This bill would add pharmacist services to Medicare Part B coverage for beneficiaries, specifically covering pharmacist-led testing and treatment for illnesses like flu, COVID-19, or strep throat during public health emergencies. It defines covered services as those performed under state law, often requiring collaboration with a physician, and sets payment at 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or 85% of physician payment rates. Pharmacists would be prohibited from balance billing for these services, ensuring Medicare beneficiaries pay only their standard copayment. The changes would take effect January 1, 2026.
HR 2616, the PROTECT Kids Act, requires public elementary and middle schools receiving federal education funding to obtain parental consent before changing a student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms, or before assigning them to sex-based accommodations like locker rooms or bathrooms. The bill directly affects minor students in elementary school or middle grades (ages typically 5-14). Schools must secure this consent as a condition for maintaining federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The law focuses on specific administrative changes to student records and facility assignments, not broader educational content or curriculum.
This bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative $5 gold and $1 silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins must feature designs honoring victims and first responders (including the inscription "Never Forget") and will be sold only during 2027-2028. All surcharges ($35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coin) collected from sales will fund the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, with no net cost to the federal government. The coins are legal tender but primarily intended for collectors, not circulation.
The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act authorizes the creation of a new Smithsonian museum dedicated to women’s history, to be located within the National Mall Reserve in Washington, D.C. If the site is managed by another federal agency, the bill requires that agency to transfer the land after notifying Congress and relevant committees. The museum must ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent diverse women’s experiences by consulting a broad range of experts and community voices. The Smithsonian will submit biennial reports to Congress detailing how the museum meets these representation standards.
The Strategy for Crisis Management Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Defense to create a detailed plan for managing potential conflicts in the South China Sea. This strategy must identify specific flashpoints where tensions could escalate and develop "crisis playbooks" that outline sequenced response options for various scenarios. These playbooks will include diplomatic and economic measures alongside military actions, each accompanied by an analysis of costs, risks, and potential humanitarian impacts. The plan is designed to coordinate efforts with foreign partners and other government agencies while being reviewed and updated at least twice a year.
The Dietary Supplements Access Act allows individuals to use pre-tax funds from Health Savings Accounts, Archer Medical Savings Accounts, and health flexible spending arrangements to purchase dietary supplements. This change permits up to $500 per year, or $250 for married individuals filing separately, to be spent on these items without incurring taxes. The law specifically defines dietary supplements according to federal food and drug standards while excluding energy drinks, soft drinks, and sodas. These tax benefits will only become available for expenses incurred after December 31, 2026.
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.
This bill directs the Department of Defense to connect military recruits who cannot enlist with the Job Corps program for training in skilled industrial jobs within the defense industry. It expands specific workforce incentives to include Job Corps centers and gives local operators more flexibility to hire staff, partner with educational institutions, and manage their programs without waiting for federal approval. The legislation also updates rules to allow Job Corps centers to accept cash donations and grants more easily while streamlining enrollment for veterans and active-duty service members. Overall, the act aims to reduce shortages of skilled workers in defense manufacturing by aligning Job Corps training with the needs of the defense industrial base.
The Upward Mobility Act of 2026 would establish a 5-year pilot program allowing up to 5 states to consolidate multiple antipoverty programs - including SNAP, TANF, child care assistance, housing benefits, and energy assistance - into a single grant. States would design new benefit structures that reduce "benefit cliffs" (where increased earnings lead to loss of benefits) to improve employment outcomes and reduce reliance on direct assistance. The bill requires states to measure outcomes like employment rates, earnings, and reduced dependence on benefits using third-party evaluations, with participants not receiving additional benefits outside the pilot. States would receive grants based on previous funding from these programs, while maintaining emergency contingency funds for crisis periods.
HR 6802, the CLEAR Act of 2025, blocks the Forest Service from enforcing a specific rule (89 Fed. Reg. 92808, November 25, 2024) related to law enforcement and criminal prohibitions. The bill directly prevents the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service from implementing or administering this regulation. It does not create new policy but halts enforcement of an existing rule, affecting how the Forest Service operates under that specific provision. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on stopping the rule’s application without altering broader law enforcement authority.
HR 5638, the Geothermal Royalty Reform Act, clarifies how royalties are calculated for geothermal energy facilities under existing law. It amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to specify that royalty payments apply to "each electric generating facility producing electricity from such resources" and are calculated "by such facility." This technical adjustment updates the statutory language without changing royalty rates or creating new requirements. The bill directly affects geothermal energy producers who pay royalties under federal law. As a procedural amendment, it streamlines the existing royalty framework without altering policy substance.
HR 4684, the Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2025, grants a 10-year special use permit for maintaining a U.S. flag at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point in Utah's Uinta National Forest. The permit is first issued to Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah, or if he declines, to a qualified local resident or nonprofit with experience caring for flagpoles, prioritizing previous permit holders. Key provisions include exemption from land use fees, a process for renewal, and an explicit exemption from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The bill directly affects only the specific location and the designated permit holder(s) at Kyhv Peak, with no broader policy changes.
