S 3905, the Tariff Refund Act of 2026, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to refund all duties unlawfully collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to importers within 180 days of the bill's enactment, including interest. It mandates CBP to reliquidate previously processed imports to calculate refunds and prioritizes small businesses for faster processing, with coordinated outreach to them via the Small Business Administration. The bill also requires CBP to submit regular reports to Congress detailing refund progress and timelines. This directly affects importers who paid IEEPA duties, with specific provisions to streamline refunds for small business importers.
The SAVES Act of 2025 establishes a five-year pilot program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans with specific disabilities, such as blindness, mobility issues, PTSD, or traumatic brain injury. Nonprofits must apply competitively, meet training and animal welfare standards (including ADA compliance), and provide service dogs at no cost to veterans, with the VA covering all program expenses. The VA will also provide ongoing veterinary insurance for the dogs, which continues even after the pilot ends. This program is funded with $10 million annually for five years, targeting veterans as defined by VA medical criteria.
The Military Family Diaper Partnership Act directs the Department of Defense to allocate $1 million annually (2027-2030) to the National Diaper Bank Network to establish a dedicated fund for distributing diapers and diapering supplies. The fund requires matching contributions from non-government sources equal to the federal amount, and only supports diaper banks that have served military communities within 20 miles of a base for at least five years. It provides diapers directly to military families in need and funds technical assistance, with the network required to submit annual reports to the Defense Secretary. The bill does not create new eligibility rules but channels existing resources through established community partners.
HR 7659 designates the Pride flag as an authorized flag eligible for display at all National Park System units, including national monuments and parks. The bill specifically expresses Congress's sense that the Pride flag should be displayed at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, which commemorates the 1969 LGBTQ rights uprising at the Stonewall Inn. It cites the monument’s significance as the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ history and condemns the removal of the Pride flag from the site. The bill does not change existing park regulations but formally recognizes the Pride flag’s eligibility for display under National Park Service policy. It directly affects how the National Park Service manages flag displays at the Stonewall National Monument and other park locations.
The ReSCUE Oceans Act establishes a federal program to advance marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) research, development, and field trials through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It creates designated research areas for mCDR projects that require consultation with Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and coastal communities, while mandating monitoring of environmental and social impacts. The bill develops protocols for measuring carbon removal efficacy and establishes an interagency working group to coordinate federal efforts across NOAA, NASA, the National Science Foundation, and other agencies. It requires biennial reports on mCDR activities, includes special data protections for tribal communities, and aims to support safe, responsible mCDR technologies through science-based research and community engagement.
Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop or identify resources for small businesses to address concerns relating to the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Resources must be generally applicable, technology neutral, and based on relevant voluntary international standards, among other requirements. NIST must coordinate with the Small Business Administration with respect to the distribution of these resources. NIST must also review and update the resources at least biennially.
HR 2969, the Finding ORE Act, authorizes the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to enter into memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with partner countries that supply critical minerals and rare earth elements. The bill requires these MOUs to include cooperative mapping of mineral reserves, give U.S. or allied foreign country companies the "right of first refusal" for development, and facilitate U.S. private-sector investment through financial institutions like the Development Finance Corporation. It also mandates data protection for mapping information against unauthorized access by non-partner or non-allied countries. This legislation directly affects partner foreign countries (mineral sources), U.S. companies, and the U.S. Geological Survey, focusing on securing supply chains through international scientific collaboration.
Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act or the ASCEND Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Through the CSDA program, NASA acquires remote sensing data and imagery from commercial satellites to support its Earth science research. ( Remote sensing generally refers to the collection of data by instruments in Earth’s orbit, such as satellites, that can be processed into imagery of Earth’s surface.) Under the bill, NASA may establish or modify end-use agreements to allow for broad use of data and imagery acquired under the program, including by individuals outside of NASA (e.g., other federal agencies). The terms of any data or imagery acquisition may not prevent the publication of such data or imagery for scientific purposes or the publication of information derived from it. To the extent practicable, NASA must acquire such data and imagery from U.S. vendors.
Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act This bill removes less-than-lethal projectile devices (e.g., certain TASERs) from regulation under the Gun Control Act. The term less-than-lethal projectile device means a device that (1) is not designed or intended to expel (and may not be readily converted to discharge) commonly used ammunition or projectiles exceeding a velocity of 500 feet per second; (2) is designed and intended to be used in a manner not likely to cause death or serious bodily injury; and (3) does not accept (and cannot be readily modified to accept) an ammunition feeding device. The bill also requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine whether a device satisfies the definition of a less-than-lethal projectile device within 90 days of a request.
This bill increases the annual stipend for books, supplies, and educational materials under the Post-9/11 GI Bill from $1,000 to $1,400, effective immediately. It also establishes a new automatic annual adjustment starting in fiscal year 2026, tying stipend increases to inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Specifically, the stipend will rise each year by the percentage difference between the current CPI and the previous year’s CPI. This directly affects veterans using the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for their education expenses.
End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish case management to certain veterans who are eligible for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA. Specifically, the VA must furnish case management to veterans who are eligible for HUD-VASH that the VA determines require case management. The VA must prioritize vulnerable homeless veterans in assigning case managers and providing services. The VA must take certain actions if a veteran refuses case management. HUD or a public housing authority may not revoke assistance solely on the basis that a veteran has refused case management. Additionally, a veteran may not be evicted or penalized by the owner of a property solely on the basis that they have refused case management or cannot be provided case management for health and safety reasons. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on veterans who are served by the HUD-VASH program, case managers and case management services provided under the program, and metrics about housing stability for veterans participating in federal housing assistance programs. The bill also provides statutory authority to expand eligibility for the HUD-VASH program to any veteran who is homeless, at risk of homelessness, or receiving assistance under another housing assistance program if the VA determines a voucher under HUD-VASH is more appropriate. (Currently, assistance is statutorily limited to certain veterans who have chronic mental illness or substance use disorders.)
Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025 This bill revives and makes permanent the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan guarantee program to guarantee loans for a veteran’s purchase of stock or membership in a cooperative housing corporation (i.e., co-op) for the purpose of entitling the veteran to occupy a single family residential unit. For purposes of the administration of such loans, the bill establishes a fee rate of the usual fee plus 3.25% of the total amount of the loan, treats such cooperative housing units as residential property for purposes of imposing restrictions and liabilities, and guarantees up to 25% of the amount of the loan for loans exceeding $144,000. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to advertise the availability of loan guarantees for cooperative housing unit loans, including by issuing guidance and notifying eligible veterans.
