Legislation

The Restoring Rights of Medical Residents Act proposes amending the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude medical residents from the definition of "employee." This change would remove federal minimum wage and overtime protections for residents participating in postgraduate medical training programs. The bill also includes a provision to repeal a section of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004.

This bill establishes the FBI Hiring Review Act, mandating a comprehensive audit of recent FBI hiring practices and background checks. It requires cross-referencing new employees against state-level misconduct files to ensure all relevant information was considered. Furthermore, the legislation requires certification of all agent training and a subsequent report from the Government Accountability Office on these findings.

This bill extends the surveillance authority granted under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for an additional 18 months. It specifically amends the expiration date for this critical national security tool to October 20, 2027.

The Faster Department of Veterans Affairs Construction Act of 2026 aims to streamline the construction and alteration of VA facilities. This bill directs the VA to utilize recognized commercial building codes and standards instead of federal ones where appropriate. It mandates at least three annual pilot projects to test this new approach between 2027 and 2031, with required reporting to Congress.

The Marijuana Impact on Medicaid Act of 2026 proposes to reduce federal Medicaid funding by 10% for any state that legalizes marijuana for adult recreational use. This reduction applies to all state Medicaid expenditures, though states with only medical marijuana programs are exempt. Additionally, the bill mandates a report detailing the costs to Medicaid from marijuana-related hospital and emergency room visits.

The PARITY Act, or Promoting Access and Revenue Integrity Through Institutional Transparency Act, aims to provide regulatory relief for institutions of higher education. This is achieved by repealing two specific provisions within the Higher Education Act of 1965 that currently impose requirements or restrictions on participating institutions.

The Home Modifications for the Climate Crisis Act establishes federal grants to help low- and moderate-income households fund crucial home improvements against climate disasters like floods and wildfires. It also expands services under the Older Americans Act to improve indoor air quality, cooling, and energy efficiency for older individuals. The bill authorizes $500 million annually to support these resilience and health-focused modifications.

This Act permanently bars any Member of Congress convicted of specific corruption or felony sexual abuse offenses committed while in office from receiving their federal pension or retirement annuity. The bill removes the requirement that corruption-related crimes must involve the Member's official duties to trigger forfeiture. These provisions apply to convictions occurring on or after the date of enactment.

The Railroad Retirement Fairness Act of 2026 aims to ensure railroad employees and their families receive equitable Social Security benefit protections. This bill prevents the reduction of Social Security benefits for railroad workers who also qualify for benefits through other employment by treating their railroad retirement annuity as a Social Security benefit for WEP and GPO calculations. Additionally, it eliminates a specific deduction from annuities under the Railroad Retirement Act.

The SAFE through Medicare Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include medically necessary "home resiliency services" for individuals at risk during climate or manmade disasters. These services, effective January 1, 2027, include items like heat pumps or solar batteries for those reliant on electricity or sensitive to extreme weather. The bill mandates establishing a process to identify medically at-risk individuals based on geography, disaster history, and medical needs.

The Climate Change Education Act establishes a federal program, managed by NOAA, to fund comprehensive climate change education for all ages. This initiative aims to increase climate literacy through formal schooling and nonformal programs, focusing on solutions, adaptation, and climate justice. The Act authorizes grants to K-12 systems, higher education, professional associations, and youth corps to develop and implement climate-focused learning and applied research.

The Parents Over Platforms Act establishes new responsibilities for application distributors (like app stores) and developers to protect minors online. This includes requiring age assurance mechanisms and obligating developers to tailor experiences and restrict personalized advertising for users identified as minors. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is granted authority to enforce the Act, which preempts state and local laws on these matters.

The America Grows Act of 2026 establishes mandatory, inflation-adjusted funding for four key agricultural research agencies through 2036 and beyond. This legislation ensures consistent financial support by protecting these appropriations from automatic spending cuts (sequestration). Furthermore, the bill exempts its budgetary effects from standard PAYGO scorecards.

The Speedy Tariff Refund Act of 2026 mandates the immediate, automatic refund of all duties unlawfully collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This legislation requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to issue these refunds, with interest, within 30 days without requiring any formal request or documentation from importers. Congress strongly urges businesses that benefited from these duties to pass the refunds along to affected customers and families.

The Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to officially include hot rotisserie chicken as an eligible food item for purchase using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This bill expands the range of food options available to SNAP recipients.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act ratifies a comprehensive agreement to finally settle all water rights claims for the Tribe in California. The bill confirms the Tribe's quantified water right, establishes a multi-million dollar settlement trust fund for water infrastructure and management projects, and addresses related tax issues on the Reservation. Furthermore, it authorizes the transfer of federal land into trust for the Tribe and the conveyance of specific federal land to the Coachella Valley Water District.

The FAFSA Verification Efficiency Act aims to streamline the federal student aid verification process, significantly reducing the documentation burden on students. This bill prohibits duplicate verification for Pell Grant recipients and limits the Department of Education from requesting information already available through other federal systems. Ultimately, the goal is to make accessing financial aid faster and simpler for students while maintaining necessary oversight.

The Pets Belong with Families Act prohibits public housing agencies from banning pets based on breed, size, or weight. This legislation allows agencies to implement reasonable pet deposits, capped at 10% of monthly rent and spread over three months. While agencies can still limit the number of pets or prohibit specific dangerous animals, this bill aims to keep pets with their families in public housing.

The Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act aims to retain experienced military pilots and aircrew by offering new service options. It allows those completing active duty to serve part-time in the Reserves while maintaining flight proficiency. Additionally, it establishes a pilot program for active-duty fighter pilots to take a temporary break from service before returning with an extended commitment.

The Know Your Labor Rights Act amends the National Labor Relations Act to mandate that employers prominently display notices informing employees and job applicants of their rights under the law. This legislation requires the National Labor Relations Board to establish regulations for these postings and the distribution of this information to new hires. Employers who fail to comply face civil penalties up to $500 per violation.