Legislation

This bill establishes the Mental Health Career Promotion Grant Program to address workforce shortages in mental and behavioral health. The program awards grants to partnerships between schools, community colleges, and mental health providers to create or expand initiatives that promote these careers to students. Activities funded will include educational presentations, internships, and mentorship opportunities for students in grades 9 through college.

This bill establishes the Medal of Sacrifice to honor local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. It mandates the creation of a Presidential Commission to advise on the medal's design, presentation, and eligibility determinations. The medal itself will feature a distinct design incorporating elements of the Great Seal of the United States.

The Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2026 addresses the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by eliminating a specific work requirement exemption and related state funding provisions. Congress finds that existing SNAP work requirements are ineffective at reducing poverty and create significant barriers to food assistance, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. This legislation aims to streamline access to benefits by removing these administrative hurdles.

The Strong Start Act establishes a new, direct $3,000 tax credit for parents of newborn or newly adopted children, payable within 30 days of filing. It also permanently extends and enhances American Dream accounts by making initial government contributions permanent, adding new matching contributions for low-income families with qualifying children, and ensuring these accounts do not affect eligibility for most federal assistance programs. Furthermore, the bill mandates the automatic enrollment of eligible individuals into these accounts.

The Balance the Scales Act amends ERISA to establish new procedural requirements for the Department of Labor when providing "adverse assistance" to individuals for potential ERISA lawsuits. Before providing such assistance, the Secretary must enter into a written agreement and notify potentially impacted employers or plan fiduciaries. The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress detailing all adverse assistance agreements and the assistance provided under them.

The Water Project Navigators Act establishes a Department of the Interior program to provide grants for hiring "navigators." These navigators will assist communities and organizations in developing and applying for funding for multi-benefit water projects. The program prioritizes support for rural, Tribal, and disadvantaged communities to increase their capacity for securing water project funding.

The Holiday Pay Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to mandate premium pay for employees working on designated federal holidays. Specifically, it requires employers to compensate covered employees at a rate of at least one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for work performed on these legal public holidays. This new premium pay cannot be counted toward standard overtime obligations. The Act establishes enforcement mechanisms and clarifies that it sets a minimum standard, allowing state or local laws to provide greater holiday compensation.

The Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026 establishes major federal funding streams, primarily through grants and tax-credit bonds, to modernize and repair public school facilities nationwide. This legislation prioritizes improvements focused on health, safety, and energy efficiency, directing significant resources toward districts serving low-income students. The Act also mandates transparency through public reporting and requires local districts to develop long-term facility master plans.

The Predatory Lending Elimination Act amends federal law to apply the Military Lending Act's 36% interest rate cap (MAPR) to most consumer credit transactions. This new restriction generally excludes residential mortgages and specific auto loans, while preserving stronger state consumer protection laws. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is tasked with issuing implementing rules within one year.

The ALS Better Care Act aims to improve care for individuals with ALS by establishing new Medicare coverage and a dedicated payment system for essential ALS-related services starting in 2027. This legislation mandates a supplemental annual payment to providers for coordinating complex care, including therapy and specialized support, while also requiring a report on challenges facing ALS clinical trials. The goal is to enhance the quality of life and lifespan for ALS patients by ensuring better access to coordinated, specialized care.

The Modern Worker Security Act prohibits federal law from considering the provision of benefits when determining an individual's employment status. This means benefits commonly associated with full-time employment can no longer be used as a factor in classifying a worker. The goal is to clarify the definition of an employee by removing benefit considerations from the determination process.

This bill formally integrates Therapeutic and Diagnostic Medical Physicists into the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. It establishes specific qualification requirements, including board certification, and incorporates these roles into the VA's established pay and personnel administration structures. The legislation also mandates a report assessing the impact of pay adjustments for these specialized physicists.

The TSP Fiduciary Security Act of 2026 mandates that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board protect national security as part of its fiduciary duty when managing the Thrift Savings Fund. The bill requires the Secretary of Labor to establish new regulations presuming non-compliance for investments in entities linked to prohibited foreign adversaries or certain shareholder votes. Furthermore, it explicitly prohibits TSP mutual fund window investments in entities based in the People's Republic of China.

The National Urgent Recruitment for Skilled Employees Visa Act of 2026, or NURSE Visa Act, significantly increases the annual availability of H-1C visas for nonimmigrant nurses from 500 to 20,000. This expansion aims to address critical nursing shortages by prioritizing placements in designated shortage areas. Additionally, the bill mandates that healthcare facilities petitioning for these visas must maintain a formal policy on provider-to-patient staffing ratios.

The Count the Crimes to Cut Act mandates a comprehensive accounting of all federal criminal offenses, both statutory and regulatory. It requires the Attorney General and numerous federal agencies to report detailed information on these crimes, including penalties and prosecution history. Finally, the bill mandates the creation of public, online indexes for all identified criminal offenses.

The Helping Our People Act of 2026 allows the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to withdraw funds from its permanent trust fund under an approved management plan. This legislation also clarifies that future federal laws will apply equally to the Tribe, ensuring continued partnership opportunities with the United States government.

The ABODE Act establishes a competitive grant program to fund the development or rehabilitation of highly energy-efficient and resilient affordable housing. Grants will be awarded to organizations to build or renovate homes for low-income households, prioritizing projects that reduce costs and increase accessibility. The Department of Housing and Urban Development will study the long-term savings generated by these improved housing standards.

The No Foreign NIL Funds Act prohibits U.S. colleges, student-athletes, and related groups from entering into Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements or other revenue-generating contracts with entities or nationals of designated foreign countries. This legislation aims to restrict foreign influence in collegiate athletics by banning financial relationships with countries outside of NATO allies, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. Covered entities must report solicitations from foreign interests, and non-compliant institutions risk losing federal student aid eligibility.

This Act prohibits the marketing and distribution of products falsely labeled as dietary supplements or those manufactured under the direction of debarred individuals. It strengthens FDA enforcement by allowing the refusal of entry for non-compliant imported products and authorizing the seizure of violative domestic products.

The Defend Rural Health Act of 2026 establishes stricter criteria for hospitals seeking rural geographic reclassification for Medicare payment purposes starting in late 2026. It limits eligibility to hospitals meeting specific designations like Rural Referral Center or Sole Community Hospital, and phases out existing reclassifications after 2029 unless new criteria are met. Furthermore, the bill prohibits hospitals from holding dual geographic classifications simultaneously for payment purposes.