The Living Wage For All Act raises the federal minimum wage in a tiered schedule, requiring large corporations to reach $25 per hour by 2031 while giving smaller businesses a longer timeline to catch up. Once the standard is met, the law automatically indexes the minimum wage to two-thirds of the national median hourly wage to ensure it keeps pace with economic changes. The bill also eliminates the lower minimum wage for tipped employees and youth workers, phasing them out until they match the general standard, and extends similar protections to incarcerated workers. Additionally, the legislation restricts the issuance of special minimum wage certificates for workers with disabilities and mandates that employers provide technical assistance during the transition period.
The HCBS Access Act requires Medicaid to cover a broad range of home and community-based services for people with disabilities and older adults, aiming to eliminate waiting lists and ensure these individuals can live in their communities rather than institutions. To achieve this, the bill mandates that states create detailed implementation plans, establishes a new advisory panel to recommend additional services, and sets a 100 percent federal funding match for these services to encourage state participation. The legislation also strengthens protections for family caregivers, requires states to remove financial liens on the estates of deceased beneficiaries, and creates a national technical assistance center to support the recruitment and training of direct care workers. Additionally, the bill directs the government to establish a separate occupational category for direct support professionals to better track workforce shortages and improve data collection on this critical labor force.
The Fuel STAR Act of 2026 amends the Renewable Fuel Standard to limit the volume of non-advanced biofuel required each year to match projected domestic ethanol consumption. It extends the use of credits earned between 2020 and 2022 for compliance through five additional years, while prohibiting the use of electric vehicle credits. The bill also expands exemptions for small refineries by adding specific economic hardship criteria and requiring the EPA to automatically approve exemption requests if it fails to respond within 90 days. Furthermore, the legislation allows for the year-round sale of E15 fuel blends containing 10 to 15 percent ethanol by removing previous restrictions on Reid vapor pressure limitations.
This bill authorizes the Capitol Police Board to waive the mandatory retirement age for members of the Capitol Police up to age 65. (Under current law, a member of the Capitol Police is generally subject to mandatory retirement at age 57 but may receive a waiver from the board authorizing later retirement up to age 60.)
New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act This bill modifies terminology for purposes of the New Source Review (NSR) permitting program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In order for a change to a stationary source to be a modification (a change to a stationary source that increases the air pollutant emissions or results in new pollutants) for purposes of the NSR permitting program, the maximum hourly emission rate achievable by such source must be higher than the maximum hourly rate achievable by such source during any hour in the 10-year period preceding the change. A change at a stationary source is not considered to be a modification under the bill if it is designed to (1) reduce the amount of any air pollutant emitted; or (2) restore, maintain, or improve the reliability of operations at, or safety of, the source. However, such changes are not excepted if the EPA determines the increase in the maximum achievable hourly emission rate from such change would cause an adverse effect on human health or the environment. Construction , in connection with a major emitting facility (a type of stationary source), does not include a change at such a facility that does not result in a significant emissions increase or a significant net emissions increase. In relation to major emitting facilities in nonattainment areas, the terms modifications and modified do not include changes at such facilities that do not result in a significant emissions increase or a significant net emissions increase.
The Build America, Buy America Compliance Act requires federal agencies to submit annual reports detailing how they are implementing rules that prioritize using domestically produced materials for taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects. These reports must list all relevant programs, identify which ones fully comply with domestic sourcing requirements, and outline specific timelines for fixing any gaps or replacing broad waivers with more targeted exceptions. The legislation also mandates that all waivers granted for using foreign materials be made publicly available on a dedicated government website to increase transparency. Ultimately, the bill aims to ensure that federal spending on infrastructure supports American manufacturing and workers by closing loopholes that previously allowed the use of imported goods.
The HELP Separated Children Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to identify parents of U.S. children during immigration enforcement actions and ensures they can make phone calls to arrange care for their children. It requires officials to notify child welfare agencies only when a parent cannot arrange care for their child or when there is an imminent risk of harm to the child. The bill also mandates that detained parents be allowed regular contact with their children, participate in family court proceedings, and be considered for release if it serves the child's best interests. Additionally, the legislation requires federal employees involved in these actions to receive training on minimizing trauma to children and establishes a system for collecting data on how the law is implemented.
The VA Home Loan Affordability Act updates the Department of Veterans Affairs' home loan program to make it easier and more affordable for veterans to buy or refinance homes. Key changes include removing the requirement for third-party verification of lender fees, allowing refinancing without an appraisal in certain cases, and lowering the minimum interest rate cap for adjustable-rate mortgages from 200 to 75 basis points. The bill also expands loan guarantees for condominiums, caps closing costs and seller fees at 1.5% and 6% of the loan amount respectively, and mandates regular reviews of debt-to-income ratios. Additionally, it requires appraisers to hold state licenses, directs the VA to update property suitability regulations, and sets a deadline for submitting a plan to modernize the agency's loan administration technology.
The Fair Air Standards Act allows states to request that the Environmental Protection Agency reclassify certain air zones from "nonattainment" to "attainment" status. This change is permitted if the state proves that its air quality would have met national standards for ozone had pollution from outside the state not been a factor. The process requires the state governor to submit evidence and modeling data, after which the EPA has 180 days to review and approve the redesignation. By shifting the focus to external pollution sources, the bill aims to provide a clearer path for states to improve their air quality designations.
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to study how domestic violence, sexual assault, and related traumas affect maternal health risks, including suicide, overdose, and poor birth outcomes, with a focus on diverse communities. It authorizes $15 million over three years to fund grants for states, healthcare providers, and community organizations to develop culturally relevant programs that support victims of violence during pregnancy and after childbirth. The legislation also requires the department to issue guidance within two years on how healthcare providers should routinely screen for intimate partner violence and implement trauma-informed care plans.
This bill, titled the Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act, aims to remove specific preferences and goals based on race, ethnicity, and gender from federal government contracting and financial assistance programs. It directly affects small businesses currently classified as socially and economically disadvantaged, women-owned, and women-owned and controlled entities by eliminating their special status in many federal statutes. The legislation repeals various sections of existing laws that mandated set-asides or priority treatment for these groups, while retaining similar protections for veterans and HUBZone businesses. Additionally, it requires federal agencies to update their rules and guidance within 180 days to stop considering race, ethnicity, or sex when awarding contracts.
The Rural Health Resilience Act of 2026 creates a new program to provide loans and loan guarantees to struggling health facilities in rural areas to prevent them from closing or cutting essential services. This assistance is available to various types of rural hospitals, clinics, and behavioral health centers that demonstrate financial distress through metrics like low operating margins or insufficient cash reserves. The funds can be used for facility repairs, covering operational costs such as payroll and supplies, paying down debt, or bridging gaps in insurance reimbursements. Additionally, the program prioritizes support for sole community providers and areas with high poverty rates, and requires the Secretary of Agriculture to report on the program's outcomes to Congress within 18 months.
