Legislative Activity

This resolution establishes the special rules and debate procedures for the House of Representatives to consider three separate items. These items include a bill clarifying state use of funds for pregnancy centers, a bill requiring colleges to inform pregnant students of their rights, and a joint resolution disapproving a Bureau of Land Management land withdrawal rule in Minnesota. The resolution waives most procedural objections to expedite the consideration and voting process for all three measures.

The AI for Main Street Act directs Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to assist small businesses in evaluating and implementing artificial intelligence in their operations. This support includes providing guidance, training on best practices, and outreach regarding AI use for planning, security, and compliance. The bill also formally defines artificial intelligence within the Small Business Act.

The Main Street Parity Act modifies the criteria for Small Business Investment Act loans used for acquiring, building, or expanding business facilities. Specifically, it removes certain restrictive clauses related to facility loan eligibility under Section 502(3)(C). This aims to streamline or broaden the requirements for small businesses seeking capital for physical expansion.

This comprehensive bill focuses on strengthening retirement security through several key areas. It enhances savings opportunities by increasing catch-up contributions for older workers and expanding access to workplace plans. Furthermore, it aims to protect retirement assets by requiring investment decisions to prioritize financial returns and mandating greater fee transparency for savers. Finally, it promotes fairness by prohibiting discrimination in federal benefits administration and service provider selection.

This comprehensive appropriations bill funds the federal government for Fiscal Year 2026 across three major divisions: Financial Services/General Government, National Security/State Department, and other related programs. It allocates billions for the Treasury Department, the Judiciary, the Executive Office of the President, and extensive foreign aid, while imposing numerous spending restrictions and oversight requirements across all funded agencies. The legislation directs resources toward domestic financial enforcement, international diplomacy, global health, and security assistance, all subject to specific policy conditions.

This bill establishes special, expedited procedures for the House to consider and pass a specific consolidated appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 7006). It significantly limits debate time and restricts amendments to only those pre-approved and printed by the Rules Committee. The process is designed to quickly move the major spending bill to a final vote.

The SHOWER Act revises the federal definition of a "showerhead" to align with the current industry standard, ASME A112.18.1/2024. This legislation specifically excludes safety shower showerheads from the federal definition. The Secretary of Energy is mandated to update federal regulations to reflect this change within 180 days of enactment.

The Flexibility for Workers Education Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to clarify which time is excluded from "hours worked" for minimum wage and overtime calculations. Specifically, it excludes time spent changing clothes or washing if covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. The bill also excludes time spent attending voluntary, non-work-related educational or training activities that occur outside of regular hours.

This resolution establishes the rules for considering five separate bills related to labor and retirement law in the House of Representatives. The measures address topics including fiduciary duties under ERISA, defining hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), overtime calculations, the definition of a "tipped employee," and clarifying joint employer status. The resolution waives procedural objections to allow for expedited debate and votes on these bills.

This bill extends special duty-free trade benefits for Haiti under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act until December 31, 2028. It also restores preferential treatment for certain Caribbean goods that previously lost eligibility due to tariff schedule changes. Furthermore, the Act allows for the retroactive application of duty-free treatment for qualifying Haitian goods imported after September 30, 2025, pending importer requests.

This bill, the AGOA Extension Act, extends the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preferences for eligible sub-Saharan African countries from September 30, 2025, to December 31, 2028. It also ensures retroactive duty-free treatment for certain imports that entered the U.S. during any gap period following the original expiration date. Finally, the legislation makes a minor extension to the expiration date for certain customs user fees.

The Remote Access Security Act amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to establish new controls on the remote access of sensitive U.S. items by foreign persons. This legislation grants the Secretary of Commerce authority to regulate such access when it poses a serious risk to national security. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Secretary consult with key congressional committees before issuing new regulations on remote access controls.

The Affordable HOMES Act establishes a new process for the Secretary of Energy to recommend revisions to national energy efficiency standards for manufactured homes to the Secretary of HUD. These recommendations must be cost-effective and consider the unique construction limitations of manufactured housing. Furthermore, the Act nullifies the Department of Energy's 2022 final rule regarding energy conservation standards for manufactured housing.

The Breaking the Gridlock Act extends the enhanced premium tax credits for Marketplace health insurance through 2028. This ensures that increased financial assistance remains available for individuals and families purchasing coverage. The extension specifically covers both the increased credit amounts and eligibility for higher-income households.

This resolution establishes expedited procedures for the immediate consideration and final vote on H.R. 1834, a bill intended to advance policy priorities and break legislative gridlock. It waives standard procedural objections and sets strict limits on debate time. The bill will automatically incorporate a specific substitute amendment if submitted by the ranking minority member of the Rules Committee.

The Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act amends existing law to establish new, favorable repayment terms for the Arkansas Valley Conduit in Colorado. This bill mandates that 35% of the conduit's total cost must be covered by non-Interior Department entities during construction. The remaining balance can be repaid over up to 75 years at a reduced interest rate, contingent upon a finding of financial hardship for the contracting parties. Additionally, the responsible parties must assume all future operation and maintenance duties.

This Act amends the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to officially expand the Miccosukee Reserved Area by incorporating the Osceola Camp area within Everglades National Park. It mandates that the Secretary, in consultation with the Miccosukee Tribe, must take action within two years to protect structures in the newly added area from flooding.

This resolution establishes the rules for the House of Representatives to consider three separate bills concerning showerhead definitions, manufactured housing efficiency standards, and fiscal year 2026 appropriations. It sets strict limits on debate and waives procedural objections for each measure to expedite their consideration. The resolution also outlines specific voting procedures for the consolidated appropriations bill.

This Act, the Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act, ensures that tax deadlines postponed due to a disaster also apply to the time limit for filing tax credit or refund claims. Furthermore, it requires the IRS to factor in these disaster-related postponement periods when calculating the deadline for issuing tax collection notices. This standardizes the treatment of deadlines following a declared disaster.

This bill reauthorizes the Congressional Award Program, extending its authorization through October 1, 2028. It also updates the requirements for the composition of Congressional Award medals. Finally, the Act makes a technical correction regarding the Secretary of the Treasury's authority to strike these medals.