Janelle Bynum

This resolution recognizes Bishop C.T. Wells for 25 years of service as Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Church in Portland, Oregon, and celebrates his community leadership efforts. The resolution honors Wells' work in developing affordable housing, supporting economic opportunity, improving health outcomes, and expanding access to early childhood education in the Portland area. It also acknowledges his broader ministry activities, including mentoring religious leaders, preaching, and writing, as well as his efforts to unite faith communities across the region. The House of Representatives formally commends Wells, his church, and the volunteers and staff who have supported his ministry over the past quarter-century. This is a ceremonial resolution with no funding or policy changes; it simply expresses congressional recognition of Wells' contributions to his community.

The Launching with Healthcare Act would amend federal health insurance law to extend the age at which young adults can remain on their parents' health insurance plans from 26 to 31 years old. Currently, the Affordable Care Act allows dependents to stay on a parent's plan until age 26, and this bill would push that limit five years further to help cover more adult children during early career and life stages. The change would apply to all health insurance plans and would take effect for plan years beginning after December 31, 2026, giving insurers time to adjust their systems and rates. The legislation was introduced by a bipartisan group of House members and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration. No specific federal funding amounts are mentioned in the bill, as the costs would primarily be absorbed by insurance premiums and employer-sponsored plans.

The Credit Union Investment Authority Act expands the types of investments that federally-chartered credit unions are permitted to make. Specifically, the bill allows credit unions to invest in corporate debt instruments from non-credit-union entities, with a limit of no more than 10 percent of a credit union's capital in any single company's obligations. The bill also authorizes credit unions to purchase asset-backed securities, which are financial products backed by pools of loans or other assets. To implement these new investment powers, the National Credit Union Administration Board must issue regulations within one year of the law's enactment that establish standards for asset-backed security purchases, including requirements on minimum issue sizes, sale prices, and investment grades. The legislation affects federally-chartered credit unions and their members by giving these financial institutions greater flexibility in how they deploy their capital.

This joint resolution would block the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from withdrawing a 2023 rule that protects borrowers from unfair billing and collection practices on student loans that have been discharged through bankruptcy. The rule, known as Bulletin 2023-01, prevents creditors from attempting to collect on student loan debts that are no longer legally owed following a bankruptcy discharge. The CFPB attempted to reverse this protection in May 2025, and this resolution would prevent that withdrawal from taking effect, ensuring the consumer protections remain in place. The measure uses the congressional disapproval process, which allows Congress to overturn agency rules it deems problematic. If passed by both chambers and signed into law, the student loan bankruptcy protections would remain enforceable.

This resolution disapproves an action by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to withdraw its 2023 guidance on unlawful negative option marketing practices, commonly known as "dark patterns" used in subscription and automatic renewal schemes. The rule in question would have reversed consumer protections that required companies to make it easy for customers to cancel subscriptions and obtain clear consent before charging them. If passed, this resolution would prevent the bureau's withdrawal from taking effect, meaning the original 2023 consumer protections would remain in force. The resolution affects businesses that use negative option marketing and consumers who sign up for subscriptions or automatic renewals. This type of disapproval resolution follows the Congressional Review Act process, which allows Congress to overturn federal agency regulations with a simple majority vote in both chambers.

H.Res. 1276 is a commemorative resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Bend Chamber of Commerce in Bend, Oregon. The resolution celebrates the organization's founding in 1926 and acknowledges its century-long role in promoting economic development and civic engagement in Central Oregon. The chamber has grown from a small business alliance into one of Oregon's largest chambers, representing nearly 1,650 member businesses and helping the region transition from a timber-based economy to a diversified one that includes tourism, technology, and healthcare. The resolution honors the chamber's leadership programs, workforce development initiatives, and advocacy on issues like housing and infrastructure. This is a symbolic measure with no funding or policy implications, simply expressing the House's recognition of the chamber's contributions to the Bend community.

The Supporting VA Families Act provides Department of Veterans Affairs employees with four weeks of unpaid parental leave per 12-month period following the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care. This benefit applies to all VA employees, including those in the Veterans Health Administration, and must be used within 12 months of the birth or placement. The leave is in addition to any other parental or family leave benefits employees already receive under federal law, meaning it supplements rather than replaces existing leave entitlements. The bill requires no new federal funding since the leave is unpaid, and it has no specific implementation timeline beyond taking effect upon passage. This legislation aims to help VA employees balance work and family responsibilities during the critical early period of parenthood or adoption.

The Homebuilders Corps Act of 2026 aims to expand workforce training in residential construction trades by amending federal job training law. The bill directs the federal government to prioritize and expand training programs in carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, masonry, and HVAC systems through the existing Job Corps program. To encourage hiring, the bill creates a $5,000 grant program for construction companies that hire Job Corps graduates and retain them for at least 12 months. The legislation also requires partnerships between the government and major construction trade associations to integrate Job Corps graduates into apprenticeship programs and mandates that construction training curricula be updated every two years to include new technologies. The bill authorizes $200 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2026 to support these training programs, employer grants, and industry partnerships.

The SPUR Housing Act directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a grant program that helps housing developers offset state and local taxes and impact fees when building new residential projects. Eligible developers must obtain local government approvals and secure commitments from state and local authorities to reduce property taxes on the new housing by at least 50 percent. The HUD Secretary will prioritize grants for projects that increase affordable housing, can begin construction within a year, are located in high-cost housing markets, and serve specific needs like workforce housing or senior-friendly units. Each selected developer can receive an annual grant of up to $150,000 or 50 percent of their total taxes and fees, whichever is lower, for up to five years. The bill authorizes $300 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to fund the program.

The First-Time Home Buyers Match Act directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a five-year pilot program that matches savings for first-time homebuyers. Under the program, HUD will deposit up to $5,000 annually into qualifying savings accounts for 20,000 eligible borrowers, matching 50 percent of what they save themselves, provided the account doesn't exceed 10 percent of the area median home value. To qualify, participants must be U.S. citizens earning no more than 120 percent of area median income with less than $75,000 in liquid assets, and they must complete HUD-certified homeownership counseling. The matched funds can be used for down payments, closing costs, real estate commissions, appraisals, inspections, loan origination fees, and qualified home repairs. The matched amounts are treated as a second mortgage with a 36-month term that reduces by one-thirty-sixth each month of occupancy, and any remaining balance is due if the participant sells or leaves the home. HUD must submit a comprehensive report within 180 days of the program's conclusion evaluating participation rates, savings amounts, home purchase success, default rates, and demographic data.

The LIMBER Timber Act establishes three new federal tax credits to encourage investment in mass timber—engineered wood products used in construction—through 2030. First, companies building or expanding mass timber manufacturing plants receive a 30 percent investment tax credit on equipment and facility costs. Second, businesses involved in mass timber manufacturing, construction, and design can claim a workforce development credit covering up to 50 percent of hiring, training, and apprenticeship expenses, with a per-employee annual cap of $8,000. Third, construction companies receive a $5 per square foot credit for buildings where at least half the load-bearing structural components use mass timber sourced from certified sustainable forests. All three credits require that at least 70 percent of mass timber come from Forest Stewardship Council-certified, Sustainable Forest Initiative-certified, or government-managed forests, and all credits expire after 2030. The bill targets manufacturers, construction contractors, architects, and engineers working with mass timber to boost domestic production and workforce development in this growing building sector.

The Rural Service and Workforce Corps Act establishes a new federal program under the Department of Agriculture to address workforce shortages in rural America by offering education and financial incentives to workers who commit to serving in designated rural areas for three years. The program targets critical sectors including healthcare, skilled trades, energy infrastructure, utilities, and other industries with aging workforces, prioritizing counties with persistent poverty, health professional shortage areas, and communities with Indian tribes, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians. Eligible participants can receive scholarships, tuition assistance, student loan repayment, wage support, and relocation incentives in exchange for their service commitment, with both public and private employers able to participate if they meet wage and training standards set by the Agriculture and Labor Secretaries. The legislation requires a comprehensive report to Congress within four years assessing the program's effectiveness, including data on participant placement, retention, and recommendations for improvement, with the program becoming effective one year after the bill's enactment.

The Invest in Rural Teachers Act would establish a federal grant program to help recruit and retain teachers in rural schools by offering signing and retention bonuses. States would receive grants from the federal government and then distribute subgrants to rural school districts, which would use the funds to pay teachers $5,000 per year for three consecutive years if they commit to teaching in a rural school. The bill prioritizes hiring teachers with local ties—particularly those born, raised, or educated in the communities they would serve—and encourages partnerships between schools and colleges to promote rural teaching positions to students in teacher preparation programs. Congress would authorize $500 million annually for the program from fiscal years 2027 through 2030. The bill aims to address teacher shortages in rural areas, which often struggle to compete with urban and suburban districts in attracting qualified educators.

The CHIPS Child Care Act authorizes $10 million annually for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to help workers in the semiconductor industry afford child care while pursuing training. Through the Department of Labor, states would competitively receive grants to either provide monthly child care stipends of at least $500 per child to workers enrolled in semiconductor-related workforce programs and apprenticeships, or to help child care providers in semiconductor manufacturing regions build or improve their facilities. The bill prioritizes support for first-generation college students, historically Black college graduates, rural residents, and veterans, while also emphasizing assistance to child care providers serving low-income families and infants and toddlers. States must report back on program outcomes including worker completion rates and post-program wages, and the stipends would not count as taxable income or affect workers' eligibility for other federal benefits. All construction projects funded under the bill must comply with prevailing wage standards.

The School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Camera Act directs the federal government to study and promote the use of cameras on school buses that monitor and document when drivers illegally pass stopped buses. The bill requires transportation safety agencies to complete a study within one year examining the benefits of this technology and provide recommendations on how to manage data, protect privacy, share information with law enforcement, and structure fees to make programs financially sustainable. Within 18 months of enactment, the Secretary of Transportation must establish a grant program that provides funding to state educational agencies to either purchase new school buses equipped with these cameras or install the technology on existing buses. The grants can also cover installation, maintenance, and repair costs. This legislation aims to improve school bus safety by helping states implement a technology that can identify and document dangerous driver behavior around school buses.

The Application FEES Act would allow families to use 529 college savings plans to pay for college application fees, which are currently not eligible expenses under these plans. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to add application fees to the list of qualified education expenses that can be withdrawn from 529 accounts without penalty or taxes. This change would benefit high school students and their families who are applying to higher education institutions, making it easier to cover the often-substantial costs of submitting multiple college applications. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to all 529 distributions made after the law is signed. There is no new federal funding required, as the change simply expands what existing 529 account funds can be used for.

Wildfire Aerial Response Safety ActThis bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to study the effects of unmanned aircraft system (i.e., drone) incursions on wildfire suppression on public lands.Specifically, the FAA must study drone operations in any airspace for which the FAA issued a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire on land managed by the Departments of Agriculture or the Interior. Among other things, the study must determine the number of occurrences over the last five years in which a drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppression and estimate the effects of each occurrence. The study must also evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of (1) deploying counter-drone systems to detect, mitigate, and prevent drone incursions during wildfire suppression operations; and (2) disseminating educational materials related to the effects of the incursions on wildfire suppression operations.The FAA must submit a report to Congress on the study's findings and any related recommendations.

The Junk Fee Prevention Act aims to crack down on hidden and excessive fees charged to consumers across multiple industries. The bill requires companies in short-term lodging, ticketing, and telecommunications to clearly display total prices upfront, prohibits fees from changing between advertisement and purchase, and prevents charging for services customers don't expect. For ticket sales specifically, the legislation mandates disclosure of available inventory 72 hours before sales begin and requires full refunds including all fees; it also addresses "speculative ticketing" where sellers don't actually possess the tickets being sold. The bill empowers the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to enforce these rules and allows the FTC to create additional regulations on excessive and deceptive fees. For airlines, the bill requires quarterly public reporting of ancillary fee revenue broken down by service type and class of service, giving consumers better visibility into how much airlines earn from baggage, seat selection, and other add-on charges. The Federal Communications Commission must begin a rulemaking process within 180 days to address mandatory fees in telecommunications services like broadband and cell phone plans.

H.R. 5907, the "Accelerating Home Building Act," authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development to award grants to local governments, municipal organizations, and Indian tribes to adopt pre-reviewed housing designs—standardized construction plans already approved for local building codes—to speed up mixed-income and affordable housing development. The grants can be used for design selection and planning but not for actual construction, and they target small to mid-rise structures like duplexes, townhouses, and cottage courts with up to 25 units. The bill requires at least 10 percent of annual grant funding to go to rural areas and mandates that grant recipients report on how many housing units are produced using the approved designs and whether designs are actually adopted within five years or funds must be returned. While the legislation does not specify a dollar amount, it authorizes "such sums as necessary" and allows the HUD Secretary to set aside up to 5 percent of appropriated funds for technical assistance to help communities implement the program.

Federal Firefighter Paycheck Protection ActThis bill provides continuing FY2026 appropriations to pay federal firefighters if a government shutdown is in effect. It also prohibits the firefighters from being subject to a reduction in force (RIF) during a government shutdown. Specifically, the bill provides continuing FY2026 appropriations to provide pay and allowances to federal firefighters during any period in which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown). The bill provides the appropriations until the earlier of (1) the enactment of specified appropriations legislation, or (2) January 1, 2027.The bill also prohibits federal firefighters from being removed from the civil service due to a RIF during a government shutdown.

The Microplastics Safety Act directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to study and report on how exposure to microplastics in food and drinking water affects human health. The study must examine how people are exposed to microplastics and their potential impacts on children, the endocrine system, cancer risk, chronic illness, and reproductive health, along with other relevant health areas the FDA deems important. The legislation affects consumers and public health by establishing a baseline understanding of microplastics' health risks, which currently remain largely unclear. The FDA must complete the study and submit a report to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment, including recommendations for any new laws or regulatory actions needed to address these health concerns. No specific funding amount is designated in the bill, though it assigns the research responsibilities to the existing FDA.

H.Res. 443 is a symbolic resolution expressing congressional support for designating May 2025 as "National Electrical Safety Month" to raise public awareness about electrical hazards. The resolution highlights the serious scope of the problem: electrical failures cause thousands of home fires annually, resulting in nearly 500 deaths, over 1,400 injuries, and $1.3 billion in property damage each year, with children particularly at risk from electrical accidents. The resolution encourages citizens and organizations to promote electrical safety education and practice protective measures such as installing ground-fault circuit interrupters, arc-fault circuit interrupters, and smoke alarms in homes and workplaces. It also supports the work of the Electrical Safety Foundation in educating the public about electrical hazards, including those from emerging technologies. The resolution does not authorize any funding or create new programs—it simply asks the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the month and calling Americans to observe it with appropriate safety activities.

This bill reauthorizes the Deschutes River Conservancy Working Group, a collaborative body established under the Oregon Resource Conservation Act of 1996 to manage water and conservation issues in Oregon's Deschutes River Basin. The legislation extends the group's authorization from 2016 through 2032 and clarifies its board composition, which must include 10-15 members representing environmental organizations, irrigated agriculture, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, hydroelectric producers, federal and state agencies, and local government. The bill also increases the percentage of funds the group can use for administrative costs from 5 percent to 10 percent, allowing it greater flexibility in covering operational expenses. The bill affects stakeholders throughout the Deschutes River Basin including farmers, tribal nations, environmental groups, and government agencies involved in water management and conservation.

Protecting Families from Inflation ActThis bill requires the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to study and report to Congress on the collective impact of U.S. tariffs since 2017 on the cost of goods and services for consumers and small businesses in the United States.