This bill amends Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to clarify that protections against sex discrimination do not extend to gender identity. It directly affects employers, employees, and individuals involved in workplace discrimination claims by explicitly excluding gender identity from the definition of sex-based discrimination. The key provision is a rule of construction that interprets existing federal law in a specific way, rather than creating new protections or restrictions. This change would limit the scope of federal sex discrimination claims to biological sex rather than including gender identity as a protected category.
This bill establishes a new Refined Fuel Storage Reserve in eight Western States to store gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as part of the national Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The Energy Department must identify and select one storage location within six months of enactment, prioritizing areas dependent on imported fuel or likely to face shortages, and must fill the reserve to at least 75 percent capacity over five years using existing federal funding. The reserve can be used during emergencies or supply disruptions, and the Energy Secretary may partner with state and local governments to store non-federal fuel in the facility. The bill also requires annual reports to Congress on the reserve's establishment, operations, and future recommendations.
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study fraud prevention in federal early childhood education, child care, and nutrition programs - including Head Start, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The study will examine current fraud prevention procedures, assess whether federal data is sufficient and effectively used to detect fraud, and evaluate state program integrity results when responsibilities are delegated to local entities. The GAO must submit a report to Congress within two years, including findings and recommendations for improving fraud prevention measures. This is a procedural study bill focused on identifying gaps, not implementing new policies.
This bill would ban the trading of financial contracts tied to specific events like terrorism, assassination, wars, elections, and government actions. It directly affects people and companies that currently trade or plan to trade these types of event-based derivatives. The law would make it illegal for regulated exchanges to list or offer these contracts, with the exception that states could choose to allow trading of contracts related to gaming. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission would also have the authority to ban other event contracts it considers harmful to the public interest.
This bill prohibits the issuance of U.S. visas to individuals who have committed particularly severe violations of religious freedom, either while serving as foreign government officials or while acting outside the United States. It directly affects foreign nationals by adding them to the list of inadmissible aliens under U.S. immigration law if they meet specific criteria related to religious persecution. The law requires the Secretary of State to publish the names and locations of these individuals on a public website, though the Secretary retains discretion to withhold identities if doing so would harm U.S. foreign policy interests. This measure expands existing immigration restrictions to specifically target those responsible for religious freedom violations, creating a new ground for visa denial.
Representing our Seniors at VA Act of 2025 This bill expands the membership of the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee within the Veterans Health Administration by requiring the addition of one representative from the National Association of State Veterans Homes who holds a professional license in nursing home administration. Additionally, the committee must consult with the National Association of Veterans State Homes with respect to matters concerning the association.
This resolution expresses support for the United Nations designation of 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. It recognizes the economic, social, and ecological importance of rangelands and the ranchers, farmers, and land managers who steward them. The measure encourages federal agencies, universities, and organizations to promote education, research, and outreach related to rangeland management during this designated year.
The Support our Firefighters Act establishes mandatory rest and recuperation leave for federal wildland firefighters working for the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. The bill requires these employees to take paid leave after completing specific deployment periods, such as 3 days after 14 days of work or 4 days after 21 days of work, with policies set jointly by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior. Additionally, the legislation allows up to $5 million in unspent wildfire management funds to be transferred between the two departments to support ongoing salary increases for firefighters. The act also removes expiration dates on overtime pay provisions for wildland firefighters, ensuring these benefits continue indefinitely rather than being limited to specific years.
The SHARE Act introduces a new tax provision that excludes certain income from shared appreciation mortgages from gross income for qualifying borrowers. This bill directly affects low-to-moderate income homeowners who use these alternative financing products, which allow lenders to receive a share of the property's future value increase instead of requiring monthly interest payments. The key mechanism requires borrowers to meet income limits of 140 percent of the area median income and use the home as their primary residence, while the mortgage must be a second lien subordinate to a qualified first mortgage and cannot exceed 49 percent of the purchase price. The tax exclusion applies only to amounts received after December 31, 2025, and does not change the fundamental structure of these loans but rather provides specific tax treatment for their repayment and disposition.
This bill, titled the Ensuring Better Interest Treatment and Deductibility Act, would change how businesses calculate the limit on interest expenses they can deduct on their taxes. It directly affects corporations and other businesses that pay interest on loans by modifying the rules for determining adjusted taxable income. The key provision removes a specific clause from the tax code that currently limits how much interest can be deducted based on a company's earnings, effectively allowing more interest to be treated as a deductible business expense. These changes would apply to tax years starting after December 31, 2025, meaning businesses would need to adjust their financial planning for future tax filings.
This bill, titled the Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026, establishes rules for how religious organizations are treated under federal tax law and financial assistance programs. It directs the IRS to determine whether an organization's purpose is religious without considering its specific beliefs about marriage, sexuality, or gender identity, even if those beliefs conflict with current laws. The legislation also prohibits federal agencies from discriminating against religious employers that receive federal funding if those employers hire staff based on their religious standards. These protections apply to religious corporations, associations, educational institutions, and societies, ensuring they can maintain employment practices aligned with their faith when receiving government support.
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on installing a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam. The study aims to balance hydropower generation with preventing invasive species from being drawn into the dam's intake, following existing environmental management plans. If the study finds the system feasible and power contractors agree, construction could begin after the 18-month study period. The bill allocates federal funds for the study and requires identifying funding sources within 90 days of enactment.
