This Senate resolution expresses support for designating May 5, 2026, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The bill calls on the public and organizations to commemorate the victims and show solidarity with their families. It also recommends that the Department of Justice commission a new study to update statistics on the crisis, noting that the previous data is over a decade old.
The Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act directs the U.S. Secretary of State to strengthen international cooperation on biodefense, biosecurity, and biotechnology with allies and partners. Key provisions require the development of specific strategies to improve NATO's biological threat response capabilities and to expand collaboration with non-NATO allies on safety standards and export controls for dual-use biotechnology. The bill also mandates the creation of a report and congressional briefings within 270 and 90 days of enactment, respectively, to outline these strategic plans and address global developments in biological security.
HR 8745, the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act, authorizes the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to help build a water supply system for five counties in Montana and one in North Dakota. The bill allows the federal government to cover up to 75% of the costs for planning, designing, and constructing facilities like pumps, treatment plants, and storage tanks, while a local nonprofit authority retains ownership of the system. To operate the system, the bill provides for discounted electricity from the Pick-Sloan Program and authorizes $602 million in funding from 2027 to 2037, with provisions to adjust for rising construction costs.
This bill establishes a federal advisory committee to study challenges in transmitting geolocation and dispatchable location information with 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline calls. The committee, formed by the FCC and HHS within 180 days, will include representatives from telecom providers, crisis centers, mental health organizations, and local governments (with specific representation for rural communities and low-population states). It will examine privacy, technical standards, and funding needs before making recommendations for legislation. The committee must submit a report to Congress within one year. This is a procedural study bill, not a direct policy change, and it requires no new funding.
This resolution honors the life and legacy of Dirk Kempthorne, a former U.S. Senator, Governor of Idaho, and Secretary of the Interior. It formally acknowledges his public service across various roles, including his work on environmental conservation, veterans' support, and economic development in Idaho. The Senate expresses its sorrow over his death and directs that a copy of the resolution be sent to his family. Additionally, the Senate stands in adjournment as a final mark of respect to his memory.
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase the amounts payable for wartime disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Specifically, the VA must increase the amounts by the same percentage as the cost-of-living increase in benefits for Social Security recipients that is effective on December 1, 2026. The act requires the VA to publish the amounts payable, as increased, in the Federal Register. The VA is authorized to make a similar adjustment to the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who have not received compensation for service-connected disability or death.
The PARTNERS Act of 2026 allows individual states to directly enforce rules governing Medicare Advantage plans sold within their borders. Under this legislation, state officials would have the authority to require insurance companies to comply with federal standards for these plans, rather than relying solely on federal agencies. The bill also mandates that the federal government coordinate its enforcement efforts with states and permits the creation of collaborative agreements to streamline oversight. This change directly affects state regulators, Medicare Advantage insurers, and the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by shifting some enforcement responsibilities to the states.
This bill allows hydropower project license holders to request up to 6 additional years to begin construction on projects that received licenses before March 13, 2020. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) may grant extensions in two-year increments, but the total extension cannot exceed six years. For licenses expiring after December 31, 2023, FERC can reinstate them to immediately apply the extension.
This bill, titled the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, updates federal definitions to classify nursing degrees as professional degrees. It directly affects students pursuing nursing education and the federal financial aid programs that support them. The legislation amends the Higher Education Act to explicitly list nursing degrees, such as the Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice, alongside other advanced fields like medicine and law. By making this change, the bill ensures that nursing programs are recognized at the same level as other established professional disciplines within the federal student aid system.
The Maverick Act authorizes the transfer of three surplus F-14D Tomcat aircraft from the U.S. Navy to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama. The transfer is made at no cost to the government through a conditional deed of gift, with the Navy providing existing maintenance manuals and spare parts sufficient to make one aircraft flyable or suitable for static display. The agreement includes conditions requiring the Commission to maintain the aircraft according to Federal Aviation Administration standards, obtain approval before transferring ownership, and comply with federal and state laws regarding arms control and export regulations. If the Commission fails to meet these conditions, ownership of the aircraft reverts to the United States. The Navy is not responsible for repairing the aircraft before transfer, nor is it liable for any injuries or damages resulting from the aircraft's future use.
This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that retrospective and politically motivated accusations of war crimes against special operations forces from allied nations like the United Kingdom and Australia undermine military trust and alliance cohesion. It urges the executive branch to ensure that any investigations into alleged misconduct by these foreign troops are conducted impartially without being influenced by domestic political pressures. The bill emphasizes that applying new legal interpretations to past actions erodes legal certainty and discourages future cooperation, while simultaneously affirming the value of the sacrifices made by allied servicemembers. Ultimately, the measure seeks to protect the integrity of military partnerships by discouraging the use of war crimes allegations as tools for partisan gain.
This Senate resolution formally supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, which is observed annually from May 6 to May 12, 2026. The measure recognizes the vital contributions of nurses to the healthcare system and encourages the public to acknowledge their role through ceremonies and activities during the designated week. While the bill does not create new laws or funding, it serves to honor the profession and highlight the importance of nursing in patient care and public health.
