The Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical Debt Act prohibits employers from withholding employee wages to pay for medical debts owed to health care facilities or providers. This federal ban overrides any conflicting state laws or court orders, ensuring that no government entity can enforce wage garnishment for these specific expenses. The bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to define medical debt and establish this protection, with the new rules taking effect six months after enactment.
The FABRIC Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit piece-rate pay for garment industry workers, requiring employers to pay them at least the federal minimum wage on an hourly basis while still allowing for incentive bonuses. The bill establishes joint and several liability for brand guarantors, meaning companies that contract for garment manufacturing can be held financially responsible for wage violations committed by their contractors or subcontractors. To improve oversight, the legislation mandates that all garment manufacturers and contractors register annually with the Department of Labor, providing detailed information about ownership, employees, and past legal violations. Additionally, the bill creates a new Office of the Garment Industry within the Department of Labor and authorizes $100 million in competitive grants to support domestic manufacturing, workforce development, and facility improvements.
The Ailani Myers Accelerating Innovation in Medicine to Cure Kids with Cancer Act directs federal agencies to coordinate efforts using artificial intelligence to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pediatric cancer. It establishes a Childhood Cancer Data Initiative within the National Cancer Institute to collect, standardize, and share data on patients diagnosed as children, adolescents, or young adults. The bill requires the development of interoperability standards for patient data used with AI tools and mandates annual reports to Congress on implementation progress through fiscal year 2031. Additionally, it authorizes $100 million per year from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 specifically for the data initiative, while allowing necessary sums for other activities under the law.
The Net Effective Cost Transparency and Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2026 requires Medicare Part D and Advantage plans to use a standardized public bidding process for pharmacy benefit managers starting in 2028, ensuring that the lowest projected net effective cost is generally selected. The bill mandates that plan sponsors maintain real-time tools to track actual drug costs and escrow funds to refund enrollees if they are overcharged relative to their bids. It also establishes a new five-star rating system for these plans based on how closely actual spending matches projections, with low-performing plans required to notify beneficiaries of alternative options. Additionally, the legislation extends similar transparency requirements to commercial health plans by requiring them to disclose projected net effective costs in their bid submissions.
The Jimmy Deal Trafficking Survivors Assistance Act of 2026 requires the Transportation Security Administration to designate a specific employee as a Trafficking Survivor Point of Contact at every airport where it conducts passenger screening. These designated officials are tasked with coordinating with nonprofit organizations that support trafficking survivors, helping them navigate security procedures, and ensuring individuals are treated with trauma-informed care during their travel. The bill specifically addresses the challenge of traveling without standard identification documents by allowing service providers to request assistance for verifying a survivor's identity through existing TSA programs. Additionally, the law mandates that the government waive any fees associated with this identity verification process and requires the publication of clear online information about how survivors can access these services.
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
The NO FLOCK Act would require states to pass laws restricting the use of automated license plate reader technology to specific law enforcement purposes, such as enforcing tolls or investigating stolen vehicles and felony offenses. If a state fails to adopt these restrictions within two fiscal years of the bill's enactment, the federal government would withhold 10 percent of that state's highway funding apportionment. This provision directly affects state governments by linking their access to federal transportation funds to the implementation of privacy protections for vehicle tracking data.
The AmeriCorps Access for Dreamers Act amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to allow individuals who have received deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to participate in AmeriCorps. This change removes a specific legal barrier that previously prevented DACA recipients from being eligible for service positions. By updating the eligibility criteria, the bill directly affects young immigrants who arrived in the United States as children and are currently protected from deportation under the DACA policy. The amendment takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to educational awards issued on or after that date.
The American Copyright Protection Act of 2026 establishes a new legal framework allowing copyright owners to petition federal courts for orders that require internet service providers to block U.S. access to foreign websites determined to be primarily dedicated to copyright infringement. To obtain such an order, a copyright owner must first secure a judicial declaration that the foreign site is a piracy hub and then demonstrate that blocking it through specific service providers would significantly reduce access from within the United States. The bill mandates that these blocking orders expire after 12 months unless extended by the court, requires copyright owners to post bonds to cover potential costs for wrongly enjoined service providers, and limits the scope of enforcement to designated district courts. Additionally, the legislation preempts state and local laws regarding foreign digital piracy and grants service providers liability protections when they implement these blocking orders in good faith.
The No Grounds for Discrimination Act requires coffee shops, cafes, tea houses, and similar informal dining establishments to provide equal access to their goods and services without discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, sex, or disability. The bill directly affects these businesses by prohibiting segregation or refusal of service on the listed protected grounds. Enforcement of these rules would follow the same procedures used for violations of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Stop Rogue AI Act requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop security standards for organizations that deploy artificial intelligence agents. These standards mandate that companies maintain a continuous inventory of their AI agents, verify their identities using cryptographic methods, and monitor their activities to detect unauthorized actions or data theft. The bill also updates federal procurement rules to require government contractors to comply with these new security measures when building or deploying AI systems. By establishing these technical requirements, the legislation aims to ensure that organizations can identify and control the AI agents operating within their digital environments.
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
