This House resolution supports the goals of National Clinical Nurse Specialist Week, which is observed during the first week of September. It formally recognizes the contributions of these advanced practice nurses to patient care, quality improvement, and workforce development across various healthcare settings. The bill encourages the public to observe the week through appropriate programs and activities. Additionally, it reaffirms the House's commitment to ensuring that Clinical Nurse Specialists are accurately classified in federal labor statistics and supported in health workforce planning.
This House resolution formally mourns the passing of Dolly Parton and honors her extensive contributions to American music, philanthropy, and public service. It highlights her establishment of key organizations such as Dollywood and the Imagination Library, which have significantly impacted education, health care, and disaster relief in Tennessee. The bill recognizes specific achievements, including her support for pediatric medical research and wildlife conservation efforts. By acknowledging these accomplishments, the resolution aims to celebrate her legacy and encourage continued community service across the United States.
The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act establishes a new National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force composed of representatives from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and the Office of Personnel Management. The task force is charged with coordinating these agencies to close gaps in enforcement and improve public education regarding equal pay laws. Its specific duties include investigating challenges related to pay inequity, advancing recommendations to address those issues, and creating action plans to implement the proposed solutions.
The Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Act of 2026 directs the Small Business Administration, in partnership with federal cybersecurity agencies, to create and distribute resources that help small businesses improve their digital security practices. The bill specifically requires the administration to provide guidance on federal cybersecurity compliance standards to small companies seeking government contracts or subcontracting opportunities. This information must be made available through small business development centers, district offices, and the agency's website. Additionally, the Office of Advocacy is required to submit an annual report to Congress detailing how many small businesses have contacted them regarding cybersecurity issues.
The REVOKE Act requires trucking companies and other commercial vehicle operators to maintain an active USDOT number in order to legally conduct business. It prohibits employers from operating without this active status and mandates that the Department of Transportation only issue numbers after verifying all registration requirements are met. Additionally, the bill directs officials to immediately deactivate any USDOT number if a company lacks valid registration or fails to submit required periodic updates.
The Protecting Student Athletes from Unexpected Tax Liability Act requires companies to withhold 30 percent of income tax from payments made for a student athlete's name, image, and likeness. This rule treats these specific commercial payments as if they were standard wages, even though the athletes are not classified as employees. The bill also waives penalties for underpaid taxes in the first year a student athlete is subject to this new withholding requirement. To ensure the policy works effectively, the Treasury Department must report to Congress by 2029 on whether the 30 percent rate is appropriate and how well companies are complying with the law.
The Protecting Our Widows and Widowers in Retirement Act would amend the Social Security Act to increase monthly benefits for surviving spouses of deceased workers who were part of two-income households. Under the new rules, a fully insured widow or widower could receive 75 percent of the combined total of their own retirement or disability benefit and the deceased spouse's primary insurance amount, rather than just the deceased spouse's benefit alone. The bill includes a cap on this increased payment based on a hypothetical high-earner's maximum benefit to limit costs. Additionally, the legislation ensures that these higher Social Security payments do not reduce eligibility for Supplemental Security Income by treating the income as if it were at pre-amendment levels. These changes would apply to benefits paid for months after December 2026.
The CLEAR Forms Act directs the Securities and Exchange Commission to create new registration forms for specific insurance products, including contingent deferred annuities and registered index-linked life insurance. The bill requires the agency to design these forms so that purchasers can make informed decisions, mandating investor testing to ensure the language is understandable for these complex financial instruments. If the SEC fails to finalize the rules within 30 months of enactment, insurers would be permitted to register these products using existing forms currently used for variable annuities and life insurance.
The SMASH 2.0 Act reauthorizes the federal mosquito abatement program through fiscal year 2030, maintaining annual funding at $100 million for state and local public health agencies. The bill allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider innovative technologies when awarding grants for mosquito prevention and control. It also permits grant recipients to use up to 5 percent of their funds for staff training and continuing education. Additionally, the legislation directs the Department of Health and Human Services to prepare emergency stockpiles of vector-borne disease control products in coordination with the Strategic National Stockpile.
This bill prohibits the Department of Education from transferring specific program functions to other federal agencies, focusing on offices that manage special education, postsecondary education, Indian education, and elementary and secondary education. It blocks new interagency agreements for these areas but allows existing contracts in place as of February 1, 2025, to continue or be renewed with similar terms. The legislation also requires the Secretary of Education to submit quarterly cost reports to Congress detailing the financial impact of any new interagency arrangements made after that date. Finally, it restricts the use of certain administrative travel funds for the Secretary until these required cost analyses are provided.
The No Homeless Detention Centers Act prohibits recipients of federal housing funds from forcing homeless individuals to live in government facilities or requiring them to perform labor in exchange for shelter. The bill also bans local and state authorities from punishing people for engaging in basic life-sustaining activities, such as sleeping or resting, on public property. These restrictions apply to actions taken by law enforcement officers or private contractors acting under federal authority. By tying these prohibitions to federal funding, the legislation aims to prevent the use of criminal penalties or involuntary confinement to address homelessness.
The Strengthening Oversight for the Financial Sector Act of 2026 tightens regulatory controls on credit unions and federal housing finance agencies regarding their use of outside service providers. For credit unions, the bill requires them to notify the National Credit Union Administration about service relationships in a specific manner prescribed by the Board and removes certain existing reporting provisions. Additionally, it mandates that regulated entities under the Federal Housing Finance Agency must inform the agency's Director within thirty days of contracting with any third party to perform activities permissible for the entity itself. These changes ensure that outsourced work is subject to the same level of examination and regulation as if the tasks were performed internally by the financial institution.
