Accurately Counting Risk Elimination Solutions Act or the ACRES Act This bill establishes requirements regarding reports about hazardous fuels reduction activities and standardized procedures for tracking data for hazardous fuels reduction. Hazardous fuels reduction activities means any vegetation management activities that reduce the risk of wildfire but excludes the award of contracts to conduct hazardous fuels reduction activities. First, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior must include in the materials submitted in support of the President's budget each fiscal year a report on the number of acres of federal land on which such activities were carried out during the preceding year. Next, USDA and Interior must implement standardized procedures for tracking data related to such activities. The standardized procedures must include regular, standardized data reviews of the accuracy and timely input of data used to track hazardous fuels reduction activities; verification methods that validate whether such data accurately correlates to such activities; an analysis of the short- and long-term effectiveness of such activities on reducing the risk of wildfire; and for hazardous fuels reduction activities that occur partially within the wildland-urban interface, methods to distinguish which acres are located within and which located outside the wildland-urban interface. Finally, the Government Accountability Office must (1) conduct a study on this bill's implementation, and (2) submit a report to Congress with the results of the study.
This bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to better support children raised by relatives or close family friends outside the foster care system. It requires states receiving federal grants to prioritize placing children with kin and to include kinship caregivers in training programs focused on trauma and substance use. The legislation also expands advisory boards and information networks to include organizations serving grandfamilies and representatives from these families. By adding specific requirements for grant recipients, the bill aims to ensure that services address the unique needs of kinship caregivers and the children they raise.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Agriculture, Oversight and Government Reform, Education and Workforce, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, Homeland Security, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill expands federal election laws to prevent foreign nationals from influencing U.S. elections by tightening restrictions on domestic companies with significant foreign ownership or control. It requires businesses that are at least 50% owned by foreign individuals, or those with specific foreign influence, to file a sworn certification proving they are not foreign-controlled before making any political donations or spending money on election activities. Additionally, the law clarifies that these rules apply to state and local ballot initiatives and mandates that corporate political action funds certify their managers and board members are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The legislation also prohibits recipients of funds from these businesses from using the money for further political contributions unless they receive and verify the required compliance certification.
The Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Veterans Act of 2026 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire an independent research center to evaluate artificial intelligence tools currently used or being developed for patient care within the Veterans Health Administration. This evaluation will focus on five specific high-risk systems to assess their safety, accuracy, fairness, and how well they integrate with existing medical workflows. The law mandates that the findings be reported to Congress within a year, followed by a detailed plan from the VA to address any identified risks or gaps in oversight. Additionally, a government auditor will review both the evaluation and the VA's response plan to ensure accountability, all without requesting new funding for the initiative.
The Veteran's Surviving Spouse Parity Act of 2026 expands eligibility for specific mortgage tax benefits to include spouses and surviving spouses of veterans who are legally treated as veterans themselves. This change allows these individuals to qualify for the three-year ownership look-back exception when purchasing qualified mortgage bonds or using mortgage credit certificates. To support this, the Department of the Treasury will work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to issue clear guidance on how to determine veteran status for these programs, including rules regarding remarriage. The new provisions will take effect for any bonds or certificates issued after December 31, 2026.
The Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026 updates the Clean Air Act to broaden the definition of renewable biomass eligible for carbon credits. It specifically allows materials from forest management, such as slash, storm debris, and wood residuals, to be counted as renewable fuel if they come from sustainably managed lands or public forests designated for fuel reduction. The bill also includes vegetation cleared from defensible space around buildings and from wildfire risk reduction projects in the wildland-urban interface. By clarifying these categories and establishing certification requirements, the legislation aims to increase the supply of biomass available for generating renewable energy credits.
This bill, known as the D.C. Taxing Authority Review Act, modifies the rules for how new taxes and fees proposed by the District of Columbia government are reviewed by Congress. It requires that any D.C. law imposing or increasing a tax or fee must receive explicit approval from a joint resolution passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate within 60 days, or else the law will not take effect. Additionally, the bill limits the time for debating these specific approval resolutions to one hour, split evenly between supporters and opponents. These changes directly affect the District of Columbia government's ability to enact new financial measures without prior congressional consent.
The Main Street Capital Access Act reduces regulatory burdens for smaller banks, particularly those with less than $10 billion in assets. Key provisions include a 3-year phase-in period for new banks to meet capital requirements, lower leverage ratio requirements for rural banks (7.5% for the first 2 years), and a 30-day review process for business plan deviations. The bill also establishes an Office of Independent Examination Review, sets specific timelines for examinations (270 days) and reports (90 days), and creates a "least cost exception" for bank resolutions to prevent excessive concentration of the banking system. These changes aim to promote new bank formation, improve regulatory efficiency, and support community banking while maintaining financial stability.
This bill requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) administering prescription drug benefits for federal employee health plans to reimburse pharmacies at specific rates, including the national average drug cost plus a small percentage or $50, whichever is lower. It prohibits PBMs from favoring their own pharmacies, restricting patient choice, or reducing pharmacy payments after claims are processed. The bill establishes $10,000 civil penalties for violations, with debarment from federal health plans after 10 penalties in 10 years. This directly affects PBMs, in-network pharmacies, and federal health benefit plans covering millions of federal employees and their families. The law aims to ensure fair reimbursement practices and maintain pharmacy choice under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
This concurrent resolution formally recognizes the significant wage gap between Black women and white, non-Hispanic men in the United States. The document cites data showing that Black women earn roughly 65 cents for every dollar earned by white men and highlights how this disparity impacts their ability to support families and accumulate wealth. By referencing existing laws like the Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act, the bill reaffirms Congress's support for equal pay for equal work without proposing new legislation or policy changes. Ultimately, the measure serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the economic challenges faced by Black women due to dual discrimination based on race and gender.
This concurrent resolution formally recognizes the persistent wage gap between Black women and white, non-Hispanic men in the United States. It highlights data showing that Black women earn significantly less than their male counterparts and reaffirms Congress's support for existing laws that prohibit pay discrimination based on sex or race. The document does not create new laws or change policy but serves as a symbolic statement to raise awareness about the economic disparities faced by Black women.
