Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act establishes a dedicated federal program to improve the long-term health outcomes of wildland firefighters by addressing occupational exposures to smoke, hazardous chemicals, and heat. The bill creates an interagency Task Force and an Advisory Panel to develop a comprehensive health strategy, while also mandating that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issue new standards requiring respiratory protection, medical surveillance, and decontamination procedures. It provides federal employees with paid duty time for personal hygiene and gear cleaning after shifts and requires the installation of decontamination infrastructure at fire stations. Additionally, the legislation creates a specialized unit within the Department of Labor to process workers' compensation claims for firefighters and authorizes over $49 million annually in appropriations for these initiatives through fiscal year 2032.
The Food for Thought Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to provide free meals and snacks to low-income college students at eligible institutions, including community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions. To qualify for funding, schools must have at least 20 percent of their undergraduate students eligible for Federal Pell Grants and agree to conduct outreach that connects students with other benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill authorizes appropriations from fiscal years 2027 through 2032 and requires recipients to submit reports on food insecurity prevalence and student completion rates. Additionally, it amends the Higher Education Act to ensure that receiving these free meals does not count as other financial assistance when calculating a student's eligibility for federal aid.
The Diversify Act amends the TEACH Grants program to double the maximum grant amount from $4,000 to $8,000 per year and increases the total debt conversion penalty for failing to complete service requirements from $16,000 to $32,000. The bill expands eligibility by allowing recipients to fulfill their teaching service obligations in high-need early childhood education programs, not just traditional K-12 schools. Additionally, it prohibits the government from imposing monetary penalties for refusing to complete service and requires the Secretary of Education to issue an electronic certificate upon completion. Finally, the act exempts these grants from automatic federal spending cuts known as sequestration.
The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2026 directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide supplemental grants to states for heart health initiatives targeting communities disproportionately affected by the disease, such as South Asian populations. These funds are designated for creating culturally appropriate educational materials, supporting community organizations, improving research methodologies to include more diverse participants, and conducting studies on cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The legislation authorizes $2 million in appropriations annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress within two years detailing the supported activities and related health data.
The Hot Meals for College Students Act of 2026 would allow households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to use their benefits to purchase prepared food at dining halls and other food service locations on college campuses. This change directly affects low-income college students by permitting them to buy individual hot meals, while explicitly prohibiting the use of these funds for meal plans, stored-value accounts, or non-food charges. The bill requires that on-campus merchants charge the same prices for benefit purchases as for cash transactions and forbids them from adding fees or surcharges. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture issue implementing regulations within one year and conduct a study to report on the program's impact on food insecurity and student retention rates.
The Stop the Wait Act of 2026 eliminates the five-month waiting period required before individuals can receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, with a phased reduction starting in 2026 and full elimination by 2031. The bill directly affects people who are newly disabled and seeking federal financial support by allowing them to access these payments immediately upon approval rather than after a delay. Additionally, the legislation provides immediate Medicare coverage for eligible individuals under age 65 who lack other health insurance during this transition period. This change ensures that those without minimum essential coverage can enroll in Medicare Part A from the first month of their disability entitlement instead of waiting twenty-four months.
The Subterranean Border Defense Act amends existing national defense law to require the government to submit annual reports on operations aimed at countering illicit cross-border tunnels. This provision mandates that these reports be submitted each year following the initial submission, ensuring ongoing oversight of tunnel interdiction efforts. The bill directly affects federal agencies responsible for border security and counter-narcotics operations by establishing a recurring reporting obligation.
This bill establishes a new National Fraud Enforcement Division within the Department of Justice. It designates one Assistant Attorney General, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, to lead this division and perform duties prescribed by the Attorney General. The legislation also amends existing federal law to explicitly prohibit political activity within the new division, aligning it with other justice departments.
The Addiction Grants Modernization Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a single online portal where organizations can apply for multiple federal substance use disorder grants from different agencies. This centralized system would allow applicants to submit one basic application for various programs, with additional specific questions added only when necessary for individual grants. To support this change, the bill mandates the creation of a working group made up of government employees and community stakeholders to develop the application process and report on its implementation. The legislation also requires agencies to synchronize their funding announcements but explicitly prohibits any changes to existing grant funding levels or allowable activities.
The Community Health Worker Access Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include preventive care and services addressing social determinants of health provided by community health agencies, with benefits taking effect on January 1, 2027. These services are paid at 100 percent of the lesser of the actual charge or a federally established fee schedule, and they are exempt from Medicare deductibles. The bill also gives states an optional pathway to cover these same services under Medicaid, requiring state plan amendments that include workforce recruitment strategies and efforts to remove barriers for organizations that do not typically bill insurance. To support this expansion, the federal government increases its share of Medicaid costs by 6 percentage points for eligible community health expenditures in participating states.
The Support Our Educators Act of 2026 increases the annual tax deduction for out-of-pocket educational expenses from $250 to $600 for eligible teachers in elementary and secondary schools. It also creates a new, equivalent deduction specifically for parents who homeschool their children, allowing them to claim costs for curriculum-related courses, books, supplies, and computer equipment used at home. These changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and the deductions are taken as adjustments to gross income.
