The SAFE for Survivors Act of 2026 establishes new federal protections for individuals experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other gender-based violence by mandating that employers provide up to 40 work days of leave per year, including at least 10 paid days, to address these incidents. This legislation also prohibits employers and insurers from discriminating against victims or retaliating against them for seeking leave, requesting workplace safety accommodations, or filing related claims, while ensuring that any information about the abuse remains strictly confidential. Additionally, the bill expands access to unemployment compensation for those who leave their jobs due to violence, strengthens insurance rules to prevent denial of coverage based on victim status, and authorizes funding for public education campaigns and workplace resource centers to support survivors.
The Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2026 prevents the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from finalizing or enforcing a specific proposed rule regarding heat injury prevention in workplaces. This legislation directly affects the Department of Labor and businesses by blocking the implementation of detailed requirements such as mandatory rest breaks and written safety plans. The bill argues that these specific rules are too burdensome and fail to account for unique industry and geographic conditions. By stopping this rule, the act leaves the proposed heat safety standards in a suspended state without changing existing regulations.
The Sound Science Act of 2026 modifies the Toxic Substances Control Act to update how the Environmental Protection Agency evaluates and regulates chemical substances. The bill requires the use of technically feasible testing methods and mandates that risk assessments consider existing safety standards from other federal agencies like OSHA. It also introduces stricter scientific review processes, including mandatory in-person peer reviews and a requirement to consult with industry experts when setting worker protection rules. Additionally, the legislation ensures that agencies must consider relevant international test guidelines and provides specific timelines for interagency feedback on draft evaluations. These changes aim to standardize scientific practices and improve the consistency of federal chemical risk management.
The Protecting America's Workers Act expands workplace safety protections by including public employees and voluntary emergency responders under federal safety laws, while also strengthening whistleblower safeguards against retaliation. Key provisions require employers to report serious work-related injuries and deaths, mandate the posting of employee rights, and establish a process for victims and families to participate in enforcement proceedings. The bill also increases civil and criminal penalties for safety violations, improves oversight of state safety plans, and authorizes additional funding for training and hazard evaluations.
This bill, titled the Closing the Workforce Gap Act of 2026, modifies the H-2B temporary worker visa program by adjusting numerical limits, strengthening enforcement measures, and adding new requirements for employers. It directly affects employers seeking to hire foreign workers under the H-2B program and the workers themselves. The legislation caps the number of H-2B visas at half the number of certified positions from the previous year, while exempting rural and seasonal locations from this limit. It also increases penalties for employers who misrepresent information or fail to meet program requirements, establishes a formal complaint process for workers, and requires employers to maintain workplace safety plans and report certain employment issues to authorities. Additionally, the bill restricts H-2B petitions to nationals from countries designated as participating based on factors like visa fraud rates and overstay statistics, and prohibits workers from paying fees for recruitment or petition processing.
This bill, the Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act of 2026, aims to improve safety for highway workers such as construction crews, utility personnel, and emergency responders by updating federal regulations and funding programs. It requires the Federal Highway Administration to better track and separate crash data for highway workers from other road users, and mandates that states with rising injury or fatality rates include specific strategies in their safety plans. The legislation also directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to update public awareness materials and run public service announcements about Move Over laws, covering various types of workers and vehicles. Additionally, the bill requires that federal transportation grant applications include plans for protecting highway workers during and after construction, and authorizes funding for research and outreach to enhance roadside worker safety.
The Wildfire Emergency Preparedness Act of 2025 establishes a national training plan for structural firefighters to respond to wildfires and wildland-urban interface fires, with $5 million annually for training grants. It creates an Under Secretary of Agriculture for Fire Coordination to improve federal-state-local coordination in wildfire response and authorizes $20 million annually for research on firefighter health, including PFAS exposure in firefighting equipment. The bill also provides $100 million for supplemental grants to fire departments and EMS organizations for wildfire response equipment and training, and sets criteria for mental health support for first responders. It requires reports to Congress on training effectiveness and coordination challenges within one year of enactment.
HR 1410 expands access to mental health care for 9/11 responders and survivors by allowing licensed mental health providers (not just physicians) to conduct initial health evaluations and certifications under the World Trade Center Health Program. It adjusts the program’s funding formula to account for changing enrollment numbers by linking annual funding to the previous year’s enrollment ratio, and clarifies that deceased individuals are excluded from enrollment counts. The bill also extends the timeframe for adding new health conditions to the program’s list and requires a 2028 report assessing long-term funding needs through 2090. These changes aim to streamline eligibility, improve care access, and ensure sustainable funding for the program.
This concurrent resolution formally recognizes Congress's duty to protect the rights and economic security of working women in the United States. It highlights concerns about wage gaps, workplace discrimination, and recent policy changes that the bill's sponsors claim have disproportionately harmed women in the workforce. The document calls for federal action to ensure equal pay, workplace safety, access to healthcare, and the right to unionize, while affirming the importance of women's contributions to the economy. As a non-binding statement of principle, it does not create new laws but serves to express congressional intent and guide future legislative priorities.
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create a grant program that provides financial stabilization payments to workers in grocery stores, farms, and meat processing facilities affected by natural or other disasters. The program would offer funding through membership organizations or labor unions that represent these workers, with a total authorization of $50 million available for use. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress four years after enactment detailing the program's outcomes and impacts.
