This bill amends the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule to create specific categories for silicone prosthetic breast forms and mastectomy bras intended for women who are breast cancer survivors. By establishing these new subheadings, the legislation sets a zero percent general duty rate for both items, effectively eliminating import tariffs on these medical supplies. The changes apply to goods entering the country or being withdrawn from warehouses for consumption starting January 1, 2027.
The Freedom Haulers Act extends the existing waiver period for military service members seeking a commercial driver's license from 12 to 24 months after separation. It requires states to waive specific knowledge and driving tests for current or former military personnel who held designated vehicle operator roles, such as motor transport operators or fuelers, within the last two years. To qualify, applicants must certify they have operated comparable commercial vehicles during that period and maintain a clean record with no serious traffic violations, license suspensions, or at-fault crashes. The bill also mandates waivers for specialized endorsements related to passenger transport, tank vehicles, and hazardous materials, provided the applicant meets similar service and safety criteria.
The Virtual-Based Opioid Treatment for Veterans Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to launch a two-year pilot program aimed at expanding access to virtual opioid treatment for enrolled veterans who face barriers to in-person care. This initiative requires the VA to conduct outreach, build referral networks, and coordinate with other federal agencies to connect veterans with telehealth programs that combine medication and counseling in a single visit. The bill also mandates a study on treatment barriers and requires annual reports to Congress on the program's progress until the opioid crisis is no longer considered a public health emergency.
This resolution honors the 100th anniversary of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), recognizing its role in advancing the profession of golf course management since its founding in 1926. The bill highlights the organization’s contributions to environmental stewardship, workforce development, and educational programs that connect students with science and technology concepts. It also notes the significant economic impact of the golf industry and the GCSAA's efforts to promote sustainable practices across the United States.
The GHOST Act prohibits ticket resellers from selling, offering for sale, or advertising event tickets unless they have actual physical or virtual possession of them. This legislation directly affects secondary market sellers by targeting "speculative ticketing," a practice where tickets are listed before the seller has secured them. The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with enforcing these rules and must establish a public website within 180 days for consumers to report violations. Violators face significant civil penalties, including daily fines of at least $15,000 and additional charges based on the number of tickets sold or their total value. State attorneys general are also authorized to bring civil actions on behalf of residents to seek injunctions, compliance, and damages.
S 1735, the Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act, requires government agencies that issue permits (like environmental or construction permits) to publish detailed online status updates for each application. Covered agencies must display on their websites: the stages completed in the review process, how long each stage took, the current status and time spent in that stage, contact information for reviewers, the full process steps needed, and an estimated timeline for a final decision. This directly affects permit applicants by providing clear, real-time tracking of their applications instead of opaque waiting periods. The bill mandates these specific, standardized details to make the permitting process more transparent and accountable for all involved parties.
The Tick-Borne Livestock Disease Research Prioritization Act directs the Department of Agriculture to provide research and extension grants aimed at addressing emerging tick-borne diseases in livestock, such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis. These funds are specifically allocated for developing vaccines, treatments, and improved surveillance methods to combat threats posed by invasive species like the Asian longhorned tick. Additionally, the bill supports educational programs designed to help veterinarians, state agriculture departments, and producers better recognize and prevent these diseases. By enhancing diagnostic capabilities and providing practical guidance, the legislation seeks to protect herd health and reduce economic losses for beef and dairy producers.
The SUSTAIN 340B Act overhauls the federal drug discount program to tighten oversight and prevent fraud by requiring covered entities to register their contract pharmacies and child sites with the Department of Health and Human Services. It establishes a new independent data clearinghouse to track claims and stop duplicate discounts, while also mandating that health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers treat 340B providers on equal footing without imposing discriminatory reimbursement terms. The bill defines strict criteria for what constitutes a valid patient relationship and authorizes a user fee program starting in fiscal year 2031 to fund additional audits and enforcement activities. These provisions directly affect safety-net healthcare providers, drug manufacturers, and insurance companies by increasing transparency requirements and expanding the government's authority to penalize non-compliance.
This bill mandates the automatic creation of "Trump accounts" for every newborn in the United States by utilizing data collected during the Social Security Administration's Enumeration at Birth Program. It requires the Commissioner of Social Security to modify existing procedures to gather and transmit necessary information to the Secretary of the Treasury, who is then obligated to open an account on behalf of each child identified through this process.
The Kids Online Safety Act (S 1748) requires major social media platforms, online video games, and other "covered platforms" to implement specific safety features for minors (under 17). These features include default privacy settings that limit harmful design features like infinite scrolling and auto-play, parental controls for managing minors' accounts, and restrictions on advertising illegal products to minors. The bill also mandates annual transparency reports about how platforms are used by minors and requires platforms to provide clear notices about their content algorithms. It creates a Kids Online Safety Council to advise Congress on online safety issues for children. The law applies to platforms with more than 10 million monthly users in the U.S. and takes effect 18 months after enactment.
The RCORP Authorization Act establishes a new program to provide funding for preventing, treating, and recovering from opioid and other substance use disorders in rural areas. This program allows the Health Resources and Services Administration to award grants to states, tribal organizations, and other eligible entities for up to five years. The funds can be used for planning, implementing evidence-based treatment models, addressing emerging public health issues, and providing technical assistance, but they cannot be used to buy or improve real property. The legislation authorizes $165 million annually for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 to support these efforts.
This bill, titled the Permanent CBDC Ban Act, aims to permanently prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency. It achieves this by amending the Federal Reserve Act to remove the specific legal authority that allows the Reserve to create such a digital currency. The legislation directly affects the Federal Reserve by stripping away its power to launch a digital version of the dollar. By deleting the relevant subsection of the law, the bill ensures that the Reserve cannot issue a CBDC in the future.
