Technology

Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act or the ACERO Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project. The ACERO project conducts research and development activities regarding aerial response to wildfires using uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and other advanced aviation technologies. It is administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  The bill directs the ACERO project to address airspace management and deconfliction during wildfire response efforts, including through real-time information sharing among response teams and the development of a platform to provide situational awareness of aerial assets. The bill also directs the ACERO project to establish a multiagency concept of operations to facilitate the coordination of aerial wildfire response among federal, state, and local government agencies. NASA must consult with other federal agencies and departments to avoid duplication of these efforts.  NASA generally may not procure UAS manufactured or assembled by specified foreign entities, including entities domiciled in or controlled by China, for use by the ACERO project.

HR 6704 establishes a $45 million prize competition to accelerate development of passive, in-vehicle technology that prevents operation by drivers with high blood alcohol levels (e.g., breath or touch sensors). It also creates a Traffic Safety Enforcement Center of Excellence to provide states and law enforcement with data-driven strategies for targeting drunk and drug-impaired driving, and mandates a national drug-involved crash data system to track non-alcohol impairments in fatal and serious injury crashes. The bill directly affects vehicle manufacturers (through tech integration incentives), states (via enforcement training and data grants), and law enforcement agencies (through new protocols and resource targeting). Key provisions include requiring standardized toxicology data collection, prioritizing rural/underserved states for grants, and de-identifying public crash data to comply with privacy laws.

This bill prohibits social media platforms from offering disappearing messages (like Snapchat's ephemeral chats) to users under 17. It requires platforms to provide parents with easily accessible tools to approve or block private messaging for minors, with direct messaging disabled by default for users under 13. App stores must also display clear warnings to parents when minors attempt to download apps with private messaging features. These requirements apply to all social media platforms defined under the bill, with enforcement handled by the Federal Trade Commission.

HR 7292 amends the National Quantum Initiative Act to require the Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science (part of the National Science and Technology Council) to submit a biennial report to the President, the Advisory Committee, and relevant congressional committees. The bill mandates that these reports detail the subcommittee's progress in implementing the national workforce strategic plan, including any challenges faced and planned updates to address evolving workforce needs. This requirement directly affects the subcommittee and federal agencies managing quantum workforce development. The bill adds no new policy changes but establishes a regular reporting mechanism to track implementation of the existing workforce plan.

The Vets Connect Act (HR 7176) creates a secure online platform allowing veterans to reconnect with fellow service members based on shared military service details (like branch, units, and dates of service) without sharing personal contact information. Veterans must explicitly opt in to appear in the system, and their personal data (phone numbers, email, etc.) is never stored or displayed without their consent. Access is restricted to verified veterans, and the system prohibits commercial use of data, requiring strict security measures and audit logs to protect user privacy. This directly affects veterans seeking to reconnect with peers while ensuring their information remains private and secure.

Next Generation 9–1–1 Act This bill establishes a grant program to support implementation of next generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) systems by state, territorial, and tribal governments and requires other related activities. NG9-1-1 means a secure, interoperable, Internet Protocol-based (IP-based) system for receiving 9-1-1 requests for emergency assistance. (IP-based 9-1-1 systems have capabilities that legacy telephone systems do not, including enhanced location-finding and the ability to receive text and multimedia messages.) Under the bill, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must provide grants to state, territorial, and tribal governments (and entities established by those governments) to support the implementation and maintenance of NG9-1-1 systems. Grant funds may also be used for public outreach on NG9-1-1, implementation of cybersecurity measures, and, subject to certain limits, training and administrative costs. Entities applying for grants must submit a plan for NG9-1-1 coordination and implementation that ensures interoperability and reliability, incorporates cybersecurity tools, and meets other requirements related to technology and procurement. Applicants must also certify that they have established, or will establish within a specified time frame, a sustainable funding mechanism to support NG9-1-1 and effective cybersecurity resources. The NTIA must advise applicants on the preparation of implementation plans and provide technical assistance to grant recipients. Further, the NTIA must establish (1) an advisory board to provide recommendations with respect to the grant program and other topics related to NG9-1-1; and (2) a cybersecurity center to coordinate with state, local, and regional governments on the sharing of cybersecurity information related to NG9-1-1.

The Department of Energy Quantum Leadership Act of 2025 enhances the Department of Energy's quantum research program by creating new initiatives to advance quantum information science, engineering, and technology. It establishes National Quantum Information Science Research Centers, a Quantum Instrumentation and Foundry Program to develop domestic quantum supply chains, and a Quantum User Expansion program to enable software development for quantum systems. The bill includes specific funding levels through 2030 ($175 million annually for the main program, $50 million annually for instrumentation), requires coordination with other federal agencies, and includes restrictions on funding for quantum research involving certain foreign entities of concern. It also includes provisions for workforce development through traineeships focused on underrepresented students in quantum fields. These changes aim to accelerate U.S. leadership in quantum technology development and commercialization.

HR 5170, the CABLE Leadership Act, requires local governments to approve or deny new cable franchise requests within 120 days of receiving a complete application. If a local government fails to act within this timeframe, the request is automatically approved. The bill also mandates that denials must be in writing, supported by evidence, and publicly released the same day. This directly affects cable companies seeking new franchises and local governments responsible for reviewing these applications.

HR 4473, the BIRD Health Act of 2025, establishes a new U.S.-Israel bilateral program to fund joint research and development of health technologies. It directly affects U.S. and Israeli health institutions, companies, and academic organizations by providing $10 million annually (2026-2032) for collaborative projects in medical devices, telemedicine, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, genomics, and infectious disease prevention. Key provisions include funding for R&D, commercialization support, health system strengthening, and joint manufacturing of biological products, with projects selected based on innovation, commercial potential, and partnership strength. The program will be administered by the existing BIRD Foundation under U.S. Health and Human Services oversight, aiming to accelerate health technology development and deployment through U.S.-Israel collaboration.

S 1534 establishes a National Science Foundation grant program to increase participation of women, underrepresented minorities (including Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian subgroups, LGBTQ+ individuals), and people with disabilities in STEM fields. It authorizes $15 million annually (2026-2030) for competitive grants to fund specific activities like mentoring programs, internships, online workshops, K-12 outreach, and faculty recruitment. The program directly affects eligible educational institutions and organizations seeking to address documented disparities in STEM degree completion and workforce retention. Key provisions require grantees to target underrepresented groups identified through NSF data showing persistent gaps in enrollment, graduation, and career retention. The bill focuses on actionable support mechanisms rather than legislative changes.