The Somaliland Travel and Investment Act directs the Secretary of State to evaluate two specific measures aimed at improving access for U.S. citizens and businesses in Somaliland. The bill proposes establishing a representative office in Hargeisa and separating travel advisory warnings for Somaliland from those currently applied to Somalia. These provisions are intended to facilitate smoother travel and investment opportunities by providing more tailored guidance and local support.
The SMARTER Act would fundamentally restructure U.S. immigration law by eliminating the Diversity Visa Program, removing per-country caps on immigrant visas, and replacing the current family-sponsored preference system with a points-based selection process for employment-based immigrants. It establishes a new Skilled Migration and Recruitment of Talent Board within the Department of Commerce to annually determine visa quotas based on industrial labor needs, economic data, and wage growth goals. Under the proposed points system, applicants would earn credits for age, education level, English proficiency, salary offers, and extraordinary achievements, with ties broken by educational attainment and language test rankings. Additionally, the bill creates a "gold card" visa program that grants permanent residency to individuals who pay a $1 million fee or corporations that pay $2 million on their behalf, while also directing the use of artificial intelligence to identify visa overstays.
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act of 2026 transfers approximately 18,628 acres of federal land from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of the Interior to be held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. This action expands the Grand Ronde Reservation and subjects the new lands to laws governing tribal trust property, while requiring a formal survey within two years to establish precise boundaries. The bill prohibits the use of the transferred land for casino or other regulated gaming activities and maintains federal restrictions on the export of unprocessed logs. Additionally, it requires the tribe to maintain public access for hunting, fishing, and recreation, though they may restrict entry for safety or management reasons.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to replace an existing plaque at the Lincoln Memorial with a new one that commemorates Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The legislation requires that the design and placement of the new plaque follow the rules set by the Commemorative Works Act. It also authorizes the use of federal funds for the removal of the old plaque and the installation of the new one, while allowing the agency to accept private contributions to help cover these costs without needing additional congressional approval.
The Debt-Free College Act of 2026 establishes a state-federal partnership that provides federal grants to states to cover the unmet financial need of eligible students attending in-state public colleges, effectively making tuition debt-free for those who qualify. To participate, states must commit to capping tuition increases at inflation levels, maintaining their current level of funding for higher education, and implementing student success programs that support low-income and underserved populations. The bill also creates a separate five-year grant program for specific minority-serving institutions and tribal colleges to help them cover student costs, while simultaneously expanding federal financial aid eligibility to include "Dreamer students" who entered the United States as minors under certain conditions.
The Textile Waste Reduction Act directs the Environmental Protection Agency to create a National Textile Circularity Strategy aimed at reducing textile waste and promoting the repair, reuse, and recycling of clothing and fabrics. To support this effort, the bill establishes an Interagency Working Group that coordinates activities across multiple federal departments, including Energy, State, and Commerce-related agencies. Additionally, it creates an Advisory Board composed of industry experts, academics, government officials, and non-governmental organizations to provide ongoing guidance on policy development. The Administrator is required to publish data on textile waste disposal and identify available federal funding opportunities to help states, local governments, and tribal nations implement these circularity initiatives.
This bill amends existing federal law to broaden the scope of restricted technology from "communications equipment" to a wider category of "information and communications technology or services," affecting companies that produce or provide these items. It requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update its list of prohibited technologies at least every six months and establishes a process for removing items if the underlying national security determinations are reversed by the relevant agencies. The legislation restricts the FCC from adding new items to the ban list unless they are produced or provided by entities controlled by foreign adversaries, while also mandating that the FCC submit unclassified reports to Congress before placing any technology on the list. Additionally, it prohibits "covered entities" and their affiliates from holding certain FCC authorizations or licenses, though it includes a specific exemption for standard equipment authorizations granted prior to the item being listed.
The Credit for Prior Learning Act allows students to use federal financial aid funds to pay for assessments that recognize skills learned outside of traditional classrooms. Specifically, it adds an allowance of up to $2,000 per award year to the cost of attendance calculation, which can cover test fees and other reasonable expenses associated with these evaluations. To qualify, the assessment must be based on generally accepted criteria and result in academic credit without requiring additional coursework. The bill also requires colleges to publicly disclose data on how many students receive this credit and the average number of credits awarded, broken down by race, income, and Pell Grant status.
The Emergency Grant Aid for College Students Act authorizes a federal grant program that provides funding to colleges and universities to offer emergency financial assistance to enrolled students facing sudden financial hardships. Institutions must apply to the Department of Education, with priority given to community colleges, rural schools, and those with high percentages of Pell Grant recipients. The bill requires schools to process applications quickly, ensuring funds are disbursed within ten business days of approval, while allowing students to receive aid that exceeds their total cost of attendance up to the maximum annual Pell Grant amount. These emergency grants are protected from being counted as income for tax purposes or when determining eligibility for other federal benefits, and no student can be denied aid based on immigration status.
The REVEAL Act prohibits federal officials, including Members of Congress, the President, and political appointees, from trading on prediction markets or directly owning most stocks, commodities, and derivatives while in office. To comply with these restrictions, covered individuals must divest their existing financial assets within 180 days of the law's enactment or 90 days after assuming a new position, though certain exceptions apply for diversified funds, government bonds, and specific family trusts. The bill establishes a penalty system that requires violators to pay a fee equal to 10 percent of the transaction value and disgorge any profits earned from prohibited trades. These penalties must be paid from personal funds rather than official government accounts, and ethics offices are required to publicly publish details about each fine assessed.
