Budget & Taxes

in committee · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 7041: Earmark Elimination Act of 2026

HR 7041, the Earmark Elimination Act of 2026, prohibits the U.S. House of Representatives from considering any bill, resolution, or amendment containing a congressional earmark, limited tax benefit, or limited tariff benefit. It defines an earmark as a special spending request for a specific district or entity, a tax break for 10 or fewer beneficiaries with non-uniform rules, or a tariff change benefiting 10 or fewer entities. If such a provision is included, a point of order can be raised to strike it from the bill without debate. This rule change directly affects how House legislation is processed, preventing targeted spending or tax provisions from advancing. The bill does not alter existing laws but modifies House procedural rules to eliminate these specific types of provisions from consideration.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProhibits targeted tax benefits (loopholes) for ≤10 entities, closing specific tax loopholes per support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Tax Incentives

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in committee · United States · House Feb 20, 2026

HR 7620: CHEERS Act of 2026

This bill changes tax depreciation rules for specific equipment used in restaurants and bars. It classifies "qualified energy-efficient draft alcohol property" (like stainless steel/aluminum containers and tap systems for serving alcohol) as 15-year property for tax purposes, allowing faster depreciation deductions. The change applies to equipment installed after December 31, 2025, and directly affects restaurant, bar, and entertainment venue owners who purchase this equipment. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new programs, only modifying how eligible equipment is treated under existing tax code provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax incentive via faster depreciation for energy-efficient restaurant equipment, directly advancing tax policy to promote business investment and energy efficiency.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyClassifies energy-efficient draft systems as 15-year property for faster tax deductions, directly promoting energy efficiency adoption in hospitality sector.85% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Feb 20, 2026

HR 7610: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a credit for adult child caregivers.

HR 7610 creates a new $2,000 annual tax credit for adult children who provide care to elderly relatives living in the same household. To qualify, the caregiver must be 18+ (or 16+ emancipated), live with the relative for at least 6 months, and provide 10+ hours weekly of assistance with daily living tasks (like meal prep, managing money, or mobility). The elderly relative must be 55+, unable to perform key activities independently (such as bathing or shopping), and require care for at least 180 days. The credit phases out for single filers earning over $75,000 (or $150,000 for joint filers) and applies only to tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $2,000 tax credit for caregivers, reducing tax burden on middle-income families per IRS Code amendment90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tax credit for caregivers of elderly, enabling home-based care for daily living tasks like mobility and bathing, improving access to non-institutional healthcare support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tags Seniors

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in committee · United States · House Feb 5, 2026

HR 7408: Water Project Navigators Act

HR 7408 establishes the Water Project Navigators Program, which provides federal grants to eligible entities like states, tribes, local water districts, and nonprofits. The program funds "navigators" to help disadvantaged communities, rural areas, and tribal nations develop multi-benefit water projects that improve water access, climate resilience, and ecosystem health. Key provisions include prioritizing applications serving underserved communities, limiting federal funding to 75% of project costs (with waivers for financial hardship), and authorizing $15 million annually for fiscal years 2027-2032. Navigators assist with grant writing, project planning, and technical support to address water supply imbalances and infrastructure needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates federal grants to fund water project navigators, directly advancing public infrastructure spending for essential community services.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds projects improving ecosystem health and climate resilience, directly advancing environmental protection goals through multi-benefit water initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Feb 4, 2026

HR 7349: Time to Heal Act

This bill increases the home sale exclusion for surviving spouses from $250,000 to $500,000 under specific conditions. It directly affects individuals who sell their primary residence after their spouse's death, provided they met the original home sale exclusion requirements before the spouse's death and have not remarried at any time after the spouse's death until the sale occurs. The key provision amends the Internal Revenue Code to substitute $500,000 for $250,000 in calculating the exclusion for qualifying sales. The change applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax exclusion for surviving spouses, providing direct tax relief under Internal Revenue Code, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle-income individuals.95% confidence

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 10, 2025

S 68: Complete COVID Collections Act

S.68, the Complete COVID Collections Act, extends the deadline for prosecuting fraud related to pandemic relief programs to 10 years and streamlines collection processes for small business loans. It requires the Small Business Administration to refer claims under $100,000 to the Treasury for collection, mandates monthly reports to Congress on collection efforts, and demands monthly DOJ reports detailing fraud prosecutions and recovered funds. The bill directly affects businesses that received CARES Act loans, restaurant grants, or venue operator funds, as well as the SBA, Treasury, and DOJ. Key provisions include standardizing fraud enforcement timelines across all covered programs and requiring public transparency on recovered funds through the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility by streamlining fraud recovery and mandating transparency in pandemic relief fund collection, directly supporting budget integrity.85% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Jan 16, 2026

HR 7137: Shutdown Fairness Act

HR 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, requires federal agencies to pay covered employees (including most federal workers and military personnel) and covered contractors their regular pay during government shutdowns. It appropriates funds from the Treasury to cover standard employee compensation and contractor payments for work performed during a lapse in regular appropriations, ensuring pay continues without delay (within 7 days if a shutdown is ongoing at enactment) and aligns with regular pay schedules. The bill applies only to individuals employed or with accepted offers before the shutdown began and mandates that these payments be charged to future appropriations. It does not change agency obligations under existing contracts or authorize new spending beyond the specified shutdown period.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates Treasury funds to cover employee pay during shutdowns, ensuring continued government operations without funding lapses.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures federal workers and contractors receive regular pay during shutdowns, protecting wages and employment standards. Directly advances workers' rights by preventing pay disruption during government lapses.95% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Jan 30, 2026

HR 7286: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations that provide, or provide funding for, abortion.

This bill would revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations (like charities or health groups) that provide or fund abortions, except in specific cases. It directly affects organizations currently classified under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code, such as some healthcare providers or advocacy groups. Key provisions define "abortion" as intentionally terminating a pregnancy (excluding cases where the mother’s life is at risk, or the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest), and deny tax exemption to groups meeting this definition. The change would take effect for tax years starting after the bill’s enactment date.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRevokes tax-exempt status for abortion-related orgs, restricting tax benefits under 501(c)(3) per bill's explicit tax policy change.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRevoking tax-exempt status for abortion-providing organizations directly restricts access to reproductive healthcare services, limiting patient access under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Women's Health

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in committee · United States · House Jan 22, 2026

HR 7216: Make American Housing Affordable (MAHA) Act of 2026

The MAHA Act of 2026 creates a new $5,000 federal tax credit (doubling to $10,000 for joint filers) for first-time homebuyers who purchase a principal residence during the tax year. It directly affects eligible individuals who haven’t claimed this credit in the prior four years, with the credit phasing out for those earning above $250,000 (individual) or $500,000 (joint) in modified adjusted gross income. The credit reduces tax liability by a fixed amount, not a percentage, and applies to taxable years beginning after the bill’s enactment. This is a tax incentive, not direct housing assistance, aimed at reducing the cost of homeownership for qualifying buyers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides $5k tax credit for first-time homebuyers (phased out above $250k/$500k), reducing tax liability for middle-income earners per tax relief indicators.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides $5,000 tax credit (doubling for joint filers) to first-time homebuyers, directly reducing purchase costs and increasing housing affordability for eligible buyers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Homeownership Housing Finance

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in committee · United States · House Jan 22, 2026

HR 7205: Application FEES Act

HR 7205, the Application FEES Act, allows families to use funds from 529 college savings plans to pay college application fees. The bill amends the tax code to add "fees required to apply for admission" as an eligible expense under 529 plans, directly affecting students and families using these accounts for higher education costs. This change takes effect for distributions after the bill's enactment, making application fees tax-free when paid from 529 accounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax-free 529 plan use for college application fees, providing direct tax relief to families for education costs under existing tax code.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows tax-free use of 529 funds for college application fees, reducing financial barriers to higher education access and expanding student affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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