Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
This Senate resolution designates the week of September 27 through October 3, 2026, as "Religious Education Week" to recognize the role of religious instruction in civic and moral development. The bill highlights historical perspectives and legal precedents that support the right to religious education, including the use of sectarian schools and released time programs for public school students. It calls on all states, territories, and the District of Columbia to accommodate individuals who wish to leave public school attendance to attend religious classes.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026 reauthorizes federal housing assistance for Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians through fiscal year 2033 while expanding eligibility to include families with incomes up to 120 percent of the area median. The bill grants tribes greater autonomy by allowing them to set their own rent, procurement, and environmental review policies, and it streamlines regulatory processes by consolidating environmental reviews and exempting certain small-scale projects from specific federal requirements. Additionally, the legislation establishes new grant programs for homeless American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, creates a rental assistance program for homeless Indian veterans, and extends leasehold interests on trust lands to 99 years to improve financing options.
The GRACE for Military Survivors Act extends the deadline for surviving family members to deposit military death benefits into Roth IRAs or Coverdell education savings accounts from one year to three years. This change directly affects the spouses, children, and other dependents of deceased service members who are eligible for these tax-advantaged contributions. The bill applies to benefits received after enactment, while also allowing a transition period for amounts received between October 7, 2001, and the date the law is passed.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act establishes a dedicated federal program to improve the long-term health outcomes of wildland firefighters by addressing occupational exposures to smoke, hazardous chemicals, and heat. The bill creates an interagency Task Force and an Advisory Panel to develop a comprehensive health strategy, while also mandating that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issue new standards requiring respiratory protection, medical surveillance, and decontamination procedures. It provides federal employees with paid duty time for personal hygiene and gear cleaning after shifts and requires the installation of decontamination infrastructure at fire stations. Additionally, the legislation creates a specialized unit within the Department of Labor to process workers' compensation claims for firefighters and authorizes over $49 million annually in appropriations for these initiatives through fiscal year 2032.
This Senate resolution supports designating September 19, 2026, as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day to recognize families affected by stillbirths and promote preventive measures. It cites high annual stillbirth rates in the United States and notes that racial disparities place certain communities at greater risk. The text requests that the President issue a proclamation encouraging nationwide awareness programs and highlights the 2024 Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act as a foundation for federal resources and research.
The Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act of 2026 significantly restructures the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection by subjecting it to the regular federal appropriations process and establishing an independent Inspector General appointed by the President. The bill restricts the Bureau's supervisory authority over banks and credit unions with assets under $30 billion, allowing these institutions to elect to remain under their existing prudential regulators instead. It also introduces a safe harbor for small-dollar loans of $3,500 or less that meet specific structural requirements, shielding compliant lenders from civil money penalties and private damages. Additionally, the legislation creates federal standards for earned wage access services, requiring providers to offer a no-cost option for early wage access and prohibiting them from treating these services as credit or debt under federal law.