Healthcare

in committee · United States · Senate May 12, 2026

S 4501: BACK OFF Act

The BACK OFF Act establishes new grounds for denying entry and deporting individuals who attempt to enter the United States specifically to give birth and secure citizenship for their children. It mandates that immigration officers and consular officials require medical examinations for women of childbearing age to assess the likelihood of childbirth during their stay, with potential visa denials based on these findings. The legislation also creates a specialized taskforce within the Department of Homeland Security to investigate and prosecute those who facilitate birth tourism, while imposing severe criminal penalties, including up to 25 years in prison, on individuals who assist in these activities. Additionally, the bill restricts judicial review of birth tourism cases and authorizes the suspension of visas from countries that refuse to accept their citizens for removal.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts access to reproductive healthcare services by mandating medical exams to deny entry for childbirth.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts immigrant access by creating new grounds for deportation and denying entry to those seeking birth tourism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization

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in committee · United States · Senate May 12, 2026

S 4492: ABLE MATCH (Making Able a Tool to Combat Hardship) Act

This bill creates a new federal tax credit that matches contributions to ABLE savings accounts, which are designed to help people with disabilities save for qualified expenses. The government will contribute up to 100% of an individual's annual contributions, capped at $2,000, provided the taxpayer's income falls below specific thresholds that phase out the benefit. To receive the match, individuals must file a tax return claiming the credit, and the funds are typically deposited directly into their ABLE account. The legislation also requires state programs to report demographic data about account holders and authorizes $5 million in annual grants to help states promote these savings accounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a federal tax credit matching contributions to disability savings, providing direct tax relief and funding for essential support services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides federal tax credits to help individuals with disabilities save for qualified medical and health-related expenses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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in committee · United States · Senate May 12, 2026

S 4494: American Cures Act

American Cures Act This bill permanently funds several federal agencies and programs that perform biomedical research. The bill provides specified funding for the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense health program, and the Department of Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research program. The bill exempts the funding from sequestration, which is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals. It also exempts the budgetary effects of the funding from the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Act of 2010 and the Senate PAYGO rule.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill permanently funds federal biomedical research agencies and exempts funding from sequestration, directly strengthening government spending on essential programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill permanently funds biomedical research agencies like NIH and CDC, directly strengthening healthcare infrastructure and capabilities.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly funds the Department of Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research program and exempts it from spending reductions.90% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · House Apr 20, 2026

HR 8394: Higher Education Marijuana Research Act of 2026

This bill, the Higher Education Marijuana Research Act of 2026, amends federal law to allow institutions of higher education and state or tribal entities to obtain marijuana for research purposes in states or on tribal lands where marijuana use is legal. It creates new grant programs through the National Institutes of Health and Department of Agriculture to fund marijuana research for medical, public health, and agricultural purposes, with $15 million authorized annually for each program from 2026 to 2030. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements for the Drug Enforcement Administration to track marijuana research license applications and creates working groups to streamline the registration process for studying marijuana at universities. Additionally, the bill protects students and researchers from losing federal funding or immigration status due to participation in approved marijuana research conducted in controlled settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates grant programs to fund marijuana research for medical and public health purposes, advancing healthcare research capabilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · United States · House Apr 21, 2026

HR 8425: Strengthening the Vaccines for Children Program Act of 2026

This bill strengthens the Vaccines for Children Program and Medicaid immunization coverage to improve vaccine access for children. It expands eligibility to include children enrolled in state child health plans and clarifies that providers can charge fees for vaccine administration and counseling services up to Medicare rates. The legislation also increases federal funding for Medicaid by 1% per quarter starting in 2027, contingent on states providing culturally competent vaccination outreach, and requires annual public reports on vaccination rates by demographic factors.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens the Vaccines for Children Program, expands eligibility, increases Medicaid funding, and protects provider fees, directly advancing healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Public Health

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in committee · United States · House May 7, 2026

HRES 1268: Recognizing the week of May 3, 2026, through May 9, 2026, as "National Postpartum Awareness Week for Communities of Color".

This House Resolution designates the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as National Postpartum Awareness Week for Communities of Color. It formally acknowledges the unique health challenges and disparities faced by pregnant people of color during the postpartum period. The measure does not create new laws or allocate funding but aims to raise awareness and encourage support for maternal health equity initiatives.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill raises awareness of maternal health disparities, advocating for equity and support in postpartum care for communities of color.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · United States · Senate May 14, 2026

SRES 732: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that over 25 years of real-world evidence and hundreds of peer-reviewed studies proving that mifepristone is safe and effective should be respected, and law and policy governing access to lifesaving, time-sensitive medication abortion care in the United States should be equitable, transparent, and based on the best available peer-reviewed evidence-based science.

This Senate resolution expresses the non-binding opinion that federal laws regarding medication abortion should rely on scientific evidence rather than political influence. It specifically calls for the FDA to maintain its approval of mifepristone, a drug proven safe and effective over 25 years, and to allow patients to access it through telemedicine or mail-order pharmacies. The measure highlights that current restrictions disproportionately harm marginalized communities, including people of color, low-income individuals, and those in rural areas. By stating these points, the resolution aims to encourage policymakers to ensure equitable and transparent access to abortion care based on medical consensus.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill advocates for maintaining FDA approval of mifepristone and expanding patient access via telemedicine, directly supporting healthcare access and patient rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth Women's Health

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in committee · United States · Senate May 13, 2026

S 4514: Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026

The Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to help states, localities, and the Bureau of Prisons implement mental health screening surveys for corrections officers. These surveys are designed to confidentially identify symptoms of mental illnesses such as depression and bipolar disorder, with positive results automatically triggering a referral to local mental health providers. The legislation also requires the creation of mental health outreach teams to coordinate care and ensures that officers seeking treatment are protected from adverse employment actions. An independent Advisory Board will oversee the program, approve state and local plans, and monitor the use of the authorized funding, which totals $200 million over five years.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds mental health screening for corrections officers, enhancing officer well-being and safety within the corrections system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes a federal grant program to fund mental health screening and referrals for corrections officers, directly advancing mental health services and access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds mental health screenings and referrals for corrections officers, protecting worker well-being and addressing workplace safety/health needs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 30, 2026

S 4467: Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act

Ensuring Seniors' Access to Quality Care Act This bill repeals certain restrictions under Medicare and Medicaid that prohibit the approval of nurse-aide training and competency evaluation programs in skilled nursing facilities that have been subject to specified regulatory actions (e.g., civil penalties) for substandard quality of care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must still disapprove such programs for up to two years; however, the CMS must rescind the disapproval upon completion of corrective action and may require additional oversight of the program for purposes of rescission. The bill also allows Medicaid and Medicare providers (e.g., skilled nursing facilities) to access, through the National Practitioner Data Bank, disciplinary information for affiliated physicians and other health care practitioners, as reported by state licensing authorities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes barriers to nurse training in skilled nursing facilities, improving access to quality care for seniors.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care Medicaid

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in committee · United States · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4481: IMPACT to Save Moms Act

The IMPACT to Save Moms Act authorizes a five-year demonstration project from 2027 to 2031 to test new payment models for maternity care under Medicaid and state child health plans. This initiative requires the federal government to work with various stakeholders, including hospitals, providers, and community organizations, to design systems that improve health outcomes for pregnant individuals, with a specific focus on groups facing higher risks of poor maternal health. The proposed models must include methods to adjust payments based on pregnancy risk, consider non-hospital birth settings, and ensure care teams include diverse professionals trained to address implicit bias. Additionally, the bill mandates that the project be evaluated using data on health outcomes and costs, with a final report submitted to Congress to determine if the program should be expanded nationally.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes funding for a demonstration project to improve maternity care outcomes and expand access under Medicaid.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Women's Health

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