tax credits, or rebates, to eligible individuals, with the rebate amount determined by the Secretary based on fund revenues and the number of eligible individuals. These rebates would be phased out for individuals with adjusted gross incomes exceeding certain thresholds, such as $150,000 for joint filers.
Home School Graduation Recognition Act This bill clarifies that students who complete their secondary education in a home school setting recognized under state law are high school graduates for purposes of eligibility for federal student aid.
Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 This bill imposes sanctions on certain foreign persons (individuals and entities) that are involved in Iran's petroleum sector as well as certain associated persons. The bill also requires or authorizes actions to facilitate the enforcement of sanctions on Iran. Specifically, the bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on any foreign person that, after the bill's enactment, knowingly engages in any transaction related to the processing, export, or sale of oil, condensates, gas, liquefied natural gas, or other petrochemical products in whole or in part from Iran. The President must also impose sanctions on certain foreign persons associated with a sanctioned individual or entity. For example, the President must sanction the subsidiaries and corporate officers of a sanctioned business. The bill provides certain exceptions to these sanctions, including specifying that sanctions do not apply to the importation of goods or to conducting or facilitating transactions for humanitarian assistance. The Department of State must establish an interagency working group that shall seek to establish a multilateral contact group to coordinate international efforts to enforce sanctions on Iran. The bill expands the State Department rewards program to authorize a reward payment to any individual who furnishes information leading to the identification of a person (1) subject to sanctions under this bill, or (2) that has attempted or is attempting to evade sanctions under this bill.
This Senate resolution designates March 12, 2026, as Detransition Awareness Day to raise awareness about individuals who have reversed their gender transition process. The bill includes a series of 'whereas' clauses that express concerns about the potential harms of gender-affirming medical interventions for minors, citing statistics on rising diagnoses and detransitioning cases. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the issue. The resolution is referred to the Judiciary Committee for consideration and does not require Senate approval to become effective.
This bill would require financial institutions to file reports at least 72 hours before certain currency or money instruments leave the United States if they are being transported by foreign nationals from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism or other high-risk nations. The report must include detailed personal information about the person transporting the funds, such as identity documents, taxpayer identification numbers, and contact details, as well as information about the beneficiary receiving the money. The law also requires disclosure of whether the funds originate from any U.S. government benefit programs and if the transporter has any ownership interest in the entity receiving those funds. This measure directly affects banks, money transfer services, and individuals transporting currency from specified countries.
This bill, titled the American Families First Assistance Act, would restrict eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits for most aliens in the United States. It directly affects non-citizen immigrants by removing their ability to receive federal cash assistance for low-income families under the existing welfare program. The key provision amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to disqualify qualified aliens from TANF block grants, with specific exceptions for certain categories of immigrants including nationals of Cuba. This change would limit access to financial support for families with children who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
This bill, titled the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act, aims to revoke federal approval for the drug mifepristone (also known as RU-486) for use in terminating pregnancies. If enacted, the Food and Drug Administration's approval for mifepristone for this indication would be withdrawn within 14 days, making its introduction into interstate commerce for pregnancy termination a violation of federal law. Additionally, the bill establishes a new federal right for individuals to sue manufacturers of mifepristone if they experience bodily injury or harm to mental health attributed to its use for pregnancy termination. This legislation directly affects drug manufacturers, distributors, healthcare providers, and individuals seeking or having used medication abortion.
