United States Bills

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

SRES 869: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the third Friday of September should be recognized as "National POW/MIA Recognition Day".

This Senate resolution proposes recognizing the third Friday of September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day to honor military personnel who are prisoners of war or missing in action. The bill cites Department of Defense data indicating that over 80,000 U.S. servicemembers remain unaccounted for across various conflicts, with the majority located in the Asia-Pacific region. It encourages Americans to observe the day by participating in local commemorative events, displaying the POW/MIA flag, and supporting the families of those who are missing.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

SRES 868: A resolution recognizing September 20, 2026, as "National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day".

This Senate resolution designates September 20, 2026, as National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day to honor the service of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals in the U.S. Armed Forces. The text acknowledges historical discrimination, including the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and bans on transgender service, which resulted in thousands of discharges and denied benefits. It urges the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to end the current ban on transgender military service and restore access to gender-affirming health care for veterans and active duty personnel. Additionally, the resolution calls for these agencies to improve outreach so that individuals discharged based on their sexual orientation or gender identity can receive the benefits they are owed.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Jeff Merkley (D) · 21 co-sponsors

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

SRES 867: A resolution designating the week of September 14 through September 20, 2026, as "Interscholastic Athletic Administration Week".

This resolution designates the week of September 14 through September 20, 2026, as Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Week to honor the contributions of school sports leaders. It formally recognizes these administrators as essential educational figures who support student safety, academic success, and personal development. The Senate also commends the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association for its work in providing professional training and advocacy for this group.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

SRES 866: A resolution supporting the designation of October 2026 as "Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month" to raise awareness of substance use and misuse in the United States.

This Senate resolution supports designating October 2026 as "Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month" to increase public awareness of drug and alcohol issues in the United States. The bill cites statistics from 2025 regarding binge drinking, illicit drug use, and the number of individuals with substance use disorders or currently in recovery. It expresses support for effective prevention programs and initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of the drug addiction and overdose epidemic.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

SRES 865: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the People's Republic of China has engaged in the arbitrary or wrongful detention of American academics and has otherwise harmed the prospects for scientific collaboration and people-to-people exchanges between the United States and the People's Republic of China.

This Senate resolution condemns China for the arbitrary detention of American citizens, specifically highlighting the cases of seismologist Dr. Youlin Chen and think tank director Min Zin. It urges the U.S. government to prioritize securing their release and calls on the Secretary of State to use all available diplomatic tools to negotiate the freedom of detained Americans. The bill recommends raising the travel advisory level for China from Level 2 to Level 3 and adding a specific warning indicator regarding wrongful detention risks. Additionally, it suggests reviewing whether China should be formally designated as a state sponsor of wrongful detention under existing federal law.

Topics ✗ Technology

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

SRES 864: A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of September 19 through September 26, 2026, as "National Estuaries Week".

This resolution expresses the U.S. Senate's support for designating the week of September 19 through September 26, 2026, as National Estuaries Week to raise public awareness about the importance of these coastal ecosystems. The bill highlights that estuaries support a significant portion of the nation's population, jobs, and economic output while providing critical services such as flood control, water filtration, and habitat for fish and wildlife. It acknowledges ongoing threats to these areas, including pollution, sea-level changes, and harmful algal blooms, which have led to the loss of wetlands and degraded water quality. The resolution also commends the efforts of federal, state, local, and tribal governments, as well as community organizations, in protecting and restoring estuary health.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

SRES 862: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, a daughter of Tennessee whose extraordinary contributions to music, philanthropy, literacy, education, health, conservation, and culture enriched the lives of countless Americans.

This Senate resolution formally honors the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, who passed away on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. The bill recognizes her significant contributions to American music, as well as her extensive philanthropy in areas such as childhood literacy, education, healthcare, disaster relief, and wildlife conservation. It specifically highlights her establishment of Dollywood, The Dollywood Foundation, and the Imagination Library program, which provided free books to millions of children. The resolution also acknowledges her financial support for medical research and her efforts to aid families affected by natural disasters in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

Marsha Blackburn (R) · 22 co-sponsors

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

S 5444: A bill to amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 to establish a National Center for Advanced Development in Education at the Institute for Education Sciences, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

S 5443: A bill to amend titles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act to strengthen, increase oversight of, and compliance with, security standards for health information, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

S 5442: A bill to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide that any estimate prepared by the Congressional Budget Office or the Joint Committee on Taxation shall include costs relating to servicing the public debt, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

S 5441: TAS Act

The Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act (TAS Act) proposes comprehensive reforms to the Internal Revenue Service's operations, focusing on modernizing customer service, expanding digital access, and strengthening oversight of tax return preparers. The bill requires the IRS to digitize paper returns, create a public dashboard for real-time wait times, and expand online account features so taxpayers can view documents and respond to notices electronically. It also mandates that the IRS identify taxpayers facing economic hardship and proactively inform them of collection alternatives such as installment agreements or offers-in-compromise. Regarding tax return preparers, the legislation establishes new requirements for obtaining a valid preparer identification number, including background checks and continuing education, while authorizing the Treasury to suspend or revoke these numbers for misconduct. The bill further enhances judicial review by granting the Tax Court broader authority to issue refunds, hear refund suits, and provide de novo review of innocent spouse relief. Finally, it includes specific provisions to assist American citizens living abroad with tax compliance and offers tax deadline postponements for individuals who are hostages or wrongfully detained overseas.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

S 5440: A bill to transfer certain Federal land into trust for the benefit of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Bill results