Gabe Amo

The Disaster Relief Fairness Act of 2026 automatically approves major disaster declarations requested by state governors and tribal leaders between January 20, 2025, and January 20, 2029. Under current law, the President can approve or deny these requests; this bill removes that discretion by deeming all qualifying requests automatically approved. States and tribes affected by disasters meeting federal damage thresholds would receive federal assistance without requiring presidential approval, and the bill prevents the President from denying aid simply because deadlines were missed. The legislation effectively transfers disaster declaration authority from the President to objective criteria based on preliminary damage assessments conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. No specific funding amount is specified in the bill, as it applies to existing disaster relief programs already funded through other appropriations.

This resolution honors the victims and survivors of a mass shooting that occurred on December 13, 2025, at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where a gunman opened fire in a classroom during a final exam review session. Two students were killed—Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov—and nine others were injured. The resolution condemns the act of violence, expresses condolences to the victims and their families, and commends the numerous first responders from police, fire, and federal agencies who responded to the tragedy. The House also expresses solidarity with the Brown University community, the city of Providence, and the state of Rhode Island. This is a symbolic resolution with no funding or direct policy changes, but it represents Congress's formal recognition of the tragedy and includes a statement acknowledging that ending gun violence requires congressional action.

This concurrent resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran.Elements of the U.S. Armed Forces needed to defend the United States, an ally, or a partner from imminent attack are not covered by this requirement provided the President complies with a specified provision of the War Powers Resolution. (The provision generally requires the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities no more than 60 days after the President notifies or is required to notify Congress of such involvement, unless Congress authorizes such use. For more information on the War Powers Resolution, see CRS In Focus 13134.)

This resolution welcomes King Charles III on his April 2026 visit to the United States and formally recognizes the long-standing partnership between America and the United Kingdom. The measure highlights the historical relationship between the two nations, noting that 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of American independence and that diplomatic relations between the countries date back to 1785. The resolution emphasizes shared military cooperation during major conflicts including World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and post-9/11 operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as significant economic ties with bilateral trade exceeding 340 billion dollars in 2024. The House commits to strengthening diplomatic, economic, security, and cultural connections with the UK while reaffirming dedication to shared democratic values and human rights. No funding or implementation timeline is specified, as this resolution is a ceremonial measure expressing congressional sentiment rather than establishing new policy or programs.

Strengthening Export Controls Compliance ActThis bill requires the President and the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to provide businesses and others with assistance in complying with U.S. export control laws.Specifically, the bill directs the President to submit a plan to Congress every two years to assist U.S. persons, especially small- and medium-sized U.S. businesses, with export licensing and compliance.The bill provides statutory authority for an annual conference held by BIS, which is known as the Update Conference on Export Controls and Policy.The bill also requires BIS to (1) carry out dedicated public and industry outreach before promulgating major new rules regarding export control laws, and (2) include information on classification requests and advisory opinions in its annual report to Congress.

This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a new research program focused on global ocean monitoring and observing to improve climate, weather, and ocean forecasting. The program will develop advanced ocean monitoring systems (including the One-Argo system), support research on ocean health and temperature changes, improve data accessibility, and accelerate technology development for predicting extreme weather events like hurricanes and atmospheric rivers. NOAA will coordinate with universities, private companies, state and local governments, and international partners, with an emphasis on using artificial intelligence and autonomous systems to fill gaps in ocean observation coverage. Within one year of enactment, NOAA must establish a framework measuring progress and implement annual reviews of program activities. The bill authorizes NOAA to provide competitive, merit-based grants and contracts to academic institutions, companies, and other entities to conduct ocean research projects, though no specific funding amount is specified in the legislation.

The SUPPLIES Act requires the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to create and publish procedures for handling leftover supplies and materials when their foreign assistance programs end. These procedures must be established within 60 days of the law's passage and must prioritize preventing supplies—such as medicines, vaccines, food, and medical devices—from being wasted, destroyed, or allowed to expire unused. The new procedures will apply to all unused inventory held by the U.S. government or its foreign assistance partners at the conclusion of programs or projects. The bill essentially aims to reduce waste and loss of valuable resources that support international aid efforts by requiring transparent, standardized disposal practices that the public can review on agency websites.

H.R. 7088, introduced in January 2026, would prohibit any federal department or agency from taking actions or spending money to purchase NATO member countries or territories protected by NATO. The bill essentially bars the U.S. government from attempting to buy any of the approximately 32 NATO member nations or their protected territories. The legislation does not provide specific funding amounts, timelines, or enforcement mechanisms—it is a straightforward prohibition on any such federal expenditures or activities. This bill appears to be a response to political discussions about NATO member countries and represents an assertion that U.S. government resources cannot be used for territorial acquisitions of allied nations.

H.R. 7089, known as the "Protecting America's Resources from Kings Act" or PARK Act, prohibits the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from waiving or reducing entrance fees at parks and wildlife refuges to celebrate a sitting president's birthday—unless that birthday is already a federal holiday. The bill prevents parks from offering free or discounted admission specifically to honor a current president's special day, which sponsors argue would give sitting presidents special treatment unavailable to other individuals. The legislation affects park management across the National Park System and National Wildlife Refuge System wherever entrance fees are charged. There is no new funding required, as the bill simply restricts how existing entrance fee authority can be used. The bill has no specified timeline beyond its introduction in January 2026.

The Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act updates the lump sum death payment that Social Security provides to families of deceased workers. Currently set at a fixed amount that hasn't changed in decades, the bill raises this payment to $2,900 starting January 1, 2025, and automatically adjusts it annually based on inflation to keep pace with rising costs. This change affects the families of all Social Security-covered workers who pass away, ensuring they receive a meaningful one-time payment to help cover funeral and final expenses. The bill carries no new federal spending beyond adjusting benefits already authorized under Social Security law, as the increased payments simply come from the existing Social Security trust funds. The measure, introduced in December 2025, targets a long-standing inequity where this survivor benefit had remained frozen while other Social Security benefits automatically adjust for inflation each year.

This bill directs the FBI to lead a multi-agency working group to develop the first comprehensive federal strategy for combating scams in the United States. The legislation addresses a growing problem: Americans lost over $12 billion to fraud in 2024, with more than 141 million adults reporting losses to scams, and criminals increasingly using artificial intelligence to conduct sophisticated fraud schemes. The working group will include 18 federal agencies ranging from the FBI and FTC to the Social Security Administration and Secret Service, and must gather input from scam survivors, older adults, people with disabilities, law enforcement, technology companies, and other stakeholders. The strategy must establish a common definition of "scam" across agencies, evaluate risks and prevention methods, coordinate complaint reporting and data collection, improve information sharing with the private sector and state/local governments, and identify legislative and resource needs. The FBI must submit the completed strategy to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment and update it at least every five years, with the three main agencies—FBI, FTC, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—required to adopt the common definition within one year.

The STOP Scams Against Seniors Act authorizes law enforcement agencies to use federal grant money from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to establish dedicated task forces that investigate financial crimes targeting seniors aged 60 and older. These task forces can coordinate between state and local law enforcement, prosecutors, adult protective services, and federal agencies like the FBI, Federal Trade Commission, and Secret Service to combat elder fraud and scams. The bill requires grant recipients to report annually on their progress, including the number of cases initiated and completed, victims assisted, types of scams encountered, and any signs of organized crime involvement. The Attorney General must then compile and submit these reports to Congress each year, ensuring oversight and transparency. The legislation does not specify new funding amounts, instead redirecting existing grant program resources toward this elder justice focus.

H.R. 6123 requires the State Department's Assistant Secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs to submit a report within 30 days examining the capacity of the U.S. Embassy in Australia to support American government personnel and operations. The report must detail planned staffing and operational growth from 2025 to 2030, identify resource gaps that could hinder U.S.-Australia relations and the AUKUS security partnership, and recommend additional facilities, staffing, and funding needed to support expanded mission activities. The legislation affects State Department officials and personnel at the U.S. Mission in Australia, as well as other federal agencies operating in the country. No specific funding amounts are authorized in the bill; instead, it directs the department to analyze and recommend the additional funding required for mission growth. The bill does not include a timeline beyond the initial 30-day reporting deadline.

This bill requires the federal government to reimburse state agencies that use state funds to carry out operations necessary to maintain participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during a lapse in discretionary appropriations (i.e., government shutdown). WIC provides nutrition-rich foods, nutrition education, and health care and social services referrals to eligible low-income women, infants, and children.

Responsible Retirement of Law Enforcement Firearms Act of 2025 or the RRLEF Act of 2025This bill establishes a framework to limit the transfer of firearms to and purchase from federally licensed gun dealers whose firearms have a short time to crime. The term short time to crime means a period of three years or less between the date of the last known retail sale of a firearm and the date a firearm is recovered in an actual or suspected criminal offense.Specifically, the bill directs the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to notify a state or local law enforcement agency if a firearm transferred by the agency is used, or suspected of being used, in the commission of a criminal offense, as traced by the National Tracing Center.Additionally, the bill directs the ATF to publish annually a list of federally licensed gun dealers who have 25 or more traces of firearms with a short time to crime in at least two of the three previous years.The bill prohibits a state (including the District of Columbia), territory, or local government that receives funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program from transferring a firearm to, or purchasing a firearm from, a dealer on the list.The bill removes limits on the authority of the ATF to disclose firearms tracing data.

The HOPE Act clarifies that states and tribes can use federal opioid response grants already available under the 21st Century Cures Act to fund public access opioid overdose reversal kits—kits containing overdose-reversal medication and instructions on how to use it. The bill expands what these existing grant programs can pay for to explicitly include acquiring, making available, and maintaining overdose reversal kits for public use, addressing a gap in how states and tribes can deploy these life-saving tools. This legislation affects states, tribal governments, and communities struggling with opioid overdoses by removing restrictions on how they can use funds they already receive for opioid response efforts. No new federal funding is created by this bill—it simply clarifies the permissible uses of existing grant money. The bill was introduced in September 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

The AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025 streamlines defense cooperation between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom by reducing bureaucratic requirements for military equipment transfers and technology sharing among the three countries. The bill exempts defense articles sold to Australia and the UK from needing Presidential approval when these countries reexport or transfer the equipment between themselves, and it allows employees and agents from the three nations—including those with dual or third-country citizenship—to handle internal transfers of defense articles and services more easily. Additionally, the legislation eliminates certification requirements that previously applied when commercial companies in Australia or the UK sought manufacturing or technical assistance agreements related to defense technology. The bill affects defense contractors, government agencies, and military officials involved in trilateral defense partnerships, though no specific funding authorization or implementation timeline is mentioned in the legislation. The bill was introduced on August 22, 2025, and referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Stop NOAA Closures Act would impose a moratorium preventing the Commerce Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from closing, consolidating, or restricting access to any of its facilities. The moratorium would remain in effect until January 21, 2029, at the earliest, when federal officials must submit a comprehensive report to Congress justifying any proposed facility closures and detailing the selection criteria and cost-benefit analysis used. After that date, any future facility closures would require the agencies to notify Congress at least 30 days in advance with similar justification reports. The bill includes exceptions for temporary closures needed to address emergencies that pose immediate threats to employee health or safety. The legislation is backed by a bipartisan group of representatives and would primarily affect NOAA employees and communities that rely on NOAA services and facilities.

The Firearm Destruction Licensure Act of 2025 requires anyone operating a business that destroys firearms to obtain a federal license from the Attorney General, similar to existing licensing requirements for firearms dealers and manufacturers. The bill applies to private firearm destruction businesses but exempts government law enforcement agencies, which can continue destroying firearms without a license. Licensed firearm destroyers must use approved destruction methods that render guns and all components permanently unusable and reduced to scrap, and they must submit annual reports to the federal government detailing how many firearms they destroyed, including those received from law enforcement agencies. The legislation also establishes a grant program to help state, local, and tribal governments pay for firearm destruction services, with Congress authorized to appropriate funds as needed. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment, and the Attorney General must issue final regulations within six months to specify acceptable destruction methods and record-keeping requirements.

This resolution supports the designation of Veterans Get Outside Day and encourages the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Forest Service within the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of the Interior to coordinate to promote the day along with National Get Outdoors Day.

The RUBIO Act would prohibit the Secretary of State from simultaneously holding or performing the duties of any other federal position. The bill essentially requires the Secretary of State to focus exclusively on that role and forbids them from splitting responsibilities with other federal jobs. To enforce this requirement, the legislation cuts off federal funding for the Secretary of State's salary and expenses if they violate this restriction. The bill affects the State Department and the office of the Secretary of State, and it contains no specified funding amounts or implementation timelines. The measure was introduced in May 2025 and was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

H.Res. 248 is a non-binding resolution expressing Congress's support for distributed ledger technologies (DLT), including blockchain, as tools to strengthen democracy, protect human rights, and increase government transparency. The resolution highlights potential applications such as secure identity management, land registration, transparent financial transfers, and combating misinformation and censorship. The measure urges federal agencies including the State Department, USAID, and the Development Finance Corporation to explore and support DLT development for democratic governance and humanitarian aid delivery. It also calls for the U.S. government to work with technology experts and international partners to develop regulatory frameworks that encourage responsible use while protecting against misuse. No specific funding or timelines are allocated in this resolution, which is primarily a statement of congressional intent and policy direction.

First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.