The Ounce of Prevention Act would expand how cities and counties can spend Community Development Block Grant funds by allowing them to use this money for natural disaster mitigation activities in high-risk areas. Currently, these federal grants are limited to specific community development purposes, but this bill would add disaster risk reduction projects like building resilient structures and retrofitting existing buildings to the list of eligible uses. To qualify, communities must document in their federal planning documents that they are in a high-risk area according to either the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index or a state-maintained hazard risk index, and must explain how their mitigation projects address local disaster needs. The bill also directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to issue new regulations within one year to clarify how mitigation activities fit into existing grant requirements and exempts disaster mitigation housing projects from certain federal aggregate standards. This legislation aims to help communities proactively reduce losses from future weather-related disasters by redirecting existing funding toward prevention rather than recovery.

The SKILL Act creates a new federal tax credit for businesses that contribute to educational and workforce training programs through partnerships with public colleges, community colleges, or technical colleges. Qualifying employers can earn up to $2,500 per student who completes a degree, certificate, or credential through these programs, plus an additional $2,500 for each student they hire full-time afterward, though the actual credit is capped based on state allocations. The bill establishes a national annual funding limit of $500 million for calendar years 2027 through 2031, with funds distributed to states based on population and allocated competitively among eligible employers. Businesses qualify by contributing through activities such as curriculum development, providing internships or apprenticeships, or donating equipment and services. The tax credit would become available for taxable years ending after December 31, 2026.

The Save Willy Act of 2026 establishes a four-year pilot program to reduce vessel strikes and other impacts on large whales and orcas in the San Francisco Bay region and Golden Gate Strait. The program creates a Cetacean Desk within the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service, staffed by no more than two full-time equivalent positions, to monitor whale locations, coordinate with ship operators, and share real-time data about whale sightings with the maritime industry. The legislation directs federal agencies to use new technologies like artificial intelligence and automated detection systems to track whales, implement local maritime regulations to facilitate voluntary coordination with vessel operators, and provide training to mariners on marine mammal protection laws and whale detection. The bill requires annual reports to Congress evaluating whether the pilot program successfully reduces vessel strikes and measuring coordination effectiveness with ship operators and stakeholders including California, tribal governments, universities, and environmental organizations. The legislation does not specify dedicated funding levels but allows the program to leverage existing federal resources and partnerships.

H.R. 8338, the SAFER Act of 2026, limits when financial institutions can turn over a customer’s securities, digital assets, or investment accounts to states under “unclaimed property” (escheatment) laws. For accounts held by individuals, it generally blocks escheatment unless the institution confirms the person’s death at least three years earlier and hasn’t received any indication that a fiduciary has claimed an interest for that same period; if there are other owners, the bill requires death confirmation for them as well. For businesses and other non-individual owners, it bars escheatment if the institution has had no contact with a representative for at least five years. The bill also requires institutions to check death records at five-year intervals for certain inactive retirement-age accounts, allows institutions to confirm deaths with a death certificate or other legal documents, and preempts conflicting state or local escheatment rules while not stopping states from communicating with institutions or owners from seeking remedies for mishandling. It applies to covered assets held on or after enactment that have not already been turned over to the state under existing escheatment actions.

This bill amends federal immigration law to officially establish and protect the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows international students to work in the United States after completing their studies. Currently, OPT operates under administrative rules that could change; this legislation would enshrine it into law, ensuring international students can gain practical work experience in their field of study for an extended period after graduation. The bill also clarifies that students with pending employment-based visa applications can maintain their student status while working under OPT. The legislation affects international students studying in the United States and employers who hire them for entry-level positions. No specific funding or implementation timeline is specified in the bill text; the Secretary of Homeland Security would set the detailed terms and conditions for the program.

The Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act limits how the Department of Defense can support civilian law enforcement activities. Under the bill, the Secretary of Defense must first submit detailed written justification to Congress describing the agencies involved, budgets, timelines, funding sources, and performance metrics before providing such support. Military assistance can only last up to 30 days unless Congress passes a joint resolution approving an extension, with the Senate requiring a three-fifths majority vote for approval. The bill also prohibits active-duty military personnel and civilian Defense Department employees from simultaneously serving in civilian law enforcement roles, though reserve component members can maintain civilian law enforcement jobs in their off-duty capacity. Additionally, it expands requirements for how the military and federal law enforcement must assist civil authorities. The legislation allows individuals, states, and local governments harmed by violations to sue in federal court for injunctive relief or damages, but does not establish specific funding allocations or implementation timelines.

H.R. 6010 makes three main changes to healthcare law and insurance regulations. First, it temporarily reduces the amount of income that uninsured people must contribute toward health insurance premiums for 2026 and 2027, with those earning up to 150 percent of the poverty line paying nothing and those earning higher incomes paying slightly more than current rules allow. Second, it modifies how Medicare Advantage plans receive payments by requiring the use of two years of diagnostic data and excluding diagnoses from certain sources like health risk assessments, while also requiring better evaluation of coding differences between Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare to prevent overpayments. Third, it cracks down on fraudulent enrollment in health insurance by establishing new civil penalties of $10,000 to $50,000 for insurance agents and brokers who negligently provide false information, up to $200,000 for those who knowingly provide fraudulent information, and criminal penalties including up to 10 years imprisonment for willful fraud. The bill also requires new enrollment verification processes and consumer protections by January 1, 2028, including agent consent documentation, delayed commission payments until information is verified, and clearer notice requirements for consumers.

The RESIDE Act establishes a five-year pilot program (2027-2031) that awards federal grants to local housing authorities to convert abandoned commercial and industrial buildings—such as old warehouses, factories, and hotels—into affordable housing. Eligible communities can receive between $1 million and $10 million per grant to cover acquisition, demolition, hazard remediation, construction, and renovation costs. The program prioritizes projects in economically distressed areas, qualified opportunity zones, communities that have reduced regulatory barriers to conversion, and areas with documented housing needs. Funding comes from excess amounts in the existing HOME Investment Partnerships Program when annual funding exceeds $1.35 billion, with up to $100 million available annually for this pilot. Within six months of the program's end, the HUD Secretary must report to Congress on the program's success in improving local tax bases, expanding affordable housing access for vulnerable populations, and reducing urban blight.

The UNLOCK Act amends federal housing law to expand funding eligibility for new residential housing construction. Specifically, it allows metropolitan cities, urban counties, states, local governments, and tribal entities that receive certain federal housing funds to use those dollars for constructing new homes for low- and moderate-income residents, either independently or in partnership with nonprofit organizations. The bill essentially broadens what communities can spend their existing federal housing assistance on by adding new home construction as an eligible use. The legislation affects local governments and tribal nations receiving federal housing grants under the Housing and Community Development Act, as well as low- and moderate-income households seeking affordable housing. No new funding amounts or specific timelines are established in the bill text provided; rather, it modifies how already-allocated federal housing funds can be spent.

The "Safeguarding the Use of the National Guard Act" requires the President to report to Congress within 15 days whenever National Guard or other military reserve forces are deployed domestically for non-disaster purposes. The reports must include the legal justification for deployment, the goals being pursued, local law enforcement assessments, total federal costs, and certification that the deployment won't reduce readiness for disaster response. Additionally, the National Guard Bureau must brief Congress on whether the deployment actually reduced violence and achieved its stated objectives. The bill exempts deployments made in response to natural disasters or weather-related emergencies under existing federal disaster relief law. This legislation affects military leadership, the President's executive powers over domestic force deployments, and Congress's ability to oversee such operations—essentially requiring greater transparency and accountability when the military is used within U.S. borders outside of emergency situations.

The BUILD Housing Act streamlines environmental review procedures for certain housing assistance programs managed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Specifically, the bill allows HUD to treat certain housing funds as "special projects" under existing law, which can expedite environmental reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The legislation also expands tribal authority by allowing federally recognized Native American tribes—in addition to states and local governments—to assume environmental review responsibilities for these housing programs. The bill contains no new funding allocations, as it primarily modifies administrative procedures rather than appropriating money. This change is intended to reduce bureaucratic delays in housing development while maintaining environmental safeguards, though it only applies to programs where Congress has not already specified a different environmental review process.

The SUPPLY Act directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to create a federal insurance program for second mortgages that help homeowners finance the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs)—additional residential units like basement apartments, guest houses, or converted structures on single-family properties. The program allows HUD to insure loans up to 30 percent of a standard home's value, with potential increases based on projected rental income from the ADU, and charges borrowers an annual insurance premium of up to 1 percent. The bill also permits government-sponsored mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase and resell these insured loans on the secondary market, potentially making financing more accessible and affordable. HUD must establish the program within two years of the bill's enactment and submit annual reports to Congress on its activities, though the Federal Housing Finance Agency director can halt purchases if market risks become excessive.

This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to create a federal insurance program for second mortgages used to finance the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — smaller residential units built on single-family properties, such as converted structures, modular homes, or manufactured units. The program must be established within two years and would allow HUD to insure second liens up to 30 percent of the median home price in an area, or potentially higher if the ADU is expected to generate rental income. Property owners seeking these insured loans would pay annual insurance premiums of up to 1 percent. Additionally, the bill authorizes Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase and resell these insured loans in the secondary mortgage market, which should increase their availability and affordability. The measure is intended to make it easier for homeowners to finance ADU construction as a way to increase housing supply and create rental income opportunities.

The REMIT Act would prohibit the federal government from imposing excise taxes or fees on money transmitting businesses unless the Treasury Secretary certifies to Congress that such taxes will not increase money laundering risks or create undue business burdens. The bill affects money transmitters of all sizes, including both licensed remittance services and informal money transfer systems. Congress finds that remittances—totaling over $500 billion globally—are critical to fighting poverty and stabilizing economies in developing nations, but argues that taxes on these services push consumers toward unregulated systems that facilitate criminal activity, drug trafficking, and terrorism financing. The legislation does not authorize new spending or establish specific timelines for Treasury certification but requires the Secretary to document that any new taxes meet both financial crime and business feasibility standards before implementation. The bill was introduced in July 2025 and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee and Financial Services Committee.

H.R. 3454 strengthens congressional control over federal spending by amending the 1974 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act to allow private citizens and state and local governments to sue the federal government and individual officials if the president unlawfully withholds or fails to spend money that Congress has appropriated. The bill creates a private right of action in federal courts, allowing affected parties to seek injunctions to force the release of funds and to recover damages, including compensatory and punitive damages (with triple damages for bad faith violations) plus attorney's fees. Federal employees, including political appointees and senior officials, can be held personally liable for knowing violations and lose immunity protections when violating the law. The legislation clarifies that "contingencies" justifying fund withholding must be truly unforeseen events, grants the Government Accountability Office authority to interpret and enforce the law with substantial deference, and establishes that disputes over improper withholding are justiciable legal questions for courts rather than political matters left to executive discretion.

H.R. 2371 expands the Golden Gate National Recreation Area by adjusting its boundaries to include the Scarper Ridge property. The bill adds land depicted on a map dated July 2024 to the recreation area's official boundaries through a technical amendment to existing law. The legislation primarily affects the Golden Gate National Recreation Area management and the Scarper Ridge property location, though no specific funding amounts or implementation timelines are specified in the bill text. This boundary adjustment allows the federal government to incorporate Scarper Ridge into the national recreation area's protected lands and management framework.

Modern Emoluments and Malfeasance Enforcement Act or the MEME ActThis bill prohibits the President, the Vice President, Members of Congress, those holding Senior Executive Service positions, admirals, generals, and other federal public officials from engaging in or benefiting from the issuance, sponsorship, or promotion of certain assets. The spouse and dependent children of such an official are also covered by the prohibition.Assets covered by the bill are securities, security futures, commodities, digital assets such as cryptocurrency or a meme coin, as well as derivatives, options, warrants, mutual funds, or exchange traded funds of the preceding assets.The prohibition applies to (1) such officials during their term of service and for 180 days prior to and after their service, and (2) the spouse and dependent children of such an official during that same period.Civil and criminal penalties under the bill include disgorging (giving) to the Treasury any profits from prohibited transactions, fines, and imprisonment for up to five years. The bill provides additional penalties for such prohibited activities if they involve bribery or insider trading.The U.S. Office of Special Counsel may also determine that federal employees or officers serving in other positions are covered by the prohibition.