This bill (S 1677, Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act) requires health insurance plans to cover medically necessary treatments for congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. It mandates coverage for reconstructive services, dental/orthodontic care, and related treatments during the course of medical treatment, while excluding purely cosmetic procedures not medically necessary. Plans may apply cost-sharing requirements similar to those for other medical services but must provide notice about these coverage requirements to participants by January 1, 2026. The bill also directs a study on provider network adequacy and cost impacts related to these coverage requirements, to be completed by December 2027.
HR 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, prevents federal agencies from banning lead ammunition or tackle on public lands and waters managed for hunting or fishing. It directly affects hunters and anglers using federal lands (like national wildlife refuges, public forests, and BLM lands) by blocking nationwide restrictions on lead products. The bill allows limited exceptions only for specific locations where wildlife decline is directly linked to lead use, and the restriction must align with state law or get approval from the state wildlife agency. This changes how federal land managers can regulate lead, requiring state coordination for any local restrictions.
This bill, titled the Stop Insider Trading Act, would restrict Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents from purchasing stocks in publicly traded companies. It requires these individuals to provide advance public notice at least seven days before selling any covered investments, with the notice filed with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate. The law includes exceptions for certain occupational transactions and reinvested dividends, and establishes penalties including fees and mandatory sales for violations.
This bill requires federal agencies and recipients of taxpayer money to clearly state the percentage and dollar amount of federal funding used for any project in public communications like press releases and bid solicitations. It applies to all programs, projects, or activities supported by federal funds, with the exception of very short messages under 280 characters. The law also mandates annual compliance reviews by the Office of Management and Budget and establishes a public reporting system for anonymous complaints about noncompliance. These requirements aim to increase transparency about how taxpayer dollars are allocated across government initiatives.
HR 7031, the "Making National Parks Safer Act," requires the National Park Service to assess emergency communications centers in national parks regarding their use of modern 9-1-1 systems. Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of the Interior must evaluate current system implementation, estimate costs for purchasing and maintaining these systems, and identify challenges like jurisdictional or technical issues. The Secretary must then report findings to Congress and develop a plan to install the systems at affected parks, consulting with state/local emergency officials and federal agencies like the FCC. This bill directly affects national park emergency centers and aims to improve emergency response coordination through standardized communication systems.
This resolution formally recognizes 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, acknowledging the ecological and economic importance of these lands to the United States. The bill highlights that rangelands cover a significant portion of U.S. territory and support domestic production of food, fiber, and energy while providing critical ecosystem services like carbon storage and wildfire risk reduction. It encourages federal agencies, universities, and organizations to engage in education, research, and outreach activities related to sustainable rangeland management during the designated year. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves to raise awareness and promote collaboration among stakeholders involved in rangeland stewardship.
This bill, titled the Community Water Project Acceleration Act, would allow certain small water resources development projects to bypass formal environmental review requirements. It directly affects non-Federal sponsors who lead construction work on water projects funded by federal programs like the Water Resources Reform and Development Act or environmental infrastructure assistance programs. The key provision requires the Secretary of the Army to designate these projects as categorically excluded from National Environmental Policy Act reviews if they meet specific cost thresholds, such as having a federal share under $6 million or a federal share under 15 percent with total costs not exceeding $35 million. The bill mandates that the Secretary of the Army issue regulations to implement these exclusions within 150 days of enactment and complete the designation process within 180 days.
This bill would change how married couples claim the student loan interest tax deduction by allowing each spouse to apply the $2,500 deduction limit separately rather than as a combined household limit. The change applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2026, and would affect married couples filing jointly who have student loans in both spouses' names. Under current rules, the total deduction for both spouses combined cannot exceed $2,500, but this legislation would permit each spouse to claim up to $2,500 individually. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to implement this separate calculation method while maintaining the overall dollar cap for each individual taxpayer.
This bill would allow federal law enforcement officers, including retired officers, to purchase firearms that have been retired from federal service. It requires the General Services Administrator to create a program where officers can buy these surplus weapons within six months of retirement, provided they are in good standing with their agency. The firearms would be sold at salvage value, which reflects their age and condition, and the program must be established within one year of the bill's enactment. The legislation defines eligible officers and firearms using existing legal definitions while excluding certain machineguns that were not lawfully possessed before specific federal restrictions took effect.
This bill, known as the State Veterans Homes Inspection Simplification Act, would allow certain State Veterans Homes that are already certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be automatically considered compliant with Medicare and Medicaid nursing home standards. Under this proposal, facilities meeting specific VA inspection and certification requirements would not need to undergo separate reviews by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reducing duplication of effort. The legislation maintains oversight by requiring the VA to submit its inspection standards for review every two years, allowing CMS to conduct targeted surveys or complaints investigations, and mandating public reporting of inspection data on the Nursing Home Care Compare website. A Government Accountability Office report would be required three years after enactment to evaluate the bill's impact on survey efficiency, enforcement outcomes, and resident care quality.
SRES 641 is a Senate resolution recognizing the 114th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the United States of America. It celebrates the organization's mission of providing girls with inclusive spaces to explore interests, build confidence, and develop leadership skills through programs like STEM education and community service. The resolution specifically congratulates Girl Scouts who earned the Gold Award in 2025 and encourages continued support for programs that prepare girls to become future leaders. As a symbolic gesture with no legal effect, it formally acknowledges the Girl Scouts' contributions to youth development and community engagement.
The Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026 implements reforms to foreign intelligence surveillance authorities and related privacy protections. The bill directly affects federal intelligence agencies, law enforcement, technology companies, and individuals whose communications may be collected. Key provisions include prohibiting warrantless queries for communications of U.S. persons and those located in the U.S., requiring court supervision for certain surveillance activities, limiting data retention to five years, and banning federal law enforcement from purchasing personal data from data brokers. The legislation also establishes new transparency requirements, including annual reports on surveillance activities and enhanced oversight by the Inspector General and Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Additional reforms extend protections to car data, vehicle tracking devices, and ensure consistent privacy standards across different types of electronic communications.
