This bill prohibits car manufacturers and dealers from selling safety features (like automatic emergency braking, lane assist, or crash alert systems) as optional add-ons that require extra payment. Instead, safety features must either be offered as standard equipment on all vehicles in a trim level or clearly priced separately from non-safety features (e.g., a sunroof or premium sound system). It directly affects car buyers by ensuring safety technology is not hidden behind costly "upgrades," and applies to all new vehicles sold in the U.S. The law also requires clear cost disclosure to prevent deceptive pricing practices.
The PART Act requires new vehicles to have catalytic converters marked with a unique identification number that links directly to the vehicle's identification number, stored in a law enforcement-accessible database. It establishes a $7 million grant program to help repair shops, dealers, law enforcement, and fleet owners purchase equipment for marking converters with visible, durable identifiers (using die or pin stamping and high-visibility paint). The bill also mandates that businesses buying catalytic converters keep detailed seller records (including vehicle information) for two years and use traceable payments, banning cash or cryptocurrency transactions. Additionally, it creates new federal criminal penalties for stealing or trafficking in catalytic converters, with potential sentences of up to five years in prison.
This bill mandates a study on how driver-controlled technology (like touch screen infotainment systems) affects traffic safety, particularly for pedestrians and bicyclists. The U.S. Department of Transportation will commission the National Academies to examine touch screen systems versus tactile controls (e.g., knobs/switches), smartphone use while driving, and factors like weather or traffic conditions. The study must analyze how these technologies impact driver distraction, severe injuries, and fatalities, and will lead to a public report and recommendations for potential data collection improvements. The bill itself does not create new laws but sets the stage for future safety decisions based on the findings.
Safe Vehicle Access for Survivors Act This bill requires providers of connected vehicle services, upon the request of a domestic violence survivor, to terminate or disable an identified domestic abuser’s access to a vehicle’s connected capabilities and data. Specifically, within two business days of receiving a request from a survivor, a covered provider must, if technically feasible (1) terminate or disable the connected vehicle account associated with the identified abuser or the relevant vehicle, or the vehicle’s connected capabilities; or (2) instruct the survivor on how to terminate or disable connected services directly. Covered providers may not make the termination of connected vehicle services or accounts contingent on any requirement other than the provision of specified information by the survivor. For example, a provider may not require a survivor to pay a fee or extend their contract with the provider. Under the bill, an abuser is an individual identified by a survivor who committed or allegedly committed certain acts against the survivor, including domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking. A survivor is an adult against whom such an act was committed. Further, a covered provider is a vehicle manufacturer, affiliate, or entity acting on behalf of a manufacturer that provides a connected vehicle service. Connected vehicle service is any capability that enables a person to remotely access data from or send commands to a vehicle. Finally, the Federal Communications Commission must prescribe regulations governing how covered providers address survivors’ requests related to connected vehicles.
This resolution (HRES 1043) is a symbolic congressional expression of support for designating February 2026 as "American Heart Month," an annual designation previously established by presidential proclamation since 1964. It does not create new programs or funding but affirms Congress's backing for existing awareness efforts focused on cardiovascular disease (CVD), citing CVD as the leading cause of death in the U.S. and highlighting statistics about its impact, costs, and risk factors. The resolution encourages public education about CVD prevention and recognizes ongoing efforts by organizations like the American Heart Association and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. It directly affects no specific group but supports nationwide public health awareness campaigns during February.
HRES 1047 designates January 2026 as "National Mentoring Month" to highlight the importance of mentoring relationships for youth development. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding but encourages public awareness and support for existing mentoring programs that help young people build skills, confidence, and educational opportunities. It emphasizes mentoring's role in improving academic performance, career readiness, and mental health outcomes without imposing any new obligations on individuals or organizations.
HRES 1044 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for designating 2026 as the "National Year of the Volunteer." It aims to honor volunteers who contribute to community safety, health, education, and civic life, while encouraging nationwide efforts to boost volunteerism ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the value of volunteer service and inspire greater community engagement.
HRES 1045 is a non-binding House resolution urging the Secretary of Education to collaborate with Tribal Nations and schools to eliminate race-based Native logos, mascots, and names from K-12 schools, particularly those receiving federal funds. It specifically targets over 1,900 schools nationwide using such symbols, citing research showing these representations harm Native students' self-esteem and reinforce stereotypes. The resolution also calls on state schools and national sports teams to stop using these symbols without proper authorization. It emphasizes the need to support Native students' academic opportunities by removing harmful imagery, referencing the American Psychological Association’s findings on the negative impacts of stereotypical mascots.
This bill would create new federal criminal offenses for law enforcement officers and government officials who use excessive force, steal property, or obstruct investigations into misconduct. It prohibits intentionally causing bodily injury through excessive force (with penalties up to 30 years for serious cases), stealing money or property valued over $25, and destroying evidence related to misconduct (with penalties up to 20 years). The legislation defines "excessive force" as objectively unreasonable force and establishes a 7-year statute of limitations for most offenses, except for those resulting in death, which have no time limit. This directly affects government officials acting under color of law by creating new accountability mechanisms for misconduct.
S 3803, the Right to Redress Act, allows individuals to request a jury trial when filing civil claims against the U.S. government for property damage, personal injury, or death caused by negligent or wrongful acts of federal law enforcement officers during official duties. It directly affects people harmed by federal officers (such as FBI agents or border patrol agents) while they are performing their jobs. The bill adds a new provision (28 U.S.C. § 2675(d)) requiring courts to provide jury trials for these specific claims upon the claimant's request. This changes the existing process by giving claimants a choice between administrative review or a jury trial, while clarifying that "federal law enforcement officer" includes agents and employees authorized to enforce federal law.
This bill requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to propose new federal safety standards for seat belts on all new school buses within 180 days of enactment. It directs the Secretary to specifically consider lap/shoulder belt systems (Type 2), safety findings from the National Transportation Safety Board, and existing state practices where seat belts are already required. The proposed rules must also evaluate innovative seat belt detection and reminder systems for school bus designs. The bill directly affects manufacturers of new school buses and aims to establish uniform federal seat belt requirements for all new vehicles, regardless of size.
The AI Grand Challenges Act of 2026 directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish prize competitions for U.S.-based researchers and companies to solve specific, measurable problems in critical areas like health, national security, energy, and cancer research. It requires the NSF to publish clear problem statements and success metrics for each challenge, including a mandatory $10 million prize competition focused on AI-driven cancer breakthroughs for detection, treatment, or diagnostics. Eligibility is limited to U.S. entities or citizens/permanent residents, with annual reporting to Congress on competition results and public accessibility via the Challenge.gov platform. The bill mandates public input on challenge selection and biennial reports detailing program activities and outcomes.
