The Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats Act authorizes $20 million annually to fund grants for nonprofit partnerships that develop training programs preparing individuals for careers in the building and construction trades. These grants are awarded to groups that include employers, labor organizations, and educational institutions to create curricula aligned with industry standards and registered apprenticeship requirements. The program specifically targets underrepresented populations, such as racial minorities, women, veterans, and long-term unemployed individuals, by covering training costs and potentially providing stipends for work-based learning. To receive funding, applicants must demonstrate a partnership with an existing apprenticeship sponsor and show that the program leads to a high school diploma or equivalent for participants. The Department of Labor oversees the grants, which require annual curriculum reviews and independent evaluations to ensure participants successfully enter registered apprenticeship programs.
The Environmental Health Workforce Act of 2026 aims to address staffing shortages in public health by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to create model standards for credentialed environmental health workers and develop a strategic plan to train and retain them. This legislation directs the government to study best practices in six specific states regarding worker training and credentialing, while also expanding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to include full-time employment as an environmental health worker. The bill defines environmental health workers as professionals who assess environmental hazards and enforce safety guidelines, ensuring that efforts to strengthen this workforce are based on concrete policy changes rather than speculation.
The Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act of 2026 allows the State Department to rehire certain former career diplomats without requiring them to take new exams. This provision applies specifically to individuals who were involuntarily separated or retired between January 20, 2025, and January 31, 2030, as part of a reduction in force or similar expedited process. To qualify, these former employees must have been serving in good standing and must not have received low performance rankings in the five years leading up to their separation. The bill aims to streamline the reentry process for these specific groups by waiving standard testing requirements.
The Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a workforce development plan aimed at training cybersecurity professionals specifically for rural hospitals. This strategy requires the Secretary to consult with various federal agencies and healthcare representatives while focusing on partnerships, curriculum development, and identifying local security challenges. Additionally, the bill mandates the publication of free instructional materials and an awareness campaign to help rural hospital staff learn fundamental cybersecurity skills. The legislation does not authorize any new funding, relying instead on existing resources to implement these training and educational initiatives.
The Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act updates the tax credit available to small businesses that make their facilities more accessible to people with disabilities. It allows these businesses to claim the credit for a broader range of expenses, including equipment and services that go beyond the minimum requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act or are needed even if the business is not currently subject to those rules. Additionally, the bill clarifies the definitions of disability and reasonable accommodation within the tax code. The legislation also requires the Treasury Department to issue guidance and conduct public outreach to help eligible businesses understand the updated credit, with a report to Congress due two years after enactment. These changes will take effect for expenses incurred after December 31, 2026.
The No Corporate Crooks Act bars individuals from working in the federal executive branch if they have been convicted of specific crimes committed while serving as a chief executive officer of a public or private non-federal entity. This ban applies to offenses such as bribery, fraud, cybercrime, embezzlement, insider trading, wage theft, and tax evasion, as well as comparable state-level crimes. Additionally, the law requires that any current federal executive branch employee who would be ineligible under these new rules must be removed from their position.
This resolution expresses support for designating July 10th as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day to honor the workers who maintain the nation's electrical grid. The bill specifically recognizes the dangerous conditions these employees face, such as working at heights near live power lines and responding to disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. It also commemorates Henry Miller, the first president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who died on July 10, 1896, while performing his duties. Ultimately, the measure encourages the public to observe this day with reflection on the contributions of lineworkers.
The Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats Act authorizes $20 million annually to fund grants that help build and construction trade pre-apprenticeship programs. These programs are designed to prepare individuals from underrepresented groups, such as women, racial minorities, and veterans, for entry into registered apprenticeships by providing industry-aligned training and curriculum. Funding is awarded to nonprofit partnerships that include employers, labor organizations, and educational institutions, with a requirement that the training leads directly to available apprenticeship positions. The Department of Labor must evaluate the effectiveness of these projects based on participant success rates, and grants may be extended only if satisfactory performance is demonstrated.
The Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act aims to address the national shortage of qualified cybersecurity personnel by creating two new pilot programs within the Department of Homeland Security. The first initiative establishes an apprenticeship program that hires up to 25 individuals annually to gain on-the-job training and related education, with the goal of placing them in permanent federal cyber workforce positions after completion. The second program offers free cybersecurity training to veterans and military spouses, providing virtual and hands-on learning opportunities that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials. Both pilots include provisions for recruiting underrepresented communities and require regular reporting to Congress on participant demographics, completion rates, and employment outcomes. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for a federal cybersecurity workforce assessment from 2022 to 2028 to better track staffing needs.
The Young Farmer Success Act expands student loan forgiveness to include individuals working full-time as employees or managers on farms and ranches. To qualify, these agricultural operations must generate at least $35,000 in gross revenue from selling agricultural products in 2026, with the required income increasing annually based on inflation adjustments. This change directly affects young people seeking loan relief who are currently employed in the farming and ranching sectors but were previously ineligible for this specific provision.
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