This bill, known as the BETS OFF Act, would make it illegal for anyone to place, accept, or facilitate bets on specific events such as acts of terrorism, assassinations, wars, or government actions that are not primarily financial in nature. The law defines these prohibited events as those where the outcome is controlled by a person or known in advance, while explicitly excluding standard insurance products and federal risk programs from the ban. In addition to criminalizing the betting activity itself, the bill updates existing federal gambling laws to include these prohibited wagers under current anti-gambling statutes and prevents financial exchanges from clearing or trading contracts based on these specified events. The measure takes effect 30 days after it is signed into law and would be enforced through civil actions brought by the Attorney General.
This bill would ban the trading of financial contracts tied to specific events like terrorism, assassination, wars, elections, and government actions. It directly affects people and companies that currently trade or plan to trade these types of event-based derivatives. The law would make it illegal for regulated exchanges to list or offer these contracts, with the exception that states could choose to allow trading of contracts related to gaming. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission would also have the authority to ban other event contracts it considers harmful to the public interest.
This resolution expresses appreciation for the contributions of American cowboys and historic cattle trails to the nation's history, particularly in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It recognizes the diverse roles of Mexican, Black, Native American, and White cowboys who drove cattle along trails like the Chisholm and Shawnee Trails across multiple states. The bill encourages local celebrations of this legacy as part of the national anniversary observances.
This bill directs the NASA Administrator to begin planning and establishing the initial components of a lunar outpost by December 31, 2030. The legislation amends existing federal law to create a specific timeline for this space exploration initiative, requiring NASA to actively pursue the development of these outpost elements. The primary affected party is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which must incorporate this directive into its operational planning and budget considerations. This measure formalizes a long-term goal for lunar presence without specifying detailed design requirements or funding allocations.
This bill prohibits the issuance of U.S. visas to individuals who have committed particularly severe violations of religious freedom, either while serving as foreign government officials or while acting outside the United States. It directly affects foreign nationals by adding them to the list of inadmissible aliens under U.S. immigration law if they meet specific criteria related to religious persecution. The law requires the Secretary of State to publish the names and locations of these individuals on a public website, though the Secretary retains discretion to withhold identities if doing so would harm U.S. foreign policy interests. This measure expands existing immigration restrictions to specifically target those responsible for religious freedom violations, creating a new ground for visa denial.
This bill updates federal law to prohibit excluding military members from assignments or career fields based on their gender, affecting all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. It requires the Secretary of Defense to submit annual reports detailing changes to occupational standards and data on involuntary reclassifications or separations, broken down by military job and gender. The legislation also modernizes how the military evaluates job requirements, mandating that standards be based on scientifically rigorous assessments of technical, tactical, cognitive, and physical abilities rather than gender. Additionally, it directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a full review of ground combat unit effectiveness to Congress and requires an independent audit of that review within 180 days.
This resolution formally supports the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and World Social Work Day, which are observed on March 17, 2026. It recognizes the contributions of social workers across various settings including healthcare, schools, child welfare agencies, and disaster relief efforts. The measure acknowledges the profession's role in addressing mental health, addiction, poverty, and social justice while encouraging awareness of social workers' integral role in community well-being.
This resolution formally acknowledges historical and ongoing injustices in women's healthcare, particularly affecting marginalized groups such as Black, Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQ+, disabled, and low-income women. It highlights specific issues including dismissed pain, lack of bodily autonomy, and past medical abuses like non-consensual sterilization and coercive contraceptive testing. The bill calls for patient-centered care, expanded research, and stronger protections for reproductive and gynecological health, while urging the federal government to address systemic bias in medical settings.
The GUARD Act would deny tax-exempt status to U.S. nonprofit organizations that receive contributions from citizens or nationals of designated foreign adversaries. This change directly affects charities, religious groups, and other 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations that accept donations from individuals in countries like China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Under the bill, any organization receiving such contributions would lose its tax-exempt status starting with the taxable year following the donation. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, could also designate additional countries as foreign adversaries if national security interests require it. This provision applies only to contributions received after the bill is enacted into law.
This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on barriers that prevent patients from accessing pain management during gynecologic procedures. The study will examine factors such as insurance coverage, provider training, and resource availability, and will include input from patients, medical professionals, and health equity experts. Within 24 months of enactment, the Secretary must submit a report with findings and recommendations to relevant congressional committees. The bill does not change current laws or funding but establishes a research requirement to inform future policy decisions.
This bill would create a federal paid leave program allowing employees to take up to 96 hours of paid time off each year for reproductive health needs, including menstrual care, endometriosis, fertility treatments, and pregnancy-related procedures. It applies to private employers with at least five employees and certain government workers, requiring employers to grant this leave upon request without requiring employees to find replacements during their absence. The legislation prohibits retaliation against employees who use this leave and establishes enforcement mechanisms through the Department of Labor, including civil penalties for violations. Employers with existing paid leave policies that already cover these reproductive health reasons would not need to provide additional leave under this bill.
This bill directs the National Institutes of Health to expand research into Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a severe mood and physical condition affecting 5 to 8 percent of women and people assigned female at birth. It requires the agency to collect data on PMDD prevalence, economic impact, and treatment barriers while ensuring diverse populations are included in studies. The legislation also funds public awareness campaigns and grants to train healthcare professionals in diagnosing and treating the condition. Additionally, the bill mandates a report to Congress within two years detailing progress on research, education, and access to care.
