COVID Fraud Transparency Act of 2026 This bill requires the Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General to report quarterly to Congress about fraud cases involving certain COVID-19 loans (e.g., Paycheck Protection Program loans). The report must include the number and total dollar amount of such loans, number of new cases of fraud and suspected fraud, number of fraud cases resolved, and types of such cases of fraud. The reporting requirements terminate two years after this bill is enacted.
This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of women enrolling in the U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force, and Coast Guard Academies. It formally designates a specific day to honor the history and achievements of female cadets and graduates, noting their significant contributions to military leadership and combat roles since 1976. The text highlights specific milestones, such as women earning the Army Ranger tab and commanding aircraft carriers, while acknowledging their continued service in both uniform and civilian sectors. Ultimately, the bill serves as a symbolic gesture to recognize the progress made by women in the armed forces without altering any existing laws or policies.
The Save Our Shrimpers Act directs the U.S. Treasury to oppose international financial assistance for projects involving shrimp farming, processing, or export in borrowing countries. This directive applies to international financial institutions where the United States holds voting power and is intended to protect domestic shrimpers from foreign competition. The law includes a waiver provision allowing the Treasury Secretary to override this opposition if the project serves the national interest, and the requirement expires seven years after the bill is enacted.
The Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2026 offers a financial incentive for first-time homebuyers by reducing their mortgage insurance premiums. To qualify for this discount, applicants must complete a financial literacy housing counseling program before signing their mortgage application or sales agreement. The bill lowers the premium rate by 25 basis points compared to the standard amount set by the Secretary, provided the counseling is finished prior to the mortgage signing. This policy directly affects individuals purchasing their first home who participate in the required educational program.
The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to increase financial aid for college students by raising the maximum Pell Grant amount to $15,000 by the 2031-2032 award year and ensuring the program is fully funded through mandatory spending rather than annual appropriations. The bill also expands eligibility for students who receive means-tested government benefits by automatically assigning them a lower financial need score, while simultaneously allowing Dreamer students - undocumented immigrants who meet specific criteria such as graduating high school or serving in the military - to qualify for federal aid. Additional provisions restore the total number of semesters a student can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18 and adjust the rules for satisfactory academic progress to reduce penalties for students who struggle to meet grade requirements. Finally, the legislation restores Pell Grant eligibility for some students who previously received outside scholarships and sets the law's effective date for July 1, 2026.
The VA Home Loan Navigator Act establishes a free, voluntary program to help veterans and eligible borrowers navigate VA home loan benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs will fund independent, neutral organizations to provide education, counseling on loan processes, and assistance with issues like foreclosure prevention and understanding costs. To ensure fairness, the law strictly prohibits these service providers from receiving payments from lenders or real estate agents and requires them to remain operationally separate from any mortgage or brokerage businesses. Designated entities must meet specific criteria, including HUD approval and a primary mission of serving military families, while individual counselors must be certified and recertified every three years. The program will be monitored through regular reports to Congress evaluating borrower satisfaction and outcomes such as foreclosure prevention rates.
The JROTC POWER Act requires the Department of Defense to update its guidance on the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program within 270 days of enactment. This update must include a plan to evaluate how the current instructor pay scale affects recruiting and retention, using specific metrics like vacancy rates, time-to-hire, and retention across different geographic areas. Additionally, the act mandates that the Secretary of Defense submit regular reports to Congress detailing these metrics and assessing the pay system's impact over the following years. The legislation directly affects the management of the JROTC program by establishing a data-driven approach to understanding instructor workforce stability.
The Stop Spying Bosses Act establishes new federal rules to limit how employers collect, use, and share data about their employees and job applicants. This legislation directly affects private businesses with 11 or more workers, government agencies, and their employees by prohibiting the gathering of sensitive information such as biometric data, political views, or off-duty activities without a specific, disclosed business need. Key provisions require employers to clearly inform workers about what data is being collected and how it is used, grant employees the right to access and correct their personal records, and ban the sale of employee data to third parties. The bill also creates a new Worker Protection and Technology Division within the Department of Labor to oversee compliance and provides legal protections for workers who report violations, including the right to sue for damages and prohibiting forced arbitration for such disputes.
The Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026 strengthens the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure individuals with long-term service and support needs have a federally protected right to live in their communities rather than institutions. It requires states and insurance providers to offer community-based services that allow people to maintain independence, control their own care, and access affordable, integrated housing. The bill mandates that public entities and insurers create enforceable transition plans to move people out of institutions, conduct self-evaluations to identify barriers, and establish clear grievance procedures for resolving complaints. Enforcement is handled by the Department of Justice, which can investigate violations, while individuals may also file civil lawsuits to seek damages or court orders preventing institutionalization.
The TDIU Reform Act of 2026 modifies how the Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility for total disability compensation based on a veteran's inability to work due to service-connected conditions. It establishes specific criteria where veterans with one disability rated at 60 percent or more, or multiple disabilities combining for 70 percent or more, automatically qualify for a total disability rating. The bill also clarifies that low-income or marginal employment does not disqualify a veteran from receiving these benefits and requires detailed reviews for those who do not meet the automatic thresholds. Additionally, the legislation sets an age limit, prohibiting the payment of this specific compensation to veterans who are 67 or older and who first received the benefit on or after December 31, 2026.
The Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2025 allows federal appellate and district court judges to permit media coverage of court proceedings - including photographing, recording, broadcasting, or televising - at their discretion. It requires judges to obscure witnesses' faces and voices upon request (for non-parties), prohibits broadcasting jurors or attorney-client conferences, and mandates that the Judicial Conference create mandatory guidelines within six months for protecting vulnerable witnesses like crime victims or minors. The law includes a three-year sunset for district court media authority and prohibits interlocutory appeals of judges' media coverage decisions. This bill directly affects federal courts, media organizations, and witnesses, balancing public access with due process and witness safety protections.
The Small Business and Consumer Credit Act of 2026 changes how certain financial institutions can use tax losses to offset future profits. It allows these banks to carry forward net operating losses for up to 20 years, with additional rules allowing them to carry losses back to previous years starting in 2028. The law specifically applies to independent banks and certain affiliated groups, requiring them to make an irrevocable election on their tax returns to use these new provisions.
