HR 7068, the "No Convicts Running the Capital Act," prohibits the District of Columbia government from hiring or contracting with individuals or entities linked to serious criminal convictions. It bans appointments to DC government positions for anyone with a final conviction for a violent or dangerous crime (defined as offenses similar to those in DC law), requiring termination of current employees with such convictions within 90 days. Similarly, it prevents DC from entering contracts with vendors employing such individuals, having officers/directors with these convictions, or being controlled by them, terminating existing contracts with affected vendors within 90 days. The law applies to all DC government offices and contracts, focusing on removing individuals with final convictions from government roles and vendor relationships.
This bill bars individuals convicted of violent crimes (as defined by federal law) from working in the federal government or for companies contracted by the government. It requires immediate removal of current federal employees with such convictions and prohibits federal agencies from hiring or contracting with individuals holding key roles (e.g., executives, owners, or workers on federal projects) who have been finally convicted of a violent crime. Exceptions may be granted by the Office of Management and Budget if termination would cause a "unique or undue burden." The law applies to all current and future federal contracts and uses existing legal definitions for "violent crime" and "final conviction."
HRES 995 is a symbolic resolution supporting Korean American Day, commemorating January 13 as the anniversary of the 1903 arrival of the first large wave of Korean immigrants to the U.S. It urges all Americans to recognize Korean Americans' contributions to U.S. society, economy, and U.S.-South Korea relations, honoring their historical journey and ongoing impact. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it serves solely as a formal acknowledgment of cultural heritage.
This symbolic House resolution expresses U.S. congressional support for Iranian protesters demanding democracy and human rights. It condemns the Iranian regime's violent suppression of protests, including killings, mass arrests, and internet restrictions, while urging the regime to release political prisoners and restore communication access. The resolution reaffirms the Iranian people's right to self-determination through free elections and echoes a 2023 resolution (HCR 7) that similarly praised protesters. As a non-binding expression of support, it does not impose new policies or alter U.S. government actions.
HR 7025, the Evidence-Based Grantmaking Act, requires 15 federal agencies (including Education, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development) to use proven methods in awarding grants. It mandates that agencies clearly define grant goals in funding notices, prioritize applicants using evidence-based practices, and require grant recipients to implement such practices when delivering services. Agencies must also conduct regular evaluations of grant effectiveness, publicly share results, and use findings to improve future funding decisions. This law directly affects federal grant recipients and aims to ensure taxpayer funds achieve measurable outcomes through data-driven approaches.
HR 7041, the Earmark Elimination Act of 2026, prohibits the U.S. House of Representatives from considering any bill, resolution, or amendment containing a congressional earmark, limited tax benefit, or limited tariff benefit. It defines an earmark as a special spending request for a specific district or entity, a tax break for 10 or fewer beneficiaries with non-uniform rules, or a tariff change benefiting 10 or fewer entities. If such a provision is included, a point of order can be raised to strike it from the bill without debate. This rule change directly affects how House legislation is processed, preventing targeted spending or tax provisions from advancing. The bill does not alter existing laws but modifies House procedural rules to eliminate these specific types of provisions from consideration.
This bill requires state agencies administering the SNAP (food stamp) program to provide recipient-level data to the USDA Secretary upon request. It directly affects state SNAP agencies, which must submit this data within 30 days (or sooner for urgent cases) in secure electronic formats. Key provisions include mandatory data sharing for program oversight and integrity, strict privacy safeguards under the Privacy Act, and potential withholding of federal funds for non-compliance. The bill also clarifies that this does not limit the USDA's existing authority to access state data for program administration.
The FAIR Act requires all SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefit cards to display a photo of the cardholder - taken within the last 10 years for adults or 5 years for minors - and mandates retailers to verify that the photo matches the person using the card at checkout. This directly affects SNAP recipients (who must provide photos for card issuance) and retailers (who must inspect photos before accepting benefits). Exceptions allow caregivers to access benefits for minors, disabled individuals, or the elderly. The rule changes take effect 18 months after enactment, with federal regulations to be updated within 18 months of the law’s passage.
American Hemp Protection Act of 2025 This bill repeals changes to the regulation of hemp products, which reimpose certain federal controls over some hemp products. Specifically, Congress enacted the FY2026 agriculture appropriations act (P.L. 119-37) on November 12, 2025. Effective November 12, 2026, the act modifies the statutory definition of hemp products that are considered to be lawful. This bill repeals the changes. As background, the 2018 farm bill excluded hemp from the Controlled Substances Act definition of marijuana and defined hemp . As a result, hemp and hemp-derived products at or below the 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana) concentration threshold were no longer regulated as Schedule I controlled substances. Registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration was no longer required to cultivate or handle hemp and hemp-derived products. However, hemp remained subject to Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration regulation. The 2025 changes to the definition of hemp, include changing the limit to a total THC concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis rather than only delta-9 THC, explicitly including industrial hemp, excluding seeds from a cannabis plant that exceed a certain THC concentration, and excluding various types of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Cannabinoids refer to unique chemical compounds that are found in hemp and marijuana (e.g., THC) and are known to exhibit a range of psychological and physiological effects.
HR 6088, the *Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025*, repeals specific sections (10101-10108) from a prior reconciliation law. This action revives previous provisions related to food security programs that were modified by those repealed sections. The bill directly affects federal food assistance and agricultural support programs by restoring their prior legal framework. It does not create new policies but reverses recent changes to existing food security measures.
HR 5017, the Greyhound Protection Act of 2025, prohibits commercial greyhound racing, live lure training, open field coursing, and related betting across state lines. It bans activities like using live animals as bait, conducting interstate simulcast betting, and transporting greyhounds for racing purposes. The law amends the Animal Welfare Act to make these actions unlawful, with penalties including fines and up to 7 years in prison per violation. It applies to conduct occurring on or after October 1, 2027, and does not override existing state laws banning these activities. The bill directly affects greyhound racing industry participants and the animals involved in these practices.
HR 3453, the Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act, creates new federal grants to help educator-led teams plan and open charter schools. It provides up to $100,000 per team for pre-charter planning, targeting groups led by educators with at least 4.5 years of school-based experience (including after-school programs) and a demonstrated ability to lead. To qualify, teams must submit a community needs assessment and a plan showing how their proposed school will address those needs. The bill reserves 5% of relevant funding for these educator-led grants, adjusting existing ESEA grant formulas to prioritize this new support. This directly affects educators seeking to start charter schools and the communities where those schools would operate.
