This bill creates a private right for victims of certain violent crimes (murder, rape, or felony) committed by an alien to sue states or localities that qualify as "sanctuary jurisdictions" (defined as those restricting cooperation with federal immigration detainers). It allows lawsuits against jurisdictions that failed to comply with federal requests to detain or notify about an alien's release, with a 10-year statute of limitations. Jurisdictions accepting specific federal grants (like community development funds) must waive sovereign immunity to be sued. The bill also separately increases penalties for crimes against law enforcement officers and requires a report on prosecutions under the new provisions.
HR 7391, the Community Health Center Drug Pricing Protection Act, requires that Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) pay the discounted 340B ceiling price for covered drugs **at the time of purchase**, not later through rebates or adjustments. This directly affects FQHCs, which rely on 340B discounts to provide affordable care to low-income patients. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit manufacturers from entering agreements where FQHCs initially pay more than the ceiling price, with later reimbursement. It takes effect immediately upon enactment for all new drug purchases and applies to existing agreements starting then.
The Unlocking Homeownership Act allows individuals to use funds from 529 college savings plans for their first home purchase, rather than only for education expenses. It specifically permits distributions from these accounts to cover down payments or closing costs for a principal residence, provided the buyer (or their spouse, child, grandchild, or ancestor) has never owned a home in the past two years. Funds must be used within 120 days of withdrawal, and the bill includes a special provision for disaster-affected areas, allowing redirected use of funds if home purchases are delayed due to a federally declared disaster. This policy change directly affects first-time homebuyers who have saved in 529 plans, expanding the permissible use of those savings.
This bill prohibits federal officials from using settlement agreements to direct payments to third parties unless those payments directly compensate for actual harm caused by the defendant or pay for services rendered in the case. It prevents the government from creating slush funds through settlements that benefit unrelated organizations or individuals beyond the scope of direct restitution. Federal agencies must annually report to the Congressional Budget Office on settlement payments that meet the new criteria, while agency inspectors general must audit and publicly report any violations. The reporting and audit requirements are set to expire seven years after the law takes effect.
The Mammography Access for Veterans Act of 2025 expands the Department of Veterans Affairs' telescreening mammography program by removing the "pilot" designation and extending its timeline until May 1, 2027. This legislation requires the VA to offer at least one mammography option - such as telescreening, full-service screening, or mobile units - in every state and Puerto Rico within two years of enactment. The bill also mandates that these services remain accessible to veterans with paralysis, spinal cord injuries, or other disabilities. Additionally, it allows the VA to continue expanding these services to facilities outside the current pilot group or in states where breast imaging is not yet available.
This bill amends the Passport Act of 1920 to exempt Purple Heart and Medal of Honor recipients from standard U.S. passport application and renewal fees. It directly affects veterans who have received these specific military decorations. The key provision adds a new fee exemption category (subparagraph D) for these individuals in the passport fee structure. The bill also requires the State Department to create a verification process with the Defense Department to confirm eligibility using military service records. This is a straightforward administrative change to reduce costs for honored veterans.
This bill requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish new safety standards for side underride guards on trucks and trailers within 18 months, with full compliance required within two years. The standards mandate that these guards prevent passenger vehicles from sliding under trucks during collisions, improve safety for vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, and include aerodynamic features to aid fuel efficiency. The bill also creates an advisory committee to monitor underride safety and mandates studies to better understand and prevent these crashes. It aims to reduce the thousands of deaths and injuries from underride crashes that have occurred over the past 50 years, as documented by the National Transportation Safety Board.
HRES 1035 is a non-binding House resolution condemning recent and proposed workforce reductions at FEMA, which the resolution states endanger the agency's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. It specifically cites a 35% staffing shortage at FEMA (per GAO) and notes that over 2,000 permanent staff left FEMA in 2025, weakening disaster response during events like Hurricanes Helene and California wildfires. The resolution expresses concern that staffing cuts would delay aid, reduce assistance to vulnerable communities (including rural, coastal, and wildfire-prone areas), and undermine counterterrorism programs supporting first responders. It calls for a stable, adequately resourced FEMA workforce to ensure effective disaster management, without proposing new legislation or policy changes.
This bill creates new funding eligibility for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) that offer approved master's degree programs. It amends existing law to add specific categories (subsections S for HBCUs and F for PBIs) allowing these institutions to access federal funds previously restricted to certain program types. The key mechanism expands funding access by adjusting how remaining funds are allocated after initial disbursements. Directly affects qualifying HBCUs and PBIs meeting both the institution type and master's program criteria.
The TSP Fiduciary Security Act of 2026 requires the Thrift Savings Fund (TSP), which manages retirement savings for federal employees and uniformed service members, to avoid investments harming national security. It adds a new duty for the TSP's managing board to prevent investments from threatening U.S. national security, directing the Secretary of Labor to create regulations within one year to establish standards for TSP investments and voting rights. These regulations will presume investments in China-based entities, or those breaching government contracts involving critical defense technology, as non-compliant. The bill also explicitly prohibits TSP mutual funds from including investments in China-based companies or their subsidiaries. Additionally, it mandates annual congressional reports on TSP investment reviews and enforcement outcomes.
HR 7375, the End Prison Gerrymandering Act, changes how incarcerated individuals are counted in the U.S. Census starting with the 2030 census. It requires the Census Bureau to count people in prison at their last known residence before incarceration, rather than at the prison location. This directly affects incarcerated individuals and their home communities, ensuring these communities are accurately represented in congressional redistricting. States must then use this home address data when drawing congressional districts, preventing prison populations from artificially inflating representation in rural areas where prisons are often located.
HR 7356, the "No Federal Funds for Ballot Harvesting Act," amends the Help America Vote Act to block federal funding for election administration in states that permit third parties (non-voters) to collect and transmit mailed ballots for federal elections. It requires states to prohibit such collection by non-authorized individuals, with exceptions for election officials, USPS employees, and family/caregivers living with or assisting the voter. States failing to adopt this prohibition would lose federal funds for administering federal elections. The bill cites concerns about ballot chain-of-custody vulnerabilities and references the Supreme Court’s Brnovich ruling upholding state restrictions on ballot harvesting.
