HRES 971 is a non-binding resolution condemning China's economic and military actions against Japan following Japanese officials' comments about Taiwan. It specifically addresses China's travel advisory (causing $1.2 billion in tourism losses), a ban on Japanese seafood imports, and military drills near Japanese territory. The resolution reaffirms U.S. support for the U.S.-Japan alliance under their mutual security treaty and calls on China to cease coercion. It emphasizes U.S. commitment to upholding a "free and open Indo-Pacific" based on international law. This resolution directly affects Japan's economy and security, with no new legal obligations but serving as a formal U.S. policy statement.
Love Lives On Act of 2025 This bill extends entitlement for various benefit programs and services for surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces or veterans. The bill provides that the remarriage of a surviving spouse must not bar the furnishing of dependency and indemnity compensation or special pension benefits to such spouse. Additionally, the Department of Defense may not terminate the payment of an annuity for a surviving spouse under the Survivor Benefit Plan solely because the surviving spouse remarries. The bill also expands the definition of a dependent under TRICARE to include a remarried widow or widower whose subsequent marriage has ended due to death, divorce, or annulment.
This bill, the Main Street Depositor Protection Act, expands deposit insurance coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts at banks and credit unions to help protect everyday consumers' savings. It allows the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to set a maximum insurance limit for these accounts between the standard $250,000 and $5 million, with the exact amount determined by rules that consider banking stability and economic growth. The expansion applies to smaller community banks and credit unions with assets of $10 billion or less, which are exempt from special assessments during a transition period. Over a 10-year period, the insurance coverage for these accounts will gradually increase to cover the full amount up to the established limit, while larger banks and foreign bank branches remain excluded from this new coverage.
The PREDICT Act prohibits federal government officials, including Members of Congress, their spouses and dependents, high-ranking executive branch employees, and political appointees from trading on prediction markets tied to political events. This restriction applies to any agreement or transaction where payment depends on whether a specific political event occurs, does not occur, or happens to a certain degree. If a covered individual violates this rule, they must pay a 10% fee and forfeit any profits from the transaction, with penalties paid from personal funds rather than government salaries or allowances. The Office of Government Ethics will issue guidance on undefined terms and publish details of any fines on a public website.
This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to require state and local workforce development programs to create partnerships between educational institutions and employers. The changes apply to youth, adult, and local workforce development programs focused on high-demand occupations. These partnerships must aim to address specific education and skill needs identified through regional workforce analyses. The legislation affects state and local workforce boards, educational institutions, and employers by mandating collaborative program development.
This bill modifies tax rules to provide financial incentives for small oil and gas producers operating in marginal or low-production areas. It changes how the percentage depletion tax deduction is calculated, allowing a higher deduction rate based on oil prices and adjusting that rate annually using an inflation measure called the Producer Price Index. The legislation also removes certain income limits that restrict how much of this tax benefit producers can claim and doubles the minimum oil production threshold from 1,000 to 2,000 barrels to qualify for the deduction. These tax changes would take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, primarily affecting independent oil and gas companies and rural communities dependent on these industries.
This bill, titled the Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act of 2026, expands the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 to require federal agencies to conduct more detailed regulatory impact analyses for certain rules that significantly affect the economy or various government levels. The legislation applies to all federal agencies and specifically includes Tribal governments alongside State and local governments, while exempting Federal Reserve monetary policy rules. Key provisions mandate that agencies publish initial and final analyses before and after proposing major rules, requiring quantified assessments of benefits and costs, consideration of alternative regulatory approaches, and consultation with affected stakeholders including private sector businesses. The bill also establishes new oversight responsibilities for the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to review agency compliance and requires agencies to explain why they selected one regulatory alternative over others when maximizing net benefits is not possible.
This bill proposes to add 7-hydroxymitragynine to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, classifying it as a controlled substance. The legislation specifically excludes naturally occurring 7-hydroxymitragynine found in kratom plants from this classification while including synthetic versions. This change would require federal regulation of synthetic forms of the compound but would not affect kratom products containing the substance in its natural state. The bill directly impacts pharmaceutical manufacturers and synthetic drug producers who would need to comply with new federal scheduling requirements.
This bill clarifies when franchisors can be held legally responsible for franchisee employees' pay and working conditions under federal labor laws. It specifies that franchisors are only joint employers if they exercise "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, hours, hiring, or discipline - excluding routine brand standards or training. The law explicitly states that franchisors do not become joint employers for actions like setting operating hours, minimum staffing levels, or offering brand guidelines. This directly affects franchisors, franchisees, and their employees by reducing legal uncertainty in the $825 billion franchise sector.
This bill prohibits public colleges and universities receiving federal funding from denying religious student groups access to campus facilities or official recognition solely because of their religious beliefs, practices, or standards. It directly affects public higher education institutions and religious student organizations seeking equal treatment alongside secular groups. The key mechanism requires institutions to provide religious groups with the same rights, benefits, and privileges - such as meeting space, event scheduling, and official status - as non-religious student organizations. This policy change ensures religious groups cannot be discriminated against in campus activities through the threat of withheld federal funding.
This bill amends federal education funding rules to prioritize civics and American history education in K-12 schools. It changes eligibility criteria for certain grants under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act by requiring programs to: (1) improve teaching of American history, civics, or government; (2) focus on underserved students and demonstrate innovation; (3) include hands-on civic activities; and (4) teach the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The changes directly affect schools applying for these federal grants by setting new standards for funding approval. The bill modifies existing law without creating new programs or funding streams.
The MAPS Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update and maintain an Essential Medicines List including drugs critical for national security, public health emergencies, chronic conditions, and military readiness. It mandates annual risk assessments identifying supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly drugs sourced over 50% from high-risk foreign suppliers like China, and compiles data on manufacturing locations and shortages. The bill directs HHS to map U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains from raw materials to finished products, using data analytics to identify national security threats, and report findings annually to Congress. This directly affects federal agencies (HHS, Defense), drug manufacturers, and supply chain stakeholders through mandatory reporting and transparency requirements.
