This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on how federal cybersecurity programs help small businesses protect themselves from digital threats. The investigation will examine the effectiveness of current resources in identifying risks, assessing preparedness, and planning responses to cyberattacks and fraud. Additionally, the study will analyze why some small businesses are unaware of these tools and suggest ways to improve their coordination and accessibility. The final report will be submitted to congressional committees without requesting any new funding for the project.
This bill directs the President, through the Department of Defense and the National Intelligence Director, to create strategies for identifying stolen sensitive data and classified information held by foreign entities. It specifically targets financial, medical, biometric data, intellectual property, and trade secrets belonging to U.S. persons. The legislation authorizes these officials to determine if destroying, manipulating, or recovering such stolen data serves U.S. economic and national security interests, and if so, permits them to attempt those actions while potentially informing the data owners. Officials must submit a report to Congress within one year outlining their strategies, actions taken, and recommendations for future legislative or administrative steps.
The SECURE Grid Act requires states to include local distribution systems, which are electric utility infrastructure operating at 100 kilovolts or less, in their state energy security plans. This bill expands the scope of state plans to address physical threats like weather and attacks on local distribution systems, as well as cybersecurity risks and supply chain vulnerabilities for electricity equipment. States must also provide risk mitigation approaches to enhance reliability and resilience, and the act mandates a Government Accountability Office report by September 2030 to evaluate how these plans have improved risk management and recovery capabilities. The provisions expire on September 30, 2031, and require states to submit their plans without needing approval from the Secretary of Energy.
This bill establishes a task force to study how artificial intelligence speech-to-text and automatic speech recognition technologies are used in federal and state courts across the United States. The 15-member group, composed of government officials, legal experts, and technology specialists, will examine issues like accuracy, privacy, civil liberties, and costs associated with these AI tools in judicial proceedings. Within 18 months of enactment, the task force must submit a final report to Congress detailing its findings on whether AI affects court record quality, impacts individuals with speech impediments, creates cybersecurity risks, and recommends any necessary policy changes. The task force will also provide quarterly status updates to congressional committees and will dissolve once its final report is submitted.
This bill establishes safety and security standards for online platforms and delivery services that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. It requires the Food and Nutrition Service to create rules for digital privacy, cybersecurity, fair working conditions including prevailing wages, and food safety for stores and wholesalers participating in the program. Retailers must report their compliance with these standards within 18 months of the rules being finalized, and noncompliance could result in losing authorization to accept SNAP benefits. The legislation aims to protect users and workers while ensuring food safety in the growing digital food assistance landscape.
The Cyber Ready Workforce Act authorizes federal grants to support the creation and expansion of cybersecurity apprenticeship programs. These grants are awarded to workforce intermediaries, which can include businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations, to help employers and apprentices develop cybersecurity skills. At least 85 percent of the grant funds must be used for program development, employer partnerships, and support services like career counseling and assistance with transportation or housing costs for apprentices. The remaining funds can be used for outreach to recruit diverse participants, including women, minorities, and veterans, and to connect employers with training providers. The bill aims to create a skilled cybersecurity workforce through industry-recognized certifications and on-the-job training.
This bill establishes a framework to protect American-owned closed-source AI models from unauthorized extraction by foreign entities, particularly those from China and Russia. It requires the Secretary of State to conduct assessments identifying which foreign entities are conducting model extraction attacks or facilitating them through fraudulent account networks, then publish a public list of these actors for up to five years. The legislation authorizes the President to impose economic sanctions on identified entities and their affiliates, while also creating mechanisms for industry coordination and sharing information about threats. Importantly, the bill distinguishes between legitimate AI research conducted under contractual terms and unauthorized extraction attempts that bypass access controls or violate usage agreements.
The American Security Robotics Act of 2026 prohibits federal agencies from buying or using unmanned ground vehicles made by foreign entities linked to certain nations. It defines these vehicles as mechanical devices that move on the ground and operate without direct human control, including autonomous robots and remote surveillance systems. The ban takes effect one year after the law is passed and applies to both direct purchases and contracts for these services. Exceptions allow use for national security missions, research, or if the system is modified to remove foreign data connections and cybersecurity risks.
The Mined in America Act of 2026 establishes a voluntary certification program for Bitcoin mining facilities and pools to ensure they use hardware manufactured in the United States or friendly nations, rather than from foreign adversaries. The program requires operators to meet specific hardware sourcing standards that phase out foreign adversary equipment by 2030, maintain cybersecurity protocols, and participate in U.S.-based mining pools. Certified facilities become eligible for priority access to federal loan, grant, and procurement programs through the Department of Energy and Agriculture. The bill also creates a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve within the Treasury Department, allowing the government to acquire mined Bitcoin from certified sources without recognizing capital gains, and authorizes the use of staking rewards from digital asset stockpiles to fund Bitcoin acquisitions.
The American Security Robotics Act of 2026 prohibits federal agencies from purchasing or operating unmanned ground vehicles made by foreign entities from certain countries. This ban applies to mechanical devices that move on land, such as autonomous patrol robots or surveillance vehicles, and extends to contracts where these systems are used by federal agencies. The law allows exceptions for specific national security purposes like counter-terrorism, research, or when the foreign technology is modified to remove data transfer capabilities and cybersecurity risks. Four federal departments - Homeland Security, Defense, State, and Justice - are authorized to request exemptions from these restrictions if they demonstrate a national interest.
