This joint resolution would reject an Environmental Protection Agency rule that allows California to set its own pollution control standards for ocean-going vessels docked at ports. The rule, which was published in October 2023, gives California authority over emissions from ships while they are at berth, rather than having uniform federal standards apply nationwide. If approved, the resolution would effectively cancel this EPA regulation and prevent it from taking effect. The joint resolution was submitted by Representatives Fong and Gallagher and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in August 2026. No specific funding or implementation timeline is mentioned in the resolution, as it simply seeks to disapprove and invalidate the existing EPA rule.

The CAL Repayment Act would require states to immediately use certain federal funds to repay outstanding loans from the federal government's unemployment insurance program before spending that money on anything else. Specifically, when states receive federal grants, transfers, or other payments that could be used to repay advances made under the Social Security Act's unemployment insurance provisions, they would have five business days to apply those funds toward repaying any outstanding loan balances. If a state uses such funds for other purposes before repaying these advances, it would be required to return the full amount of those funds to the federal government within five business days of the secretary determining a violation occurred. The requirement applies to all funds awarded after the bill's enactment date and aims to ensure states prioritize repaying federal unemployment insurance loans over other spending.

This bill extends and reorganizes federal surface transportation research and development programs under the Department of Transportation. It updates funding timelines for existing highway and rail research initiatives from fiscal years 2022-2026 to 2027-2031, and establishes a new Transportation Statistics Coordination Council to coordinate data collection and analysis across the department's various agencies while eliminating duplicative efforts. The legislation also directs the department to conduct a study on the safety effects of advanced LED headlamp technologies on drivers and vulnerable road users, and requires development of a strategy to increase the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement in road construction. The bill affects transportation researchers, state and local transportation agencies, universities, and the general public through improvements to road safety research and pavement quality standards. Key reports are due within one to three years of enactment, with no specific funding amounts listed in the text.

The OUTPACE in Space Act amends federal law to streamline American commercial space operations and protect national security interests. The bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to remove regulatory barriers for commercial space launches and reentries by issuing a temporary waiver on safety requirements, developing new regulations within one year to allow overland launch and reentry operations, and issuing guidance within 90 days to enable higher frequency launches. The FAA and Transportation Department must also brief Congress within 60 to 90 days on plans to expand airspace access for commercial space and hypersonic industries, and the bill grants the FAA expedited hiring authority to recruit aerospace engineers and specialists without standard competitive hiring processes. Additionally, the legislation prohibits the Departments of Commerce and Transportation from conducting space-related research with foreign entities, foreign governments, or companies controlled by countries of concern, with a focus on preventing adversarial nations from accessing American space technology advancement.

This bill would allow people affected by major wildfires to exclude certain disaster relief payments from their taxable income. Specifically, it creates a tax exemption for "qualified wildfire relief payments" — money received to compensate individuals for losses, expenses, or damages caused by federally declared wildfire disasters, including costs like temporary housing, lost wages, medical expenses, and emotional distress. The exemption applies only to payments received after December 31, 2025, and only covers losses not already reimbursed by insurance or other sources. To prevent people from receiving tax benefits twice for the same losses, the bill prohibits individuals from also claiming tax deductions or credits for the same expenses they've already been compensated for through these relief payments. The tax break is temporary and expires on December 31, 2032, meaning relief payments received after that date would be subject to normal tax rules. The bill has bipartisan support and is named after Representative Doug LaMalfa, whose California district has been affected by major wildfires.

This bill grants the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) streamlined hiring authority to fill critical positions more quickly without following standard federal civil service rules. From fiscal years 2027 through 2034, the Attorney General can directly hire qualified candidates for roles like criminal investigators, intelligence analysts, forensic specialists, and other positions the Attorney General deems necessary to combat drug trafficking. The legislation aims to help the DEA respond more rapidly to emerging drug threats by reducing bureaucratic hiring delays, which typically slow down federal recruitment. The bill affects DEA staffing nationwide, particularly in locations where the Attorney General determines hiring needs exist, and covers an eight-year period starting in 2027.

H.R. 5513 modifies federal water pollution control law to expand what types of technology investments can receive additional government subsidies. Specifically, the bill allows water systems and municipalities to access extra funding support for adopting new technologies and processes related to water efficiency, energy efficiency, stormwater management, and sustainably designed projects. The changes apply to existing subsidy programs under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, making it easier for local water utilities to afford investments in digital asset management software, operational analysis tools, and advanced construction systems. The bill does not specify a particular funding amount or implementation timeline, but rather amends existing law to broaden eligibility for subsidies that are already available through the federal government's water infrastructure programs.

NSF AI Education Act of 2025This bill establishes, or authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish, various scholarship, fellowship, and grant programs to promote education and professional development related to artificial intelligence (AI).The bill authorizes NSF to award scholarships and fellowships to college students focusing their studies on AI. NSF may also support AI-related professional development fellowships for (1) students and faculty, (2) K-12 teachers and school professionals, and (3) industry professionals seeking short-term appointments to teach AI.NSF must also establish up to eight centers of AI excellence at community colleges or area career and technical education schools. Designated centers must develop best practices for AI research and education, integrating AI into the classroom, and facilitating partnerships with the private sector, among other topics. This program must be administered in coordination with the Department of Commerce Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs program.NSF may make merit-based grants to eligible entities, including institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations, for research on AI teaching models, integration of AI in the classroom, and AI’s impact on educational outcomes for students through grade 12. Awards must be used to (1) prepare K-12 teachers to integrate AI into their classrooms; and (2) research, test, and implement AI-related instructional materials, teaching models, and professional development for teachers.Finally, NSF may establish a pilot program through which regional cohorts will provide AI-related peer support, mentoring, and research experiences to K-12 teachers and school leaders.

The AMERICA DRIVES Act clarifies federal authority over autonomous vehicle operations by allowing fully self-driving commercial trucks (Level 4 and Level 5 automated systems) to operate on interstate highways without a human driver on board or controlling the vehicle remotely. The bill preempts state laws that might require a human driver in autonomous vehicles, establishing uniform national standards for this emerging technology. It affects trucking companies and autonomous vehicle manufacturers by directing the Department of Transportation to update regulations by September 30, 2027, to clarify how existing rules on driver licensing, drug testing, hours of service, and other requirements apply (or don't apply) when vehicles operate without human drivers. The legislation also prevents regulators from creating rules that unfairly burden autonomous vehicle operators compared to traditional trucking companies, and makes technical adjustments to accommodate autonomous driving equipment without counting it toward vehicle width restrictions.

The SKIM Act strengthens penalties and oversight for credit card fraud and identity theft involving counterfeit or unauthorized payment cards. The bill requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to increase mandatory prison sentences for access device fraud cases within 30 days, establishing a minimum sentencing level of 14 and providing a 4-level increase for offenders, particularly those using 10 or more fraudulent cards. Within 90 days, the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security must jointly report to Congress on how federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating efforts to prevent and prosecute this type of fraud, including an assessment of emerging criminal technologies, gaps in state and local assistance requests, and recommendations for improving cooperation between agencies. The bill affects federal prosecutors, state and local law enforcement, and crime victims, with no specific funding allocation mentioned in the text. This legislation aims to create consistency in sentencing nationwide while identifying enforcement gaps and best practices to combat payment card fraud.

Save Our Sequoias Act This bill provides for the conservation of giant sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in California. Specifically, it provides statutory authority for the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition and outlines the coalition's duties. The coalition must submit a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment and annually update it. The information from the assessment must be made available so the information can be integrated into certain other plans. The coalition must also create and maintain a website that contains the assessment, educational materials, searchable information about individual giant sequoia groves, and a searchable database to track the status and costs of reforestation and rehabilitation activities. In addition, the bill declares an emergency on certain public lands and allows officials to carry out protection plans during the emergency to respond to the threat of wildfires, insects, and drought. The emergency expires after seven years. The Department of the Interior must develop and implement a Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy. Finally, the bill establishes a variety of programs and funds to support the conservation of giant sequoias.

Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act or the ANCHOR Act This bill requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications capabilities of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF).ARF is comprised of U.S.-flagged vessels that provide at-sea laboratories where oceanographic scientists, educators, and students research and learn about marine science. The bill requires the plan to include assessments oftelecommunications and networking needs of ARF, consistent with typical scientific missions;cybersecurity needs appropriate for the operation of ARF vessels and their specific research functions;the costs necessary to meet these needs;the time required to implement necessary upgrades; andopportunities for the adoption of common solutions or consortial licensing agreements, or for the centralization of cybersecurity, telecommunications, or data management at a single facility. The plan must also include a spending plan for the NSF, the Office of Naval Research, nonfederal owners of ARF vessels, and users of the vessels to cover identified costs. Among other factors specified in the bill, the NSF must consider, as appropriate, the network capabilities necessary to meet mission needs (e.g., to upload data to cloud-based or shoreside servers), international standards and guidance for information security, and requirements for controlled unclassified or classified information. The plan must be provided to Congress within 18 months of the bill's enactment, and the NSF must later report to Congress on the plan's implementation.

Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Act or the MACH ActThis bill permits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a research program to facilitate the testing of high-speed aircraft and related technologies, to be known as the Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Program.Within a specified time period, NASA must develop a strategic plan for such research. NASA must also consult with the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration on these efforts. Under the program, NASA may not (1) fund the development of hypersonic and related technologies; or (2) enter into an agreement with certain foreign entities of concern, including entities owned or controlled by China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia.

Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act or the ACERO ActThis bill provides statutory authority for the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project. The ACERO project conducts research and development activities regarding aerial response to wildfires using uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and other advanced aviation technologies. It is administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The bill directs the ACERO project to address airspace management and deconfliction during wildfire response efforts, including through real-time information sharing among response teams and the development of a platform to provide situational awareness of aerial assets. The bill also directs the ACERO project to establish a multiagency concept of operations to facilitate the coordination of aerial wildfire response among federal, state, and local government agencies. NASA must consult with other federal agencies and departments to avoid duplication of these efforts. NASA generally may not procure UAS manufactured or assembled by specified foreign entities, including entities domiciled in or controlled by China, for use by the ACERO project.

Clergy ActThis bill establishes a two-year window for certain members of the clergy and Christian Science practitioners to revoke their exemption from Social Security and Medicare taxes on ministerial earnings. Under current law, such individuals who object to participation in public insurance programs on religious or conscientious grounds may apply to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for an irrevocable exemption and will not receive Social Security or Medicare benefits in retirement unless they have qualifying credits from other employment.The IRS must develop a plan to inform members of the clergy and Christian Science practitioners of their eligibility to revoke prior exemptions, pursuant to the bill's changes.