Julia Letlow

This bill amends federal special education law to give the U.S. Secretary of Education authority to extend paperwork reduction waivers for states. Currently, states can receive waivers from certain administrative requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for up to four years. The bill allows the Secretary to grant multiple extensions of these waivers, with each extension lasting up to four years. This change affects states that work with special education programs and the schools within them by potentially allowing them to continue operating with reduced paperwork burdens for longer periods. The bill does not include any new funding or specify implementation timelines beyond allowing extensions to occur.

The Rural Grants Transparency Act requires the Department of Agriculture to improve how it communicates information about rural development grant programs to potential applicants. The bill affects rural communities, nonprofits, cooperatives, and small towns that apply for grants through the USDA's Rural Development office. The legislation requires the department to create plain-language guides for each grant program, establish a searchable database of awarded grants updated quarterly, provide standardized notifications to applicants about their application status, and publish scoring criteria for competitive programs. The bill must be implemented within 180 days and explicitly prohibits any new federal spending, requiring the department to use existing resources and staff to comply with these transparency requirements.

The No Delays in Disaster Relief Act directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency to appoint an Acting Regional Administrator whenever a regional leadership position has been empty for at least 90 days. These temporary leaders would have full authority to approve grants, make funding decisions, and process federal disaster assistance to states and local governments without waiting for permanent appointments. The bill aims to prevent delays in disaster relief and recovery funding caused by vacant regional leadership positions. Within 180 days of the law taking effect, FEMA must report to Congress on how it implemented this process, which regions had extended vacancies, what authorities were granted to acting administrators, and whether grant processing times improved. The bill also asks the agency to identify any implementation challenges and recommend further changes if needed to speed up federal disaster assistance delivery.

This resolution expresses congressional support for designating May 6, 2026, as "National Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day" to increase public understanding of mental health conditions affecting pregnant women and new mothers. The bill highlights that approximately one in five women experience maternal mental health conditions each year, impacting roughly 800,000 American families, with even higher rates among military personnel and medically underserved populations. The resolution notes that these conditions, including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, are largely preventable and treatable but that 75 percent of affected mothers never receive treatment, costing the U.S. economy approximately $14.2 billion annually. The resolution calls on federal, state, and local governments and citizens to support awareness activities and promote education about maternal mental health, particularly for high-risk groups such as servicemembers, veterans, rural mothers, and underserved communities. This is a symbolic resolution with no direct funding or implementation requirements, as it simply designates a day for awareness and encourages support for maternal mental health initiatives.

The FRESH Act of 2026 amends federal nutrition law to require congressional approval before the federal government can publish updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Currently, the Agriculture and Health and Human Services secretaries can issue dietary guidelines on their own authority, but this bill changes that by requiring them to submit proposed guidelines to Congress for formal approval by law before they take effect. The legislation specifically codifies the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines as the binding standard and prohibits any modifications or updates to those guidelines unless Congress approves them through the same legislative process. This bill affects all Americans who rely on federal dietary guidance, as well as schools, hospitals, and other institutions that use these guidelines to shape nutrition programs and food policies. The measure has no specified funding or implementation timeline beyond establishing the new congressional approval requirement going forward.

The Consumer Price Information Act of 2026 requires federal agencies to publish a "Consumer Price Information Statement" whenever they issue a major rule. Each statement must describe how the rule could affect consumer prices for essential goods and services, including energy, food, housing, transportation, and healthcare, and must identify which populations like low-income households and seniors might be most affected. The statements must also explain any regional differences in impact and detail the assumptions and methods used to reach conclusions. Agencies must publish these statements in the Federal Register and on their websites at the time the rule is proposed, with the requirement taking effect 60 days after the law is enacted. The legislation requires no new funding, directing agencies to carry out this requirement using existing resources.

The No Rogue Jurors Act would prohibit the federal government from providing grants, contracts, awards, or other financial assistance to any organization, school, or entity that promotes jury nullification. Jury nullification refers to jurors voting to acquit a defendant despite evidence of guilt or voting against the law. The bill specifically targets training programs, materials, and outreach efforts—including those labeled "Equity & Root Cause Jury Training" or similar names—that encourage potential jurors to vote contrary to evidence or applicable law in federal or District of Columbia court proceedings. This legislation affects advocacy organizations, educational institutions, and other groups that might receive federal funding. No specific funding amounts or implementation timelines are included in the bill text.

The Freedom from Ideological Requirements in Employment Act (FIRE Act) would prohibit the federal government from spending money on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in federal hiring and employment. Specifically, it would ban federal agencies from requiring employees or job applicants to participate in DEI training, sign statements endorsing DEI principles, or use federal funds to develop or purchase DEI-related training materials. The bill also prohibits training on topics like critical race theory, intersectionality, and claims about systemic racism embedded in legal systems and policies. The legislation applies to all federal civil service employees and would affect how federal agencies conduct hiring and workforce development. The bill does not apply to workplace harassment prevention training and includes no specific funding allocations or implementation timeline beyond the prohibition itself.

The Buy American Seafood Act would prohibit the federal government from purchasing foreign seafood for federal food programs, requiring instead that all seafood be harvested by U.S. flagged vessels or produced and processed domestically. The bill affects all federal agencies that buy seafood for covered food programs, which include Department of Defense meal services, emergency food assistance programs, disaster relief programs, and any other federal agency purchasing food with taxpayer dollars. The legislation includes a limited waiver provision allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to permit foreign seafood only if domestic supplies are insufficient or fail to meet food safety and quality standards, with all waivers required to be published in the Federal Register and reported to Congress within 30 days. The bill also amends child nutrition programs to prioritize domestic seafood in school lunch and breakfast programs under the same standards and waiver procedures. The Department of Agriculture must develop implementing regulations within 180 days, with no additional funding authorized for the bill's implementation.

This bill redistributes Louisiana's federal court jurisdictions by redefining the boundaries of the state's judicial districts. Specifically, it redelines the Middle District to include eight parishes (counties) in the Baton Rouge area—Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, Saint Helena, and West Baton Rouge—and reorganizes the Western District to comprise a larger group of parishes across central and northern Louisiana. The changes affect federal judges, court staff, and residents and businesses in Louisiana who file federal cases, as different districts may have different judges and case management practices. The bill includes a provision that prevents it from disrupting any cases that were already filed or pending before the law takes effect, ensuring existing litigation continues in its original district. The legislation contains no specific funding requirements or implementation timeline beyond the effective date of enactment.

The Empowering Rural Communities Act requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set aside at least 2.5 percent of funding from each Rural Development discretionary grant program to provide technical assistance to rural communities. This assistance includes grant writing support, training, application development, engineering help, and outreach activities designed to help small towns and low-capacity communities compete for federal grants in areas like broadband, water systems, housing, and business development. The bill prioritizes communities that lack full-time administrative staff, have historically struggled to access federal funding, or face persistent poverty and economic distress. State Rural Development offices must identify high-need communities and coordinate services fairly across their regions. The legislation requires no new federal spending—it redirects existing appropriated funds—and mandates the Agriculture Department submit annual reports to Congress on how many communities were served and whether the program improved grant application success rates.

The Newborns Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Act creates a federal program to provide free supply kits to new mothers, particularly those with low incomes. Each kit contains essential items for both newborns and postpartum mothers, including diapers, wipes, hygiene products, blankets, thermometers, postpartum care supplies, breastfeeding resources, blood pressure monitors, and educational materials on maternal mental health and nutrition programs. The bill allocates up to $5 million per year from 2026 through 2030 to fund grants and cooperative agreements with nonprofits, community health centers, tribal organizations, and hospitals to purchase and distribute these kits, with priority given to high-need areas like rural communities, maternity care deserts, and regions with high maternal mortality rates, as well as families earning up to 185 percent of the poverty line. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must report to Congress within one year on program progress and demographics of mothers served, and submit a final report within six months after 2030 detailing outcomes related to maternal and infant health.

The Farm Rescue Act of 2025 allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide early, partial payments to farmers under the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program for the 2025 crop year. If the Secretary of Agriculture determines that price loss coverage payments will be needed based on projected market prices, eligible farmers can opt to receive an advance payment of 40 to 50 percent of their expected PLC benefit within 90 days of the bill's enactment, with the remaining balance paid after harvest. This applies to major commodities covered under the 2014 Farm Bill and is designed to provide cash-strapped farmers with immediate financial relief during the growing season. The Agriculture Department must issue implementing rules within 60 days, and any erroneous advance payments can be recovered by the government if conditions change.

This bill establishes the Tariff Response And Damages to Exports Fund within the Treasury, authorizes certain revenues collected from duties (e.g., tariffs) on certain agricultural products to be deposited into the fund, and requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use the fund to make payments to agricultural producers affected by trade-related market disruptions.Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to deposit into this fund any revenues collected from duties on imported products that are classified under Chapters 1-24 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (which includes, among other products, live animals, animal and vegetable products, seafood, prepared foodstuffs, and beverages). USDA must use any amounts deposited into the fund to make payments to agricultural producers that have been affected by trade-related marketed disruptions, including losses USDA determines are due to (1) decreased exports, (2) tariff or non-tariff barriers imposed by foreign countries, or (3) increases in the costs of items and goods necessary for the production of agricultural commodities and livestock.USDA must annually report to Congress on the total revenues transferred into the fund, the economic impacts on affected agricultural producers, and a summary of assistance provided to these agricultural producers.The authorities provided by the bill terminate on September 30, 2030, and the bill permanently rescinds the unobligated balances of all amounts available in the fund as of this date.

Empower Charter School Educators to Lead ActThis bill makes changes to the Charter Schools Program (CSP), which authorizes competitive grants to state entities (e.g., state educational agencies and state charter school boards) to support high-quality charter schools. Specifically, the bill allows state entities to use up to 5% of their CSP grant funds to make pre-charter planning subgrants to certain prospective charter applicants.The bill specifies that state entities may also (1) fund a revolving loan fund or similar mechanisms for the expenses of eligible applicants prior to receiving CSP subgrants, and (2) provide assistance to eligible applicants in locating and accessing a charter school facility.Under the current CSP, state entities must use at least 7% of their CSP grant funds to provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies. The bill instead allows state entities to use not more than 10% of these funds for technical assistance.

This bill requires the Small Business Administration, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the Delta Regional Authority to work together to support rural entrepreneurship and small businesses in Appalachian and Delta regions. The three agencies must sign a formal agreement within 120 days of the law's enactment and coordinate their efforts to expand assistance to rural entrepreneurs and small businesses in these economically challenged areas. The bill allows these agencies to enter into reimbursable agreements with each other and collaborate with other federal agencies to maximize the effectiveness of their programs. Two years after enactment, the agencies must submit a joint report to Congress detailing how many businesses they assisted, their coordination efforts, and plans for continuing to work together on rural economic development.

This resolution honors the teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification as of March 2025.

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025This bill revises the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to expand eligibility for payments to agricultural producers and owners of forest land impacted by natural disasters. The bill also provides additional options to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures.The bill expands advance ECP payments to include payments for the rehabilitation of farmland or to repair or replace a farmland or conservation structure. Producers may receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for 75% of the cost of the replacement or rehabilitation and 50% of the cost of the repair. Current law limits advanced cost-sharing payments to 25% of the cost of the repair or replacement of fencing.The bill also expands eligibility for payments under ECP to include emergency measures to address damages caused by a wildfire that is not caused naturally (including a wildfire that is caused by the federal government), if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes.Under EFRP, the bill allows owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by a natural disaster to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for up to 75% of the cost of the emergency measures. Recipients must use the funds within 180 days after the funds are disbursed. Currently, advance payments are not available under the program.

Drought Assistance Improvement ActThis bill modifies access to two Farm Service Agency (FSA) administered programs: the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).The bill modifies the LFP to allow for one monthly payment when a county has four consecutive weeks of a D2 rating (severe drought) and two payments for eight consecutive weeks of D2. Currently, one payment is available for eight consecutive weeks of D2. As background, LFP makes payments to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses on drought-affected pastureland, including cropland planted specifically for grazing.The bill also expands coverage under ELAP for losses caused by adverse weather or drought. The bill includes under ELAP the loss of a crawfish harvest due to adverse weather or drought. As background, ELAP provides payments to producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish as compensation for losses due to disease, adverse weather, feed or water shortages, or other conditions that are not covered under other programs.The FSA must establish ELAP documentation standards for (1) collecting data, (2) the production of crawfish, and (3) defining loss conditions due to drought.

Quality Loss Adjustment Improvement for Farmers ActThis bill directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to review and revise quality loss adjustment coverage and provides for the establishment of a regional discount factor for soybeans, as needed.The FCIC is a government corporation that finances and administers the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) operations. Under the FCIP, farmers may purchase insurance coverage against financial losses caused by certain adverse growing and market conditions, including for quality losses. The federal government subsidizes the premiums that farmers pay for these insurance policies. The bill directs the FCIC to contract with a qualified entity to conduct a review at least once every five years of the quality loss adjustment procedures. Based on each review, the FCIC must make adjustments to the procedures. Each review must include engagement from regionally diverse industry stakeholders for each agricultural commodity for which a quality loss adjustment is offered.The bill also directs the FCIC, in certain circumstances, to establish a state or regional discount factor for soybeans to reflect the average quality discounts applied to the local or regional market prices of the soybean crop. The FCIC must take this action in the event of (1) specific emergency or disaster declarations for a state or region, or (2) the occurrence of a salvage market for soybeans in a state or region.