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.
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 Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act creates a new federal tax credit for businesses that purchase printed circuit boards manufactured in the United States. This credit allows companies to claim 25 percent of the cost they incur for these domestically fabricated electronic components, which are defined as layered structures connecting various electronic parts. The provision is designed to encourage the use of American-made circuit boards by making them more financially attractive for taxpayers. It will take effect for purchases made after December 31, 2025, and the Treasury Department will issue necessary regulations to implement the rule.
This bill officially redesignates a specific playground in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia to honor children and families affected by childhood cancer. The legislation changes the name of the facility to the "Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer" and updates all federal records and maps to reflect this new title. This action directly impacts park visitors and administrative documents by establishing a permanent memorial name for the site. The measure serves as a commemorative resolution rather than altering operational rules or funding.
The Rural MOMS Act of 2026 modifies how Medicare counts hospital beds, specifically excluding labor and delivery rooms from the total number of acute care inpatient beds used to determine if a facility qualifies as a Critical Access Hospital. This change directly affects rural hospitals that provide maternity services by altering the financial thresholds required to maintain their special status under the Medicare program. By removing delivery rooms from the bed count calculation, the bill aims to prevent these facilities from losing their designation solely because they offer childbirth care. The legislation does not change how these hospitals are funded or operated, but rather adjusts the metric used to evaluate their eligibility for critical access benefits.
This resolution expresses support for designating May 17, 2026, as "Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day" to highlight a serious condition affecting premature and medically fragile infants. The bill aims to increase public understanding of necrotizing enterocolitis, a disease that causes severe intestinal damage and carries a high risk of death or long-term complications. By raising awareness, the legislation seeks to promote preventative measures, such as the use of breast milk, and emphasize the need for equitable care for all infants. This measure does not change laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to focus attention on the disease and its impact on families.
The GROUSE Act of 2026 establishes a new federal program to financially support private landowners in restoring habitats for upland wildlife species. Under this initiative, eligible landowners can receive payments covering 75 percent of the costs associated with planting native trees, shrubs, and other vegetation on forest land that has been recently logged or affected by natural disasters. To qualify, the land must be at least 10 acres, and payments are limited to the lesser of 5 percent of the total eligible land or 250 acres per owner. Contracts for these restoration activities will last up to five years and require a habitat plan developed with the help of wildlife experts or foresters.
The IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education to provide long-term funding for infrastructure improvements at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These grants are intended to support projects such as modernizing campus facilities, upgrading technology and broadband systems, enhancing safety measures, and acquiring research equipment, with a specific focus on addressing deferred maintenance and health risks. Priority for funding is given to institutions that demonstrate the greatest need due to facility conditions or financial limitations, as well as those serving high percentages of low-income students. The legislation also includes requirements for recipients to submit detailed plans, engage in community partnerships, and use a portion of funds for administrative costs, while prohibiting the use of money for routine maintenance or athletic facilities.
The Supporting Newborn Parents Act of 2026 creates a new tax credit of $2,000 for each child born to a taxpayer during the tax year. To receive this credit, parents must have earned income, with the maximum amount limited to 20% of their earnings, and the benefit phases out as family income rises. The bill allows parents to request an advance payment of the credit shortly after a child's birth by providing their information when applying for a Social Security number. Additionally, the legislation requires the Treasury to establish an online portal to help parents understand how to make elections regarding advance payments and estimated income figures.
The IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act authorizes federal grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to fund long-term improvements to their campus facilities and infrastructure. These grants are awarded competitively to eligible HBCUs based on criteria such as the age of their facilities, deferred maintenance needs, financial capacity, and student enrollment levels. Recipients may use the funds to construct or renovate buildings, upgrade technology and broadband systems, improve safety measures, and develop workforce training hubs, while being prohibited from using the money for routine maintenance or athletic facilities. The legislation also includes provisions for reporting on project outcomes and requires institutions to create comprehensive master plans that involve consultation with diverse campus and community stakeholders.
The Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act expands a federal tax credit for advanced manufacturing to include eleven new critical minerals, such as boron, copper, and uranium, while also adding specific rules for phosphate. It allows companies that extract ore in the United States to claim these credits for the extraction costs themselves, provided they certify that the ore is refined into a qualifying mineral and sold to an unrelated buyer. Additionally, the bill removes a previous penalty that reduced tax credit amounts for metallurgical coal, ensuring these materials receive the same financial support as other critical minerals. These changes are designed to encourage domestic production and processing of essential raw materials and will take effect for minerals produced and sold after December 31, 2025.
