This bill authorizes the minting of commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2034 Salt Lake City Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It specifies four coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, half-dollar, and proof silver $1) with defined quantities and designs reflecting U.S. athletic participation. A surcharge on each coin sale (e.g., $35 for $5 coins) funds the respective Olympic committees' legacy programs, including youth sports initiatives. The coins are legal tender but intended solely for commemoration, with surcharges directed to the organizing committees after covering minting costs.
This bill adds the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for reviews involving agricultural land, biotechnology, or agriculture industry transactions. It requires CFIUS to review certain acquisitions of U.S. agricultural land by foreign entities from China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran, based on reports from the Agriculture Secretary. The review process applies specifically to transactions meeting criteria under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978. The provisions sunset when those countries are removed from a federal list of foreign adversaries.
HR 4382 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics/Paralympics and 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics/Paralympics. It specifies gold, silver, and half-dollar coin designs with defined mintage limits (e.g., up to 100,000 $5 gold coins for each event), all bearing inscriptions like "2028" or "2034" and standard coin features. A surcharge ($5-$50 per coin) is added to sales, with all funds directed to the respective Olympic committees to support event hosting and legacy programs like youth sports. The bill ensures no net cost to the government by requiring surcharge revenues to cover all design, production, and marketing expenses before funds are disbursed.
This resolution expresses the U.S. Senate's support for designating July 10, 2025, as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day. It honors journeyman lineworkers who maintain the nation’s power grid 24/7, restore electricity during disasters, and work in hazardous conditions. The resolution specifically recognizes the 129th anniversary of Henry Miller, the first president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who died while restoring power in 1901. The Senate encourages the public to observe this day to reflect on lineworkers’ contributions and sacrifices. (Note: This is a symbolic resolution with no legal force or funding impact.)
# Summary of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
This comprehensive appropriations act provides funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies for fiscal year 2026. Key elements include:
## Major Funding Areas
- **Rural Development**: Significant funding for rural housing, water and waste disposal systems, broadband access, and business development programs
- **Food and Nutrition**: Funding for school meal programs, food assistance, and child nutrition initiatives
- **Agricultural Programs**: Support for crop insurance, conservation, research, and marketing
- **Food Safety**: Resources for FDA inspections and enforcement
## Key Provisions
1. **New Programs**:
- $2 million for a Bison Production and Marketing Grant Program
- $4 million for a new Energy Circuit Rider pilot program
- $6 million to continue the Institute for Rural Partnerships
- $700,000 for tribal meat inspection fee coverage
2. **Restrictions**:
- Prohibits using funds to close or consolidate USDA laboratory locations without congressional approval
- Bans funds for horse inspections under certain acts
- Limits use of funds for certain travel and administrative activities
- Requires specific notification for large grant terminations ($1 million+)
3. **Program Changes**:
- Updates to hemp definitions and regulations (Section 781)
- Modifications to the Rural Business Program (Section 760)
- Changes to the definition of "hemp" and "cannabis" for regulatory purposes
- Updates to the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard
4. **Allocation Requirements**:
- Requires at least 10% of certain funds to be allocated for persistent poverty counties
- Mandates specific reporting for FDA user fee programs
- Requires notification for certain program changes
5. **Specific Restrictions**:
- Prohibits using funds to procure poultry or seafood from China for school meal programs
- Limits funds for certain FDA activities related to e-cigarettes
- Prohibits funds for certain types of enforcement actions until specific data is available
This act also includes numerous technical amendments to existing laws and establishes new reporting requirements for various programs across the Department of Agriculture.
S 2225, the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025, allows physical therapists to use temporary replacement therapists (locum tenens) under Medicare for outpatient physical therapy services. The bill amends Medicare rules to apply the same provisions currently used for physicians' services to physical therapy services, meaning therapists can now fill in gaps during staff shortages without disrupting patient care. This directly affects physical therapists providing Medicare-covered outpatient therapy and Medicare beneficiaries receiving those services. The change takes effect after the bill is enacted, ensuring continuity of care when therapists are unavailable.
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to clarify key definitions. It adds "as determined under the usual common law rules" to the definition of "employee" (Section 3(e)(1)) and inserts "employee" after "permit" in the definition of "employ" (Section 3(g)). These changes aim to standardize how worker classification is determined under existing law, directly affecting how the FLSA's minimum wage and overtime protections apply to workers. The bill does not create new benefits but refines the legal framework for applying current protections.
The CARE Act of 2025 (S 2218) requires the military to create a combat status identifier for drone crews who conduct combat operations, ensuring they receive recognition equivalent to service members directly engaged in ground combat. This change would affect remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operators and support personnel deployed in active combat roles. The military departments must establish this identifier within 180 days of the bill becoming law. The bill focuses on administrative recognition, not operational changes or new benefits.
This bill requires adding a citizenship checkbox to the 2030 and future decennial censuses, asking respondents about their U.S. citizenship status for themselves and all household members. It mandates that the Census Bureau publicly release each state's total citizen and noncitizen population counts within 120 days after each census. The bill then changes how congressional representation is calculated by excluding noncitizens from the population numbers used to apportion House seats and electoral votes starting with the 2030 census. This directly affects how states' representation in Congress and the Electoral College is determined based on citizen population counts rather than total population.
SRES 307 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing support for U.S. and Israeli military strikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities on June 21, 2025 (Operation Midnight Hammer). It states the Senate opposes Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and commends the military actions taken to degrade Iran's nuclear program. The resolution does not create new laws, impose requirements, or directly affect any individuals or entities. It serves solely as a symbolic expression of congressional backing for the strikes, referencing specific operations and Iran's nuclear activities as context.
The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions that limited where patients could receive care, expanding the types of health care providers who can offer telehealth services, and eliminating the requirement for an in-person visit before receiving telemental health services. The bill includes specific provisions to support telehealth use for Native American health facilities, rural health clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. It requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to collect and publish data on telehealth usage and impacts, and to develop resources to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and limited English proficiency. Program integrity measures are added to monitor telehealth billing practices and prevent fraud while maintaining coverage for telehealth services during public health emergencies.
This resolution designates June 19, 2025, as "Juneteenth National Independence Day" to commemorate June 19, 1865 - the date Union troops in Galveston, Texas, delivered news of emancipation to enslaved people in the Southwest, months after the Civil War ended. It recognizes the historical significance of this date, when news of the end of slavery finally reached enslaved people in Texas. The resolution supports nationwide observance of Juneteenth to honor the emancipation of enslaved people and reflect on U.S. history. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges this date as part of the nation's heritage.
