This bill expands Medicaid coverage to include services in assisted living facilities for individuals who currently require hospital or nursing home care, provided they meet state income and resource limits. It also modifies the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to give priority funding to projects that help reduce long-term medical costs for the elderly by offering care in non-institutional settings. Both changes are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, allowing states time to update their laws and plans to comply with the new requirements.
The Campus Lifeline Act of 2026 amends federal health laws to expand mental health support for students and youth. It directs support for student groups on college campuses, such as athletic teams and mental health clubs, to educate peers and intervene when warning signs of mental health or substance use disorders appear. The legislation also requires states and institutions of higher education to list the 988 suicide prevention hotline on newly issued identification cards. Furthermore, it mandates that federal agencies coordinate with the Department of Education and Transportation to create public awareness plans for the 988 hotline.
The Afterschool for All Act significantly increases funding for the Community Learning Centers program, raising the annual appropriation from $1 billion to $10 billion for the fiscal years 2026 through 2035. This expansion aims to support after-school programs in elementary and secondary schools, directly benefiting students and educational institutions that rely on these grants. Additionally, the bill amends the name of the relevant section in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to remove the term "21st Century," and it raises the corporate income tax rate from 21% to 22% for taxable years beginning after the law is enacted.
The FORGE Act establishes a new program within the Department of State called FIRST to support the international deployment of small modular nuclear reactors. Managed by the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, this program aims to promote U.S. nuclear technology abroad by facilitating diplomatic efforts, offering safety and regulatory guidance, and providing early-stage project support to help American businesses compete fairly with state-backed rivals. The legislation requires the program to submit regular reports and briefings to Congress detailing its activities, partners, and funding, and it is set to expire in 2034.
This Senate resolution expresses the Senate's view that the United States should prioritize countering the People's Republic of China as its main strategic competitor. The document outlines specific policy directions, including strengthening military deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, protecting American economic interests from Chinese trade practices, and leading in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. It also calls for maintaining strong alliances with nations such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines, while supporting democratic values and human rights globally.
This resolution expresses support for designating the week of May 8 through May 17, 2026, as National American Birding Week. It recognizes the economic value of birdwatching, noting that it generates billions in revenue and supports millions of jobs. The bill also highlights the importance of conserving migratory bird populations and encourages the public to attend related events. This measure is symbolic and does not create new laws or funding.
Ensuring Seniors' Access to Quality Care Act This bill repeals certain restrictions under Medicare and Medicaid that prohibit the approval of nurse-aide training and competency evaluation programs in skilled nursing facilities that have been subject to specified regulatory actions (e.g., civil penalties) for substandard quality of care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must still disapprove such programs for up to two years; however, the CMS must rescind the disapproval upon completion of corrective action and may require additional oversight of the program for purposes of rescission. The bill also allows Medicaid and Medicare providers (e.g., skilled nursing facilities) to access, through the National Practitioner Data Bank, disciplinary information for affiliated physicians and other health care practitioners, as reported by state licensing authorities.
The WAGES Act of 2026 introduces a new federal tax credit to encourage employers to hire and train workers through registered apprenticeship programs. This financial incentive allows eligible businesses to claim a credit equal to 50 percent of qualified wages and program expenses, with specific caps on the amount that can be claimed per quarter. The bill also modifies tax rules regarding apprenticeship awards, allowing certain items given to apprentices to be treated as non-taxable employee achievement awards rather than taxable income. These changes are designed to reduce the financial burden on companies investing in workforce development while providing a clear pathway for apprentices to gain skills and credentials.
The AI OVERWATCH Act establishes new export controls on advanced integrated circuits destined for specific countries of concern, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba. It requires companies to obtain a specific license for each export of high-performance chips, prohibiting the use of general licenses and mandating detailed certifications to Congress regarding national security and defense impacts. The bill defines these restricted chips by their technical processing power and creates a "trusted United States person" program that allows certain domestic entities to bypass licensing requirements if they meet strict security and ownership standards. Additionally, the legislation requires the government to develop an "American Artificial Intelligence Victory Strategy" outlining how to maintain U.S. leadership in AI against foreign competitors.
This bill requires state driver license agencies to report expiration dates and copies of non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The administration will then use a federal verification system to check if these drivers have unlawful presence in the United States and share that information with immigration officials if necessary. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reports to Congress detailing how many such licenses were flagged and where they were issued. States that fail to comply with these reporting requirements may face financial penalties under existing federal laws.
The VERIFY Act of 2026 directs the Department of Homeland Security to upgrade the SAVE program, which verifies immigration status for individuals applying for federal benefits, to ensure faster and more accurate responses. Key provisions require modernizing the system's technology to reduce delays, integrating it with other government databases for better data sharing, and mandating that status changes be reflected within 24 hours. The bill also establishes strict rules for using automated tools, ensuring human review is required for any negative eligibility decisions and prohibiting the use of the system for general law enforcement or criminal history checks. Additionally, the act prohibits charging fees to government agencies for verification queries and mandates regular audits by the Inspector General to monitor accuracy and compliance.
The FLEETS Now Act aims to strengthen the U.S. shipbuilding industry by creating new government roles, establishing international partnerships with allies, and investigating unfair practices by Chinese state-owned shipbuilding companies. It creates a new Assistant Secretary position at the State Department to oversee maritime and space affairs, designates a lead official for international shipbuilding investment, and sets up an exchange program for shipbuilding experts between the U.S. and other countries. The bill also requires regular reports on Chinese shipbuilding entities, establishes a framework for allied countries to collaborate on ship production, and directs U.S. diplomats to advocate for changes at the International Maritime Organization regarding environmental regulations and leadership positions.
