The Good Energy Jobs Act of 2026 amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to impose strict labor standards on any construction, maintenance, or repair project that receives financial assistance from the Department. The bill requires contractors to pay prevailing wages, ensure at least 15 percent of total labor hours are performed by registered apprentices, and maintain labor neutrality regarding employee unionization rights. Additionally, projects costing more than $1 million must negotiate project labor agreements, while all applicants must submit community benefits plans that include specific commitments to local hiring, job quality, and environmental protections for disadvantaged communities. The legislation also mandates that products developed with Department funding be manufactured substantially in the United States and prohibits offshoring production for five years after the assistance period ends.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
The Survivors' Rights Restitution Act of 2026 establishes a federal compensation program administered by the Attorney General for victims of sexual assault, abuse, trafficking, or exploitation involving Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as victims whose rights were violated by the federal government. Petitions are filed with the United States Court of Federal Claims and assigned to special adjudicators who must be mental health professionals or experts in victim services, civil rights law, or claims administration. The process is designed to be informal and less adversarial than standard litigation, with decisions required within 120 days and a minimum compensation award of $123,000. Compensation is funded by a dedicated Treasury account that accepts forfeited assets and voluntary contributions, and payments are exempt from federal income tax and means-tested benefit calculations.
The Critical Materials Future Act of 2025 directs the Department of Energy to establish a five-year pilot program that supports at least three domestic projects refining or recycling critical materials. The bill authorizes $750 million in funding and allows the use of innovative financial tools, such as price floors and contracts for difference, to stabilize markets and attract private investment. Projects are selected based on their potential to enhance national security and economic competitiveness, with priority given to those using domestic feedstock or sources from allied nations. The program includes a revolving fund to reinvest project revenues into new initiatives and requires the Department of Energy to publish a study evaluating the effectiveness of these financial mechanisms after the pilot concludes.
The WIC for Kids Act expands eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to include children in households receiving Head Start services, food assistance on Indian reservations, or nutrition block grants in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The bill extends the standard certification period for WIC-eligible children from one year to two years and allows state agencies to align recertification dates for all eligible family members within a household. Additionally, it requires states to automatically certify infants born to participating mothers without requiring a new application and grants automatic eligibility to children in kinship care arrangements.
The PSC Nonpartisan COURTs Act creates a private right of action for any citizen to sue in federal district court if their state fails to meet constitutional or federal redistricting requirements. The bill grants federal courts exclusive jurisdiction over these challenges, requiring that statewide claims be heard by a randomly selected three-judge panel and mandating that all levels of the judiciary expedite the review process. If a court finds a redistricting plan unlawful, it must first allow the state to propose a compliant replacement; if the state does not act in time, the federal court is authorized to adopt its own remedial map.
The Problem Solvers Independent Commissions Act would require all states to draw their congressional district maps through independent commissions rather than state legislatures, starting with the redistricting cycle following the 2030 census. These commissions would be composed of an equal number of members from the two largest political parties and unaffiliated citizens, selected through a random process that allows legislative leaders to remove up to 20 percent of applicants from each group. The bill mandates that commission members complete training on redistricting law and ethics, hold public meetings, and avoid private communications with elected officials or lobbyists while developing maps. If a state's commission fails to enact a final plan before the candidate filing deadline, the existing districts would remain in place for up to eight weeks before the state's highest court appoints special masters to draw the map, explicitly barring the legislature from intervening.
The Problem Solvers MAPS Act requires states to draw congressional districts that are contiguous, compact in shape, and nearly equal in population. It prohibits mapmakers from creating boundaries intended to advantage or disadvantage specific candidates, incumbents, or political parties. Additionally, the law mandates that state officials consider preserving existing political subdivisions like counties, cities, and tribal land boundaries when establishing new districts. These rules apply to any congressional district created on or after the date the act is signed into law.
The Problem Solvers TRUST Act would prohibit states from changing their U.S. House of Representatives district maps during the ten-year period following a census, unless a court orders new lines to comply with federal or state constitutional requirements. If such a court order is issued, the state must make changes that result in the smallest possible alteration to the existing map. The bill also sets a one-year deadline for filing legal challenges against a redistricting plan after it becomes law. These rules would apply to congressional redistricting occurring after the November 2032 federal elections and would not affect how states draw districts for local or state offices.
The Quiet Skies Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to create new regulations banning voice calls on cell phones in the United States. This rule must be finalized within 180 days of the law's enactment and will apply to all air travelers. The bill aims to reduce noise on airplanes by prohibiting passengers from making or receiving phone calls while in flight.
This bill, titled the Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act, extends federal funding for the African American Civil Rights Network by three years. The legislation directly affects the network's operations by amending the United States Code to change the authorization period from seven years to ten years. By updating this timeline, the bill ensures continued financial support for the organization's mission to promote civil rights and historical preservation. No new programs or policy changes are introduced; the measure solely focuses on renewing the existing funding authorization.
This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to equip specific contract air traffic control towers with advanced situational awareness tools within one year of enactment. It mandates the installation of Airborne Position Reference Tools at towers lacking these systems and ensures that towers without Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems receive necessary equipment and maintenance support. The legislation also updates funding rules to cover the costs of acquiring and operating these new tools and establishes training programs to help controllers effectively use the technology. Additionally, the bill provides financial reimbursement to airports that have already purchased similar systems before the federal government installs them.
