This bill, known as the HERO Act, creates a federal grant program to help schools purchase opioid overdose reversal drugs and develop emergency response plans and educational resources for students and staff. Schools receiving federal funding would be required to report any distribution of these reversal drugs to federal tracking systems. The grants would be awarded competitively, with priority given to schools in areas with high rates of opioid overdoses, and recipients would need to submit annual reports on how they used the funds and implemented safety measures.
This bill exempts H-1B visa holders working in healthcare from a presidential restriction that requires a $100,000 payment for entry into the United States. It directly affects foreign medical professionals and healthcare workers who hold H-1B nonimmigrant visas. The legislation removes the additional fee requirement for these workers while limiting any fees that may be charged to the standard amount already established under immigration law. The bill defines healthcare workers using the existing definition from the Affordable Care Act and was introduced in the 119th Congress in March 2026.
This bill creates a tax credit for small employers who set up new dependent care flexible spending plans for their employees. The credit covers startup costs like plan establishment and employee education expenses, but only for the first three years after the plan begins. To qualify, the employer must not have previously offered a similar plan to the same employees, and the plan must include at least one non-highly compensated employee. The maximum credit is $500 in the first year and the next two years, or up to $250 per eligible employee, capped at $5,000 total.
This bill establishes a federal grant program to help States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations provide services to people struggling with gambling addiction. The program would fund prevention efforts, screening, treatment, and support services including training for healthcare providers, public awareness campaigns, and access to help lines and peer support groups. Grants would be awarded competitively, with priority given to programs serving vulnerable populations such as Native Americans, veterans, youth, and those in rural or underserved areas. Funding would come from a portion of the federal excise tax on gambling, with amounts adjusted annually for inflation.
This resolution formally supports the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and World Social Work Day, which are observed on March 17, 2026. It recognizes the contributions of social workers across various settings including healthcare, schools, child welfare agencies, and disaster relief efforts. The measure acknowledges the profession's role in addressing mental health, addiction, poverty, and social justice while encouraging awareness of social workers' integral role in community well-being.
This bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study examining how accessible addiction and mental health care providers and services are for farmers and ranchers facing challenges like drought, extreme weather, market instability, and consumer misinformation. The study will investigate rural availability of trained providers, barriers such as financial and geographic obstacles, and successful state and local programs that could be expanded federally. It also explores options like funding for therapy sessions through existing networks and enhancing telehealth services in rural areas. The results will be reported to Congress within 180 days, with up to $1 million authorized annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to support the study.
This bill, titled the Medicines for the People Act, would create a new National Institute for Biomedical Research and Development within the Public Health Service Act. The new institute would conduct full-cycle research and development of drugs, devices, and biological products using federal laboratories, contracts with public and private entities, and acquisitions of existing technologies. Key provisions include government ownership of patents and trade secrets from institute-funded research, mandatory sharing of clinical trial data with the public, and licensing agreements that prioritize nonprofit and public entities while allowing some for-profit licensing under public interest terms. The institute would be overseen by a 15-member governing board with restrictions on members from the pharmaceutical industry, and it would receive an initial authorization of $90 billion for fiscal year 2027.
This bill, known as the EMPOWER for Health Act, extends federal funding for health workforce programs through fiscal year 2030, directly supporting medical schools, residency programs, and health education centers. It increases annual appropriations for various initiatives that train and place healthcare professionals in underserved areas, including specific programs for pediatric care and area health education centers. The legislation also updates eligibility requirements and service obligations for participants, ensuring that training programs align with current medical practice standards and that graduates serve in communities with healthcare shortages.
The Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act (S. 3956) imposes a new 5% annual wealth tax on individuals and trusts whose net assets exceed $1 billion, with the threshold adjusted for inflation. The bill also expands Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing, and vision services, establishes a $60,000 minimum annual salary for public school teachers, and creates a birth-through-five child care entitlement program for families with income up to 250% of state median income. Additional provisions include permanent extensions of Medicaid protections for home and community-based services, increased funding for housing trust funds, and expanded child care and early learning support for working families.
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✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes wealth tax on billionaires to fund expanded Medicare, teacher salaries, and childcare programs, directly addressing budget and taxation through progressive taxation.95% confidence
✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes $60,000 minimum annual salary for public school teachers, directly supporting educators and strengthening education infrastructure.85% confidence
✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing, and vision services, directly advancing healthcare access and benefits.85% confidence
✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes $60,000 minimum salary for public school teachers and expands Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision services, directly supporting worker benefits and wages.75% confidence
This bill authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations that partner to create or support blue envelope programs. These programs are designed to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder or developmental, cognitive, sensory, or communication disabilities interact safely with law enforcement by providing training, resources, and materials like blue envelopes containing emergency information. The funding, totaling $5 million annually from 2027 to 2031, prioritizes programs that demonstrate scalability, community support, and input from people with disabilities. The Attorney General must also maintain a public directory of funded programs and submit regular reports to Congress on implementation and best practices.