This bill requires the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) to create and update a plan for collecting and analyzing data about the skilled technical workforce. Specifically, it amends existing law to mandate that NCSES develop this data collection plan within one year of the bill's enactment, with updates required biennially thereafter. The plan must focus on gathering data through surveys specifically about the skilled technical workforce, replacing previous requirements for general workforce assessments. This change directly affects how federal data on technical workforce needs is systematically collected and analyzed.
HR 7051, the American Dream Act, allows individuals aged 65 or older to exclude taxable gains from selling their home to a first-time homebuyer under specific conditions. The bill applies when the home sells for $500,000 or less, the buyer is a first-time homebuyer purchasing it as their primary residence, and the buyer provides a sworn statement confirming these details. The exclusion is only available for sales occurring after December 31, 2026, and expires after December 31, 2031. This policy directly affects seniors aged 65+ selling their primary residence and first-time homebuyers purchasing it as their main home.
SJRES 84 is a joint resolution seeking to block a rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Affordable Care Act. The rule, published in the Federal Register on June 25, 2025, aimed to improve affordability and integrity in health insurance marketplaces. If approved, this resolution would invalidate the rule under a federal disapproval process, preventing its implementation. This directly affects how health insurance plans are structured and priced for consumers using ACA marketplaces.
This bill requires states to publicly report annually on major transportation projects (costing over $10 million) included in their statewide transportation plans. States must publish online reports detailing each project's score based on how well it meets state performance goals and national transportation targets, along with projected benefits, selection reasons, and geographic coordinates. The reports must also explain the metrics used to calculate project scores. These requirements apply to all states implementing qualifying projects, aiming to increase transparency and tie project selection to measurable outcomes. The law mandates these reports start one year after enactment and continue annually.
The REAADI for Disasters Act requires federal, state, and local governments to ensure people with disabilities and older adults have equal access to disaster services through accessible communication (including American Sign Language, captions, and plain language), inclusive planning processes, and accessible shelters. It establishes a new Disaster Human Services Emergency Fund to provide rapid support during disasters, including accessible housing, transportation, case management, and community-based services. The bill mandates that people with disabilities and older adults be included as key decision-makers in all phases of disaster planning, response, recovery, and mitigation, and requires adherence to accessibility standards for rebuilding damaged housing. It also creates training centers to help emergency management agencies better serve these communities and ensures that all disaster-related communications and services meet accessibility requirements.
HR 7046, the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026, removes qualified immunity as a defense in civil rights lawsuits against law enforcement officers. It directly affects federal, state, and local law enforcement officers by eliminating their ability to avoid liability in cases where they allegedly violated constitutional rights. The bill amends Section 1983 of federal law to prohibit using four specific defenses: claiming good faith, believing conduct was lawful, arguing rights weren't clearly established, or asserting the law was unclear at the time. This change means officers can no longer dismiss lawsuits based on these arguments after the bill's enactment. The law applies to all civil actions pending or filed after the effective date.
This bill would increase the base pay for Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officers by 35 percent, replacing their current base rate for all pay calculations (including retirement and locality adjustments). It applies to officers whose duties involve inmate custody, control, or direct custodial contact, including certain supervisory staff and lower-grade Bureau of Prisons employees with similar duties. The pay increase is capped at the Executive Schedule level V rate and would expire after five years unless a Department of Justice Inspector General review finds progress in reducing non-custodial staff use for custodial duties and excessive overtime. The review, required 180 days before expiration, would assess impacts on recruitment, retention, and institutional safety.
This bill establishes minimum salary and wage standards for paraprofessionals and education support staff in public schools. It requires states to set a minimum annual salary of $45,000 for full-time staff (increasing with inflation after 2030) and a minimum hourly wage of $30 for part-time staff (also inflation-adjusted). The federal government will provide $25 billion in FY2026, with annual funding increases, to help states implement these standards through grants. States must ensure all local schools meet these minimums within 4 years of receiving funds, with 98% of grant money allocated directly to schools for salary increases or professional development.
This bill requires state agencies administering the SNAP (food stamp) program to provide recipient-level data to the USDA Secretary upon request. It directly affects state SNAP agencies, which must submit this data within 30 days (or sooner for urgent cases) in secure electronic formats. Key provisions include mandatory data sharing for program oversight and integrity, strict privacy safeguards under the Privacy Act, and potential withholding of federal funds for non-compliance. The bill also clarifies that this does not limit the USDA's existing authority to access state data for program administration.
This bill modernizes the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which pays farmers to convert environmentally sensitive land to conservation uses. It clarifies definitions for "conservation buffers" (like riparian buffers, prairie strips, and wetland buffers), expands eligible land to include grasslands, wetlands (such as prairie potholes), and marginal pasture, and updates payment rules. Payments for establishing conservation practices (e.g., fencing, vegetation) remain at 50% of costs, but annual rental payments for reenrolled land decrease by 10 percentage points per renewal (starting at 85% for the first reenrollment). The changes directly affect farmers and landowners enrolled in CRP, as well as state/tribal partners proposing conservation plans.
HR 6271, the Food Bank Emergency Support Act of 2025, appropriates $462.5 million to prevent cuts to food assistance benefits during funding shortfalls or government shutdowns. The funds are specifically designated under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to maintain existing benefit levels for programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and food bank commodity distributions. It ensures these services continue without interruption, including barring furloughs for personnel involved in food distribution during emergencies. The bill directly supports food banks, grocery retailers distributing benefits, and millions of low-income households relying on these services. It takes effect as if enacted on September 30, 2025.
HR 6088, the *Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025*, repeals specific sections (10101-10108) from a prior reconciliation law. This action revives previous provisions related to food security programs that were modified by those repealed sections. The bill directly affects federal food assistance and agricultural support programs by restoring their prior legal framework. It does not create new policies but reverses recent changes to existing food security measures.
