This bill requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to identify potential budget savings from preventive health care in its scoring of proposed legislation. Specifically, it directs the CBO Director to describe and estimate reductions in future federal spending resulting from preventive health interventions - such as screenings or vaccinations - when requested by congressional budget committee leaders. These savings would be included as supplementary information in budget projections, but not used to meet budget enforcement rules. The bill does not change actual health programs or funding; it only modifies how the CBO accounts for potential long-term savings from preventive care in budget analysis.
HR 2978, the GUARD Act, allows state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to use existing federal grant funds for investigating elder financial fraud, "pig butchering" investment scams, and general financial fraud. The bill directs these funds toward hiring specialized staff, training on blockchain tools and transnational fraud, purchasing investigative software, improving data collection, and creating financial sector liaisons to coordinate with banks. It requires annual reports from law enforcement on fund usage and outcomes, and mandates federal agencies to submit comprehensive reports to Congress on scam statistics, enforcement actions, and funding allocation. The legislation directly affects law enforcement agencies and aims to strengthen efforts against fraud targeting vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals.
HR 1653, the Civil Investigative Demand Reform Act of 2025, amends rules for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) information requests (civil investigative demands or CIDs) under the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010. It directly affects financial institutions and businesses under CFPB investigation by requiring CIDs to specify particular facts, extending the violation window to six years, and adding a process for attorneys to seek clarifications from the CFPB within 20 days. Key provisions include clearer legal grounds for challenging CIDs (such as undue burden or duplication) and allowing judicial review if the CFPB denies a request to modify or dismiss a CID. The bill aims to make the CID process more transparent and predictable for regulated entities.
This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on political affiliation when distributing federal disaster assistance. It directly affects all FEMA disaster aid programs by requiring that eligibility and aid distribution consider political affiliation as a prohibited factor, alongside existing protections for economic status. The key change is adding "political affiliation" to the list of protected categories in Section 308(a) of the law. This is a procedural update to existing federal disaster law with no new funding or program changes.
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 Survivor's Voice Protection Act makes nondisclosure clauses unenforceable if they prevent victims of sexual abuse or others from disclosing facts related to such abuse, a rule that applies retroactively to contracts signed before the law is enacted. The bill also requires fiduciaries, such as guardians or trustees, to report suspected grooming behavior to law enforcement within 90 to 180 days of learning about it. Victims who suffer harm due to a fiduciary's failure to report can sue for damages in federal court, and state attorneys general may also bring civil actions on behalf of their residents.
This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Army to transfer approximately 20 acres of land at Fort Bragg in North Carolina to the state government without charge. The property is intended for the construction of a veterans' home under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The state is required to pay all costs associated with the transfer, including environmental reviews and administrative fees, with any excess prepayments refunded by the federal government. If the land is no longer used for the designated veterans' facility, ownership may revert to the United States at the Secretary's discretion.
The Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025 amends the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to update research priorities and funding allocations for water resources research institutes. The bill adds artificial intelligence to the list of research areas alongside private industry and increases federal funding authorization to $16 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. It requires 20 percent of these funds to support research addressing interstate water problems and allows grants for projects focusing on regional or multi-state water issues. The legislation also expands the types of research institutes eligible for funding to include those working on problems identified by Congress as having interstate significance.
HR 7625, the MTS CYBER Act of 2026, mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review to assess the U.S. Coast Guard's budget and staffing needs for fulfilling its role as a Sector Risk Management Agency (SRMA) for maritime cybersecurity. The bill requires the GAO to evaluate Coast Guard funding for cybersecurity personnel, training, and enforcement; staff capabilities to monitor industry compliance; and guidance provided to maritime businesses against industry best practices. This review, due within 270 days of the bill’s enactment, aims to determine if current resources allow the Coast Guard to effectively protect the marine transportation system (MTS) - which includes ports, vessels, and waterways supporting $2.1 trillion in economic activity - from cyber threats. The findings will be submitted to relevant congressional committees to inform future funding decisions for the Coast Guard’s cybersecurity responsibilities.
The Pray Safe Act of 2025 establishes a federal Clearinghouse within the Department of Homeland Security to provide houses of worship, faith-based organizations, and nonprofit groups at risk of threats with evidence-based safety resources. The Clearinghouse will publish online best practices for security planning, facility safety, and incident response, while listing existing federal and state grant programs to help these organizations implement these measures. It requires annual updates based on user feedback and includes a centralized resource section for contacts like Protective Security Advisors and Fusion Centers. The program expires four years after enactment and does not create new funding but coordinates existing federal and state safety resources.
HR 2592, the Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025, requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create and maintain a public website listing medications approved for use by pilots and aircrew (airmen) during medical certification. The list must be developed with input from pilots' unions, air traffic controllers' representatives, and other stakeholders, and include details like "Do Not Issue" medications, required duty limitations for new medications, and contact information for medical providers. The FAA must publish this list within one year of the bill's enactment and update it annually. This directly affects pilots seeking or holding medical certifications by providing clear, accessible information about medication use in aviation.
This joint resolution seeks to overturn a Department of Homeland Security rule that would establish fixed time periods for admission and specific extension procedures for nonimmigrant academic students, exchange visitors, and representatives of foreign information media. If enacted, the bill would prevent this immigration regulation from taking effect, thereby maintaining the existing framework for how these individuals manage their stay in the United States. The measure directly affects international students, cultural exchange participants, and foreign journalists by blocking changes to their visa duration limits and renewal processes.
