Ed Markey

The Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act amends federal workforce law to help communities hit hard by substance use disorders rebuild their economies and get people into stable jobs. The bill establishes a competitive grant program awarding two-year funding to state and local workforce boards that partner with treatment providers, employers, schools, and community organizations to serve workers in recovery and those training for substance abuse treatment careers. Grantees must demonstrate their areas have suffered significant economic and workforce damage from widespread substance use disorder and will use funds for employer engagement, job training, placement assistance, supportive services like mental health and peer recovery support, and mentorship lasting at least twelve months. Programs must keep administrative costs and supportive services spending to no more than ten percent of grant funds each, while the Department of Labor will independently evaluate results to measure how well the programs help participants achieve stable employment and recovery. The bill includes technical corrections to align internal references within the existing Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

The Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2026 would ban the federal government from using facial recognition, voice recognition, gait recognition, and other biometric surveillance systems unless Congress explicitly authorizes such use through specific legislation that includes strict safeguards. The law would also cut federal public safety grants from state and local governments that use biometric surveillance, starting in the first fiscal year after the bill becomes law. Federal agencies could not spend money on purchasing or operating these surveillance systems, and individuals harmed by violations could sue the federal government for actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees. The bill includes an exception allowing the National Institute of Standards and Technology to continue testing these technologies for research purposes, and it does not prevent states or localities from imposing even stricter limits on biometric surveillance than the federal ban requires.

S. 5541 was introduced on September 24, 2026 by Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) with no cosponsors. The text for this legislation has not yet been released. A summary will be generated when there is text available.

S. 5567 was introduced on September 24, 2026 by Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) with 4 Democratic and 1 Independent cosponsors. The text for this legislation has not yet been released. A summary will be generated when there is text available.

This bill requires airlines to provide cash refunds to passengers when flights are cancelled, significantly delayed, or substantially changed, if the passenger requests one instead of accepting rebooking or vouchers. Airlines must issue refunds within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 days for cash purchases, and they cannot impose expiration dates on any vouchers or credits offered as alternatives. The legislation also requires airlines to allow passengers who cancel their tickets at least 48 hours before departure to receive a full cash refund within 30 days and mandates that airlines clearly inform customers of these refund rights before purchase. The rules apply to major U.S. carriers with annual operating revenue exceeding $1.5 billion and all foreign airlines operating flights to or from the United States, with the revenue threshold adjusted annually for inflation starting in 2028. Airlines that violate these requirements face civil penalties under existing transportation law, and the Department of Transportation has one year to issue additional rules applying these protections to ticket agents.

The FAIR Fees Act of 2026 would require airlines to limit fees charged to passengers to amounts that are reasonable and proportional to the actual costs the airlines incur. The bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish regulations within 270 days that set standards for evaluating airline fees related to reservation changes or cancellations, baggage handling, seat selection, priority boarding, and other flight-related charges. The regulations would require airlines to account for factors such as their ability to resell seats, processing costs, and labor expenses when determining whether fees are justified. The bill also includes a specific requirement that airlines must allow parents to seat children age 13 and younger next to them at no extra charge. The Secretary would be required to review and update these fee standards at least every three years to ensure they remain appropriate.

This Senate resolution expresses disapproval of China's detention of American citizens, particularly academics and researchers. The resolution highlights the cases of Dr. Youlin Chen, a seismologist detained since November 2024 on espionage charges without trial, and Min Zin, a think tank executive detained in June 2026, calling these detentions arbitrary and part of a pattern of "hostage diplomacy" by the Chinese government. The resolution urges the State Department to prioritize securing the release of these individuals and recommends upgrading China's travel advisory from Level 2 to Level 3, adding a specific indicator warning about wrongful detention risks. The resolution also calls for using all available diplomatic tools to negotiate the release of detained Americans and suggests reviewing China's designation status under wrongful detention laws. As a sense-of-the-Senate resolution, this expresses congressional sentiment rather than establishing binding law or allocating funding, and was introduced ahead of anticipated Chinese leadership visits to Washington in September 2026.

This joint resolution would block a proposed military sale to Saudi Arabia that includes thousands of precision-guided bomb kits and munitions. Specifically, the sale involves over 5,000 JDAM guidance kits, 5,000 general purpose bombs of various sizes, fuze systems, targeting equipment, spare parts, and U.S. technical support services. The sale had been formally submitted to Congress under the Arms Export Control Act and was announced in the Congressional Record on September 15, 2026. If approved, this resolution would prevent the transaction from proceeding, effectively vetoing the administration's proposed sale. The resolution was introduced by Senators Markey, Sanders, and Merkley, indicating congressional concern about arming Saudi Arabia with additional munitions.

The GREEN Hospitals Act would provide $105 billion in federal funding to help hospitals and other medical facilities become more resilient to climate change and public health emergencies. The legislation creates two main funding programs: $100 billion in grants for construction and modernization projects that incorporate climate resilience features like renewable energy systems, green infrastructure, and improved air quality systems, plus $5 billion for a new Planning and Evaluation Grant Program to help eligible entities develop detailed sustainability and resilience plans. The bill prioritizes funding for hospitals serving low-income patients who rely on Medicare and Medicaid, facilities in communities with poor air quality and high pollution burdens, and projects in environmental justice communities, which must receive at least 50 percent of planning grant funds. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations, and the legislation includes protections requiring prevailing wage standards for workers and supporting employee labor rights. Funds would remain available through fiscal year 2027 and beyond for projects that improve facility access during climate disasters, install backup power systems, create green spaces, and protect surrounding infrastructure like roads and transit systems.

This bill aims to streamline humanitarian assistance to North Korea by reducing bureaucratic barriers and sanctions-related delays that currently impede the delivery of medical care and aid. Congress finds that approximately 11.8 million North Koreans need food assistance and over 45 percent of the population is undernourished, with particular health crises including high tuberculosis rates and contaminated water supplies. The legislation directs the Treasury Department within 90 days to modify sanctions regulations by eliminating pre-activity reporting requirements, allowing post-activity reporting instead, and exempting personal computers used for humanitarian work from luxury goods restrictions. It also requires the State Department to pursue longer humanitarian exemption periods through the United Nations and to streamline travel authorization for humanitarian workers, while establishing reporting requirements every 90 to 180 days to track license requests, denials, and delays. The bill addresses the practical challenge that aid organizations currently must seek simultaneous approvals from multiple U.S. agencies and foreign governments, which can significantly delay life-saving assistance.

The Equity in Pretrial Health Coverage Act would allow people awaiting trial in custody to maintain health insurance coverage through Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, removing current rules that cut off benefits once someone is detained. Currently, these federal programs exclude people in custody, even if they have not been convicted and are simply awaiting trial disposition. The bill affects hundreds of thousands of people held in local jails and detention facilities nationwide, as well as veterans in similar situations. The changes would take effect within 60 days after the bill is enacted, except for the Veterans Affairs modification, which takes effect immediately upon enactment. No new federal funding is specified in the legislation, as the changes primarily adjust existing program rules to extend coverage already provided by these insurance programs.

# Green New Deal for Public Schools Act Summary This bill establishes a comprehensive federal program to modernize America's public schools with a focus on environmental sustainability, educational equity, and climate resilience. The legislation creates three major grant programs funded over 10 years: Climate Capital Facilities Grants ($446 billion) to retrofit or build energy-efficient, zero-carbon school buildings; Resource Block Grants ($250 billion) to hire additional educators, counselors, and support staff in under-resourced schools; and Educational Equity Planning Grants ($100 million) to help regional school districts address educational inequities. The bill also dedicates $74 billion annually to Title I schools and increases federal special education funding, reaching 40 percent of costs by 2036. The legislation prioritizes the most economically disadvantaged communities by targeting schools ranked in the bottom third by vulnerability index and requiring at least 50 percent of climate resiliency funding for environmental justice areas. It mandates prevailing wages, apprenticeships, and local hiring for construction and staffing projects while promoting union membership for new employees. Additionally, the bill requires schools to serve as community resilience centers during disasters and integrate climate education into curricula. Implementation occurs over a 10-year period with measurable benchmarks, and schools must publicly report their progress on digital platforms accessible to all community members.

The Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2026 directs the U.S. government to pressure Turkey to improve its human rights record, which Congress finds has significantly deteriorated since 2016. The bill addresses concerns about arbitrary detention of journalists, lawyers, and political opponents; censorship of online speech and media; and transnational repression of Turkish critics living abroad. Key provisions include conditioning future military and security assistance to Turkey on demonstrable improvements in releasing political prisoners, ending misuse of counterterrorism laws, and complying with European Court of Human Rights rulings. The Secretary of State must submit annual reports to Congress for five years documenting the government's progress on these issues, and the bill authorizes support for civil society organizations, independent media, and victims of political persecution. The legislation also calls for potential sanctions against Turkish officials responsible for human rights violations and visa restrictions under the Khashoggi Ban for those engaged in transnational repression activities.

# Summary of S. 5134 - Green New Deal for Health Act This legislation establishes a comprehensive federal approach to preparing the health care system for climate change impacts while reducing the sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The bill creates a new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate federal efforts, develop a national strategic action plan, and oversee implementation across agencies. It requires hospitals to provide 90 days' notice before closing or discontinuing essential services and establishes processes for the federal government to work with affected communities on mitigation plans. The bill directs significant funding toward making health care infrastructure more resilient to climate disasters. It authorizes $100 billion for grants to modernize hospitals and medical facilities with climate-resistant features like renewable energy systems, heat pumps, green infrastructure, and backup power supplies. Additionally, it establishes a $5 billion planning and evaluation grant program to help eligible entities develop sustainability and resilience plans for medical facilities. The legislation invests heavily in health care workforce development, allocating $9 billion for education programs training health professionals to address climate-related health risks and $10 billion annually through 2036 to expand the community health workforce by 150,000 workers. It includes funding for mental health resilience programs in communities, research into extreme heat risks, Medicare coverage for climate-related home modifications like heat pumps for vulnerable patients, and support for health care workers during emergencies. The bill also requires the health care supply chain to become more sustainable, establishing regulations for drug and device manufacturers to disclose climate-related emissions and working toward a domestic, zero-emission medical supply chain. Funding extends through fiscal year 2036, with total authorizations reaching hundreds of billions of dollars across multiple initiatives focused on equity, environmental justice communities, and vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by climate change.

This joint resolution disapproves two Small Business Administration rules issued in February 2026 that established new citizenship and residency requirements for applicants seeking 7(a) and 504 loans, which are major federal small business lending programs. If passed, the resolution would effectively nullify these rules under the Congressional Review Act, a law that allows Congress to reject regulations issued by federal agencies. The rules being challenged modified ownership and citizenship standards for who can qualify for these federally-backed business loans. The resolution was introduced by Senator Markey in July 2026 and referred to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. No specific funding is involved since this action simply reverses existing regulations rather than appropriating money.

# Summary of S. 5112, Health Over Wealth Act This bill creates new federal oversight of for-profit corporations that own or control healthcare systems, with particular focus on private equity ownership. The legislation requires covered healthcare companies to submit detailed financial and operational reports to the Department of Health and Human Services, with information made publicly available. Companies controlled by private equity firms face significantly more extensive reporting requirements than other for-profit healthcare operators, including disclosure of ownership structures, debt levels, fees paid, political spending, workforce data, and staffing ratios across the facilities they operate. The bill establishes a licensing system for private equity firms investing in healthcare, allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deny or revoke licenses for violations or practices that harm healthcare access, quality, or safety. It also creates a task force to study private equity's role in healthcare and may impose a temporary moratorium on new private equity acquisitions pending completion of that study. The legislation strengthens protections for hospital services by requiring 90-day advance notice before closure or service discontinuation, prohibiting discontinuation of essential services during notification periods unless patient safety is at risk, and establishing a public comment process for closures. Additionally, the bill restricts real estate investment trusts' use in healthcare by prohibiting transactions that would weaken hospital finances or endanger public health, prioritizes employee pension claims in bankruptcy proceedings involving healthcare companies, and amends tax law to limit favorable tax treatment of rental income from healthcare properties owned by investment trusts. Violators face civil penalties up to ten thousand dollars per violation, or up to the amount of federal funding received by affected healthcare entities.

The bill requires the United States Postal Service to continue selling the Alzheimer's semipostal stamp for six additional years beyond when it would normally stop being offered. A semipostal stamp is a special postage stamp sold at a premium price, with the extra revenue dedicated to a charitable cause. In this case, all proceeds from stamp sales above the standard postage rate go to the National Institutes of Health to fund Alzheimer's disease research, with payments made at least twice per year. The stamp has been available since November 2017, and this legislation extends its availability to allow the public an ongoing way to contribute to Alzheimer's research through their regular mail purchases. The bill affects postal customers who wish to support this cause and benefits Alzheimer's research funding through the National Institutes of Health.

The Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act of 2026 strengthens federal support for water systems facing emergencies by amending two major water laws. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the bill increases funding for emergency technical assistance from $35 million to $50 million annually from 2027 through 2031, and expands the definition of emergencies to include situations that are not economically feasible for ratepayers to handle alone. The bill also creates a new program under the Clean Water Act that provides grants and technical assistance to states and treatment facilities responding to water emergencies, including those caused by cybersecurity attacks or sewer overflows, with $50 million authorized annually through 2031. These funds can only be used for activities necessary to prevent public health dangers and would not be affordable for ratepayers without federal help. The legislation aims to help water systems respond more quickly and effectively to crises that threaten public health.

The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act requires employers at small, medium, and large hub airports to pay airport service workers prevailing wages and fringe benefits comparable to those set under the Service Contract Act. The law covers a broad range of workers including baggage handlers, security personnel, food service workers, cleaners, ramp agents, and airline catering staff. Employers must certify monthly that workers receive compliant wages and benefits, with the Department of Labor determining wage rates within 120 days of enactment and updating them annually. The Department of Transportation enforces certification requirements while the Department of Labor handles wage and benefits enforcement, with civil penalties up to three times standard aviation penalties for violations. The law allows workers and interested parties to sue employers directly in federal court for violations and does not preempt state or local laws that provide higher wages or greater benefits.

The Gas Money Saved Act would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to review fuel economy standards for automobiles when gasoline prices rise significantly faster than overall inflation. Specifically, if gas prices increase at least five times faster than the general inflation rate over any 180-day period, the agency must evaluate whether current fuel economy standards are achieving the maximum feasible efficiency. The bill also restores financial penalties for automakers that fail to meet fuel economy requirements, increasing the penalty from zero dollars to $25 per vehicle for certain violations and $50 for others. This legislation would apply to all automobile manufacturers subject to federal fuel economy regulations. The bill aims to encourage vehicle fuel efficiency improvements during periods of rising gas prices by making it economically costlier for manufacturers to fall short of established standards.

This Senate resolution marks the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence by reaffirming the nation's founding ideals of liberty, equality, and opportunity, with a specific focus on immigrant communities. The resolution expresses concern about barriers facing immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, including language obstacles, employment difficulties, and limited access to essential services like healthcare and legal aid. It calls on the Senate to support expanded programs for language assistance, workforce training, legal support, and naturalization services, and encourages collaboration between federal, state, and local governments with community organizations to strengthen integration efforts. The resolution also celebrates the contributions immigrant communities make to American society and calls for increased investments in initiatives that advance opportunity and equity. As a resolution rather than a bill, this measure expresses the Senate's position and commitment but does not create binding law or allocate specific funding.

This bill expands access to methadone treatment for opioid addiction by allowing qualified addiction medicine specialists and addiction psychiatrists to prescribe methadone through regular pharmacies, rather than only through specialized opioid treatment programs. Currently, methadone dispensing is tightly restricted to registered treatment facilities, but this legislation would allow licensed pharmacies to dispense methadone prescribed by certified addiction medicine doctors or psychiatrists, with patients able to receive treatment either in-person or through telemedicine. States can opt out of this program by requesting that the Attorney General stop registering prescribers in their jurisdiction. The bill requires the Drug Enforcement Administration to report annually to Congress on the number of registered prescribers in each state, prescription revocations, and pharmacy participation. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.

The PUPIL Act directs the Department of Education to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a comprehensive study of the nation's paraprofessional and education support staff workforce within 90 days of the bill's enactment. The study will examine more than 2 million workers who provide essential services in public schools, including teacher aides, custodians, food service workers, and transportation staff, with particular focus on those supporting students with disabilities. The research will analyze these workers' demographics, compensation, job security, career advancement opportunities, professional development, and effectiveness in supporting student outcomes, while also identifying gaps in federal, state, and local policies affecting this workforce. The National Academies must complete and publicly release the study report within 24 months, along with recommendations for Congress and other stakeholders. The bill authorizes $2 million in funding to conduct this study.

# Stop Spying Bosses Act Summary This bill restricts how employers monitor and collect data on workers and job applicants. It applies to employers with 11 or more employees and includes most private employers, government agencies, and contractors. The law prohibits employers from collecting worker data to identify union activity, monitor protected organizing, determine immigration status, assess unrelated health conditions, or predict behavior unrelated to job duties. Employers also cannot collect data on workers during breaks, in restrooms, at home while off-duty, or in prayer or nursing areas. When employers do collect permissible data, they must use the least invasive method necessary, collect only what's needed, and delete it within three years of employment ending. Employers must fully disclose to each worker what data they collect, how they collect it, where it's stored, who can access it, and why they use it. They cannot sell worker data to anyone and can only share it with service providers if workers opt in for each transfer. Workers gain the right to access their own data within 30 days and request corrections. When an employer uses data to make employment decisions, workers must receive at least seven days to review that data and request reconsideration. The bill creates a new Worker Protection and Technology Division within the Labor Department to enforce these rules. Workers can file complaints with the department or sue employers directly in federal court for violations, and prevailing plaintiffs can recover double damages plus statutory penalties ranging from $500 to $100,000 depending on violation type, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief. The law prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who report violations or exercise their rights under the act. State attorneys general can also sue on behalf of residents.