This bill amends the Help America Vote Act to require voters casting ballots in person for federal elections to present a valid physical photo identification. It allows individuals who cannot show ID to cast a provisional ballot, provided they either present the ID within three days or submit a state-approved affidavit stating a religious objection to being photographed. The law also mandates that states make digital imaging devices available at public buildings like libraries and police stations so voters can print copies of their IDs for free. Acceptable forms of identification include state-issued driver's licenses, state ID cards, U.S. passports, military IDs, and tribal government IDs with photos. States must also notify all voter registration applicants, including those registering online, about this new requirement before they complete the process.
The Stop Corrupt Trading Act prohibits the President, Vice President, and their controlled businesses from selling or exchanging nonpublic information gained through their official positions for financial gain. This law defines nonpublic information as data that is confidential, exempt from public disclosure, or not available to the general public, and it bans anyone else from buying or selling such information for profit. Violators face criminal penalties including fines up to double the transaction value or up to five years in prison, as well as civil lawsuits that can result in the forfeiture of profits and significant monetary penalties. The bill also establishes a six-year statute of limitations for civil actions, which is paused while the President or Vice President holds office, and requires the Office of Government Ethics to refer credible evidence of violations to the Attorney General.
The Protecting American Taxpayers Act is a comprehensive bill designed to combat government fraud, recover misused funds, and strengthen oversight across various federal programs. It directly affects federal agencies, state governments administering public assistance, small businesses, veterans, and contractors by imposing new reporting requirements, extending statutes of limitations for fraud cases, and restricting financial assistance to entities linked to foreign agents or the Taliban. Key mechanisms include requiring child care payments to be based on recorded attendance rather than enrollment, mandating investigations into sudden spikes in health care spending, prohibiting small businesses with convicted fraudsters from receiving loans, and creating a new officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated to scam prevention. Additionally, the legislation rescinds unspent pandemic-era funds for deficit reduction, expands whistleblower protections for defense and non-defense contractors, and establishes stricter rules against transferring public assistance money abroad via remittance transfers.
The Do Not Interfere in our Intelligence Act of 2026 establishes specific rules for who leads the Office of the Director of National Intelligence when the top position is empty. It clarifies that the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence automatically takes over if the Director is absent or the job is vacant, overriding previous legal restrictions. In rare situations where both the Director and the Deputy are unavailable, the President must appoint an acting leader from among other Senate-confirmed officials within the intelligence community or the broader intelligence community. The bill also provides a final fallback option for the President to appoint an acting director if no other qualified Senate-confirmed individuals are available to serve.
The Take Care of America's Veterans Act is a comprehensive legislative bill designed to improve benefits, healthcare access, and administrative efficiency for veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill directly affects veterans, their families, healthcare providers, and VA employees by amending federal laws to expand compensation rates, simplify claims processes, and enhance medical services. Key mechanisms include increasing disability compensation for wartime veterans and survivors, revising disability rating schedules for conditions like sleep apnea and tinnitus, and establishing new grant programs for mental health and traumatic brain injury research. Additionally, the legislation mandates the creation of a Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission, requires the development of a prosthetic and rehabilitative items formulary, and expands access to care through pilot programs involving critical access hospitals and coordination with Medicare. The act also introduces stricter oversight for claims adjudication, requires timely reporting of veteran deaths, and authorizes funding for various infrastructure and technology improvements within the VA.
The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 automatically provides federal funding for government programs if Congress fails to pass a budget by the start of a new fiscal year. This mechanism supplies money for 14-day periods that can be extended as long as the shutdown continues, ensuring essential services like food assistance and loan programs keep running without interruption. To prevent political games during these shutdowns, the bill restricts official travel for government officials and limits what Congress can debate or vote on, except for passing a new budget or addressing the national debt limit.
This bill establishes a formal process requiring the President to report significant projects at the White House to two congressional committees. Specifically, any proposed activity costing over $1 million must be submitted for review, including all necessary information regardless of security classification. Once the committee chairmen confirm they have received and reviewed the details, the President receives authorization to proceed with the project. Additionally, the bill mandates that the President submit semiannual progress reports on these authorized activities to ensure ongoing oversight.
The Protecting American Taxpayers Act aims to reduce government waste and fraud by requiring stricter oversight of federal programs and extending legal deadlines for prosecuting pandemic-related violations. It mandates that child care payments be based on recorded attendance rather than enrollment alone and requires agencies to report when health care spending or provider numbers spike by more than 100 percent in specific areas. The bill also prohibits small businesses from receiving federal loans or grants if an owner or key employee has been convicted of financial misconduct, while simultaneously banning foreign entities controlled by agents from certain listed countries from receiving U.S. financial assistance. Additionally, the legislation seeks to increase transparency by requiring agencies to publicly report on improper payments and other transaction agreements, and it expands whistleblower protections for employees of defense and non-defense contractors who report waste or misconduct.
The Security And Freedom Enhancement Act of 2026, known as the SAFE Act, introduces new rules for how U.S. intelligence agencies collect and use information about Americans and people in the United States. The bill requires the FBI to conduct regular audits of its data queries, obtain additional approvals before searching for information about elected officials and judges, and create detailed records of all searches. It also limits when government agencies can access Americans' communications without a warrant and restricts intelligence agencies from purchasing personal data from private companies about people in the United States. The law increases transparency by requiring more detailed reports to Congress and the public about surveillance activities, and it expands the role of independent reviewers in court proceedings related to intelligence gathering.
10 Years of ICE Funding Act This bill provides appropriations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through FY2036. Specifically, the bill provides specified appropriations to ICE for operations and support, including for the purchase and lease of police-type vehicles, for overseas vetted units, and for maintenance, minor construction, and minor leasehold improvements at owned and leased facilities. The bill also provides appropriations to ICE for procurement, construction, and improvements, including for acquisition of necessary additional real property and facilities, construction and ongoing maintenance, facility improvements, equipment, and related expenses. The appropriations provided to ICE by this bill are available until September 30, 2036.
This bill provides temporary funding to ensure Transportation Security Administration employees receive their regular pay, benefits, and allowances during a potential government funding gap in fiscal year 2026. It allows the agency to use Treasury funds to cover salaries and benefits starting February 14, 2026, until a full-year budget is passed or the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026. The legislation prevents employees from receiving duplicate payments by restricting these funds to periods when no other pay sources are available and requires any costs to be transferred to the permanent budget once enacted. The bill takes effect retroactively as if it were passed on February 13, 2026, to cover the initial days of the potential funding lapse.
This bill formally declares Ashli Babbitt ineligible for military funeral honors under federal law. It specifically cites her participation in the January 6, 2021 insurrection as the reason for this determination. The legislation codifies her disqualification by referencing her actions, including the incident involving the House Speaker's Lobby. This measure does not change existing eligibility rules but applies them to a specific individual.
