This bill authorizes the construction of a National Service Animals Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The legislation overrides existing restrictions that previously prevented the monument from being built in this prominent location, allowing it to be placed within the Reserve area of the National Mall instead. The bill grants an exception to federal laws that normally limit where commemorative works can be erected on the National Mall. The monument would honor service animals, which are specially trained animals that assist people with disabilities and perform critical duties for the military and law enforcement. No specific funding amount or construction timeline is mentioned in the legislation.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 12, 2026, as "Women Veterans Appreciation Day" to honor the service and sacrifices of women in the U.S. Armed Forces. The resolution notes that women have served in the military since the American Revolution, though they were not formally authorized as permanent members of the Armed Forces until the Women's Armed Services Integration Act was signed on June 12, 1948, which is why that date was chosen. The resolution highlights that as of 2021, women constitute approximately 10 percent of the total veteran population, with over 2 million women veterans in the United States, making them the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population. The resolution also acknowledges that women serve across all military branches in varying percentages and draws attention to issues facing women veterans, including military sexual trauma. This is a symbolic resolution with no direct funding or regulatory impact; it simply asks Congress to recognize and appreciate women veterans on the designated date.

This bill amends the Higher Education Act to officially recognize nursing degrees as professional degrees for federal student loan purposes. Currently, nursing master's and doctoral degrees such as the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and PhD in Nursing are not classified as professional degrees under federal law, which affects the loan repayment options available to nursing students. The legislation adds nursing degrees to the list of recognized professional degrees that already includes medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, and other advanced professional fields, placing them on equal footing with these other professions. This change would allow nursing students to access specific student loan repayment plans designed for professional degree holders. The bill does not include specific funding amounts or implementation timelines but directs the Secretary of Education to determine whether any other degrees meet the criteria for professional degree status.

This bill would expand federal student loan protections to nursing degree holders by formally recognizing nursing as a professional degree under the Higher Education Act. Currently, nursing master's degrees (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and related doctoral nursing degrees are not explicitly listed in federal law as professional degrees, which affects borrowers' eligibility for certain loan repayment programs and forgiveness options. The legislation adds nursing degrees to the existing list of recognized professional degrees that already includes medicine, law, pharmacy, dentistry, and other fields requiring professional licensure. The bill would affect nursing students and graduates seeking federal student loan benefits and contains no specific funding or implementation timeline beyond amending existing regulatory definitions. This change would bring nursing degrees into parity with other advanced healthcare professions for purposes of federal higher education law.

This bill amends federal law to clarify that states can require boaters to pay state fees as a condition of obtaining a vessel number. The fees can cover boating-related expenses such as search and rescue operations, boating safety programs, and efforts to control aquatic invasive species. States would be allowed to collect these fees at the same time they collect other vessel numbering fees, streamlining the registration process. The bill specifies that states can only use the collected fees for activities directly related to recreational boating improvements, boater safety, boater access, waterway use, and aquatic invasive species management. This legislation essentially removes any ambiguity about states' authority to bundle boating-related fees with standard vessel registration fees.

This bill addresses child care challenges facing military families by making several operational and policy changes to Department of Defense child care programs. The legislation expands who can work in military child development centers by removing prior military service requirements and allowing national service volunteers to be placed in these positions. It establishes a preclearance background check process for child care employees that is valid for up to one year with annual reverification, allowing qualified individuals to be cleared before a specific job opening exists. The bill authorizes job-sharing arrangements where two part-time employees can share one full-time child care position, and permits child care workers to receive limited benefits like commissary access, fitness center use, and tuition assistance to help with recruitment and retention. Additionally, the law requires the Defense Department to create a unified data system to track child care capacity, workforce needs, and waitlists across all military installations, with quarterly updates and annual briefings to Congress, while also requiring reports on current child care waitlists and how availability affects military readiness, with implementation beginning within 90 to 180 days of enactment.

H.R. 8052 requires sterile processing technicians at the Department of Veterans Affairs to obtain professional certification from an accredited institution within two years of being hired. The bill applies to all new hires in these positions and to current employees, who will have two years from the bill's enactment to become certified. To help current employees meet this requirement, the VA must provide them with scholarships to pay for certification training, and certified employees must commit to working for the VA for at least two additional years after earning their certification. This change aims to improve infection control and patient safety in VA medical facilities by ensuring that technicians responsible for sterilizing surgical instruments and medical equipment meet consistent professional standards.

The SECURE Health Act directs the U.S. government to develop a comprehensive strategy focused on strengthening the global health workforce, particularly frontline health workers in low- and middle-income countries. The bill establishes a 5-year Global Health Workforce Strategy to be overseen by a newly appointed Global Health Workforce Coordinator within the State Department, along with an interagency task force to coordinate implementation across federal agencies. The legislation requires annual reporting that details how federal funding supports health worker training, salaries, employment, and protection, while distinguishing between single-disease programs and integrated funding approaches. The bill aims to address the projected shortage of 11 million health workers by 2030 and emphasizes that investing in frontline health workers improves global health security, reduces preventable deaths, and supports economic stability and national security. While the bill does not specify funding amounts, it establishes the policy framework and accountability mechanisms for U.S. global health and humanitarian assistance programs to prioritize workforce development.

The 20-Year Promise Act increases educational benefits for military veterans who serve 20 or more years in the Armed Forces. Currently, veterans receive 36 months of GI Bill educational assistance; this bill extends that to 72 months (6 years) for those with 20+ years of service, allowing them to pursue more extensive education and training. The expanded benefits also apply if veterans transfer unused months to family members. The legislation applies immediately to anyone who completes 20 or more years of military service going forward, regardless of when they joined the military or their duty status. No specific funding amount is mentioned in the text, though the measure would increase overall GI Bill expenditures for the veterans who qualify.

American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026This bill extends through FY2036 three National Park Service (NPS) grant programs that preserve U.S. battlefields and requires the NPS to study additional sites for potential preservation.Specifically, the bill extends through FY2036 grant programs for the acquisition, interpretation modernization, and restoration of certain U.S. battlefields. (Under current law, the grants are authorized through FY2028.)The bill also requires the NPS to prepare or certify studies of locations tied to significant events during the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) for potential preservation.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1225 Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia, as the "Colonel Edward Shames Post Office Building".

H.R. 7106 modifies Medicare and Medicaid rules to expand the healthcare roles of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists in skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes. Currently, these facilities require direct physician oversight for most patient care decisions; this bill allows these advanced practice clinicians to provide and supervise care independently or collaboratively, depending on state law. The changes affect approximately 15,000 nursing facilities nationwide and the millions of elderly and disabled patients they serve under federal insurance programs. The bill does not specify new funding but aims to streamline operations and potentially reduce costs by making better use of advanced clinicians where physician availability may be limited. The legislation was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Ways and Means Committee in January 2026.

The FAIR Vets Act increases the dollar thresholds that allow the federal government to award contracts directly to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses without competitive bidding. Specifically, it raises the limit for most federal contracts from $7 million to $10 million and increases the threshold for Department of Defense contracts from $3 million to $8 million. Service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses are companies at least 51 percent owned by veterans with service-connected disabilities. The bill requires federal acquisition agencies to update their regulations within 180 days of enactment to implement these changes, which will take effect for new contract solicitations issued at least 180 days after the law passes. The legislation is designed to make it easier for veteran-owned businesses to compete for and win federal contracts by allowing sole-source awards at higher dollar amounts.

The Fit Vets Act directs the Veterans Affairs Department to launch a three-year pilot program offering eligible veterans access to SilverSneakers or a similar senior exercise program as part of their VA health care benefits. The program targets veterans already enrolled in the VA's patient enrollment system and would allow the department to run it either nationally or regionally based on what works best. The VA must complete a comprehensive report within six months of the program ending that documents participation rates, costs, health outcomes for participants, and whether the program should become permanent. No specific funding amount is mentioned in the bill, leaving budget details to be determined through the appropriations process. This legislation aims to improve the physical fitness and chronic disease management of aging veterans through access to evidence-based exercise programs.

The Veterans Career Connection Act establishes a new "Veterans Transition Talent Hub" program that allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to share information about veterans and transitioning military members with employers seeking to hire them. The program is voluntary—veterans and service members must opt in to participate—and makes searchable data available to employers, including anticipated discharge dates, military and civilian skills, certifications, geographic preferences, and resumes. The legislation affects transitioning service members and veterans seeking employment, as well as employers looking to hire workers with military backgrounds. The bill requires the VA Secretary to consult with the Defense Department, Labor Department, employers, veterans service organizations, and state workforce agencies in implementing the program, though no specific funding amount or implementation deadline is specified in the text.

This resolution formally appoints Representative Van Epps to serve on two House committees: the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The resolution is a routine administrative action that assigns a House member to specific standing committees where they will participate in reviewing legislation, conducting oversight, and holding hearings related to those policy areas. Committee assignments like this are typically made to fill vacancies or adjust membership based on party leadership decisions. The resolution affects Mr. Van Epps directly and impacts the composition and work of both committees, but does not involve any funding or specific timelines beyond the immediate appointment.

The CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act extends and expands health insurance premium tax credits through 2026, making subsidies available to more middle-income Americans by raising the income eligibility cap from 400% to 1,000% of the poverty level, while also reducing out-of-pocket costs for enrollees. The bill establishes new federal standards and oversight for insurance agents, brokers, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) effective by January 2029, including requirements that agents act in enrollees' best interests, strict transparency rules for PBMs regarding drug pricing and pharmacy relationships, and civil and criminal penalties up to 10 years imprisonment for fraud. The legislation also strengthens marketplace operations by requiring the removal of deceased enrollees within 90 days, extending the 2026 open enrollment period through March 19, 2026, and mandating that consumers receive advance notice of their premium tax credit amounts before enrollment. To support implementation, the bill provides $113 million to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and $20 million to the HHS Inspector General starting in 2029, and directs studies on how drug supply chain intermediaries use pricing structures to affect federal health programs. Additionally, the bill creates an expedited legislative process requiring floor votes on future health insurance premium tax credit extension bills by July 1, 2026.

The Clarity on Care Options Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to create and maintain a publicly searchable directory of doctors and health care providers who accept CHAMPVA coverage, which serves eligible family members and survivors of deceased veterans. The VA must have health care networks query their providers annually to determine who accepts CHAMPVA assignments, with results submitted to the VA within 90 days of the law taking effect and the public directory launched within 180 days. The bill aims to help CHAMPVA beneficiaries easily find participating providers and identify geographic areas where coverage access is limited. The VA must also submit annual reports to Congress for five years detailing how many providers accept CHAMPVA assignments broken down by state and region, including information about areas with coverage gaps.

The Rx ACCESS Act modifies the TRICARE pharmacy benefits program, which provides prescription drug coverage to military service members, retirees, and their families. Starting October 1, 2026, beneficiaries will gain the ability to choose how they receive non-generic maintenance medications—expanding options beyond current restrictions. The bill requires the Defense Department to ensure that TRICARE pharmacies receive reimbursement equal to their actual drug acquisition costs plus a professional dispensing fee aligned with state Medicaid rates, while prohibiting additional hidden fees that may have previously reduced payments. To ensure program transparency and quality, the Comptroller General must conduct annual audits examining reimbursement rates, price concessions, and pharmacy network adequacy—with special attention to rural and underserved areas. The Defense Secretary must submit an implementation plan to Congress within 90 days of the bill's enactment.

The Increasing Medication Access for Seniors Act of 2025 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to regularly report to Congress on how many Medicare seniors are using an option to cap their monthly out-of-pocket drug costs under Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. Starting within three months of the bill's passage and continuing through March 2031, the Secretary must submit reports showing enrollment numbers by region, estimates of seniors who could benefit from this capped-cost option, and details on outreach efforts to inform beneficiaries about it. The bill also directs the department to describe steps taken to make the capped-cost election available at pharmacy point-of-sale and through various channels including Medicare.gov, the Medicare & You handbook, and the 1-800-MEDICARE hotline. Essentially, this bill is a fact-gathering measure designed to track awareness and use of an existing Medicare feature that allows seniors to control their monthly drug expenses, with no direct funding authorization included in the text.

The AI for America Act directs the federal government to develop a comprehensive national strategy aimed at strengthening American leadership in artificial intelligence while reducing regulatory obstacles to AI adoption. By July 31, 2027, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy must submit an action plan to Congress with measurable goals covering AI workforce development, research infrastructure, security risks, and ideological bias in AI systems, with biennial updates thereafter. The bill also requires federal agencies to identify and report on regulatory barriers blocking AI use in healthcare, scientific research, transportation, and other sectors within one year of enactment. Additionally, the National Institute of Standards and Technology must submit a report on methods to detect and prevent security risks and ideological bias in AI data and decision-making, including review protocols and audit requirements. The legislation affects federal agencies, private sector AI developers, and industries like healthcare and transportation, though it does not specify funding levels for these requirements.

The STAY Act requires the Department of Defense to study ways to reduce how often military members relocate through permanent changes of station and naval personnel rotate between ship and shore assignments. By March 1, 2026, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness must submit a detailed report to Congress analyzing the costs of these relocations over the past five years, estimating potential savings from reducing their frequency, and evaluating how less frequent moves would affect military retention, spouse employment, and children's education. The report must also identify which military positions and locations could feasibly have longer tour assignments without hurting military readiness or career development opportunities, and recommend any legislative or policy changes needed to test or implement such changes. This bill aims to address the strain that frequent relocations place on military families while also potentially lowering defense costs.

The TRICARE Transition Transparency Act of 2025 requires the Department of Defense to notify military health insurance beneficiaries when they must make changes to their TRICARE coverage enrollment. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Defense send electronic notices at three key points in time—one year, 180 days, and 30 days before a beneficiary experiences a coverage transition, such as aging out of a plan. In addition to individual notifications, the bill directs the department to conduct a broader public awareness campaign through the TRICARE website, social media, and military family readiness groups. The Secretary must also submit annual reports to Congress detailing how well the notification and outreach efforts are working and recommending improvements. The legislation affects all current TRICARE beneficiaries—including active-duty service members, retirees, and their family members—who may need to switch plans due to age or other eligibility changes.

Pay Our Troops Act of 2026This bill provides continuing appropriations for military pay for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown).Specifically, the bill provides FY2026 continuing appropriations for the pay and allowances of (1) members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service during the period; and (2) civilian personnel and contractors of the Department of Defense (and the Department of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) who are providing support to such members of the Armed Forces.If a government shutdown occurs, the bill provides the continuing appropriations until the earlier of (1) the enactment into law of specified appropriations legislation, or (2) January 1, 2027.

Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia, Federal Recognition ActThis bill extends federal recognition to the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia.Specifically, the bill makes the tribe and its members eligible for services and benefits provided to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The delivery area for services and benefits shall be determined in coordination and consultation with the Department of the Interior.Next, the bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.Upon request of the tribe, Interior must take into trust any land held in fee by the tribe that was acquired on or before January 1, 2007, if such lands are located within the boundaries of Southampton County, Virginia. Land taken into trust shall be considered part of the tribe's reservation.Further, the bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.