The Taxpayer Funds Oversight and Accountability Act aims to improve financial management and accountability across federal agencies by strengthening the roles of agency Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and revising government-wide financial planning. It expands CFO responsibilities to include overseeing internal controls over financial reporting and requires them to create public agency-specific plans for effective financial management, which must align with a new 4-year government-wide financial management plan developed by the Office of Management and Budget. The bill mandates that agencies annually assess and report on the effectiveness of their internal controls over financial reporting and key financial data. These changes are intended to provide greater transparency and ensure that performance and cost information are linked for better decision-making within the federal government.
The Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act creates a new Office of the Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery within the Department of the Treasury to oversee federal spending and prevent fraud. This new office will have authority to conduct audits and investigations across multiple federal programs, including pandemic relief funds, and will coordinate with other agencies to share data and identify fraudulent activity. The bill also requires federal agencies to screen potential payees against a centralized fraud database and mandates that the Treasury establish a governmentwide data analysis program to detect improper payments. Additionally, the act transfers assets and personnel from the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee to the new office and requires annual reporting to Congress on fraud prevention efforts.
This bill, titled the Stop the SPLC Act of 2026, would remove the tax-exempt status of the Southern Poverty Law Center. By revoking its classification under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the legislation would require the organization to pay federal taxes on its income and benefits. The change applies to all taxable years occurring after the bill is enacted.
The Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026 allows independent musicians and small music businesses to collectively negotiate licensing terms with large online music platforms without facing antitrust lawsuits. This protection applies specifically to creators who earn less than $1 million in licensing revenue or qualify as small businesses, enabling them to form groups to discuss fair rates and refuse unfair deals. The law defines "dominant platforms" as those generating over $100 million in music distribution revenue and extends these negotiation rights to include discussions with companies developing generative artificial intelligence. By shielding these groups from legal liability, the bill aims to correct an imbalance where smaller creators currently lack the power to bargain effectively against major digital services.
The Puerto Rico Democratic Self-Determination Act establishes a mandatory, two-round plebiscite in 2027 to allow eligible voters in Puerto Rico to choose among four political status options: independence, current Commonwealth status, statehood, or sovereignty in free association with the United States. If a majority vote is not achieved in the initial election, a runoff will be held to select between the two most popular choices, with the results triggering specific transition procedures for each outcome. Under the independence and free association paths, the bill outlines steps for drafting a new constitution, electing officers, and a presidential proclamation that would transfer sovereignty and end U.S. territorial control. For the statehood option, the President would issue a proclamation admitting Puerto Rico as the 51st state, while the Commonwealth option would create a joint commission to negotiate reforms to the current relationship. The legislation also details how federal laws, including tax codes and immigration rules, would change depending on the chosen status and ensures that existing economic benefits and social security rights are protected during any transition.
This bill establishes Temporary Protected Status for Iranian nationals currently in the United States who are unable to safely return home due to ongoing armed conflict and human rights abuses, while also addressing legal hardships caused by a government-imposed pause on processing their immigration applications. It defines eligible individuals as those lawfully present in the U.S. since December 2025 who have pending applications for status changes or work authorization that were delayed by this pause, excluding government officials or those with ties to the Iranian regime. Under the legislation, the Department of Homeland Security must grant these individuals temporary legal status and work authorization for an initial 18-month period, with automatic extensions if the processing delay continues, ensuring they do not accrue unlawful presence or face penalties for the government-caused backlog.
Critical Minerals Security Act of 2025 This bill establishes requirements for the Department of the Interior related to securing U.S. access to critical minerals and rare earth element (REE) resources. Critical minerals mean any mineral, element, substance, or material designated as critical by the U.S. Geological Survey. REEs mean cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, scandium, terbium, thulium, ytterbium, and yttrium. First, Interior must report on the critical mineral and REE resources, including recyclable or recycled materials containing those resources, around the world. Among other information, the report must include an assessment of the global ownership and supply of critical mineral and REE resources. Interior must submit the report within a year and every two years thereafter. Next, Interior must establish a process to assist a U.S. person—a U.S. citizen, a non-U.S. National (alien under federal law) lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or an entity organized under U.S. laws—seeking to divest stock in mining, processing, or recycling operations for critical minerals and REEs in a foreign country with finding a purchaser that is not under the control of North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran. Finally, Interior must develop (1) a strategy to collaborate with U.S. allies and partners to develop advanced mining, refining, separation, processing, and recycling technologies; and (2) a method for sharing related intellectual property with U.S. allies and partners to enable those countries to license those technologies and develop their resources.
HR 7882 allows the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to lease certain federal mineral deposits within the City of Carlsbad, New Mexico, overriding a standard exemption that typically excludes incorporated cities from mineral leasing under federal law. The bill requires written consent from Carlsbad's city government before leasing can occur on land owned by the U.S. or designated as "acquired land" under mineral leasing laws. This specifically applies to mineral deposits located on parcels within Carlsbad's boundaries that would otherwise be exempt from leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act. The bill does not change existing leasing rules but creates an exception for this specific location to enable mineral leasing on those lands.
HR 5408, the Faster Labor Contracts Act, requires employers to begin negotiating a first contract with a newly certified union within 10 days of written request. If no agreement is reached within 90 days, the parties must seek mediation, and if unresolved after 30 days of mediation, the dispute moves to binding arbitration by a three-member panel. The arbitration decision, based on factors like employer finances, industry standards, and cost of living, becomes binding for two years. This bill directly affects newly certified unions and their employers during initial contract negotiations, aiming to reduce delays that currently average 465 days.
This resolution congratulates students, families, educators, and leaders of public charter schools across the United States for their contributions to education and support of National Charter Schools Week in May 2026. It recognizes the growth of the charter school sector, noting that approximately 8,000 such schools serve over 3.7 million children and operate under specific accountability measures similar to traditional public schools. The Senate formally supports the ideals of the annual celebration and encourages communities to hold events to demonstrate backing for these institutions.
This resolution introduces articles of impeachment against U.S. District Court Judge Eleanor Louise Ross, targeting her for three specific allegations of misconduct. The first article charges her with engaging in an undisclosed extramarital affair with a law enforcement officer while on the job, which created a conflict of interest and violated judicial conduct codes. The second article accuses her of attending a partisan political event sponsored by a district attorney's campaign and admitting to drinking alcohol before presiding over a criminal case. The third article alleges that she knowingly made false statements to federal judges during an investigation into her behavior, thereby obstructing an official proceeding and violating federal law.
H.R. 1350 is a non-binding resolution that expresses the House of Representatives' support for creating a National Day of Honor and Respect alongside Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. The bill aims to honor immigrants and diverse backgrounds while encouraging positive interactions among citizens and reducing hate and discrimination. It also affirms the importance of promoting civic education and public service across the nation.
