HR 9010 appropriates funds for the Legislative Branch for fiscal year 2027, primarily covering salaries, expenses, and operations for the House of Representatives, Senate, Capitol Police, and various independent agencies like the Library of Congress and Government Accountability Office. The bill includes specific restrictions on spending, such as prohibiting the purchase of certain Chinese-made technology and limiting vehicle leasing allowances for Members of Congress. It also mandates in-person workplace rights training for Members under active misconduct investigations and requires that any unused funds from Members' representational allowances be used to reduce the federal deficit or debt.
This bill, known as the HUD Data Privacy Act of 2026, restricts how the Department of Housing and Urban Development can share personal information with other agencies or third parties. It mandates that data collected from individuals receiving federal housing assistance be used solely to verify their eligibility for benefits or to determine the amount of aid they receive. The law includes specific exceptions for sharing deidentified data for research, ongoing criminal investigations, or preventing immediate threats to life, while explicitly prohibiting the use of this information for immigration enforcement purposes.
This Senate resolution expresses support for library staff across public, school, academic, and special libraries in the United States. It highlights the essential services libraries provide, such as equitable internet access, social support, and community resources, while calling for adequate funding at all government levels. The measure reaffirms the right of citizens to freely access information and explicitly supports the ability of library workers to unionize and collectively bargain. Additionally, it defends the civil rights of library staff against intimidation and censorship, noting recent challenges like book bans and the potential elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The PRICE Act requires third-party food delivery apps to show customers the exact delivery fee before they finalize an order, preventing these fees from changing during the checkout process. Under this law, delivery fees must be calculated based only on the cost of the food and distance, excluding factors like a customer's past buying habits or willingness to pay. The bill also mandates that apps clearly display the total price, including taxes and fees, throughout the ordering process and explain what each fee covers before payment is requested. Enforcement of these rules falls to the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, who can take legal action against platforms that violate the new pricing transparency requirements.
The SECURE Data Act establishes a comprehensive federal privacy framework that grants consumers specific rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of the sale of their personal data, while requiring companies to provide clear privacy notices and implement reasonable data security measures. It directly affects large businesses and data brokers that process significant amounts of consumer information, mandating that these entities obtain explicit consent for sensitive data and prohibiting discrimination against individuals who exercise their privacy rights. The legislation creates a registration system for data brokers, allows for enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, and preempts conflicting state laws to ensure a uniform national standard.
This bill expands tax-advantaged financing options for small businesses and farmers by updating the rules for qualified small issue bonds. It allows these bonds to fund the creation of intangible property like software, alongside traditional manufacturing, and raises the borrowing limits for eligible projects from $10 million to $30 million. Additionally, the legislation increases the maximum loan amount for first-time farmers from $450,000 to $1 million and adjusts the calculation for farm size eligibility to use an average rather than a median. These changes are designed to provide more accessible funding for a broader range of agricultural and manufacturing initiatives while including automatic inflation adjustments for future years.
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Agriculture
The VICTIM Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to help state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies improve their clearance rates for homicides and firearm-related violent crimes. Funds awarded by the Attorney General can be used to hire and train investigators, upgrade forensic technology, implement evidence-based investigative strategies, and provide support services for victims and their families. The legislation also mandates regular reporting on investigation outcomes and requires the Justice Department to conduct audits to prevent misuse of funds, with specific provisions ensuring that at least 5% of the money goes to rural and Tribal agencies.
The Data Infrastructure Risk Reduction Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to identify data centers that should be classified as critical infrastructure within 180 days of enactment. This directive requires the agency to evaluate the security of power and water supplies connected to these facilities and assess the potential impact of their locations near residential communities. Following this assessment, the Department must submit a strategy to Congress outlining how to defend these sites from breaches and protect nearby neighborhoods. The law applies to federal agencies responsible for cybersecurity and infrastructure security, specifically focusing on data centers as defined by existing energy legislation.
The Shared Autonomous Mobility Act of 2026 establishes a new federal grant program to help transit agencies and private partners deploy buses equipped with advanced automated driving systems. This legislation defines these vehicles as those with Level 3, 4, or 5 automation capabilities and authorizes $100 million in funding over two years, with a requirement that at least 15% of the money supports projects in rural areas. The bill also mandates the creation of dedicated testing facilities specifically for these autonomous buses and allows various federal transportation grants to be used for purchasing the necessary software and system updates. Additionally, it updates existing definitions to ensure that funding can cover the acquisition and licensing of automated driving software alongside traditional vehicle equipment.
This bill proposes to reject a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection that would have removed previous restrictions on how consumer reports are used. If passed, the measure would prevent the bureau from withdrawing the older regulations that limit permissible purposes for furnishing, using, and obtaining consumer reports. The primary effect is to maintain the existing legal framework governing fair credit reporting rather than allowing the new changes to take effect. This action directly impacts financial institutions and other entities that rely on consumer credit data for their operations.
