Budget & Taxes

in committee · United States · House May 29, 2026

HR 9050: Small Business Innovation Voucher Act of 2026

The Small Business Innovation Voucher Act of 2026 creates a new grant program to help small businesses purchase technical assistance and services from universities and nonprofit research labs. Under this competitive program, the Small Business Administration will award grants ranging from $15,000 to $75,000 to cover between 50% and 75% of the cost for projects aimed at developing new products or services. To receive funding, small businesses must submit an application detailing their project, and selected recipients are required to report on their results and how the project impacted their business after completion. The legislation authorizes $10 million per year from 2026 through 2030 to fund these grants and covers administrative expenses with up to 5% of the total appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a new grant program to fund small business technical assistance, directly increasing government spending for economic development.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates a grant program to fund small businesses for developing new products and services via technical assistance, directly advancing technology innovation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Tags Small Business

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in committee · United States · House May 29, 2026

HR 9045: Early Childhood Mental Health Support Act

The Early Childhood Mental Health Support Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to identify and review evidence-based interventions that improve the social, emotional, and behavioral health of children in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This process includes selecting trauma-informed practices that support both child development and staff wellness while consulting with experts and the public before implementation. Following the review, the bill authorizes grants to diverse Head Start agencies across the country to adopt these proven methods and establishes a framework to evaluate their effectiveness over time. Additionally, the legislation funds up to five university centers to train future staff and provides $100 million in authorized funding for these activities from fiscal years 2027 through 2036.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes grants for early childhood mental health programs, indicating increased funding for public services.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes grants for early childhood mental health and trauma-informed practices in Head Start, enhancing student well-being and staff wellness within educational programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill directs HHS to identify evidence-based interventions and authorizes grants for early childhood mental health programs, directly strengthening and funding healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Higher Education Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate May 21, 2026

S 4640: 9–8–8 Connect Act

The 9-8-8 Connect Act establishes a new grant program to help crisis centers provide follow-up care to individuals who contact the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via call, text, or chat. These grants, totaling $30 million for fiscal year 2026, will fund activities such as well-being check-ins, outreach to ensure continued support, and referrals to appropriate care, all of which require the individual's informed consent. The bill also directs the Federal Communications Commission to create rules ensuring that all mobile phone calls and texts are routed to 9-8-8, including those from devices without a service plan. Additionally, the legislation updates federal communications laws to officially include 9-8-8 alongside 9-1-1 as a dialable number on multi-line telephone systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $30M in federal funding to expand crisis care services and support essential public health programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $30M to fund crisis center follow-up care and mental health support services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House May 22, 2026

HR 9021: Stay Cool Act

The Stay Cool Act establishes a comprehensive framework to help communities prepare for and respond to extreme heat events by creating cooling centers, improving housing conditions, and enhancing urban infrastructure. It directs federal funding to states and local governments to build and equip cooling facilities, install air conditioning in public housing, and develop green spaces and water features to lower temperatures. The bill also creates a national system to track heat-related health risks, mandates checks on vulnerable seniors during heatwaves, and allows tax credits for businesses that keep their doors open during heat emergencies. Additionally, it requires updates to utility assistance programs to account for cooling costs and calls for studies on heat-related mortality and safe residential temperature standards.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs federal funding to states and local governments for cooling centers, housing improvements, and infrastructure, directly advancing budget allocation for public services.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds green spaces and water features to lower temperatures, directly supporting environmental conservation and climate adaptation.75% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill funds air conditioning in public housing and improves housing conditions to address extreme heat.90% confidence

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in committee · United States · House May 14, 2026

HR 8835: Streamlined Apportionment, Flexibility, and Efficiency Transit Act

This bill, known as the Streamlined Apportionment, Flexibility, and Efficiency Transit Act, aims to reduce administrative burdens on public transit agencies by simplifying federal funding rules. Key provisions include requiring faster distribution of certain urban transit funds, extending the availability period for bus purchases from three to five years, and allowing agencies to retain leftover funds for future capital projects if they provide a specific certification. The legislation also directs the Department of Transportation to minimize documentation for environmental reviews, encourage early talks with historic preservation offices, and conduct a review to cut or combine unnecessary reporting requirements. Additionally, it modifies the triennial review process for transit grants to focus primarily on past deficiencies and randomly sample compliance in only up to five categories. These changes collectively seek to make federal oversight more efficient and less time-consuming for transit operators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill streamlines federal funding rules and extends availability periods for transit purchases, effectively strengthening and facilitating public transit budget management.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill reduces administrative burdens, speeds fund distribution, and extends bus purchase availability for public transit agencies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Transportation Funding

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in committee · United States · Senate May 21, 2026

S 4628: A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an initiative to address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas, and for other purposes.

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create a program called the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative to improve childcare availability, quality, and affordability in rural areas. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the initiative will prioritize loans and grants for projects that support childcare services, including those run by licensed providers, schools, or Head Start programs. Funding will be distributed across rural regions to ensure a balanced geographical impact, and the Secretary must conduct an evaluation and submit a report on the program's outcomes within four years of enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a funded initiative for rural childcare, increasing government spending on public services.85% confidence

Tags Children Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House May 29, 2026

HR 9051: Small Business Succession Planning Act

The Small Business Succession Planning Act directs the Small Business Administration to create a program and toolkit to help small business owners develop plans for transferring ownership upon retirement or death. To support this initiative, the bill requires the agency to train partners, educate business owners, and assign specific staff to provide counseling, while also allowing for workshops and reporting on progress. A key financial incentive is a new tax credit offering $250 for establishing a succession plan and another $250 for successfully completing the transfer of responsibilities, provided the business remains small. The legislation includes safeguards that require the repayment of these credits if the business is sold to a non-small entity within three years of receiving the award.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill includes a tax credit incentive for small businesses, aligning with fiscal support measures.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tags Small Business

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in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 8933: Dietary Supplements Access Act

The Dietary Supplements Access Act allows individuals to use funds from specific tax-advantaged health accounts to purchase dietary supplements without paying income taxes on those withdrawals. This legislation directly affects holders of Health Savings Accounts, Archer Medical Savings Accounts, and Health Flexible Spending Arrangements by permitting up to $500 per year in tax-free spending on these products, with a lower limit of $250 for married couples filing separately. The bill explicitly defines dietary supplements according to federal law but excludes energy drinks, soft drinks, and sodas from this benefit. These tax advantages will only become effective for expenses incurred after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax relief by allowing tax-free withdrawals from health accounts for dietary supplements.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allows tax-free withdrawals from health accounts for dietary supplements, expanding access and funding for health-related products.90% confidence

Track

passed · United States · House Jun 11, 2026

HR 8464: Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act

The Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act directs federal agencies to temporarily delay, condition, or split payments when there is a high risk of fraud or if a recipient is flagged in the Do Not Pay system. Under this law, agencies must notify payees of any pauses, explain the specific risk indicators involved, and allow recipients to contest the decision within a set timeframe. The bill requires that payments be resolved within 45 days and protects government officials from personal liability if they act in good faith to stop suspicious transactions. Additionally, it allows for the exemption of routine, historically consistent payment amounts while investigating anomalous or unusually large portions of a transfer.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility by preventing fraudulent payments, thereby protecting government funds and ensuring efficient budget management.75% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Jun 8, 2026

HR 9172: Applying Existing Tax Anti-Abuse Rules to Digital Assets Act

This bill extends existing U.S. tax anti-abuse rules, specifically wash sale and constructive sale regulations, to cover most digital assets. It directly affects taxpayers who hold or trade digital currencies and tokens by treating them similarly to traditional stocks and securities for tax purposes. Key provisions define specific types of digital assets, such as traded and widely traded assets, while creating exceptions for certain stablecoins and activities like staking or mining. The legislation also establishes clear definitions for terms like tokenized and wrapped digital assets to ensure consistent application of tax laws.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill closes tax loopholes by extending anti-abuse rules to digital assets, promoting fiscal responsibility and government revenue integrity.85% confidence

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