This concurrent resolution establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2026, sets forth budgetary levels for FY2027-FY2035, and provides reconciliation instructions for legislation that increases the deficit. The resolution recommends levels and amounts for FY2026-FY2035 for federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits, public debt, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. It also recommends levels and amounts for Social Security and Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses for the purpose of budget enforcement in the Senate. The resolution includes reconciliation instructions that direct the House Homeland Security Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Senate Judiciary Committee to submit recommendations for legislation that will increase the deficit over FY2026-FY2035 by not more than $70 billion. Each committee must submit the recommendations to the House or Senate Budget Committee by May 15, 2026. (Under current law, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) In addition, the resolution establishes reserve funds that allow certain adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels to accommodate (1) reconciliation legislation, and (2) legislation that would not increase the deficit over FY2026-FY2035 and supports changes to immigration enforcement and border security policy undertaken by the President. Finally, the resolution sets forth budget enforcement procedures that address issues such as budget points of order in the Senate and emergency spending requirements in the House.
This Senate resolution formally welcomes King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States for a state visit where the King will address a joint session of Congress. The document highlights the long-standing diplomatic and security partnership between the two nations, noting shared values and cooperation on issues like defense and technology. It also marks the occasion as the first time a British monarch has addressed Congress since 1991, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence.
This Senate resolution expresses support for designating April 2026 as Parkinson's Awareness Month to highlight the impact of the disease on over one million Americans. The measure acknowledges the challenges faced by patients and their caregivers while encouraging continued research and community support for finding better treatments. It formally recognizes the efforts of individuals living with Parkinson's disease and the organizations working to improve their quality of life.
This Senate resolution commemorates April 6, 2026, as the day the Artemis II crew set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by astronauts from Earth. The bill honors the four crew members and celebrates the successful launch, journey, and safe return of the mission, which marked the first human trip to the Moon in over 50 years. It also recognizes the contributions of NASA personnel, international partners, and industry contractors who supported the effort. The text serves as a formal acknowledgment of these achievements rather than a change to existing laws or policies.
This resolution designates April 2026 as Financial Literacy Month to raise public awareness about the importance of personal finance education. The bill calls on the federal government, states, schools, businesses, and other organizations to hold programs and activities during this month. It is based on data showing high levels of financial stress, debt, and a lack of financial education among many Americans.
This Senate resolution formally recognizes April 2026 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month to highlight the issue of sexual violence across the United States. The bill expresses the Senate's support for educating the public, preventing future assaults, improving care for survivors, and ensuring perpetrators face legal consequences. It specifically commends the work of organizations like RAINN, military support services, law enforcement, and health professionals who provide essential resources and advocacy. By adopting this resolution, the Senate aims to encourage community awareness and celebrate the efforts of those working to end sexual violence without enacting new laws or funding changes.
This resolution designates the week of April 20 through April 24, 2026, as "National Home Visiting Week" to highlight the importance of home visiting programs for families. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to recognize the work of over 20,000 home visitors who support parents and children across the United States. By formally acknowledging these efforts, the Senate aims to raise awareness about how such programs help strengthen family relationships and promote healthy child development.
This bill authorizes the Capitol Police Board to waive the mandatory retirement age for members of the Capitol Police up to age 65. (Under current law, a member of the Capitol Police is generally subject to mandatory retirement at age 57 but may receive a waiver from the board authorizing later retirement up to age 60.)
This Senate resolution designates April 2026 as Second Chance Month to raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with criminal records as they reenter society. The bill highlights how legal and societal barriers, such as restrictions on employment, housing, and education, often prevent formerly incarcerated people from finding meaningful work and rebuilding their lives. By honoring the work of communities and organizations that support reentry, the resolution encourages employers and the public to consider extending second chances to those who have completed their sentences. The designation aims to promote understanding of these obstacles and foster opportunities for individuals to contribute positively to their families and communities.
The Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act requires the IRS to enhance how taxpayers interact with the agency through four main provisions. First, it mandates a public dashboard showing real-time wait times, call statistics, and backlog information for IRS phone lines. Second, it expands online access to allow taxpayers to view their tax returns, refunds, and notices through a website or mobile app. Third, it directs the IRS to offer callback options for calls that go unanswered within five minutes. Fourth, it enables authorized tax professionals to access taxpayer accounts and submit responses on behalf of their clients. These changes aim to improve transparency and convenience for taxpayers without altering tax laws or rates.
This bill, the IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act, aims to strengthen protections and incentives for individuals who report tax violations to the Internal Revenue Service. It directly affects whistleblowers who submit information about tax evasion or avoidance schemes and the IRS officials who evaluate those reports. Key changes include requiring Tax Court reviews of whistleblower awards to be conducted de novo based on the original administrative record, granting whistleblowers anonymity before the Tax Court unless a societal interest outweighs potential harm, and adding interest to award amounts if the IRS delays providing preliminary recommendations. The legislation also modifies IRS annual reports to include descriptions of top tax avoidance schemes disclosed by whistleblowers and corrects a provision regarding attorney fee deductions for whistleblowers.
Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance Efficiency Act or the BARCODE Efficiency Act This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to use barcodes, barcode scanning technology, and optical character recognition (or similar) technology to digitize certain federal tax return information and correspondence, unless the technology is slower or less reliable than other IRS processes (subject to conditions). Specifically, the bill requires a scannable barcode on electronically-prepared federal tax returns that are printed and filed in paper format with the IRS. The bill also requires the IRS to use barcode scanning technology to convert data included on such returns into an electronic format. Further, the bill requires the IRS to use optical character recognition (or similar) technology to transcribe federal tax returns and correspondence received by the IRS that are not prepared electronically and are received in paper format. However, under the bill, the use of barcodes, barcode scanning technology, and optical character recognition (or similar) technology is not required if (1) such technology is slower or less reliable than manual transcription or any other IRS process, and (2) the IRS provides a report to Congress regarding the determination to not use such technology.
