This bill, known as the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026, makes two main changes to federal healthcare programs. First, it allows Medicaid to cover foot and ankle care services provided by podiatric physicians, ensuring patients have access to this specialized care. Second, it updates Medicare rules to clarify documentation requirements for diabetic shoes, specifying conditions under which patients can receive extra-depth or custom-molded footwear. The changes take effect on January 1, 2026, for Medicaid services and January 1, 2028, for Medicare shoe coverage.
HR 7932, the HONOR Gold Star Families Act, increases the death gratuity paid to families of service members who died in the line of duty. It raises the current $100,000 payment to $200,000 for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026. The bill also adds an annual cost-of-living adjustment to this amount, increasing it each January 1 based on the previous year’s inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index. This directly affects Gold Star Families - those who have lost a service member in military service - by providing a larger initial payment and ensuring future payments keep pace with inflation.
The Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026 would temporarily suspend federal gasoline taxes and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate from its enactment until October 1, 2026, aiming to reduce costs for consumers who purchase gasoline. Specifically, it sets the federal excise tax on gasoline to zero during this period. To prevent funding shortfalls, the bill directs the Treasury to transfer equivalent amounts from the general fund to the Highway Trust Fund and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund. It also includes a policy that the tax reduction should be passed on to consumers and empowers the Secretary of the Treasury to ensure this, potentially through monetary penalties for producers and dealers who do not reduce prices.
This bill establishes a new interdivisional taskforce within the Securities and Exchange Commission to address the needs and challenges faced by senior investors, defined as individuals over the age of 65. The taskforce will be led by a director appointed by the SEC Chairman and will include staff from enforcement, compliance, and investor education divisions to identify problems senior investors face, such as financial exploitation and cognitive decline. The group will produce biennial reports to Congress analyzing trends, regulatory gaps, and recommendations for policy improvements while coordinating with state regulators and other federal agencies. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study within two years of enactment to assess the economic costs and frequency of financial exploitation of senior citizens. The taskforce will operate for ten years using existing funds without additional compensation for its members.
This bill, known as the Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention Act, requires schools that receive federal education funding to include mental health and suicide prevention resources on student identification cards. The law mandates that these cards display contact information for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and any state or local suicide prevention hotlines available in the area. Schools that do not issue physical ID cards must instead post this information prominently on their websites and include it on digital platforms students regularly use. The bill also directs the federal education secretary to run outreach campaigns to help students, parents, and school staff learn about these mental health resources.
Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 This bill prohibits life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term insurance carriers from denying or otherwise restricting coverage for living organ donors. Specifically, carriers may not deny, cancel, vary premiums, or otherwise impose conditions on policies based on an individual's status as a living organ donor. The bill also expressly specifies that recovery from organ-donation surgery constitutes a serious health condition that entitles eligible employees to job-protected medical leave. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services must update educational materials on living organ donation to include information about the benefits and risks of living organ donation and the impact of donation on insurance access, particularly with respect to the bill's changes.
This bill, titled the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act, exempts small businesses from import duties imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and requires refunds of any such duties already paid by small businesses. It also prohibits companies from raising prices on affected goods by more than the cost of the duties themselves during a five-year period following duty implementation. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules, with state attorneys general allowed to bring civil actions against violators, while small businesses remain exempt from the price gouging restrictions.
HRES 1110 is a non-binding House resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' disapproval of the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption and urging Japan to enact a nationwide ban. It references the U.S. 2018 ban on this practice (under the Agriculture Improvement Act) and notes similar bans in South Korea, Taiwan, and cities like Shenzhen and Jakarta. The resolution affirms shared U.S.-Japan values on animal welfare, encourages bilateral cooperation on animal rights, and clarifies it does not interfere with protected cultural or religious practices. As a symbolic diplomatic statement, it has no legal force but aims to influence Japan’s policies on animal welfare.
This bill, titled the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act of 2026, aims to enhance Taiwan's energy security by increasing U.S. liquefied natural gas exports to Taiwan and improving the resilience of its energy infrastructure. The legislation authorizes U.S. government agencies to coordinate with Taiwan on energy projects, provide technical assistance for cybersecurity and physical security improvements, and establish a joint U.S.-Taiwan Energy Security Center. It also directs an assessment of redirecting U.S. LNG exports currently sent to China to Taiwan and encourages Taiwan to maintain and expand its nuclear power capabilities. Additionally, the bill provides for insurance on vessels transporting critical goods to Taiwan and clarifies that the measures do not alter the U.S. One China policy.
This bill would require infant formula manufacturers to conduct standardized testing for specific pathogens and microorganisms in both their facilities and finished products. It mandates that companies report positive test results to the FDA within one business day and retain records of these findings for inspections. The legislation also requires the FDA to notify congressional committees within one business day of receiving positive test results or issuing certain inspection classifications. Additionally, the bill establishes clear inspection standards that apply to all infant formula products regardless of where they are made.
This bill makes AmeriCorps educational awards tax-free for recipients. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude these awards - provided under the National and Community Service Act of 1990 - from taxable income, meaning AmeriCorps members won’t pay federal income tax on the education benefits they earn. The key change adds these awards to the list of tax-exempt educational benefits under IRS Code sections 117(c)(2) and 108(f). The policy directly affects AmeriCorps members who receive educational awards for their service, removing a tax burden on their earned benefits. The tax exclusion applies to awards received after the bill’s enactment date.
This bill, known as the Care Over Profits Act of 2026, aims to reform health insurance regulations by increasing the minimum medical loss ratio requirement and strengthening penalties for fraudulent enrollment practices. It directly affects health insurance companies offering plans in small group and individual markets, as well as agents and brokers who help people enroll in qualified health plans through health insurance exchanges. The bill raises the medical loss ratio requirement from 80% to 85% starting in 2026, meaning insurers must spend at least 85 cents of every premium dollar on medical care rather than administrative costs or profits. Additionally, it introduces new civil and criminal penalties for agents and brokers who negligently or knowingly provide false information during enrollment applications, with fines ranging from $10,000 to $200,000 per affected individual and potential imprisonment of up to 10 years for willful violations.
