Dwight Evans

The VITAL Act amends federal tax credit programs to expand affordable and accessible housing for people with disabilities and older adults. The bill increases the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit by raising per capita allocations from $1.75 to $4.25 per person starting in 2026, with 25 percent increases in 2027 and adjustments for inflation in subsequent years. Additionally, the bill provides a 50 percent boost in tax credits for housing projects where at least half the units are designed to be accessible for people with disabilities and located in walkable neighborhoods. States must ensure that at least 40 percent of newly allocated low-income housing units serve people with disabilities over any three-year period. These changes take effect beginning in 2026 for funding allocations and 2027 for the accessibility credit provisions, aiming to address the shortage of accessible, affordable housing for an aging population and the approximately 26 percent of Americans living with disabilities.

# Summary of H.R. 8746: VICTIM Act of 2026 This bill directs the Attorney General to establish a grant program providing federal funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to improve their ability to solve homicides and firearm-related violent crimes. The program, housed within the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, will support eligible law enforcement agencies in hiring investigators and forensic specialists, acquiring crime-solving technology and equipment, training personnel, and improving investigative practices. Grant recipients can use funds for a broad range of activities aimed at increasing clearance rates, including developing new investigative strategies, analyzing crime trends, supporting traumatized officers, and providing comprehensive victim services such as emergency housing, counseling, and legal assistance. The bill also requires grant recipients to implement policies protecting civil rights during evidence collection and to conduct background checks on new hires using national law enforcement databases. The bill authorizes $60 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with at least 5 percent set aside for tribal law enforcement agencies and 5 percent for rural agencies. Grant recipients must submit detailed annual reports on their activities and clearance rate improvements, and the Justice Department's Inspector General will conduct regular audits. The National Institute of Justice will evaluate the program's effectiveness every two years and report findings to Congress. The Attorney General must also develop a streamlined grant application process that eligible agencies can complete in approximately two hours.

The Rehabilitation of Historic Schools Act of 2026 modifies the federal tax code to allow public school building rehabilitation projects to qualify for the rehabilitation tax credit, a financial incentive previously unavailable to public schools. This change would enable school districts and states to receive federal tax credits when they invest in restoring historic or aging school buildings, potentially reducing the cost of modernization and repair projects. The bill affects public schools nationwide that have been in use within the past five years and continue operating as educational facilities after rehabilitation. Within five years of enactment, the Treasury Department must report to Congress on the program's impact, including how many schools benefited by state, how many students were affected, the spending amounts involved, and whether the credits particularly helped low-income communities. The tax credit incentive applies to any school buildings placed in service after the law takes effect.

H.Res. 1071 is a ceremonial resolution that honors the desegregation efforts at Girard College in Philadelphia and the civil rights leaders who fought to end the institution's racial discrimination. The resolution recognizes the long legal battle that began in 1954 when six African-American boys were rejected from the college based on founder Stephen Girard's 1848 will restricting admission to poor white male orphans, and it celebrates key figures like Raymond Pace Alexander and NAACP leader Cecil B. Moore who challenged these discriminatory practices. The resolution highlights major milestones, including the 1957 Supreme Court decision declaring the racial ban unconstitutional and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1965 speech at the college during NAACP protests, culminating in the college's vote to admit seven African-American students in May 1968. As a House resolution rather than legislation, this bill does not create new laws, provide funding, or establish timelines but instead serves as an official statement of Congress recognizing this important chapter of the civil rights movement and calling for continued protection of diversity in higher education.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4431 Main Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the "Dr. Constance 'Connie' E. Clayton Post Office".

H.Res. 898 is a symbolic resolution that recognizes November 2025 as "National Family Caregivers Month" to honor the approximately 63 million Americans who provide unpaid care to family members with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or aging-related needs. The resolution acknowledges that family caregivers contribute an estimated $600 billion in unpaid care annually and highlights the significant challenges they face, including financial hardship, physical exhaustion, and isolation, while noting that the caregiver population has grown by 10 million people over the past five years and is expected to continue increasing. The resolution does not contain any direct funding or impose new requirements, but instead encourages federal agencies, states, and the private sector to implement strategies from the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers and calls for policies such as tax credits, paid family leave, respite care, and improved access to healthcare and home-based services. This is a non-binding resolution intended to raise awareness and advocate for policy support for family caregivers of all ages, including grandparents raising grandchildren and young caregivers.

H.R. 5383, the Mentoring and Supporting Families Act, modifies the health profession opportunity grant program under Social Security to encourage the use of peer support, peer mentoring, and career coaching in training projects. The bill gives preference to grant applications that include mentoring and peer support as part of case management plans and that commit to providing participants with monthly cash stipends or wage supplements. The legislation affects low-income individuals seeking training in health professions by expanding the types of support services available to them, potentially helping them develop skills and professional networks while receiving financial assistance. No specific funding amounts are identified in the bill. The changes take effect on October 1, 2025.

This bill modifies the health profession opportunity grants program under the Social Security Act to prioritize grant applications from organizations that partner with specific types of entities. Organizations applying for these federal grants will receive preference if they demonstrate partnerships with state and local government agencies and social service providers, institutions of higher education and workforce development programs, or health care employers and labor unions. The bill does not create new funding or establish specific grant amounts, but rather changes how existing grants are awarded by giving priority to applicants with these designated community and business partnerships. The changes take effect on October 1, 2025, and affect organizations seeking federal support to train workers for health care professions.

This resolution expresses congressional support for designating September 14, 2025, as "National Food is Medicine Day" to highlight the role of nutrition in preventing and managing chronic diseases. The bill recognizes that using nutritious food as part of medical treatment—through medically tailored meals, groceries, and nutrition education—can help manage conditions like diabetes and heart disease while reducing healthcare costs. The resolution notes that chronic diseases account for over 90 percent of the nation's $4.5 trillion in annual healthcare spending, and that poor diets and food insecurity cost the country more than $1.1 trillion yearly in combined healthcare expenses and lost productivity. Rather than providing direct funding, the resolution urges the Department of Health and Human Services to expand scientific research on food-as-medicine interventions, collaborate with the Department of Agriculture, and work with healthcare providers and organizations to integrate these approaches into standard medical care. The legislation was introduced by Representatives Evans, Buchanan, and McGovern and referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Agriculture.

The Leveraging Educational Opportunity Networks Act directs the U.S. Department of Labor to award competitive grants totaling $30 million annually (fiscal years 2026-2029) to nonprofit organizations and training networks to develop workforce training programs. These grants support 12-week or longer career and technical education programs that provide living wages to participants and result in recognized post-secondary credentials in high-demand fields like construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology. At least 70 percent of grant funds must go directly toward program development and need-based stipends for enrollees, with programs prioritizing individuals who are formerly incarcerated, low-income, economically disadvantaged, or read below a 6th-grade level. The bill aims to address labor shortages and break cycles of poverty by connecting workers—particularly those without bachelor's degrees—to skills-based employment opportunities with employer partners who offer career advancement, while grantees must track participants' earnings and employment outcomes annually.

H.R. 2999 would limit how much the Social Security Administration can deduct from monthly benefits to recover overpayments. Under current law, the agency can withhold larger amounts, but this bill would cap withholdings at no more than 10 percent of a monthly benefit unless the recipient specifically requests a faster repayment rate. The bill applies only to overpayments that were not caused by fraud or intentional misconduct by the beneficiary. This protection would benefit millions of Social Security recipients who may have received incorrect payments due to administrative errors, helping them maintain access to income while repaying what they owe. The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment and apply to all outstanding overpayments from that date forward.

Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025This bill establishes the Advisory Council to Support Victims of Gun Violence.Among other things, the advisory council must assess the needs of victims of gun violence and disseminate information about helpful resources.

The Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025 expands the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a tax benefit for low-income workers, by making it more generous and available to more people. The bill lowers the minimum age to claim the credit to 19 (or 18 for homeless youth and former foster youth, and 24 for students), removes the current age cap of 65, and doubles the credit rate from 7.65 percent to 15.3 percent while increasing income thresholds that determine eligibility. The legislation also extends EITC benefits to U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and American Samoa and allows workers whose income drops to use their prior year's higher income to calculate the credit. These changes take effect starting in 2026 and will be adjusted annually for inflation, benefiting millions of low-wage workers and young adults entering the workforce.

H.Res. 170 is a House resolution expressing support for Black American workers and calling for legislative action to address workplace inequalities and discrimination. The resolution documents significant disparities facing Black workers, including higher unemployment rates (3 percentage points above the national average), lower median earnings (87 cents per dollar compared to overall average workers), higher rates of workplace injuries, and discrimination based on race and ethnicity. The resolution also highlights that Black women face compounded challenges, earning only 69 cents for every dollar paid to white men. Rather than creating a new program or allocating funds, this resolution calls on Congress to pass four specific pieces of legislation: the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, the National Apprenticeship Act, the Raise the Wage Act, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. These bills would collectively aim to improve wages, job training access, workplace safety, and workers' organizing rights across the economy.