Jan Schakowsky

H.R. 10701 was introduced on October 1, 2026 by Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-9) with 1 Democratic cosponsor. The text for this legislation has not yet been released. A summary will be generated when there is text available.

This bill would remove the federal restriction on using U.S. foreign aid money to pay for abortion services overseas. Currently, a 1973 law known as the Helms Amendment prohibits U.S. foreign assistance from funding abortion care in other countries. The legislation would eliminate this restriction and explicitly authorize the use of foreign aid dollars for comprehensive reproductive health services, including abortion procedures, training for providers, and medical equipment. The bill is intended to address what supporters argue is a public health crisis, citing findings that unsafe abortions cause thousands of deaths annually in developing countries and that access to reproductive choice improves health outcomes. The legislation would affect U.S. foreign aid programs globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, though it does not specify new funding amounts or implementation timelines.

The Patriotic Corporations of America Act of 2026 establishes new mandatory requirements and bonus preferences for companies bidding on federal contracts, particularly those with the Department of Defense. To qualify for federal contracts, companies must meet baseline requirements including paying workers at least $15 per hour (adjusted annually), providing 21 days of paid leave, signing labor neutrality agreements, maintaining clean records on labor and environmental violations, keeping U.S. headquarters, paying federal income taxes, and disclosing political donations for large contracts. Beyond these mandatory standards, the bill creates 16 optional preference factors—such as limiting executive pay ratios, avoiding outsourcing, offering employee stock ownership, and implementing safeguards on artificial intelligence—that give companies competitive advantages in the bidding process. The requirements take effect January 1, 2025, for all new federal contracts going forward, with special restrictions on private equity-owned firms and stricter rules applied to Department of Defense contracting.

The Consumer Protection and Recovery Act would strengthen the Federal Trade Commission's legal authority to pursue permanent injunctions and additional financial remedies when companies violate consumer protection laws. Under current law, the FTC's enforcement powers are limited in certain situations, but this bill would explicitly allow the agency to seek court-ordered remedies including restitution to harmed consumers, disgorgement of illegal profits, contract cancellations or modifications, and refunds. The bill applies to violations occurring within the past ten years, with time spent by defendants outside the United States not counting toward that limitation period. These expanded enforcement tools would take effect immediately for any cases the FTC files on or after the bill becomes law, as well as for cases already pending in court. The legislation would give the FTC more powerful tools to recover money and property for consumers harmed by corporate wrongdoing and to deter future violations.

This bill creates a new nonprofit corporation within the Department of Commerce called the American Manufacturing Renaissance Corporation to develop and implement a national manufacturing strategy aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing. The Corporation will establish 30 regional Manufacturing Renaissance Councils within five years, each governed by boards representing labor unions, manufacturers, educators, local government, and community organizations, to carry out programs supporting factory preservation, worker ownership, minority business development, workforce training, and capital access. The Corporation has ambitious goals including raising manufacturing to 20 percent of GDP by 2035, achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, and expanding diverse and worker ownership of manufacturing businesses. The new corporation will have broad powers to contract, sue, manage its own budget and staff, invest funds, and acquire property as needed to accomplish these purposes. The bill does not specify total funding amounts or appropriations in the sections provided, though the regional councils will operate within established geographic areas and operate through dedicated units focused on research, outreach, technical assistance, and strategic coordination.

The Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2026 requires all newly constructed single-family homes and townhouses that receive any form of federal assistance to meet minimum accessibility standards for people with disabilities. Specifically, covered homes must include at least one level that complies with visitability standards set by the American National Standards Institute, which allows people with disabilities to visit all publicly accessible areas of a home. The bill applies to housing one year after enactment and affects builders, developers, and lenders who use federal grants, loans, tax credits, or loan guarantees for residential construction. Enforcement occurs through state and local building code review processes, with the federal government conditioning housing assistance to states on their adoption of these standards, and private individuals can sue for violations and recover damages and attorney's fees. The law gives violators five years to correct deficiencies before the statute of limitations expires on potential lawsuits.

This bill bans 15 specific chemicals and chemical classes from being used in food packaging and food contact materials, including phthalates, PFAS (so-called "forever chemicals"), bisphenols, and several other toxic substances. The ban affects food manufacturers, packaging producers, and ultimately consumers who purchase packaged food products. The restrictions take effect two years after the bill becomes law, giving industry time to transition to alternative materials. When manufacturers seek approval for substitute chemicals, the Food and Drug Administration must evaluate whether those alternatives pose risks to vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly. The bill also preserves states' rights to impose their own stricter regulations on food packaging chemicals if they choose to do so.

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' commitment to eliminating all traffic fatalities by 2050. The measure calls on Congress and the Department of Transportation to work together toward this goal, citing that nearly 40,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2024, with deaths affecting all age groups and disproportionately impacting pedestrians, cyclists, and rural road users. The resolution urges the transportation agencies to improve data collection on crashes, implement proven safety technologies and interventions, and address disparities in transportation safety. The resolution does not establish specific funding or mandates but rather expresses the legislative body's sense that a comprehensive, data-driven approach focusing on safer vehicles, better infrastructure, and reduced risky driving behaviors can significantly reduce or eliminate traffic deaths. This is a non-binding resolution that sets a policy direction rather than requiring immediate action or appropriating funds.

Innovative Maternal Payment and Coverage To Save Moms Act or the IMPACT to Save Moms ActThis bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish the Perinatal Care Alternative Payment Model Demonstration Project through FY2031 to allow states to test payment models for maternity care, including postpartum care, under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Energy Consumer Protection Act of 2026This bill expands enforcement provisions under the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act to protect consumers from price manipulation, including by allowing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to temporarily or permanently ban any person from trading in energy markets if the person (1) violates those acts by manipulating the electricity or natural gas markets, or (2) files false information regarding those markets.

This bill expands protections against unwanted robocalls by broadening the federal Do Not Call rules to cover all telephone subscribers, not just residential customers, meaning business phone lines would receive the same protections as home phones. It strengthens enforcement by allowing more people to sue companies that violate Do Not Call regulations, removing restrictions on how often violations can occur and changing penalties. The legislation also updates the definition of "automatic telephone dialing system" to capture more robocalling technology, including systems that use pre-recorded lists of numbers and dial them successively without human involvement. The Federal Communications Commission must revise its regulations to carry out these changes within 270 days of the law's enactment. The bill does not specify new federal funding but gives the FCC a clear timeline to implement the expanded protections.

The ALS Better Care Act expands Medicare coverage for specialized care services needed by individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Starting January 1, 2027, Medicare will cover comprehensive ALS-related services including specialized physician support, occupational and speech therapy, physical therapy, dietary support, respiratory care, nursing support, and medical equipment coordination when provided by qualified healthcare providers. The bill establishes a single payment of $800 per visit in 2027 (adjusted annually based on cost increases), with additional payments for providers participating in ALS clinical trials and for new medical technologies. The legislation also eliminates patient cost-sharing for these services and requires the federal government to report within 90 days on challenges facing ALS clinical trial administration and staffing, along with recommendations for improvement. The bill aims to address inadequate reimbursement rates that have created barriers to care, long wait times, and limited access to specialized services, particularly for patients in rural areas through expanded telehealth options.

This resolution recognizes the service of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and encourages participation in National CRNA Week.

The Affordable CHOICE Act would create a new federal public health insurance option available through the Affordable Care Act's insurance marketplaces beginning in 2027, offering bronze, silver, and gold plan levels to provide affordable, high-quality coverage nationwide. The plan would be administered directly by the federal government rather than private insurers, operating under the same rules as other marketplace plans while competing alongside them to drive down costs. Healthcare providers participating in Medicare or Medicaid would automatically participate in the public option unless they opt out, and the government would negotiate reimbursement rates with providers, defaulting to Medicare payment rates if negotiations fail. The bill authorizes startup funding to establish the program and cover initial claims, with that funding to be repaid to the Treasury over 10 years beginning in 2027, and allows states to establish advisory councils to make recommendations on the option's operations and policies. The legislation aims to increase competition, consumer choice, and affordability in the health insurance market while maintaining comprehensive coverage standards.

Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act This bill prohibits state Medicaid programs from using estate recovery to recoup the costs of benefits. States must withdraw property liens within 90 days of the bill's enactment and notify affected individuals of the withdrawals.

The Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act expands workplace protections for part-time and temporary workers through several key reforms. Title I removes the hours-of-service requirement under the Family and Medical Leave Act, allowing part-time workers to access unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical needs. Title II prohibits employers from discriminating based on hours worked, requires them to offer available shifts to existing employees before hiring new workers, and mandates written records of employee work-hour preferences. The bill establishes strong enforcement mechanisms, including Department of Labor investigations, civil penalties ranging from $500–$1,000 per violation (up to $1,100–$5,000 for repeated violations), and the right for employees to sue in federal or state court and recover attorney fees, with a two-year statute of limitations (three years for willful violations). Federal agencies must issue implementing regulations within 180 days of the bill's enactment, with the Comptroller General coordinating regulations across agencies.

This bill requires the FDA to establish a standardized electronic system for medical device manufacturers and importers to report product recalls within two years of the law's enactment. The electronic format must include specific information such as the manufacturer's contact details, the reason for recall, device identifiers, and guidance for healthcare professionals and patients about the risks and recommended actions. Manufacturers must submit recall notifications to the FDA under this new system starting 180 days after it's established, with the FDA required to review submissions within 2-3 business days and maintain a publicly accessible database of all recalls. Additionally, the bill requires manufacturers to notify patients treated with certain high-risk devices (such as implanted or life-sustaining devices used in children) about recalls through their healthcare providers. The legislation authorizes approximately $6.7 million in funding for fiscal year 2026, declining to $1 million annually through 2030, and makes it a violation of federal law to fail to comply with the new notification requirements.

This resolution condemns Iran's state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i religious minority and Iran's continued violation of international human rights treaties. The resolution calls on Iran to (1) immediately release Baha'is and others imprisoned or detained solely on account of religion, (2) end its state-sponsored campaign of hate propaganda against the Baha'is, and (3) reverse certain policies that discriminate against Baha'is and other religious minorities. The resolution also urges the President and the Department of State to impose sanctions on Iranian officials and others who are responsible for serious human rights abuses, including abuses against Iran's Baha'i community.

Safe Hydration is an American Right in Energy Development Act of 2025This bill requires hydraulic fracturing operations to test for and report on underground sources of drinking water that are contaminated by such operations. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation.Specifically, this bill modifies requirements governing state underground injection control programs. In order to obtain primary enforcement responsibility for such programs, states must prohibit the underground injection of fluids or propping agents pursuant to hydraulic fracturing operations related to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities unless the hydraulic fracturing operations agree to test for and report on contamination of drinking water.Hydraulic fracturing operations are exempted from those testing and reporting requirements if there is no accessible underground source of drinking water within a radius of one mile of the site where the operations occur.The Environmental Protection Agency must establish and maintain a publicly accessible and searchable database of the testing results.

H.R. 5605 requires medical device manufacturers to make devices with digital interfaces accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. The bill applies to certain home-use medical devices—such as blood pressure monitors and sleep apnea machines—that are classified as moderate or high-risk by the FDA and are cleared or approved after the law takes effect. Manufacturers must ensure their devices' user interfaces provide blind and low-vision users with comparable access, privacy, and ease of use as sighted users, though the FDA can grant waivers if compliance would fundamentally alter the product or create undue hardship. The FDA has one year from enactment to propose regulations and two years to issue final rules, which take effect one year later, with the FDA required to train manufacturers and consult with disability advocates during the process.

H.R. 5489 seeks to accelerate America's transition away from fossil fuels by imposing strict new environmental regulations. The bill prohibits any greenhouse gas emissions from new electric utility power plants, bans hydraulic fracturing (fracking) nationwide effective January 1, 2029, and restricts the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from approving new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals unless they reduce overall emissions. Additionally, the legislation prohibits exports of domestically produced crude oil and natural gas, with limited exceptions for energy exchanges with Canada and Mexico and for transportation convenience. The bill primarily affects power generation companies, oil and gas producers, and energy exporters, while its supporters argue it protects frontline environmental communities and workers transitioning to clean energy jobs. No specific federal funding is allocated within the bill's text, but it directs the government to ensure a "just transition" for workers and communities through clean-energy job training and labor union partnerships.

This resolution honors Dr. Paul Farmer and calls on the federal government to adopt a comprehensive global health strategy to address preventable deaths in low-income countries. The resolution argues that weak health systems in developing nations contribute to millions of annual deaths from diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal complications, with progress occurring too slowly—projected to take a century or more for mortality rates to match wealthy nations. The legislation proposes increasing U.S. development assistance to $125 billion annually to meet the United Nations target of 0.7 percent of gross national income, supporting local health infrastructure and workforce training while ensuring new medical technologies are accessible as global public goods. Beyond increased aid funding, the resolution calls on the government to address what it characterizes as ongoing economic harms to developing countries, including debt cancellation, reform of international financial institutions, reduction of illegal financial flows, and eventual reparations for slavery, colonialism, and climate change. The resolution does not authorize specific funding but rather expresses the sense of Congress that these actions represent the federal government's duty to pursue global health equity and justice.

The TRUTH in Labeling Act requires food manufacturers to add prominent front-of-package labels that clearly identify when products contain high levels of added sugars, sodium, or saturated fat. These labels must appear on the main display panel with the words "High in" and an exclamation point icon, and must be tailored for different age groups, including infants and young children. Additionally, if a food contains artificial sweeteners, the label must include a statement warning that these ingredients are not recommended for children. The legislation affects all food products sold in the United States and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to finalize regulations within 180 days of the bill's enactment. The bill aims to help consumers—particularly those with lower incomes or education levels—make healthier food choices by making nutritional information more visible and easier to understand at the point of purchase.

The Franchisee Freedom Act would allow franchisees (people who operate franchise businesses) to sue companies that violate federal franchise rules, addressing a gap in current law where only the Federal Trade Commission can enforce these rules. The bill specifically prohibits franchisors (parent companies) from punishing franchisees for joining together or participating in trade associations. If a franchisor violates these rules, injured franchisees could recover actual damages, contract rescission, and attorney's fees through lawsuits filed in federal or state courts in their home state. The legislation targets violations of the FTC's Franchise Rule and creates new protections for individual franchise operators, empowering them to hold companies accountable directly rather than relying solely on government enforcement. No specific funding or implementation timeline is included in the bill.

The Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2025 establishes a federal ban on selling goods or services at "grossly excessive" prices during market emergencies, such as those caused by natural disasters, power failures, or other major disruptions. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce the ban, with support from state attorneys general, and must issue detailed regulations within 180 days defining what constitutes excessive pricing. Small businesses with less than $100 million in revenue can defend themselves if price increases reflect genuine cost increases, but larger companies—particularly those earning over $1 billion annually or holding dominant market positions—face stricter enforcement and potential civil penalties up to 5 percent of revenues. The bill provides $1 billion in funding to the FTC through fiscal year 2033 to implement and enforce these protections, and it preserves states' ability to enforce their own price gouging and consumer protection laws.