This bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress (1968-1982) and the first African American to seek a major party's presidential nomination (1972). The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a gold medal featuring Chisholm's image and name, which will be presented to her family by congressional leaders. After presentation, the medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution for public viewing and research. The bill also authorizes the production and sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs. This is a commemorative measure honoring Chisholm's historic contributions to American politics and civil rights.
The Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act (S. 91) authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to 60 diplomats who risked their careers and safety to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust. These diplomats, representing countries including Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and others, issued visas and provided safe passage to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution despite strict orders from their home governments. The medal will be presented collectively to the next of kin of each diplomat, along with representatives from their home countries, and then permanently displayed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The act recognizes these individuals' bravery without implying they represent all who performed similar humanitarian acts during the Holocaust. The medal serves as a permanent tribute to their sacrifice and will be available for public display and research.
This bill provides tax relief for individuals affected by specific disasters by excluding certain compensation payments from taxable income. It covers wildfire relief payments for losses incurred in federally declared wildfires after 2014 (including expenses like repairs, lost wages, and emotional distress), and payments related to the February 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment (covering property damage, closing costs, and inconvenience). Payments already covered by insurance or other sources are excluded from this tax benefit. The relief applies to payments received during 2020-2025 for wildfires and from February 2023 onward for the East Palestine incident, with extended deadlines for related tax claims.
HR 7438 directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be sold to the public at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively), with all surcharge revenue paid to FWC2026 US, Inc. for U.S. soccer programs. These funds must support soccer initiatives, particularly in underserved communities and youth development, as specified in the bill. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued during 2026, with no net cost to the U.S. government.
The Mark Our Place Act allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide or replace a headstone, marker, or medallion at the grave of any Medal of Honor recipient, regardless of when they served in the military. It removes a previous restriction requiring the recipient’s service dates to fall within specific time periods. This change expands eligibility for government-furnished grave markers to all Medal of Honor recipients, including those whose service ended long ago. The bill directly affects Medal of Honor recipients and their families by ensuring access to this symbolic honor without time-based limitations.
The Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act (HR 807) directs the U.S. Treasury to mint three types of commemorative coins honoring working dogs' service: $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins with specific weight and composition requirements. Each coin will carry a surcharge ($35 for $5 coins, $10 for $1 coins, $5 for half-dollars) that will be paid directly to America's VetDogs to support their programs providing service dogs for veterans, the disabled, and others. The coins will be issued in 2027 with designs reflecting working dogs' roles in military, detection, therapy, and assistance work. The legislation specifies that all surcharge revenue must fund America's VetDogs' operations without creating new government programs. This is a commemorative measure focused on honoring working dogs' contributions through coin sales, with all surcharge funds going to a specific nonprofit organization.
This bill authorizes the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal to tennis legend Billie Jean King in recognition of her lifelong advocacy for gender equality in sports and society. The legislation specifically acknowledges her pivotal role in advancing women's rights, including her work leading to the passage of Title IX and her efforts to establish equal prize money in tennis. Under the bill, the Secretary of the Treasury would strike a gold medal featuring an image and inscription of Billie Jean King, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. The medal would be presented by congressional leaders as a formal recognition of her contributions to American society. This is a commemorative honor, not a policy that creates new legal requirements or funding.
This bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Army Dustoff crews who served during the Vietnam War, recognizing their life-saving medical evacuations. The medal, to be designed by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, will be displayed at the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum. The bill honors the approximately 900,000 wounded personnel these crews transported over the course of the Vietnam War, including U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces, who relied on their rapid medical evacuation services.
S 3706, the Victims' VOICES Act, amends federal law to require courts to order defendants to reimburse specific expenses incurred by individuals who assume a victim’s legal rights (such as family members or advocates when a victim is unable to act). It clarifies that restitution must cover necessary costs like lost income, childcare, transportation, and medical/therapy-related expenses directly tied to the victim’s case. The bill directly affects defendants ordered to pay restitution and the people stepping in as victim advocates, ensuring they aren’t burdened by these costs. Key provisions mandate courts to include these reimbursements in restitution orders under existing victim compensation rules. This is a policy clarification, not a new entitlement, focusing on concrete financial support for those managing a victim’s case.
The "Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act" amends the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 to clarify US policy regarding Tibet. It directs the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues to counter Chinese disinformation about Tibet's history, culture, and institutions, including claims that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times. The bill specifically defines Tibetan Autonomous Regions for policy purposes and authorizes funds to support these counter-disinformation efforts. It reaffirms that Tibet has a distinct cultural identity and that dialogue between China and Tibetan representatives should occur without preconditions. The bill does not change US diplomatic relations with China but provides specific guidance for US policy implementation.
HR 4581, the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024, amends Title V of the Social Security Act to explicitly allow federal funds to support stillbirth prevention efforts. The bill directs states receiving Title V maternal and child health funds to use these resources for evidence-based programs and research aimed at reducing stillbirths, including tracking fetal movements, screening for growth issues, smoking cessation, and community support. It directly affects state maternal health programs by clarifying that existing funding can now cover specific stillbirth prevention activities previously not explicitly permitted. The law changes how Title V funds may be spent, adding clear provisions for research and programs targeting stillbirth reduction. This is a policy change that updates funding guidelines without creating new programs or mandates.
This bill (HR 2365, Public Law 118-66) directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the National Parkinson’s Project. It requires HHS to create and update a coordinated national plan for preventing, diagnosing, treating, and researching Parkinson’s disease and related disorders (including multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy), while coordinating federal research and care efforts across agencies like the NIH, CDC, and VA. The law mandates annual progress assessments, an advisory council with patient advocates and diverse experts, and annual reports to Congress on federal Parkinson’s programs and recommendations for improvement. It affects federal agencies managing Parkinson’s-related programs and aims to improve care coordination and research efficiency for patients and caregivers, with the law sunsetting in 2035.
