This bill authorizes a study to determine if Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire should be designated as a National Heritage Area. The study, led by the Secretary of the Interior with input from local groups and agencies, will assess the site's suitability and feasibility for this designation. It does not create the heritage area itself but sets the process for evaluating the historic site’s potential status. The study area includes the existing National Historic Landmark, covering 700 acres of land, 25 buildings, and associated historical resources.
This bill allows the National Park Service to extend certain existing park leases without following standard renewal rules, if the leaseholder has held the lease for at least five years and is in compliance with all terms. The Secretary of the Interior must determine that extending the lease benefits park management. The bill requires updating federal regulations within 90 days to formalize this change. It directly affects private businesses and operators leasing land within national parks.
The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to increase the use of prescribed fire (deliberately set fires to manage wildland fuels) on federal lands. It requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to increase prescribed fire acreage by 10% annually on federal lands, and establishes a Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program to fund projects meeting specific ecological and collaborative criteria. The bill also addresses liability for prescribed fire managers, streamlines environmental reviews, and creates a national education program to improve public understanding of prescribed fire. It requires annual reporting on prescribed fire activities and landscape-scale prescribed fire plans for national forests and Bureau of Land Management districts.
The Science of Reading Act of 2026 amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to require states receiving federal literacy development grants to align their reading instruction with "science of reading" principles. It explicitly prohibits the use of the "three-cueing model" (a method teaching word recognition through pictures, context, or guessing) and defines science of reading as evidence-based instruction in phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension. States must describe this alignment in grant applications, and federal funds for literacy programs will only support initiatives meeting these standards. This directly affects states and school districts administering ESEA-funded literacy programs starting in 2026.
This bill, known as the Safe Cloud Storage Act, would provide legal protection for private companies that store child sexual abuse material on behalf of law enforcement agencies. It directly affects technology firms and cloud storage providers that contract with police departments and prosecutors to keep digital evidence of child exploitation. The legislation limits liability for these approved vendors by shielding them from civil lawsuits and criminal charges when performing their contractual duties, except in cases of intentional misconduct, negligence, or acting with reckless disregard. To qualify for this protection, vendors must meet strict cybersecurity requirements including end-to-end encryption, regular independent audits, keeping data within the United States, and maintaining detailed records of who accesses the sensitive material. The bill also establishes procedures for notifying the Department of Justice about contracts and ensures evidence is preserved if a law enforcement agency fails to pay or breaches the agreement.
This bill redefines which minerals fall under federal leasing rules for acquired lands. It specifically adds "hardrock minerals" (including base metals, precious metals, and gemstones) to the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands, while excluding coal, oil, gas, and other minerals covered by separate laws. The change clarifies that mining companies seeking to extract these hardrock minerals on federal lands must now follow the established leasing process. This directly affects mineral extraction companies operating on federal lands and the Bureau of Land Management, which administers these leases. The bill makes no new financial or operational requirements but updates the legal definition governing these leases.
This Senate resolution supports designating September 19, 2026, as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day to recognize families affected by stillbirths and promote preventive measures. It cites high annual stillbirth rates in the United States and notes that racial disparities place certain communities at greater risk. The text requests that the President issue a proclamation encouraging nationwide awareness programs and highlights the 2024 Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act as a foundation for federal resources and research.
This Senate resolution formally acknowledges that supporting democratic actors within Russia aligns with U.S. national interests and commends Russian civil society and independent media for exposing government crimes. It directs the Department of State to renew and strengthen efforts, in coordination with the National Endowment for Democracy, to engage with and support pro-democracy Russian individuals and organizations. The bill also condemns the Russian government's crackdown on dissent and its war against Ukraine, while committing the U.S. Senate to standing with Russians who oppose the conflict and those living in exile.
This House resolution supports designating the week of September 20 through September 26, 2026, as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Week." It aims to honor the families of service members and veterans who have died in the line of duty. The bill encourages Americans to observe this annual week by performing acts of community service and celebrating the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
This House resolution supports designating September 19, 2026, as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day to honor families affected by stillbirth and promote efforts to prevent future losses. The bill highlights that over 20,000 pregnancies in the United States end in stillbirth annually, noting significant racial disparities in these outcomes. It references the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024, which allocates federal resources for related research and prevention activities. Additionally, the resolution requests that the President issue a proclamation encouraging nationwide programs to increase public awareness and support evidence-based prevention strategies.
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
The Justice for Ukrainian Children Act directs the U.S. government to support efforts to locate and rescue Ukrainian children forcibly transferred by Russia, while imposing mandatory sanctions on foreign individuals who facilitate these transfers. The bill authorizes at least $15 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to fund evidence collection, maintain a centralized database, and assist in the rehabilitation of affected children. It requires the President to block the assets and revoke the visas of any foreign person found to have knowingly participated in the abduction or indoctrination of Ukrainian minors, with limited exceptions for humanitarian aid and national security needs. Additionally, the legislation allocates $10 million annually to expand U.S. media broadcasting services in Ukraine and neighboring regions to counter disinformation.
