Technology

in committee · United States · House May 29, 2026

HR 9050: Small Business Innovation Voucher Act of 2026

The Small Business Innovation Voucher Act of 2026 creates a new grant program to help small businesses purchase technical assistance and services from universities and nonprofit research labs. Under this competitive program, the Small Business Administration will award grants ranging from $15,000 to $75,000 to cover between 50% and 75% of the cost for projects aimed at developing new products or services. To receive funding, small businesses must submit an application detailing their project, and selected recipients are required to report on their results and how the project impacted their business after completion. The legislation authorizes $10 million per year from 2026 through 2030 to fund these grants and covers administrative expenses with up to 5% of the total appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a new grant program to fund small business technical assistance, directly increasing government spending for economic development.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates a grant program to fund small businesses for developing new products and services via technical assistance, directly advancing technology innovation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Tags Small Business

Track

in committee · United States · House May 26, 2026

HR 9028: PRC Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers Moratorium Act

This bill prohibits the registration of new broker-dealers and investment advisers in the United States if they are owned, controlled, or managed by entities or individuals from China. The law defines control as owning more than 15% of voting securities and bars registration for firms that receive specific services from Chinese affiliates, such as software development, platform infrastructure, or customer support. These restrictions apply to both the primary firm and its related parties, ensuring that no Chinese-linked entity can operate under these federal securities licenses. The ban is set to expire automatically five years after the law is enacted, at which point the prohibitions will be removed.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts technology services by banning firms using Chinese software or infrastructure, limiting access to tech resources.90% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 27, 2026

S 4570: U.S. Tech PATH Act

The U.S. Tech PATH Act establishes a new program within the Department of State to help foreign governments purchase trusted American cyber and digital technologies, aiming to reduce reliance on suppliers from countries of concern like China. This initiative creates a dedicated office and funding stream to guide foreign partners through procurement hurdles, offering assistance with logistics, financing, and capacity building for items such as software, hardware, and artificial intelligence tools. To ensure security, the bill requires strict vetting of foreign partners to prevent human rights abuses and mandates risk assessments to stop technology misuse or diversion. The program is designed to operate alongside private market competition rather than replacing it, with a sunset provision that ends its authority eight years after enactment.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes a program to help foreign governments purchase trusted American cyber and digital technologies, enhancing cybersecurity and reducing reliance on adversaries.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 12, 2026

HR 9152: VETRA Act

The VETRA Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to run a two-year pilot program aimed at upgrading its digital security systems to better protect veterans' benefits and reduce fraud. Under this initiative, the VA will test new multi-layered identity verification methods on up to three high-use platforms, such as those for disability claims, health care enrollment, and educational benefits. The program requires the use of commercially available, independently certified security tools that adjust verification strictness based on the risk level of each transaction. To ensure accountability, the bill mandates regular reports to Congress on performance metrics and requires an independent evaluation by the Government Accountability Office before deciding whether to expand the system nationwide.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates upgrading digital security systems and implementing identity verification to protect veterans' data and reduce fraud.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill strengthens veteran benefits by upgrading security to protect data and reduce fraud.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 9125: Sectoral AI Governance Act of 2026

The Sectoral AI Governance Act of 2026 gives federal agencies with enforcement powers the ability to create specific rules targeting algorithmic decision-making systems that are likely to cause violations of existing federal laws. Under this bill, agencies must publish a public notice at least 60 days before proposing rules to allow for feedback, while also consulting with other agencies and technical experts to ensure consistency and avoid conflicts. The legislation requires agencies to periodically review these rules every five years and submit biennial reports to Congress detailing their rulemaking activities, enforcement actions, and assessments of potential discriminatory impacts. By clarifying regulatory authority and mandating transparency, the bill aims to improve coordination across the federal government without preempting state laws on the same topics.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes governance and oversight for AI systems to prevent legal violations, aligning with consumer protection and digital rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 9134: Protecting Student Privacy Act

The Protecting Student Privacy Act prevents federal student aid data from being shared with immigration enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing immigration laws. This rule applies to information held by the Department of Education regarding students and their financial contributors, such as parents or spouses, and blocks its use for arrests, interviews, or surveillance by the Department of Homeland Security and other authorized entities. The law includes specific exceptions for court orders related to criminal offenses and for cases where a student or contributor voluntarily and without pressure consents to sharing their information. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Education to report any unauthorized disclosures to Congress and states that this new rule overrides any conflicting state or local laws.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects student privacy and prevents federal aid data from being used for immigration enforcement, thereby safeguarding educational access and reducing barriers for students and families.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill prevents sharing student aid data with immigration enforcement, limiting cooperation and protecting immigrant families from surveillance.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens data privacy by preventing student aid data from being shared with immigration enforcement, protecting digital rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

in committee · United States · House Sep 8, 2026

HR 9098: Congressional Records Protection Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Congressional Records Protection Act, aims to shield the personal and official communications of Members of Congress and their employees from government searches and subpoenas. It directly affects federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies by prohibiting them from obtaining records related to these individuals unless the person is the specific target of a criminal investigation. Under the new rules, agencies must notify the affected Member or employee before searching their records, except in urgent cases where notice could endanger lives or destroy evidence. Additionally, any materials found during a search that belong to a protected individual cannot be reviewed for 30 days to ensure they are not accessed without proper oversight.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts law enforcement access to records, limiting their ability to investigate and gather evidence against congressional staff.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyThe bill strengthens data privacy and digital rights by shielding communications from government searches, aligning with the goal of protecting personal data.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · United States · House Sep 1, 2026

HR 9129: GUARD Act of 2026

The GUARD Act of 2026 requires U.S. national security agencies to evaluate whether humanoid or quadruped robots made by foreign entities pose a risk to national security. If a robot is determined to be unsafe or comes from a country of concern, the Federal Communications Commission will add it to a banned list, preventing its use in U.S. communications networks. The law mandates that agencies report their findings to Congress within specific timeframes, ensuring transparency about these security assessments. Importantly, the rule does not apply to allies such as NATO members or designated Major Non-NATO Allies.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enhances cybersecurity by restricting foreign robots posing national security risks.90% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 8926: State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act

The State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act creates a grant program to help state and local governments upgrade their technology systems to improve security and service efficiency. Funded by $500 million over four years, the program distributes money equally based on population and specific needs, with at least 70% of funds directed directly to local political subdivisions. Recipients can use the money for tasks such as buying new technology, updating cybersecurity, hiring staff, and ensuring compliance with data privacy and post-quantum cryptography standards. The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information will oversee the program, conduct surveys to assess state needs, and provide technical guidance on data security and artificial intelligence usage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $500M in federal funding to state and local governments for technology upgrades and security, directly increasing resources for public services.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates $500M to upgrade government technology systems and enhance cybersecurity, directly advancing the topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Emerging Technology

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 1, 2026

S 4649: Email Privacy Act

The Email Privacy Act amends federal law to clarify how electronic communication providers must handle user data disclosures and government requests. It changes the definition of when a provider can share information, ensuring that voluntary disclosures are limited to the people involved in the communication or their agents, and it updates the terminology used to describe how data is stored. The bill also modifies the rules for government access, requiring warrants for obtaining the contents of stored communications and allowing providers to notify users about certain warrants and legal requests. Additionally, the legislation includes specific exceptions for communications related to public advertisements and ensures that the act does not restrict Congress's power to issue subpoenas.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens data privacy by clarifying limits on voluntary disclosures and requiring warrants for government access to communications.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

Track