Legislation

The Workforce Development Modernization Act updates federal workforce laws to enhance access to services through the introduction of virtual one-stop career centers. This legislation provides greater flexibility for local areas to establish physical or virtual centers, including options for shared centers between adjacent regions. It also mandates the colocation of state employment service offices with physical one-stop centers where they exist.

This act, the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, removes a restriction that previously prevented disabled veterans from receiving both Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits and other VA educational assistance benefits at the same time. By repealing this limitation, the bill aims to ensure veterans can access both crucial support programs concurrently.

The State Authority to Protect Civil Rights Act empowers State Attorneys General to file civil lawsuits in federal court on behalf of state residents whose civil rights have been violated. This authority specifically applies to conspiracies against rights and deprivations of rights under color of law. Successful lawsuits may result in injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and punitive damages under certain conditions.

The After Hours Child Care Act establishes the Child Care and Development Innovation Fund to improve access to child care for parents working nontraditional hours. This pilot grant program will provide funding to expand or create child care options for those working evenings, nights, or weekends. The goal is to support workforce participation and economic stability for these parents.

The Community Bank Relief Act aims to support community banks by mandating inflation adjustments for certain payment card transaction fees. This legislation directs the Consumer Financial Protection Board to update a specified fee amount based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, starting with an initial adjustment between October 2009 and October 2025 levels. Subsequent annual adjustments will be based on the preceding October's Consumer Price Index increase.

The Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2026 amends tax law to prevent U.S. companies from avoiding domestic taxation by relocating their headquarters overseas. It tightens the definition of an "inverted corporation" by lowering the ownership threshold and establishing new criteria based on where management, control, and business activities are located. This legislation ensures that corporations maintaining significant U.S. operations and shareholder ties are treated as domestic entities for tax purposes.

The FUTURES Act of 2026 establishes a joint initiative between the U.S. and Israeli defense departments to accelerate and expand cooperation on defense technology research, development, and industrial integration. This program focuses on rapidly incorporating jointly developed and Israeli-origin technologies into U.S. military systems across critical domains like AI, counter-drone systems, and directed energy. The Act authorizes funding for these efforts and mandates regular reporting to Congress on progress and technology transition.

The GRID Act mandates that new large data centers (20+ MW) must secure all power, including backup, from sources completely separate from the electric grid. Existing grid-connected data centers have a 10-year transition period to obtain a "Zero Rate Effect Certificate" from the Secretary of Energy, proving they do not increase customer electricity rates. The Act also establishes public reporting requirements for utility usage, property acquisitions, and agreements related to utility service for these large data centers.

The Ratepayer Affordability and Transparency in Energy Act of 2026 establishes federal law to protect electric grid reliability by overriding state and local climate mandates that affect energy planning or increase electricity prices. This Act specifically preempts state laws, such as renewable portfolio standards, that require specific percentages of renewable or zero-emission energy sources. The goal is to ensure energy planning prioritizes reliability and affordability over certain state-level climate requirements.

The Employer-Directed Skills Act establishes a new category of job training focused on meeting specific employer skill demands. This training requires employers to commit to hiring participants and contribute a mandated percentage of the program costs based on their size. The bill streamlines the referral process for employer-sponsored training while updating performance metrics to track completion rates.

This bill mandates a comprehensive study by the Comptroller General to assess the economic fallout of federal workforce reductions on state and local governments. The study will analyze lost wages, decreased tax revenue, and increased demand for public assistance in affected areas. The resulting report will provide Congress with findings and policy recommendations to address these fiscal harms.

The Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Reauthorization Act of 2026 reauthorizes and expands the RISE grant program to support economic development in rural communities. This legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize smaller communities, ensuring at least 10% of funds benefit areas under 10,000 residents. The bill authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and updates program language for broader application.

The End the Vaccine Carveout Act aims to remove existing legal protections for vaccine manufacturers and administrators. This change would allow individuals to directly sue these parties in state or federal court for vaccine-related injuries or deaths. The bill also specifically repeals liability shields for COVID-19 vaccines under the PREP Act.

The SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act of 2026 mandates that states participating in SNAP must provide recipient-level data and case file information to the Secretary of Agriculture upon request. This data is required for the administration, oversight, and enforcement of the program. Failure to comply with data requests may result in the withholding or suspension of federal funds. The Secretary is required to protect the privacy and security of all data received.

The SIREN Act of 2026 allows states and territories to repurpose unspent broadband grant funds for critical emergency infrastructure projects. This legislation permits the use of these leftover funds to purchase and install warning sirens and disaster detection sensors. Entities must submit an approved proposal to the Commerce Department to establish a competitive subgrant program for these eligible emergency projects.

The Pay Less at the Pump Act of 2026 terminates the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing tax effective January 1, 2026. This bill also accelerates the repayment schedule for prior advances made from the Superfund to the General Fund. The overall goal is to remove this specific tax burden.

The Apples to Apples Comparison Act of 2026 mandates increased transparency regarding Medicare spending by requiring the Secretary of HHS to publish detailed expenditure data broken down by county and beneficiary type. It also directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to conduct and publicly release an annual analysis comparing spending between Medicare Advantage and traditional fee-for-service beneficiaries. Finally, the bill requires the Boards of Trustees to include specific expenditure breakdowns for different Medicare enrollment statuses in their annual reports.

The Last Sale Valuation Act of 2026 modifies customs valuation rules by establishing that the dutiable value of imported goods will be based on the price paid in the *last sale* leading up to importation, especially in transactions involving multiple sales. This act clarifies the definition of "sold for exportation to the United States" for duty calculation purposes. It also grants U.S. Customs and Border Protection the necessary access to records to verify these adjusted values.

This bill promotes the domestic recycling of spent petroleum catalysts to recover critical minerals like vanadium, reducing reliance on foreign sources. It directs the EPA to issue an immediate rule exempting facilities that recover these valuable metals from certain hazardous waste regulations under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. The goal is to encourage safe, domestic materials recovery without imposing duplicative regulatory burdens.

This bill establishes the **Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act** to protect confidential attorney-client electronic communications for incarcerated individuals. It mandates the creation of a secure system that prevents the monitoring of privileged digital correspondence between inmates and their legal counsel. While the system is being developed, inmates must be notified that their current electronic communications are subject to monitoring.