This bill redesignates the existing National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund as the America's Legacy Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance on federal lands. It directs revenue from recreation fees and a portion of energy development income into the fund, which must be used primarily for repairing critical infrastructure like roads, trails, and buildings managed by agencies such as the National Park Service and the Forest Service. The legislation establishes strict rules requiring that most funds go toward non-transportation projects, mandates transparency through public dashboards tracking project status, and sets aside a small percentage for matching private donations. Additionally, the bill increases entrance fees for foreign visitors to ensure they contribute to the fund, while prohibiting the use of these specific funds for land acquisition or employee bonuses.
The Gateway to Careers Act of 2026 creates a new grant program to help states fund partnerships between workforce agencies, schools, and employers designed to guide individuals through specific career paths. These partnerships will receive federal funding to develop programs that connect education and training with in-demand jobs, while also providing essential support services like childcare, transportation, and mental health care to help participants complete their training. The bill prioritizes partnerships involving community colleges and those serving people facing barriers to employment, requiring applicants to use evidence-based strategies to improve student outcomes. To ensure accountability, the program mandates regular reporting on participant progress, job placement rates, and earnings, with a portion of funds reserved for independent evaluations of the initiative's effectiveness.
This Senate resolution expresses support for designating May 2026 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. It recognizes the role of motorcycles in transportation and encourages all road users to be more aware of motorcyclists to help prevent accidents. The measure promotes rider safety by highlighting the importance of proper licensing, training, and the use of protective equipment. Ultimately, the bill serves as a formal acknowledgment of the need for shared road safety rather than enacting new laws or regulations.
This bill amends federal law concerning the distribution of highway funds to states. It establishes a new minimum funding guarantee, ensuring that each state receives at least 0.5 percent of the total funds allocated through the federal highway apportionment formula. This change provides a baseline level of federal funding for state highway programs.
The STAR Act (HR 8399) aims to remove certain restrictions on how federal transit funds can be used. Specifically, it amends sections of title 49, United States Code, related to federal transit programs. The bill strikes provisions that currently prohibit the use of federal funds for acquiring transit rolling stock manufactured outside the United States and for constructing bus revenue vehicles by manufacturers not established in the U
The Working Waterfront Disaster Mitigation Tax Credit Act creates a 30% tax credit for businesses that invest in qualifying disaster mitigation projects on "working waterfront" property, such as commercial fishing facilities or boatyards. The credit covers up to $300,000 per year (adjusted for inflation after 2026) for projects designed to prevent flood, erosion, or storm damage using methods like structural elevation, floodproofing, or shoreline stabilization. To qualify, property must be used for water-dependent activities (e.g., commercial fishing or boating) with average annual gross receipts under $47 million and meet specific building code requirements for disaster resilience. The credit is limited to 10 years per business and applies to projects placed in service after 2025.
S 759, the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act, requires the Secretary of Commerce to standardize and publish digital maps online showing rules for public ocean and waterway access. The bill mandates that by 2028, the public will have free online access to detailed maps displaying where fishing is restricted, navigation rules (like speed limits or no-anchor zones), and which watercraft (e.g., motorboats, kayaks) are permitted in specific areas. It also requires regular updates to this data and ensures the website organizes the information for easy use, while excluding sensitive cultural or archaeological site details. This directly affects recreational users, commercial fishermen, and coastal communities relying on clear, accessible ocean access information.
The Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act of 2025 establishes a federal Task Force to identify and address challenges facing working waterfronts, which are properties used for commercial fishing, boating businesses, aquaculture, and other water-dependent coastal activities. It creates a $50 million annual grant program (2025-2029) to help coastal states, tribal governments, and Native Hawaiian organizations develop and implement working waterfronts plans that preserve access to coastal waters and protect these businesses from threats like sea level rise and conversion to incompatible uses. The bill also authorizes a preservation loan fund to provide low-interest loans for waterfront preservation, with special provisions for disadvantaged communities. Covered entities must develop plans identifying threatened waterfront areas, prioritizing preservation needs, and ensuring public access. The law aims to protect working waterfronts through coordinated federal and local planning efforts.
Automotive Support Services to Improve Safe Transportation Act of 2025 or the ASSIST Act of 2025 This bill expands the definition of medical services for purposes of veterans’ benefits to include additional medically necessary automobile adaptations. Under the bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs may provide funding for the following medically necessary automobile adaptations for driver or passenger use: ramp and kneeling systems, lowered floors, occupied and unoccupied mobility lifts, ingress or egress accessibility modifications, and adapted seating. The bill also extends the limitation on pension amounts for certain hospitalized or institutionalized veterans through September 30, 2032.
The REPAIR Act requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide car owners and independent repair shops with full access to vehicle data and repair information, prohibiting technological or legal barriers that restrict this access. It mandates that manufacturers share vehicle-generated data, critical repair information, and tools on equal terms with dealers and authorized service providers, without requiring consumers to use specific brands of parts or tools. The law establishes an advisory committee to monitor implementation and ensure fair competition in vehicle repair, while giving the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce these requirements as unfair or deceptive practices. This legislation directly affects car owners, independent repair facilities, aftermarket parts manufacturers, and motor vehicle manufacturers by shifting control of repair information and data from manufacturers to consumers.
