The Equity in STI Testing Act requires Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, and the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover screening tests for HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and chlamydia without charging beneficiaries any out-of-pocket costs. The bill directly affects patients enrolled in these federal health programs by eliminating copayments and deductibles specifically for these preventive screenings. It also mandates that the Indian Health Service provide these tests to eligible Native Americans at no cost, regardless of whether the services are typically authorized under their purchased or referred care systems. These changes take effect on different timelines depending on the specific program, with some provisions applying immediately upon enactment and others starting in the following calendar year.
This House resolution formally recognizes the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and designates September 11, 2026, as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. It honors the actions of first responders, recovery workers, volunteers, and military personnel who aided victims in New York, Washington, DC, and Shanksville, PA. The bill urges all Americans to observe this day through personal acts of service, such as volunteering, displaying the flag, or participating in memorial events. It also encourages the public to maintain a spirit of unity and compassion throughout the year in memory of those affected by the attacks.
The Freedom Haulers Act extends the existing waiver period for military service members seeking a commercial driver's license from 12 to 24 months after separation. It requires states to waive specific knowledge and driving tests for current or former military personnel who held designated vehicle operator roles, such as motor transport operators or fuelers, within the last two years. To qualify, applicants must certify they have operated comparable commercial vehicles during that period and maintain a clean record with no serious traffic violations, license suspensions, or at-fault crashes. The bill also mandates waivers for specialized endorsements related to passenger transport, tank vehicles, and hazardous materials, provided the applicant meets similar service and safety criteria.
North Dakota SB 2407 authorizes the state historical society to borrow up to $35 million from the Bank of North Dakota to fund a new military museum project, with repayment required by June 2029 using specific donation funds or a future legislative appropriation. The bill assigns final decision-making authority for the project to the capital grounds planning commission and requires the historical society to submit quarterly progress reports on construction status and finances. Additionally, it amends state code to give the historical society jurisdiction over the North Dakota heritage center building, including responsibility for museum content in collaboration with the adjutant general, while allowing alcohol service at private invited events.
This Illinois House resolution formally congratulates Norlyn Dossey, a 102-year-old Vermilion County resident, for his distinguished service in the United States Marine Corps and his significant contributions to local media infrastructure. The bill recognizes his role as an engineer who helped build WDAN-TV in 1953 and later established cable television service in the region during the mid-1960s. It also highlights his post-military career as a radio engineer, business owner, and sponsor of local auto racing. The resolution directs that a copy be presented to Dossey as an expression of respect for his long-standing dedication to the community.
The Reducing Arbitrary Barriers to Apprenticeship Act of 2026 amends federal veterans' education benefits to remove financial and administrative obstacles for those pursuing apprenticeships or on-the-job training. The bill increases the monthly housing stipend for full-time apprentices to match the rate paid to military members with dependents, rather than the lower rate currently applied to students without dependents. Additionally, it waives the minimum monthly attendance requirement for veterans enrolled in construction industry programs, allowing them to receive benefits even if their on-site training hours fall below standard thresholds. These changes apply to recipients of Post-9/11 GI Bill, All-Volunteer Force, and Selected Reserve educational assistance.
This bill amends federal law to allow certain prior active duty service as a regular member of an Armed Force to count toward the reduced eligibility age for retirement in the reserve components. The change directly affects members of the Ready Reserve who have served on active duty, enabling them to qualify for retirement benefits at an earlier age than previously permitted under current rules. The legislation applies retroactively to qualifying service performed after January 28, 2008, ensuring that past service is recognized for these retirement calculations.
This bill expands access to educational assistance benefits by adding dependent parents to the list of eligible recipients under the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program. Eligibility is granted to the parent of a service member who dies from a service-connected disability or is rated as totally and permanently disabled due to a service-connected condition. The legislation includes technical amendments to ensure these new beneficiaries are properly recognized in rules regarding when benefits end, how long they last, and how correspondence course payments are processed.
This bill designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic located in Medina County, Ohio, as the "Leland John Codding VA Clinic." It requires that all future legal and official references to this specific facility use its new name.
H.Res. 1497 is a House resolution that commemorates the fifth anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing, in which 13 U.S. servicemembers were killed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The bill lists the names of the fallen soldiers and formally condemns the Biden-Harris administration for what it describes as dereliction of duty and the forfeiture of military property to the Taliban. It asserts that the withdrawal was a disastrous failure that ignored security warnings and left Americans at risk, while also criticizing the lack of accountability from officials involved in the decision-making process.
