This resolution expresses support for designating June 21, 2026, as National ASK Day to promote the safe storage of firearms in homes. The bill encourages parents to ask visitors if there are guns in their house and, if so, whether those guns are locked and unloaded. It also urges medical and public health professionals to discuss gun safety and secure storage with their patients and parents. This symbolic measure aims to raise awareness about preventing accidental shootings and suicides among children by ensuring guns are stored safely.
The Gambling Disorder Health Study Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct research on gambling disorder, a behavioral addiction recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. This initiative aims to fill a current gap in federal oversight by funding studies on the causes, impacts, and treatments of gambling addiction, particularly in light of recent state legalization of sports betting. The program will involve collaboration with various federal agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations to analyze how different forms of gambling, including online platforms and mobile apps, affect individuals and communities. Findings from this research will be reported annually to Congress, which will then review recommendations for public health actions and policy changes. Funding for these efforts is authorized from 2027 to 2029, based on a percentage of taxes collected from gambling activities.
The Pregnancy Loss Mental Health Research Act of 2026 directs the National Institutes of Health to expand research on mental health issues following pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion. This legislation authorizes $4.5 million for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to fund studies on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions, as well as a long-term national study to track their prevalence and duration. Additionally, the bill modifies existing public health grants to allow funding for mental health services specifically for individuals who have experienced pregnancy loss, while prohibiting the use of these funds by entities that perform abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or life-threatening medical emergencies.
The Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act directs the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services to expand research, education, and clinical care for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. Key provisions include funding grants for biomedical studies on specific health conditions, creating new research categories for menopausal symptoms, and establishing Centers of Excellence to improve professional training for healthcare providers. The bill also mandates a national public awareness program, the development of online educational resources, and the creation of a data dashboard to track health outcomes and address disparities among rural and underserved populations. These efforts are supported by authorized funding of $25 million for research and $10 million for public health promotion and training programs for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031.
This Senate resolution formally supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, which is observed annually from May 6 to May 12, 2026. The measure recognizes the vital contributions of nurses to the healthcare system and encourages the public to acknowledge their role through ceremonies and activities during the designated week. While the bill does not create new laws or funding, it serves to honor the profession and highlight the importance of nursing in patient care and public health.
The PHS ACCESS Act allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to send Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers to work with Urban Indian organizations to support health department functions. It also changes how these officers are appointed by giving the Secretary more flexibility to grant service credit based on specific needs rather than requiring it automatically. Under the new rules, the Secretary must create clear criteria that prioritize appointees serving in rural areas, regions with workforce shortages, locations with limited healthcare access, or those working with Indian tribes and Urban Indian organizations. Additionally, these criteria will be regularly reviewed to ensure they match current workforce demands.
The Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act allocates $200 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve data collection, surveillance, and research on how public health emergencies affect pregnant and postpartum individuals. This funding supports efforts to gather detailed demographic information on maternal health outcomes, establish regional centers of excellence, and expand surveys to better reach underrepresented communities. The legislation also requires the CDC to make this data publicly available in a disaggregated format while protecting patient privacy, and mandates public education campaigns to ensure accurate information reaches families and healthcare providers. Additionally, the bill creates a diverse task force to develop federal recommendations for respectful maternity care during emergencies, addressing issues such as telehealth access, doula coverage, and the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. These measures aim to reduce health disparities and improve care quality for pregnant people from racial and ethnic minority groups during public health crises.
The Wildlife Health Coordination and Zoonotic Disease Prevention Act of 2026 establishes a new program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to improve communication and collaboration among federal, state, tribal, and private agencies regarding diseases that spread between animals and humans. This legislation creates five specific coordinator positions, including one national role, one tribal role, and four regional roles, who are appointed by various wildlife associations to facilitate information sharing and resource access. These coordinators will work to develop shared disease management strategies, assist states and tribes in securing funding, and submit reports to Congress on how to better prevent and respond to emerging health threats. The bill authorizes $900,000 annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support these efforts and aims to strengthen the nation's ability to handle outbreaks that impact public health, agriculture, and wildlife populations.
This bill updates federal quality standards for mammography facilities to allow artificial intelligence systems to perform duties currently reserved for physicians. Specifically, it permits AI to interpret mammograms and removes the requirement for a physician to sign off on the results. The changes directly affect healthcare providers and facilities that use or plan to use AI technology in breast cancer screening. By amending the Public Health Service Act, the legislation modernizes regulations to accommodate advancements in machine learning while maintaining oversight of diagnostic processes.
The Access to Donor Milk Act of 2026 expands federal support for nonprofit organizations that collect, test, and distribute pasteurized donor human milk. It amends existing child nutrition laws to allow state agencies to use funds for storing unprocessed milk donations and transferring them to these nonprofit banks. Additionally, the bill authorizes competitive grants to help these banks increase their capacity during declared disasters or public health emergencies. The legislation also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to launch a public awareness campaign educating parents and medical professionals about the benefits and safety of donor milk. Finally, it mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services convene a public meeting and issue draft safety standards for the collection and processing of donor human milk within 18 months of enactment.
