Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2026This bill provides support for long-term improvements to public elementary and secondary school facilities.First, the bill sets forth allocations to states and establishes a need-based grant program for local educational agencies (LEAs) to improve school facilities. Further, the bill specifies allowable uses of grant funds, including carrying out major repairs, improving indoor air quality, and making facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities.Additionally, the bill requires LEAs that receive funds for new construction, modernization, or renovation projects to comply with hazard-resistance building codes and performance criteria under the WaterSense program of the Environmental Protection Agency. Further, the bill requires such LEAs to adopt certain green practices (environmental standards) and requires the use of iron, steel, and manufactured products that are made in the United States (Buy America).The bill restores school infrastructure tax credit bonds.The bill also sets forth reporting requirements, including annual reports on grant program projects and a report by the Government Accountability Office that requires a study of the geographic distribution of projects, the impact of selected projects on student and staff health and safety, and the accessibility of projects to high-needs schools.The bill also establishes the Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability within the Department of Education.Next, the bill extends through FY2031 the Impact Aid Construction program.Finally, the bill establishes a grant program to assist LEAs with repairing or replacing concrete foundations affected by pyrrhotite (an iron sulfide material linked to crumbling foundations).

This bill reauthorizes and updates the Chesapeake Bay Office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which coordinates federal science, restoration, and education efforts for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It restructures the office's leadership and mission, requiring the Director to have expertise in Bay research or management, and expands the office's focus to include coastal hazards, education, and integrated ecosystem assessments. The legislation formally establishes three key programs: an integrated coastal observation system (including the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System), a watershed education and training program with grants for schools and teachers, and a Coastal and Living Resources Management and Habitat Program targeting oysters, blue crabs, fish species, and wetland restoration. It affects students, teachers, scientists, resource managers, and communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay region who rely on federal support for environmental monitoring and restoration. The bill also requires NOAA to submit biennial reports to Congress detailing the office's progress and a two-year action plan, ensuring ongoing accountability and coordination with the broader Chesapeake Bay Program and its partner agencies.

The LET'S Protect Workers Act significantly strengthens federal labor law enforcement by dramatically increasing civil penalties for violations across multiple statutes. Child labor penalties would rise to up to $150,000 per employee (or $700,000 for violations causing death or serious injury), while wage and hour violations would jump from $1,100 to $25,000 per violation—or $50,000 for repeated or willful violations—with similar increases for violations of occupational safety, farmworker protection, mine safety, and family medical leave laws. The bill also adds new enforcement mechanisms for mine operators who fail to pay assessed penalties. Most provisions take effect January 1, 2027 and apply to violations occurring after that date, though recordkeeping and notice requirements begin immediately upon enactment.

The WIC Benefits Protection Act would change how the federal government funds the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program by making funding mandatory rather than discretionary. Currently, Congress must approve WIC funding each year through the budget process, which can create uncertainty. This bill would automatically provide whatever funding is needed to serve all eligible participants without requiring annual congressional approval. The legislation modifies the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the program and guarantees funding starting in fiscal year 2026 and beyond. This change would primarily benefit low-income pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under five by ensuring stable, uninterrupted access to WIC nutritional benefits and services.

Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now Act or the LOAN ActThis bill revises federal student aid programs, including the Federal Pell Grant program and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. It also repeals the education provisions that were enacted under P.L. 119-21 (commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act).Among other provisions, the bill revises the Federal Pell Grant program by (1) providing funding to increase the maximum award for each eligible student, and (2) allowing income-eligible graduate students to utilize their remaining Pell Grant eligibility toward their first graduate degree.Changes to the PSLF program include (1) reducing the number of monthly loan payments required for loan forgiveness, and (2) removing the requirement that a borrower must be employed in a public service job at the time of forgiveness.The bill makes Dreamer students (i.e., students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status and who entered the United States before the age of 18) who meet certain educational criteria eligible for federal financial aid.The bill also (1) establishes refinancing programs for federal and private student loans; (2) creates a new income-driven repayment plan; and (3) repeals origination fees for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans.The bill repeals the education provisions that were enacted under P.L. 119-21. For example, the act addressed the amount of federal financial aid available to students by changing the mix and availability of student loans. (For more information, see CRS Report R48727.)

The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act aims to end the practice of paying workers with disabilities below-minimum wage through special wage certificates, instead moving them into competitive jobs paying fair wages alongside workers without disabilities. The bill establishes grant programs for states and employers to fund this transition, requires states to create advisory councils with meaningful input from workers with disabilities, and phases out special certificates entirely over four years while mandating wage increases for affected workers during that period. States that successfully complete a five-year grant period and stop issuing special certificates become eligible for additional supported employment grants equal to 25 percent of their prior vocational rehabilitation funding through fiscal year 2034. The legislation also authorizes $50 million annually from 2026 through 2031 to fund nonprofit organizations that provide technical assistance to employers making this transition and to evaluate the program's overall effectiveness. This bill fundamentally shifts federal policy away from allowing subminimum wages for people with disabilities and toward integrating them into mainstream competitive employment.

H.R. 4418 creates a comprehensive federal child care assistance program running from 2026 through 2031, establishing both a new entitlement program providing subsidies to eligible families and a universal preschool initiative for children ages 3-4. The entitlement program covers child care costs for children under age 6 from families earning up to 85% of state median income, with the federal government covering 90% of direct service costs and capping family copayments at 0-7% of income; states must also ensure provider wages match or exceed elementary teacher pay and prioritize access for low-income families, infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and underserved populations. The universal preschool component requires participating states to offer free, high-quality preschool for all 3-4 year-olds, with federal cost-sharing declining from 90% to 60% over the program period, and mandates that preschool teachers hold bachelor's degrees and earn elementary teacher-level salaries. The bill appropriates unlimited funding through 2031 for the entitlement program, plus $20 billion for local grants, $9 billion annually for provider operating grants and workforce support, $4.8 billion for Head Start expansion, and $2.7 billion annually for Head Start staff wages, with additional funding for federal administration and state quality improvement initiatives.

H.R. 3997 significantly strengthens federal protections against child labor and unsafe working conditions for minors through substantially increased civil penalties, new private enforcement rights, and enhanced oversight mechanisms. The bill dramatically raises penalties for violations—raising child labor penalties from $11,000 to $150,000 per violation (up to $300,000 for repeat violations) and occupational safety penalties from $70,000 to $700,000, with additional penalties when violations harm minors or result in death—while also allowing children harmed by violations to sue employers directly for damages. To support enforcement and prevention, the bill establishes a dedicated "Child Labor and Safety and Health Fund" financed by collected penalties to pay for investigations, training programs, and research on child worker safety. The law requires the Labor Department to conduct mandatory reviews of child labor standards using a precautionary approach, maintain comprehensive national statistics on child employment and violations, and provide training to employers and professionals who work with children on recognizing and preventing abuse. These measures apply to all employers covered by federal labor law and aim to modernize child labor protections through stronger financial deterrents, expanded enforcement tools, and data-driven policy improvements.

The Strength in Diversity Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program to help schools reduce racial and socioeconomic segregation by increasing student diversity. Eligible recipients—including state education agencies, school districts, and regional coalitions—can apply for planning grants (up to 2 years) or implementation grants (up to 3 years) to develop and carry out strategies such as revised school boundaries, weighted lottery enrollment systems, inter-district programs, expanded transportation, and teacher diversity initiatives. The bill prioritizes funding for programs addressing racial isolation, those extending beyond single school districts, and those coordinating with housing and transportation authorities. Grantees must conduct community engagement, collect and analyze data on student achievement and diversity outcomes, and submit annual progress reports. The legislation authorizes funding "as necessary" for fiscal years 2025 through 2030, with the Department of Education reserving up to 5 percent for research and technical assistance and up to 10 percent for state planning grants.

This bill would restore the ability of individuals to sue directly in federal court over cases involving "disparate impact" discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In plain terms, it would allow private citizens to challenge policies that have a discriminatory effect on protected groups, even if those policies weren't intentionally designed to discriminate. The legislation primarily affects schools and education programs that receive federal funding, requiring each institution to designate at least one compliance officer to handle discrimination complaints and inform students and employees about their rights. Additionally, the bill creates a new position—a Special Assistant for Equity and Inclusion at the Department of Education—tasked with promoting compliance with civil rights laws and providing technical assistance to schools. The bill contains no specific funding amounts or implementation timelines but was referred to the House Judiciary Committee and the Education and Workforce Committee in May 2025.

This House resolution formally expresses condolences for the death of Representative Gerald E. Connolly, who served Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives. The resolution directs the House Clerk to notify the Senate of Connolly's passing and send a copy of the resolution to his family. As a mark of respect, the House will adjourn following the passage of this resolution. This is a ceremonial measure that does not involve any funding or create new programs, but rather follows the traditional congressional practice of honoring deceased members with formal resolutions.

H.R. 3522 amends federal employment discrimination laws to change how workers prove discrimination claims based on age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability. Under current law, workers must prove that discrimination was the sole cause of an adverse employment action; this bill lowers that standard by allowing workers to win if they show that discrimination was "a motivating factor," even if other factors also played a role. However, the bill limits remedies in cases where employers prove they would have made the same decision anyway—workers would receive only declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and attorney's fees, but not monetary damages or orders for reinstatement or promotion. The bill applies to private sector employees, federal employees, and disability discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act. These changes take effect immediately upon enactment and apply to all discrimination claims pending or filed after the law passes.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 gradually increases the federal minimum wage from the current level to $15.50 per hour over four years, then adjusts it annually based on growth in median worker wages. The bill affects all workers covered by federal minimum wage law, with phased increases starting at $9.50 per hour in year one, reaching $15.50 in year five, and rising automatically each year thereafter. The legislation also raises the minimum wage for tipped workers and young workers, eventually eliminating separate lower wage rates for these groups, while phasing out the practice of paying workers with disabilities sub-minimum wages over a five-year period with government transition assistance. No specific new federal funding is appropriated in the bill; it operates by modifying existing wage requirements in labor law, with the increases taking effect in the third month after the bill is enacted.

This resolution requests that the President provide, and directs the Department of Education (ED) to provide, to the House of Representatives all documents and materials related tothe closure of ED; any reduction in force or other downsizing measures at ED;any actions taken pursuant to a specified March 3, 2025, communication to ED staff; any actions taken pursuant to any executive order directing the closure of ED; and any determinations made by the President, the Secretary of ED, or other ED staff that the staff remaining at ED after any reduction in force, other downsizing measure, or closure are sufficient to faithfully execute specified federal laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The Do No Harm Act modifies the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to create clear limits on when religious exemptions can override federal civil rights protections. Specifically, the bill carves out exceptions to religious freedom claims for laws addressing discrimination, equal opportunity, workplace protections (including wages and collective bargaining), child labor and abuse prevention, and access to health care services. The legislation also applies these limits to organizations receiving federal contracts, grants, or other government funding. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act applies only to disputes involving the government as a party, not to private lawsuits between individuals or organizations. The measure has no specified funding or implementation timeline and was introduced by a group of Democratic representatives in March 2025.

The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 significantly strengthens worker protections and union organizing rights under federal labor law. The bill expands illegal employer conduct to include permanently replacing strikers, banning forced arbitration clauses that prevent workers from pursuing collective claims, requiring employers to provide voter lists to unions and allow union communications on company platforms, and imposing strict timelines for negotiating initial labor contracts. The legislation dramatically increases penalties for labor violations—including doubling damages awards—and eliminates state right-to-work laws by allowing "fair share" agreements that require all workers in a bargaining unit to pay union representation fees. Additionally, the bill mandates employer disclosure of anti-union consultant arrangements, establishes comprehensive whistleblower protections with Department of Labor enforcement and immediate reinstatement remedies for retaliation, and gives workers broad access to courts for pursuing labor rights violations. The bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study its impact on independent contractors and gig workers within six months, allowing the President to recommend modifications to those provisions subject to congressional approval.

This bill establishes Fort Monroe National Historical Park in Virginia to preserve and interpret the historic, cultural, and natural significance of Fort Monroe and Old Point Comfort. The park will highlight the site's role in early American history—including Captain John Smith's voyages, the arrival of captive Africans in English North America, War of 1812 activities, Civil War events like the Contraband Decision that freed enslaved people, and the formation of United States Colored Troop units. The bill abolishes the existing Fort Monroe National Monument (created in 2011) and incorporates its lands and unobligated funds into the new historical park, with the National Park Service administering it under standard federal park laws. The park's boundaries are defined by a map dated June 2024, and the Secretary of the Interior may acquire additional land through donation, transfer, or purchase from willing sellers. The legislation preserves Virginia's authority over non-federal land within the park boundaries and allows the state flexibility for adaptive reuse of historic buildings while maintaining architectural standards.