HRES 990 is a resolution recognizing the 113th anniversary of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, founded in 1913 at Howard University. It honors the sorority's century of community service and global initiatives, including its focus on education, economic development, and international outreach. The resolution is symbolic and non-binding, celebrating the organization's legacy without creating new policy or affecting specific groups. It was introduced by multiple House members in January 2026.
This bill prohibits large card issuers (with over $100 billion in assets) from requiring credit card transactions to process through only one payment network. It allows merchants to direct transactions to any available network and bans restrictions on security technologies that favor specific networks. The Federal Reserve must issue these rules within one year of the bill's enactment. The law applies broadly to credit card processing but excludes certain 3-party payment systems.
This bill prohibits U.S. federal funds from being used to support Venezuela's oil and petroleum sector, including financing infrastructure projects, purchasing property, providing insurance, making payments to companies, or government advocacy. It directly affects all federal agencies and programs that manage taxpayer money, preventing them from funding any aspect of Venezuela's oil industry. The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit annual reports to specific congressional committees detailing any related activities and confirming compliance. These provisions aim to restrict U.S. financial involvement in Venezuela's oil sector using clear, non-ambiguous language.
HR 7046, the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026, removes qualified immunity as a defense in civil rights lawsuits against law enforcement officers. It directly affects federal, state, and local law enforcement officers by eliminating their ability to avoid liability in cases where they allegedly violated constitutional rights. The bill amends Section 1983 of federal law to prohibit using four specific defenses: claiming good faith, believing conduct was lawful, arguing rights weren't clearly established, or asserting the law was unclear at the time. This change means officers can no longer dismiss lawsuits based on these arguments after the bill's enactment. The law applies to all civil actions pending or filed after the effective date.
HR 7034 would remove the current $250,000 (single filers) and $500,000 (married couples) tax exclusion limit for capital gains when selling a primary residence. This change would allow all homeowners to exclude their full profit from federal income tax upon selling their main home, regardless of the sale price. The bill amends Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the dollar caps and adjusts related provisions to reflect this change. It directly affects homeowners who sell their primary residence, making the tax exclusion fully unlimited for qualifying sales after the bill's enactment.
This bill would increase the base pay for Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officers by 35 percent, replacing their current base rate for all pay calculations (including retirement and locality adjustments). It applies to officers whose duties involve inmate custody, control, or direct custodial contact, including certain supervisory staff and lower-grade Bureau of Prisons employees with similar duties. The pay increase is capped at the Executive Schedule level V rate and would expire after five years unless a Department of Justice Inspector General review finds progress in reducing non-custodial staff use for custodial duties and excessive overtime. The review, required 180 days before expiration, would assess impacts on recruitment, retention, and institutional safety.
This bill establishes minimum salary and wage standards for paraprofessionals and education support staff in public schools. It requires states to set a minimum annual salary of $45,000 for full-time staff (increasing with inflation after 2030) and a minimum hourly wage of $30 for part-time staff (also inflation-adjusted). The federal government will provide $25 billion in FY2026, with annual funding increases, to help states implement these standards through grants. States must ensure all local schools meet these minimums within 4 years of receiving funds, with 98% of grant money allocated directly to schools for salary increases or professional development.
The Unsubscribe Act of 2025 regulates "negative option" billing practices, where companies automatically charge consumers unless they actively opt out. It requires merchants to clearly disclose all terms before charging, obtain explicit consumer consent, and provide an easy online cancellation method. The bill specifically targets contracts like free-to-pay conversions (e.g., "free trial" followed by automatic charges), mandating clear upfront terms about pricing and renewal. Consumers directly benefit through greater transparency and control, while merchants must comply with new disclosure, consent, and cancellation rules starting one year after enactment. Enforcement falls to the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.
This bill, the "Under Pressure Act," directs the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to prepare a report for Congress within 18 months of its enactment. The report must detail the rate and causes of rail tank car pressure relief device failures during derailments, including specific information like the presence of fire, its temperature and duration, and the device's compatibility and thermal protection. It also requires the FRA to provide recommendations to prevent future failures and an update on relevant National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations. The FRA must consult with various rail industry stakeholders and employee organizations while developing this report.
The Renewed Hope Act (HR 6998) requires the Department of Homeland Security to hire 200 new staff, including 40 forensics analysts and 30 child exploitation investigators for the Victim Identification Laboratory, plus 130 additional personnel for the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit, to improve identification and rescue efforts for victims of child sexual exploitation. It establishes a mandatory training program for law enforcement and related organizations to use updated victim identification techniques and mandates coordination between DHS and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to streamline investigations. The bill also includes strict privacy rules to secure victim information and allows temporary hiring of experts for forensic analysis at specified rates.
This bill creates new federal criminal penalties for intentionally coercing minors (under 18) through interstate means (like mail or online platforms) to engage in harmful acts. It specifically prohibits forcing minors to commit self-harm (including suicide attempts), animal cruelty, abusive nonsexual conduct, sexually explicit acts, or obscene speech. Violations carry fines and prison terms of up to 10 years, with harsher penalties (up to 20 years or life) if serious injury or death results. The law directly protects minors from coercion by perpetrators using interstate communication or commerce, with enforcement under existing federal criminal code.
This bill prohibits the interstate trade and possession of captive mink raised for fur production, directly affecting fur farmers and businesses involved in the mink fur supply chain. It includes an exception for entities covered under existing Lacey Act provisions and authorizes the Secretary to buy out mink farms at a price based on the farmer's recent mink population and farm infrastructure value. The law aims to end commercial mink farming for fur by banning related commerce while offering a voluntary transition option for affected farms. It does not apply to wild mink or non-fur-related mink uses.
