This House resolution expresses support for designating the week of August 25 through August 31, 2026, as "Black Breastfeeding Week" to raise awareness about racial disparities in maternal and infant health. The bill highlights data showing that Black mothers face higher barriers to breastfeeding and experience significantly higher infant mortality rates compared to White mothers. It calls on Congress to support policies that provide affordable healthcare, paid parental leave, and safe workplace accommodations for nursing mothers. Additionally, the resolution urges lawmakers to address broader systemic issues such as housing, transportation, and economic opportunity to improve health outcomes in Black communities.
This resolution formally honors the life and legacy of Congressman Sylvester Turner, who represented Texas's 18th Congressional District. It recognizes his extensive career in public service, including his time as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, Speaker pro tem, and the 62nd mayor of Houston. The text highlights his efforts to improve economic opportunity, infrastructure, and public safety, as well as his leadership during Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic.
This House resolution reaffirms the partnership between the United States and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to support stability and prosperity in the region. It encourages the scheduling of a high-level summit between U.S. and Pacific Island leaders to discuss shared priorities like maritime security and economic development. The bill also urges continued U.S. engagement with regional institutions while respecting the sovereignty and specific goals outlined in the PIF's 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
House Resolution 1493 declares an unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination, framing these issues as systemic problems that require decisive legislative action similar to historical efforts against poverty. The resolution directs the House of Representatives to pass legislation creating a new Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation tasked with developing and coordinating a comprehensive national strategy to eliminate such discrimination. This proposed department would be led by a President-appointed Secretary who reports to Congress twice a year, and it would receive a budget equivalent to at least 10 percent of the Department of Defense's budget.
This House resolution commemorates the fifth anniversary of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan and honors veterans who served during the Gulf War era. It recognizes the approximately 8.4 million living veterans from this period, which includes service in operations such as Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. The bill also acknowledges the sacrifices of armed forces members and allies, including those killed during the Afghanistan evacuation.
This resolution formally honors the life and public service of late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who represented Texas's 18th congressional district for nearly three decades. The text highlights her early career in law and local government, as well as her significant contributions to federal disaster relief and the establishment of Juneteenth as a national holiday. By passing this measure, the House of Representatives acknowledges her legacy as an advocate for justice and equality without enacting any new laws or policy changes.
The Self-Improving AI Monitoring Act amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to require NIST to assess trends in AI capabilities, specifically focusing on systems that can autonomously conduct research or develop other AI. The bill mandates that before entering into pre-deployment evaluation agreements with developers of frontier AI systems, NIST must ensure these agreements include specific disclosure requirements. Developers would be required to provide information on the extent to which AI was used to build the new system, including metrics and estimates of how much development occurred without human review. Additionally, any such evaluations must explicitly test the system's ability to autonomously facilitate or conduct AI research and development.
The Freedom to Home Distill Act would allow individuals to legally produce small amounts of alcohol at home for personal use without paying federal excise taxes or facing criminal penalties. To qualify, a household could distill up to 10 proof gallons per year if it has one adult, or 20 proof gallons if it has two or more adults, provided the spirits are never sold or transferred to others. The bill exempts home distillers from standard business requirements such as registering their equipment and paying taxes, but it mandates that any stills purchased for this purpose must have specific safety features like pressure release valves and a capacity of no more than 50 gallons. These changes would take effect for spirits produced after December 31, 2026.
The GRANITE Act prohibits U.S. courts from recognizing or enforcing foreign judgments, fines, or orders that enforce laws restricting speech based on content, viewpoint, or speaker identity. It defines a "foreign censorship law" as any foreign statute that would conflict with First Amendment protections if applied in the United States. The bill grants individuals targeted by such foreign actions the right to sue in federal district court for a declaration that the judgment is unenforceable. Additionally, it removes sovereign immunity for foreign states when they are sued under these new provisions.
The BEDROCK Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to designate a senior official who will lead federal efforts to boost the competitiveness and supply-chain resilience of the U.S. biomanufacturing industry. This official is tasked with identifying barriers to private sector investment, mapping complex regulatory pathways across agencies like the FDA and EPA, and publishing a prioritized action plan to address vulnerabilities in critical inputs such as enzymes and cell lines. The bill also requires the government to create a public web resource that consolidates federal information and designates specific agency points of contact to help businesses navigate commercialization processes. These requirements are set to terminate five years after the law is enacted, with periodic reports submitted to Congress to track progress.
The No PRC Seafood in Congress Act prohibits the procurement, sale, and service of seafood products from China in all dining facilities located within the U.S. Capitol Buildings or on the Capitol Grounds. This ban applies to any seafood fished, harvested, raised, produced, or processed in China, as well as seafood caught by vessels owned, operated, or registered under Chinese law. To enforce this rule, congressional administrative bodies must issue regulations within 180 days that require food suppliers to certify the specific countries involved in each product's supply chain and maintain records to verify these claims.
The STORMWATER Act extends the funding period for stormwater control infrastructure technology centers from fiscal years 2022-2026 to 2027-2031. It mandates that exactly five of these centers be established, rather than a range of three to five as previously allowed. Additionally, the bill requires that one of the designated centers be located in and focused on the Great Lakes region.
