The Data Science and Literacy Act of 2026 establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Education to support state agencies, local school districts, tribal schools, and higher education institutions in expanding data literacy and statistics education from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary levels. Eligible recipients must use funds for activities such as developing new curricula, providing professional development for teachers, and creating partnerships with industry or community organizations to reduce access gaps for underrepresented students. The bill authorizes $10 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, requiring grantees to submit biannual reports on student outcomes disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, and income status. Additionally, the legislation amends existing federal law to require the collection of demographic and background data on secondary school STEM teachers in each state every five years.
The ADVERSARIES Act requires the Under Secretary of the Bureau of Industry and Security to conduct a review within 90 days of enactment regarding how U.S.-based affiliates of foreign entities on the Entity List or Military End User List might be acquiring controlled items that their parent companies are restricted from accessing. The review must also assess national security risks posed by foreign adversary exploitation of vulnerabilities in information and communications technology, including whether specific sectors pose undue risk to export control effectiveness. Following the review, officials must submit a report to relevant congressional committees detailing their findings, any planned actions to address identified threats within the next year, and recommendations for changes to U.S. law.
The MATCH IT Act of 2026 directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a uniform definition for patient match rates and establish a minimum data set required to accurately link patients with their medical records. These new standards would be integrated into federal health information technology certification criteria and Medicare interoperability program requirements, affecting electronic health record vendors and healthcare providers participating in these programs. To encourage adoption, the bill introduces a voluntary bonus measure within the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program that allows eligible providers to receive payment adjustments for achieving high patient match rates, such as 90 percent or higher. Additionally, the legislation mandates the creation of an anonymous reporting program where providers can submit matching accuracy data to help the government monitor progress and adjust incentive thresholds over time.
The RECOVER PII Act expands identity protection coverage for individuals affected by federal agency data breaches, extending the duration of protection for the remainder of their lives and increasing the minimum insurance amount to $5 million. Additionally, the bill allows federal agencies to use appropriated funds to reimburse employees or their contractors for up to 100 percent of the costs associated with privacy-enhancing services, such as software or hardware designed to mitigate data risks. These provisions aim to provide long-term financial support and resources to victims of data breaches while ensuring that reimbursement claims are supported by necessary documentation.
The FRONTIER Act establishes a regulatory framework for the largest artificial intelligence developers to manage and disclose risks associated with their most powerful models, known as "frontier models." It requires companies meeting specific revenue and spending thresholds to create public safety frameworks, undergo independent third-party audits, and report incidents or potential harms to the Department of Commerce. The bill also creates a system where the Secretary of Commerce can issue emergency orders to suspend or restrict model development if an imminent catastrophic risk is identified. Additionally, the legislation preempts state laws that impose new obligations on AI developers regarding risk transparency, auditing, and incident reporting to ensure a uniform national approach.
The PHD Talent Act of 2026 establishes a five-year pilot program to help universities create accelerated doctoral programs in critical fields like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. These programs aim to train U.S. citizens and permanent residents by shortening the time to earn a doctorate, integrating undergraduate and graduate coursework, and providing funding that covers at least three years of doctoral study. The Department of Energy will award grants to universities that partner with national laboratories and industry to offer these tracks, which also include structured mentorship and research rotations to build dual expertise in a specific science and computational methods. The legislation authorizes $250 million for the program between 2028 and 2032 and requires the Department of Energy to submit annual reports to Congress on the initiative's progress and student outcomes.
This bill creates a temporary National Workforce Transition Fund to help workers and employers manage labor market changes caused by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The fund is financed by exempting AI data centers from certain tax depreciation limits, with the resulting revenue transferred to the Treasury and then allocated to the fund over five years. A new National Workforce Transition Board will oversee the program, developing strategies to assess workforce impacts and directing resources toward training, job placement, and employer retention initiatives. The legislation prioritizes support for workers facing employment disruption without requiring them to prove that technology was the sole cause of their job loss, while also funding improvements to labor market data systems. All provisions related to the fund and workforce activities are set to expire five years after the bill is enacted.
The RECOVER PII Act expands identity protection coverage for individuals affected by federal data breaches, extending the duration of such coverage to the remainder of their lives and increasing insurance limits to at least $5 million. It also allows federal agencies to use appropriated funds to fully reimburse employees or contractors for costs associated with privacy-enhancing services, such as software or hardware that reduces personal data risks. These changes aim to provide long-term security support and financial assistance to victims of government data incidents without specifying which agencies or individuals are directly impacted.
The AI AGENT Act of 2026 establishes a legal framework allowing users to authorize third-party software agents, known as custodial user agents, to manage their online accounts and data on large platforms with over 50 million customers. To enable this, the bill requires these platforms to provide transparent, non-discriminatory access interfaces and mandates that the agents operate under strict duties to protect user privacy, prevent harm, and avoid using data for advertising or selling. The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with registering these agents, setting technical standards for secure data exchange, and enforcing compliance through a system that includes public reporting and penalties for unfair practices.
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The Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a workforce development plan aimed at training cybersecurity professionals specifically for rural hospitals. This strategy requires the Secretary to consult with various federal agencies and healthcare representatives while focusing on partnerships, curriculum development, and identifying local security challenges. Additionally, the bill mandates the publication of free instructional materials and an awareness campaign to help rural hospital staff learn fundamental cybersecurity skills. The legislation does not authorize any new funding, relying instead on existing resources to implement these training and educational initiatives.
