The SHIELD Act would prohibit local school districts that receive federal education funds from allowing organizations that provide abortions to distribute information about those services to students on school grounds or through the district's virtual platforms. This ban specifically covers sharing or reposting such materials on social media on behalf of outside abortion providers. The bill defines "abortion-related service" as any medical, surgical, or support care directly related to terminating a pregnancy.
HR 10090 would impose a 10 percent excise tax on private colleges and universities that allow individuals defined as biologically male to participate in intercollegiate athletic programs designated for females. The bill defines sex strictly by biological reproductive systems, excluding state institutions from this requirement. To prevent the financial burden of the tax from being shifted to students, the legislation prohibits affected schools from raising tuition or mandatory fees as a result of the liability. These provisions would take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
The Title IX Clarification Act of 2026 amends the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education to explicitly define "sex" based on biological characteristics. Specifically, it states that sex refers to an individual's biologically determined status as male or female. The bill further defines "female" as someone with a reproductive system that produces ova and "male" as someone with a reproductive system that produces sperm, regardless of congenital anomalies or accidents. These definitions apply to all education programs receiving federal financial assistance starting on the date the law is enacted.
The Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act prohibits the use of federal funds to support research or publications regarding gender transition for individuals under the age of 18. This restriction specifically targets studies that aim to affirm a minor's perception or identity when it differs from their sex assigned at birth, as defined by their reproductive biology and genetics. The bill directly affects federal agencies and institutions that might otherwise receive funding to conduct such observational studies on hormonal treatments or surgical procedures for minors. By limiting financial support, the legislation seeks to prevent government resources from being used for research that challenges the biological definition of sex at birth.
The Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct two studies aimed at improving funding and staffing for Bureau-funded and tribally controlled schools. The first study will examine how to update the Indian School Equalization Formula to ensure teacher and staff salaries match the highest rates found in public schools or the Department of Defense, while also considering specific needs of small and rural schools. The second study will explore potential revenue sources to bring these schools into financial parity with other school systems. Both studies must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment, and their findings will be reported to Congress and made public.
This bill, titled the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, updates federal definitions to classify nursing degrees as professional degrees. It directly affects students pursuing nursing education and the federal financial aid programs that support them. The legislation amends the Higher Education Act to explicitly list nursing degrees, such as the Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice, alongside other advanced fields like medicine and law. By making this change, the bill ensures that nursing programs are recognized at the same level as other established professional disciplines within the federal student aid system.
The Time for Completion Act requires colleges to publicly report how many students finish their degree programs within specific timeframes, such as the normal duration, 150 percent, 200 percent, and 300 percent of the expected length. This reporting applies to both short and long programs and must be broken down by student type, including whether they are first-time or returning students and whether they attend full-time or part-time. The law also updates federal financial aid regulations to ensure these completion rates are included in institutional data used for determining eligibility and funding. By mandating consistent and visible display of these statistics, the bill aims to provide prospective students and families with clearer information about graduation timelines at higher education institutions.
This resolution designates April 2026 as Financial Literacy Month to raise public awareness about the importance of personal finance education. The bill calls on the federal government, states, schools, businesses, and other organizations to hold programs and activities during this month. It is based on data showing high levels of financial stress, debt, and a lack of financial education among many Americans.
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.
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.
