HR 6213, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, prohibits the U.S. Department of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing OSHA's proposed "Heat Injury and Illness Prevention" standard (published August 30, 2024). This bill directly blocks the specific regulatory proposal targeting heat safety in both outdoor and indoor work settings. It does not create new requirements or affect workers; it solely prevents the implementation of the existing OSHA proposal. The bill is procedural, focusing on halting a regulatory action rather than establishing new policy.
North Rim Restoration Act This bill allows the National Park Service (NPS) to expedite the approval of contracts to restore forests, structures, and assets within areas of the Grand Canyon National Park impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire in Arizona. Specifically, the bill authorizes the NPS to use emergency acquisition flexibilities without a presidential emergency or disaster declaration to contract for the following services in such impacted areas: managing or restoring forests, rebuilding structures affected by the fire, improving grounds and structures, conducting recovery efforts, or other specified activities. This authority expires on the date that is the earlier of the following: (1) seven years after the date of this bill's enactment, or (2) the date on which projects and recovery efforts within such area are completed. The NPS may request Congress extend such authority for 12 months if a new wildfire ignites within such area and impacts recovery efforts related to the Dragon Bravo Fire. The bill also authorizes the NPS to enter into noncompetitive procurement contracts for rebuilding, rehabilitating, replacing, or operating assets, such as lodging or utilities, to support the recovery and reopening of the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim. This authority is conditioned upon the NPS making certain determinations regarding the North Rim concessioner and it terminates seven years after this bill's enactment.
The Building Community in America Act aims to increase participation in national and community service programs by specifically targeting underrepresented groups, including young adults and men. It achieves this by amending existing laws to require that federal funding priorities favor projects focused on mentoring, youth development, disaster response, and skilled-trade apprenticeships. Additionally, the bill mandates that volunteers be assigned to initiatives designed to recruit and train these specific populations. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to diversify the workforce within community service by making the recruitment of underrepresented individuals a central requirement for receiving federal support.
This bill establishes a comprehensive sanctions framework targeting the Russian government and its affiliated entities in response to ongoing military actions. It authorizes the President to block assets, revoke visas, and prohibit financial transactions for Russian officials, military leaders, and foreign persons supporting Russia's defense industry or undermining Ukraine. The legislation also bans U.S. investments in Russian energy sectors, prohibits the purchase of Russian sovereign debt, and imposes high tariffs on Russian imports while restricting crude oil purchases by specific foreign nations. Additionally, the bill prevents Russian companies from listing on U.S. stock exchanges and includes mechanisms for terminating sanctions only if Russia signs a peace agreement accepted by Ukraine and ceases hostilities.
The Ban Birth Tourism Act of 2026 prohibits individuals from entering the United States if their main reason for travel is to have a child born there to gain U.S. citizenship. This law makes such travelers inadmissible upon arrival and subject to deportation if they are found to have entered the country specifically for this purpose. Officials determine whether someone is engaging in birth tourism by assessing if the person's primary goal is obtaining citizenship for a child or if they are likely to give birth within ten months of entry. The bill directly affects foreign nationals planning to visit the U.S. with the intent of using their child's birthplace to secure citizenship status.
The Clean Water Allotment Modernization Act of 2026 updates how federal funding for water pollution control is distributed among states, Indian tribes, and U.S. territories. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency to set aside specific portions of funds for oversight and tribes before calculating state shares, while also introducing a new formula that allocates money based on watershed needs, population size, and poverty levels. The bill includes safeguards to prevent funding amounts for any single state from changing drastically from one year to the next and allows states to use a small percentage of their grants to conduct the necessary assessments for this new formula. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that these changes do not affect existing infrastructure funds and expands the allowable uses of capitalization grants to include technical assistance and survey activities.
The TRUTH in Coverage Act of 2026 requires group health plans and health insurance issuers that cover gender-affirming procedures to also cover medical services intended to treat physical and psychological complications resulting from those procedures. This mandate applies regardless of whether the original gender-affirming treatment was covered by the plan and ensures that any required follow-up care faces the same cost-sharing rules and limitations as standard medical benefits. The bill defines "sex-rejecting procedures" broadly to include hormone therapy, surgeries, and puberty blockers, while explicitly excluding treatments for intersex conditions, life-threatening emergencies, and standard puberty suppression for early puberty. These provisions would take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, affecting individuals with access to employer-sponsored or individual health insurance.
The Federal Lands Lawful Carry Act modifies federal law to allow individuals who are legally permitted to carry firearms under state laws to do so on specific federal lands open to the public. This change directly affects visitors to areas managed by agencies such as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Forest System. Under the new provisions, carrying a firearm in these exempted areas is considered having a lawful purpose if the individual follows applicable state regulations and is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a weapon. The bill does not authorize carrying firearms in areas where state laws forbid it or in locations that remain closed to visitors.
This bill, titled the Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act, authorizes the President to issue official commissions to private companies and individuals to conduct specific cyber operations against foreign cyberthreats. Under this program, private holders would be permitted to perform tasks such as collecting intelligence, recovering stolen data, disrupting malicious networks, and seizing digital assets located outside the United States. To participate, recipients must post a security bond, maintain detailed records of their activities for at least five years, and adhere to strict rules prohibiting attacks on U.S. citizens or entities. The legislation also establishes a bounty system where recovered funds can be used to reward private operators and informants, with a portion of seized assets potentially funding future operations or victim compensation. Additionally, the act provides legal protection for private holders from lawsuits regarding actions explicitly authorized by their commission.
The McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act directs the Federal Aviation Administration to review its policies on low-altitude airspace safety, specifically focusing on hazards created by temporary structures like slacklines and highlines. This review will involve consulting with various aviation stakeholders, including pilots, drone operators, and land management agencies, to assess current marking requirements and data accuracy. If the FAA finds that existing rules are insufficient, it must update regulations within a year to better identify these obstructions in flight planning tools and improve coordination with local authorities. Additionally, the agency is required to report its findings and any recommended policy changes to Congress within nine months of completing the review.
The HEATS Act modifies the Geothermal Steam Act to allow companies to drill for geothermal energy on private land without needing a separate federal permit, provided the federal government owns less than half of the underground resources and the operator holds a valid state permit. This change exempts such projects from certain federal environmental reviews, including those under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, while still requiring royalty payments to the government for electricity production. The legislation explicitly excludes projects on Indian lands and allows federal inspectors to verify production data and royalty payments to ensure accountability.
The General Aviation Protection Act strengthens national security oversight of the U.S. general aviation industry by requiring mandatory reviews of foreign investments in specific aviation companies and facilities. It expands the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to scrutinize acquisitions of businesses that make aircraft engines, avionics, or pilot training services, particularly those owned by Chinese military-linked entities. The bill also mandates a review of existing foreign ownership in these sectors, requires security audits of equipment from foreign-controlled companies, and restricts federal funding for entities with significant foreign ties. Additionally, the legislation imposes new disclosure requirements for foreign ownership on aviation certificates and federal contracts while prohibiting the export of certain dual-use aviation technologies without a license.
