This bill requires most employers to provide workers with earned paid sick leave. Employees would earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year, which can be used for their own illness, medical care, caring for family members (including children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, or other family-like relationships), or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and requires employers to inform employees about their rights. It ensures that workers who leave and return to the same employer within a year can reinstate their unused sick leave. This law would not override more generous state or local paid leave policies.
This is a Senate resolution (SRES 604), not a bill, expressing the Senate's non-binding view that the federal government should create a Transgender Bill of Rights. It calls for protections including equal access to healthcare (specifically affirming gender-affirming care), anti-discrimination measures in employment and housing, easier legal gender recognition on documents, and safety improvements for transgender and nonbinary people in custody. The resolution outlines detailed policy goals but does not create new law or mandate government action. It serves as a statement of principle, not a legislative proposal.
HRES 1058 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing the federal government’s duty to develop a Transgender Bill of Rights. It calls for specific policy changes, including amending civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations; protecting access to gender-affirming medical care; and streamlining legal recognition of gender identity on federal documents like passports and voter registration. The resolution also proposes expanding protections for transgender and nonbinary individuals in healthcare, education, immigration, and correctional facilities, while emphasizing community-led policy development. As a resolution, it does not create new law but sets a framework for future legislative action.
This bill creates new criminal and civil penalties for corporate entities whose actions contribute to patient harm in healthcare settings. It targets "covered parties" including executives, directors, shareholders, and private equity firms that receive "covered compensation" (such as salaries, bonuses, or equity) from a healthcare organization experiencing a "triggering event" like financial distress leading to patient harm. The bill establishes a clawback mechanism allowing the Attorney General or state attorneys general to recover compensation received by these entities during the 10 years before or after the triggering event, with recovered funds to be used for employee benefits or community health services. It also requires healthcare entities to report ownership information and mandates a study on profit-driven practices in healthcare delivery.
This bill amends U.S. tax law to prevent corporations from avoiding U.S. taxes through "inversions," where a foreign company acquires a U.S. business and moves its tax residence abroad. It treats certain foreign corporations as domestic for tax purposes if they acquire a U.S. entity after May 8, 2014, and either have over 50% of their stock held by former U.S. shareholders or maintain significant U.S. operations (at least 25% of employees, compensation, assets, or income in the U.S.). Exceptions apply if the corporation has substantial business activities in its original foreign country. The changes apply to taxable years ending after May 8, 2014, targeting tax avoidance strategies rather than affecting most standard multinational businesses.
This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a formal process for selecting and evaluating a fiscal agent managing the Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program. It requires the Steering Committee and EPA Administrator to jointly select a qualified entity (e.g., nonprofit or commission) to handle program finances and administration, with assessments every five years to determine if a new agent is needed through competitive selection. The new fiscal agent must be headquartered in the Lake Champlain drainage basin, or in New York/Vermont if no local entity qualifies, ensuring local oversight. The bill also adds provisions allowing the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to collaborate on Lake Champlain fisheries work, including research and invasive species management.
This bill, S 3823 (FAIR Act), sets specific pay adjustments for federal employees in calendar year 2027. It mandates a 3.1% increase in base pay for employees covered by statutory pay systems (most federal workers) and prevailing rate employees (those paid based on local private-sector wages), and a 1% increase in locality pay adjustments. These changes directly affect all federal employees whose pay is determined under the specified systems outlined in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The bill is procedural, establishing concrete pay rate adjustments without altering broader employment policies.
The Soil CARE Act of 2026 requires the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to create a training program for its staff and third-party providers (like farming consultants and nonprofits) on soil health management practices. This training, delivered through online courses and in-person workshops twice yearly in each region, covers topics such as regenerative farming, soil biology, tribal considerations, and supporting small or underserved producers. The program must include specific curriculum units on soil health principles, organic production, diversified systems, and conservation practices that improve soil, water, and climate resilience. The law authorizes $10 million annually from 2027 to 2032 to fund this initiative, directly affecting how NRCS and its partners support agricultural producers.
The Stop Presidential Embezzlement Act (S 3817) would impose a 100% tax on damages received by the President, Vice President, certain high-level executive officials (level I of the Executive Schedule), and members of Congress from civil lawsuits they file against the United States. The tax applies to the total damages received during the period the individual held a covered position, including settlements or judgments. This would be implemented by adding a new tax provision to the Internal Revenue Code, treating such damages as fully taxable income without deductions.
The SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026 imposes sanctions on vessels and foreign entities supporting Russia's shadow fleet - vessels used to circumvent sanctions on Russian oil exports. It targets foreign vessels engaging in unsafe maritime behavior, lacking proper insurance, or evading the crude oil price cap, as well as foreign persons facilitating such activities through ship-to-ship transfers, insurance, or port services. The bill requires sanctions on port terminals in China or India accepting oil from sanctioned vessels and establishes a public database of vessels suspected of sabotage activities. It also creates reporting requirements and a strategy to counter China's role in evading sanctions on Russian energy products.
This bill prohibits U.S. federal agencies from awarding contracts to "inverted domestic corporations" - foreign companies that have acquired U.S. businesses and now have significant foreign ownership. It applies to civilian and defense contracts exceeding $10 million, requiring contractors to avoid subcontracting with these entities for more than 10% of a contract's value. The bill defines an "inverted domestic corporation" as a foreign entity that acquired a U.S. business and now has more than 50% of its stock held by former U.S. shareholders, or has significant U.S. business operations (at least 25% of employees, compensation, assets, or income in the U.S.). Agencies can waive this rule for national security or health programs but must report such waivers to Congress within 14 days.
This Senate resolution (SRES 601) designates the week beginning February 2, 2026, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week" to recognize these institutions' role in serving Native communities and their economic contributions. It highlights that tribal colleges serve students from over 250 federally recognized tribes, offer culturally grounded education, and contribute $3.8 billion annually to the U.S. economy. As a symbolic resolution (not a law), it has no binding effect but calls for public observance through community activities. The resolution focuses on honoring tribal colleges' mission and achievements, citing their open enrollment and economic impact statistics.
