This bill strengthens the enforcement of mental health and substance use disorder parity rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. It expands the scope of penalties to include plan sponsors, service providers, and administrators who fail to meet existing parity requirements, while also adding a specific category for genetic information violations. To support these enforcement efforts, the legislation appropriates $30 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to the Employee Benefits Security Administration. These changes apply to group health plans starting one year after the law is enacted.
The Social Security 2100 Act proposes significant changes to the U.S. retirement system, primarily increasing benefits for retirees, disabled individuals, and their families while also restructuring how the program is funded and administered. Key provisions include raising the maximum benefit percentage to 93 percent, adjusting cost-of-living calculations to better reflect inflation for elderly consumers, and creating new credits for caregivers of dependent relatives. The bill also extends disability benefits to children in college until age 26, eliminates the five-month waiting period for disability claims, and removes the cap on earnings subject to Social Security taxes after 2026. Additionally, it establishes a single Social Security Trust Fund to consolidate current accounts and mandates stricter protections for beneficiary data, including limits on access by political appointees and requirements for public notice before closing field offices.
The Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026 modernizes the H-2A visa program by transferring administrative authority to the Department of Homeland Security and introducing a unified online platform to streamline applications for employers and workers. Key provisions include establishing new housing standards with mandatory inspections, creating a system for staggered worker entry and exit, and allowing workers to transfer between employers without losing their status. The bill also defines specific job classifications for wage calculations, expands the scope of covered agricultural activities, and provides legal protections for employers who document the employment of workers seeking visa status. Additionally, it requires agencies to develop a heat illness prevention plan and allows for contract termination due to natural disasters.
The Support Our Miners Act updates the monthly disability payments for coal miners suffering from black lung disease to better reflect current living costs. It establishes a new base payment of $1,252.50 per month starting in 2026, which will then increase annually based on inflation data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This legislation directly affects thousands of miners and their families who rely on these benefits for healthcare and financial support, aiming to close the gap between the original 1969 benefit amount and today's economic reality.
The STRONG Act directs the Office of Management and Budget to create a separate occupational code for strength and conditioning coaches within the Standard Occupational Classification system. This change aims to formally recognize these professionals, who work with athletes, military personnel, and first responders, as having unique skills distinct from athletic trainers or physical therapists. The bill requires the OMB to establish this new category during its next revision of the classification system or submit a report to Congress explaining why it was not done. No new funding is authorized to implement this administrative update.
