The Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act of 2026 establishes a funding mechanism to help states and water treatment facilities respond to emergencies that pose a significant danger to public health, such as sewer overflows or cybersecurity incidents. Under this bill, the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator can provide grants and technical assistance for activities that prevent or mitigate health risks but would be too costly for ratepayers to fund on their own. The legislation authorizes $50 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support these emergency efforts and also increases the existing funding for drinking water emergencies during the same period.
The RESILIENCE Act of 2026 directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to launch a one-year pilot program that trains local government officials on assessing security risks at critical infrastructure facilities. The bill also requires the agency to create clearinghouses where owners and operators of critical infrastructure can access security guidance and best practices developed by the agency or trusted sources. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the agency produce annual public reports detailing its outreach efforts to these infrastructure owners across various regions and sectors. The act clarifies that these new requirements do not exempt the agency from existing federal civil rights laws.
The FLOWS Act of 2026 creates a $50 million grant program to help rural water systems adopt digital technologies that improve efficiency, detect leaks, and protect against cyber threats. These funds are intended for owners of public water systems serving fewer than 3,300 people, with priority given to community-owned organizations and those in greatest need. The grants can cover the design and construction of smart water infrastructure, workforce training, and cybersecurity measures, while also allowing recipients to purchase necessary software. Additionally, the bill requires a five-year study to evaluate how these digital tools impact water loss, system resilience, and project costs in rural areas.
The FARM AI Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prioritize artificial intelligence in its research, extension programs, and workforce training initiatives. This legislation requires the department to update its funding categories to include AI projects that enhance precision farming, resource management, and cybersecurity while adding specific training for implementing computing systems and maintaining agricultural machinery. To oversee these efforts, the bill establishes a new position called the Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor, who will coordinate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop national standards and promote the adoption of digital tools among farmers and rural communities.
The TOTAL Screen Time Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to create a voluntary technical standard that allows parents and guardians to set screen time limits across various devices like phones, tablets, and computers. This standard must protect the privacy of minors by avoiding centralized data collection and unnecessary data sharing between devices while maintaining device cybersecurity. The bill requires the NIST Director to consult with government agencies, device developers, medical professionals, and advocacy groups before establishing the standard. Additionally, the Director must submit regular reports to Congress and the public detailing the progress of developing and adopting this standard until 2032.
This bill directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to launch a two-year pilot program at land ports of entry along the Arizona border to test an artificial intelligence tool designed to detect unusual patterns in data. The system aims to assist officers in screening for illicit drugs and contraband by improving inspection accuracy, processing speed, and overall border security while addressing staffing challenges. To ensure safety and effectiveness, the program requires strict cybersecurity oversight and allows for collaboration with federal agencies and private sector experts. Throughout the pilot, officials must submit regular reports to Congress detailing the algorithm's performance metrics, costs, and any successes or failures before deciding whether to expand its use.
This bill converts Executive Order 14412 into permanent federal law, giving it the same legal weight as a statute. It directly affects government agencies and private entities that must comply with the order's cybersecurity and cryptographic standards. By codifying the executive order, the legislation ensures that the nation's defenses against advanced cryptographic attacks remain in effect regardless of future changes in administration. The primary mechanism is the formal elevation of existing administrative directives to the status of binding legislation.
This Pennsylvania House resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026 to protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from theft and fraud. The bill proposes requiring all states to upgrade to more secure chip-enabled EBT cards and mandates that federal security regulations be updated at least every five years. It directly affects the millions of low-income individuals and families in Pennsylvania and across the country who rely on SNAP for food assistance. The measure aims to address rising instances of benefit theft through methods like card skimming and cloning, which have left many residents without food.
