H.R. 9946 was introduced on July 23, 2026 by Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA-5) with 11 Democratic cosponsors. The text for this legislation has not yet been released. A summary will be generated when there is text available.

The Polling Place Standards Act directs state and local election officials to ensure a minimum number of polling places for federal elections, requiring at least one polling place or vote center for every 2,000 registered voters in each state. The law also requires that these polling places be geographically diverse and not concentrated in specific areas to prevent voter accessibility problems. States that already allow voters to cast ballots by mail or ballot drop box are exempt from these requirements. The legislation establishes staffing standards for polling places to ensure ballots are processed timely, equipment is secure, and wait times do not exceed 30 minutes, with states to consider factors like the number of registered voters, available machines, and accessibility needs when determining adequate staffing levels. The bill authorizes a grant program through the Election Assistance Commission to help states implement these new polling place standards, though no specific funding amount is specified.

This is a congressional resolution honoring Danette Anthony Reed, who serves as the 31st International President and CEO of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The resolution commends Reed for her 50 years of membership in the organization and recognizes her leadership initiatives focused on strengthening the sorority's sisterhood, empowering families, building economic wealth, protecting the environment, advocating for social justice, and supporting local communities. The resolution was introduced by Representative Williams of Georgia and several other House members in July 2026 and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. This is a symbolic measure with no funding or programmatic requirements, as resolutions serve to express the sense of Congress rather than enact new laws or policies.

The Home Internet Accessibility Act directs the Comptroller General to study broadband access in federally assisted housing and report findings to Congress within one year. The report must analyze which public and subsidized housing units currently have broadband access and which would need retrofitting to support it, broken down by state, congressional district, and other geographic areas, along with demographic information. The bill also requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to develop a comprehensive plan within 18 months for retrofitting federally assisted housing to support broadband service, including cost estimates and timelines. This legislation affects millions of Americans living in federally subsidized housing programs administered by HUD and the Department of Agriculture, addressing a key gap in internet connectivity for low-income households.

This bill requires mortgage lenders to consider additional credit information beyond traditional credit reports when evaluating borrowers, if the borrower requests and authorizes such consideration. The legislation targets the approximately 32 million Americans who lack sufficient credit history with national credit reporting agencies, a group that disproportionately includes low-income individuals, younger people, and people of color. Lenders would be required to treat alternative credit data, such as rental payment history or bank statement information, with the same weight as comparable information from traditional credit agencies, unless the lender determines the information is materially misrepresented. All mortgage lenders must provide applicants with written notice explaining their right to submit alternative credit information, with notices available in the eight most commonly spoken languages among limited English proficiency populations. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has 18 months from enactment to issue final regulations implementing these requirements.

The PRIDE Act of 2026 amends the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to expand existing diversity offices at federal financial agencies to explicitly include LGBTQI+ individuals and LGBTQI+-owned businesses. Currently, these offices focus on minority and women inclusion; the bill renames them to Offices of Minority, Women, and LGBTQI+ Inclusion and updates all related provisions to incorporate LGBTQI+ individuals in hiring, contracting, and business opportunity initiatives. The legislation also makes conforming changes to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to align its diversity office requirements with the same expanded definition. The bill does not specify new funding levels or implementation timelines, instead modifying existing statutory language to extend current diversity and inclusion mandates to cover LGBTQI+ communities in federal financial institution oversight and housing programs.

The REPORTS Act requires federal agencies to analyze how their major regulations affect people living in poverty and racial inequity whenever they propose new rules. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must publish annual reports over the next ten years examining between two and five major government programs or policies each year to assess their impact on poverty and racial inequality. The analyses may also include examination of effects on the racial wealth gap at the discretion of the relevant agency or the Comptroller General. The bill does not specify dedicated funding or allocate new resources, instead requiring these analyses to be conducted as part of existing agency and GAO operations. This legislation would apply across all federal agencies and affect anyone subject to new federal regulations, particularly lower-income populations and communities experiencing racial economic disparities.

The Blood Pressure MATTERS Act requires health insurance plans to cover self-measured blood pressure monitoring devices for pregnant and postpartum individuals at no cost to the patient. The bill applies to Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and private health insurance plans offered through employers or individual markets, affecting millions of pregnant and postpartum women across all insurance types. Each patient can receive one device per two-year period, and the devices must be cleared by the FDA and validated by the American Medical Association. Coverage takes effect 120 days after the bill's enactment, with some flexibility for states that need to pass legislation to comply. The bill aims to help detect and manage pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorders like preeclampsia, which pose serious health risks during and after pregnancy.

The Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 2026 allows Highway Trust Fund money to be used for constructing noise barriers along highways in specific situations where current law generally prohibits such spending. The bill primarily benefits residential communities located near highways, particularly those with older homes that have been exposed to highway noise. Eligible noise barriers can now serve multiple purposes, such as supporting renewable energy equipment, electrical infrastructure, or broadband service, thereby providing additional community benefits beyond noise reduction. The bill also requires that any noise barriers built under this authority follow the latest aesthetic design standards established by the Federal Highway Administration, and states can approve these secondary uses of barriers within highway rights-of-way. The legislation does not specify new dedicated funding amounts but rather clarifies which existing highway funds can be allocated toward noise barrier projects that meet the bill's criteria.

This resolution disapproves a decision by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to withdraw a 2022 rule that addressed unfair practices by banks in assessing returned deposit item fees. If passed, the resolution would block the bureau's withdrawal and reinstate the protections that were originally intended to prevent banks from charging excessive fees when deposited checks are returned unpaid. The measure uses the Congressional Review Act, a process that allows Congress to overturn federal agency rules with a simple majority vote. The resolution affects banks and consumers who may be charged returned check fees. There is no specific funding or implementation timeline mentioned in the legislation beyond the May 2025 date when the bureau initially submitted its withdrawal proposal.

The Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Efficiency Act (WISE Act) modifies the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require states to dedicate at least 20 percent of federal revolving fund capitalization grants toward environmentally focused water projects. The funds must be directed toward green infrastructure, water efficiency improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, or other environmentally innovative activities, provided that sufficient eligible project applications exist. This requirement applies to all federal appropriations for these capitalization grants beginning upon enactment of the bill. The legislation primarily affects state water infrastructure programs and municipalities that manage water and wastewater systems, as they will need to prioritize a larger share of federal funding toward sustainability-focused projects. The bill does not specify new appropriations amounts or set a distinct timeline beyond the effective date of enactment.

The Clean Slate through Rehabilitation Act would amend federal student loan rules to allow borrowers who rehabilitate defaulted loans to have all negative credit information related to those loans removed from their credit reports. Currently, borrowers can only remove the record of default itself after rehabilitation, but this bill would also eliminate related adverse information that may affect their creditworthiness. The legislation would apply to federal student loan borrowers under the Higher Education Act and would help them rebuild their credit more completely after getting back on track with loan payments. The bill does not specify new funding requirements or implementation timelines beyond amending the existing default reduction program framework. By broadening credit relief for rehabilitated borrowers, the legislation aims to give people who have recovered from loan default a better chance to access credit and financial opportunities in the future.

This bill establishes a grant program to address maternal health disparities by funding technology-enabled training and collaborative learning models in underserved communities, health professional shortage areas, and regions with high maternal mortality rates. The program will award up to $6 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to eligible organizations that train maternal health providers—including physicians, midwives, nurse practitioners, doulas, and lactation consultants—on crucial topics such as safety protocols, bias reduction, mental health screening, and substance use disorder treatment. Grantees must also implement remote patient monitoring systems and evaluate the effectiveness of these technology-based approaches to improve maternal health outcomes. The bill defines maternal mortality broadly to include deaths within one year after pregnancy from pregnancy-related complications or mental health and substance use disorders worsened by pregnancy, ensuring comprehensive attention to the full range of maternal health risks. A single grantee may receive up to $6 million over a five-year period, with technical assistance and evaluation support provided throughout the grant cycle.

This House resolution honors Kira Johnson, a woman who died from preventable complications following childbirth in 2016, and recognizes the organization 4Kira4Moms, founded by her husband to address maternal health disparities. The resolution supports establishing a "Day of Remembrance and Commitment to Maternal Health Equity" and commends 4Kira4Moms for its work advocating for maternal health improvements, particularly for Black women and underserved communities. The resolution references several legislative initiatives the organization has supported, including the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, and the proposed Kira Johnson Act, which would fund community-based programs, anti-bias training for healthcare workers, and hospital compliance programs for respectful maternity care. This is a symbolic resolution expressing support rather than creating new law or appropriating funding, and it highlights the ongoing crisis of preventable maternal deaths in the United States.

The OHH SNAP Act of 2026 expands eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly known as food stamps) to help hungry college students. The bill allows students with a student aid index of zero or less, as well as those classified as independent students under federal financial aid rules, to qualify for SNAP benefits even if they would normally be excluded due to their student status. The legislation also modifies how educational loans are treated in SNAP eligibility calculations and allows students attending higher education institutions to count that time toward work requirements. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment and applies to certification periods beginning on or after that effective date. No specific funding amount is designated in the bill, as SNAP is an ongoing entitlement program.

This resolution expresses support for the designation of International Black Aviation Professionals Day. It also encourages the observation of the day through recognition and celebration of the contributions of Black aviation professionals.

The Endometriosis CARE Act directs the federal government to advance research, raise public awareness, and improve access to treatment for endometriosis, a chronic condition where tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside the uterus, causing severe pain and fertility problems. The bill authorizes $50 million annually from 2026 through 2030 for the National Institutes of Health to conduct endometriosis research and create an online resource clearinghouse for patients and doctors, plus $4 million annually for public education campaigns and provider training focused on detecting, diagnosing, and treating the condition. The Department of Health and Human Services must analyze barriers to treatment (such as insurance coverage gaps and healthcare shortages) within two years and commission the National Academies to study disparities in endometriosis diagnosis and outcomes across racial, ethnic, geographic, and other demographic groups within 24 months. The legislation affects patients with endometriosis, healthcare providers, health insurance plans, and state Medicaid programs, which will be required to provide data to support these research and analysis efforts.

H.Con.Res. 65 is a concurrent resolution that commends state and local governments for recognizing reproductive rights as human rights, introduced in December 2025 with bipartisan support. The resolution cites the 2022 Supreme Court Dobbs decision that eliminated federal abortion protections, leading to state bans and restrictions that the resolution argues conflict with U.S. international human rights obligations and have caused documented harms including increased maternal mortality, denial of emergency care, and criminalization of pregnant people—with disproportionate impacts on low-income communities and people of color. The measure acknowledges efforts by cities and counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, and Louisiana to adopt resolutions treating reproductive rights as human rights aligned with international standards. The resolution calls on all states to repeal abortion restrictions and laws criminalizing pregnancy-related circumstances. This is a symbolic measure with no direct funding or implementation timeline; it expresses congressional sentiment rather than establishing policy or law.

The PLAY Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an interagency task force within 180 days to develop strategies for expanding access to community-based outdoor spaces and playgrounds that encourage physical activity among children and youth. The task force will include representatives from 11 federal agencies—including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Interior, Transportation, Education, and others—and will work to identify barriers to playground access, coordinate agency efforts across federal and public lands, and develop recommendations for evidence-based playground designs and public-private partnerships. The task force must submit a preliminary report within 180 days of its establishment and a final report one year later, after which it will dissolve. The bill emphasizes that safe, accessible playgrounds serve as critical public health infrastructure that reduces chronic disease risk, supports child development, and addresses heat-related health risks in communities. No specific federal funding amount is allocated in the legislation, as the task force operates primarily through existing agency resources and inter-departmental coordination.

The Convening Operations Assistance for Childcare Heroes (COACH) Act requires the Small Business Administration to create and regularly update a comprehensive resource guide specifically for small child care businesses. The guide must cover practical topics including operations, finances, legal compliance, safety training, and quality standards, and must be published in English plus the ten most commonly spoken languages in the U.S., including Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean. Before developing the guide, the SBA must consult with the Department of Health and Human Services, state child care agencies, local resource organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the guidance meets actual provider needs. The resource guide must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment and updated at least every five years, then distributed through SBA offices and partner organizations like women's business centers and small business development centers that work directly with child care providers. This legislation aims to help child care providers—particularly sole proprietors and those with limited business experience—access practical information to operate their businesses more effectively.

This is a House resolution honoring the Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, on its 100th anniversary. The chapter was founded on May 15, 1925, at Talladega College in Alabama by 12 African American women and represents one of the earliest Greek-letter organizations for Black women in the state. The resolution celebrates the chapter's century-long commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and community service, recognizing that its members have gone on to become educators, public servants, business leaders, attorneys, physicians, and civic advocates. There is no funding or implementation involved, as this is a ceremonial resolution expressing appreciation for the sorority's contributions to their communities and to historically Black colleges and universities. The House will send an official copy of the resolution to the Chi Chapter to commemorate their centennial celebration.

The Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025 establishes a federal pilot program that provides grants through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to states, local governments, and nonprofits to repair homes for low-income homeowners and small landlords. Eligible homeowners must earn no more than 80% of their area's median income and live in the home as their primary residence, while eligible landlords can own fewer than 10 rental properties with mostly affordable units and must maintain affordable rents and tenant protections for at least three years after repairs are completed. The program funds comprehensive repairs addressing accessibility for disabled individuals, health and safety hazards, and energy and water efficiency improvements, with organizations permitted to use up to 5% of funds for workforce training and 10% for administrative costs. Between 2-10 implementing organizations per year across diverse geographic areas will receive grants under the pilot, which is funded with up to $30 million from existing HUD accounts and runs through October 1, 2031, with participating organizations required to submit annual reports and undergo Inspector General oversight to ensure accountability and prevent fraud.

This bill would create a new position within the Department of Health and Human Services called the Ombuds for Reproductive and Sexual Health, who would report directly to the HHS Secretary. The ombuds would be responsible for educating the public about reproductive and sexual health services, analyzing data on access to these services, identifying gaps in health insurance coverage, connecting people with providers and abortion funds, and combating medical misinformation in this area. The position requires someone with expertise in sexual and reproductive health and a demonstrated commitment to serving underrepresented populations including LGBTQ+ individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals. The ombuds would submit annual reports to Congress starting June 30, 2026, but the bill does not specify dedicated funding amounts or implementation deadlines beyond the annual reporting requirement. The legislation explicitly prohibits the ombuds from collecting individually identifiable patient information while performing these duties.

The Health Access Innovation Act of 2025 creates a new grant program that allows the Department of Health and Human Services to award funding to faith-based and community organizations working to reduce health disparities and chronic disease in underserved areas. Eligible organizations must demonstrate experience addressing health inequities in medically underserved communities or health professional shortage areas, and grants can be used to pay for medical services, health screenings, support community health workers, and address social factors affecting health access. The bill authorizes $50 million for fiscal year 2026, increasing to $70 million by 2029, with no more than 5 percent of funds used for administrative costs. Priority will be given to organizations that operated health programs during public health emergencies. The legislation primarily affects faith-based and community organizations serving low-income and underserved populations, as well as the vulnerable communities they serve.

The SAFES Act provides a federal tax credit to help Americans purchase gun safes and secure storage devices. Individuals can claim a refundable credit equal to 90 percent of the cost of a new gun safe, up to a maximum of $500 per year ($1,000 for joint tax returns), though the total lifetime credit is capped at these amounts. The bill applies to any safe, lock box, case, or device designed to prevent unauthorized access to firearms and ammunition, and remains in effect through 2030; after that date, only safes deemed "highly effective" by the Department of Health and Human Services can qualify. The credit takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and includes a privacy protection requiring the IRS not to collect information about firearms ownership as a condition of receiving the credit.