Legislation

The Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026 aims to combat fraud and strengthen accountability within federal child care assistance programs. It mandates federal withholding of funds from states that fail to repay misspent money and requires states to detail robust internal controls for preventing and investigating fraud. Furthermore, the bill institutes permanent debarment for child care providers found guilty of fraud and establishes strict corrective action plans and potential funding ineligibility for states with high improper payment rates.

The SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 aims to protect veterans from fraudulent and unauthorized fee charging by reinstating strict penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for those who illegally assist with VA benefit claims. The bill mandates the VA to improve transparency by creating an online tool listing accredited representatives and enhancing public warnings about predatory practices on all claim-filing websites. Furthermore, it requires new data collection on paid assistance providers and establishes a robust, accessible accreditation system for legitimate agents and attorneys.

The Jewish American Security Act addresses the rising threat of antisemitism across the nation. It mandates new protections for Jewish students against discrimination in educational settings and enhances security measures for Jewish communities through grant program modifications and threat assessments. Furthermore, the Act requires large online platforms to report on their content moderation practices regarding antisemitism and mandates government reports linking online activity to real-world violence.

The LEO K9 Protection Act increases penalties for intentionally harming law enforcement animals, especially when a deadly weapon is used. It also directs the Department of Transportation to issue guidance and regulations ensuring emergency medical services can provide on-scene care and transport for injured police dogs. This legislation aims to enhance protections and medical response capabilities for these working animals.

This Act mandates the development of a comprehensive strategy for deploying and integrating unmanned and autonomous systems across the Indo-Pacific and Western Hemisphere. The strategy must assess current capabilities, identify system needs for maritime, air, and undersea domains, and plan for necessary basing, logistics, and allied cooperation. Furthermore, it requires a resource plan to address supply chain vulnerabilities and ensure the survivability of these systems against adversaries.

This bill establishes the **Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative** to address the critical shortage and high cost of childcare in rural communities. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize funding for projects that improve childcare availability, quality, or affordability in rural areas between fiscal years 2027 and 2029. The initiative ensures that existing USDA loans and grants are preferentially awarded to applicants focused on enhancing rural childcare infrastructure.

The Promoting Strong Native Families and Children Act significantly increases federal funding and administrative flexibility for Tribal child welfare programs. It reserves more federal funds for Tribes across key child welfare services and allows Tribes to receive Social Services Block Grants directly. Furthermore, the Act enables Tribes to operate prevention-only child welfare programs and allows states the option to count tribal caseworker visits toward their own federal requirements.

The FARM AI Act of 2026 aims to accelerate the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence in U.S. agriculture to boost productivity and competitiveness. It prioritizes AI research, development, and deployment across key Department of Agriculture programs, including grants and extension services. The bill also establishes a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor to promote technology adoption, provide technical assistance, and develop national AI standards for the sector.

This bill, the Conrad 30 Physician Workforce Optimization Act, aims to increase the number of physician waiver slots available to foreign doctors in each state from 10 to 15. It also establishes a new secondary match portal managed by USCIS to connect foreign physicians who were unsuccessful in the initial waiver application process with states and employers still needing to fill positions. This aims to streamline the process of placing international medical graduates in underserved areas.

The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act aims to strengthen protections and increase fairness for individuals reporting tax fraud. It grants the Tax Court the authority to conduct a fresh, independent review of denied whistleblower awards and mandates that awards are protected from federal budget sequestration cuts. Furthermore, the bill enhances whistleblower privacy by allowing anonymity in Tax Court proceedings and requires the IRS to pay interest on awards delayed beyond a specified timeframe.

The 988 Connect Act establishes a grant program to fund follow-up services for individuals contacting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It also mandates the FCC to ensure all 988 calls and texts are transmitted by mobile providers, including from non-activated phones. Furthermore, the bill requires multi-line phone systems to allow direct dialing to 988.

This bill mandates that the Navy and Maritime Administrator prioritize finalizing the design requirements for new Ready Reserve Force vessels. It also requires a congressional briefing within 180 days detailing the modernization plan, construction management strategy, and funding for the new 10-ship construction program. The legislation ensures a clear path forward for acquiring essential sealift capability while maintaining current readiness.

The Homeowners’ Escrow Savings Act aims to protect homeowners by requiring mortgage servicers to pay interest on escrow account balances, calculated based on the yield of one-year U.S. Treasury securities. This legislation also mandates that servicers use more comprehensive and accurate factors when estimating future property tax obligations. The bill ensures greater transparency and fairness in how homeowner escrow accounts are managed.

The Government Bailout Prevention Act prohibits the use of federal funds to assist state and local governments that file for bankruptcy, default on obligations, or face imminent default after January 1, 2026. This restriction applies to Treasury actions and Federal Reserve support, with an exception for disaster-related aid. The bill aims to prevent federal bailouts for financially distressed state and local entities.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the volunteers and communities that supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The Canteen was a massive, entirely volunteer-run operation that fed approximately six million service members traveling across the country. The original gold medal will be permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. The bill also allows the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the medal.

The Email Privacy Act modernizes federal electronic communication laws by standardizing terminology and expanding protections for stored data. Crucially, it mandates that law enforcement obtain a warrant to access the content of any electronic communication, regardless of how long it has been stored. The bill also clarifies the conditions under which service providers can voluntarily disclose customer communications.

The Foreign Service Workforce Retention Act amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to extend vital recall and reappointment rights to career members who separate from the Service, not just those who retire. This change allows former career members to be reappointed within five years of separation, with the Department required to act on requests within 180 days. The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress on the use of these reappointment authorities.

This bill aims to increase transparency regarding foreign influence over Department of Defense (DoD) contractors. It mandates that companies bidding on DoD contracts must disclose beneficial ownership information as part of their proposals. Furthermore, the legislation expands the scope of foreign influence risk assessments and lowers the contract value threshold that triggers these mitigation procedures.

The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 ratifies a comprehensive agreement resolving the Zuni Tribe's water claims in the Zuni River Stream System through defined water rights and federal funding for infrastructure. Title I establishes two dedicated trust funds totaling $685 million to support water projects and operations. Title II withdraws nearly 93,000 acres of federal land around the Zuni Salt Lake from mineral development and places certain parcels into trust for the Tribe, ensuring cultural and water resource protection.

This bill ratifies the Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Agreement to achieve a final resolution of the Pueblo's water rights claims in the Rio Chama Stream System. It establishes a federal Trust Fund, capitalized with $745 million, to support the implementation of the agreement and water infrastructure projects. In exchange for the recognized water rights and benefits, the Pueblo and the United States must waive most past and present water rights claims against each other in the stream system. The settlement becomes legally effective only upon the completion of several key actions, including court approval and necessary legislative enactments.