This bill would prevent the federal government from spending any money to implement or enforce a Department of Homeland Security rule about the "public charge" ground for denying immigration status. The rule, finalized in July 2026, would allow immigration officials to deny permanent residency to immigrants who use certain federal benefits like food assistance, medical care, or housing programs. The bill's supporters argue the rule would harm immigrant families and U.S. citizen children who depend on these programs, discourage people from seeking needed services, and damage local economies and public health. The legislation takes effect immediately upon passage and applies to all federal funds in any fiscal year going forward. The bill was introduced by a group of Democratic senators who contend the rule reverses over 140 years of immigration law and policy without congressional authorization.

This bill amends federal law to establish and enforce gender-neutral standards for military assignments and occupational specialties across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. It prohibits the military from excluding any service member from a job assignment, career field, or occupational specialty based on gender, and requires the Department of Defense to base all occupational standards on scientifically rigorous assessments of actual job performance requirements rather than gender-based assumptions. The bill also mandates that the Defense Secretary submit an annual report to Congress detailing changes to occupational standards, the number of service members reclassified or separated by specialty and gender, and reasons for those changes. Additionally, it requires the Defense Secretary to provide Congress with an unredacted review of operational effectiveness in Army and Marine Corps ground combat units and extend the review period for proposed changes to occupational standards from 60 to 180 days, allowing Congress more time to evaluate proposed modifications. The legislation takes effect September 30, 2026, with the first annual compliance report due September 30, 2027.

The SAFER Health Act of 2026 prohibits healthcare providers and their business associates from disclosing patient information about pregnancy termination or loss, including abortion care, to federal, state, local, or tribal authorities without explicit patient consent. The law applies to covered entities under HIPAA privacy rules and includes narrow exceptions only for defending professional liability lawsuits and investigating cases where a patient dies or becomes incapacitated due to physical harm related to pregnancy loss. The legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update federal regulations within 90 days to implement these protections, require health IT developers to segregate pregnancy-related data, and clarify that refusing to share such information does not constitute illegal information blocking. The bill also preempts conflicting state laws but allows states to maintain stronger privacy protections, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a public awareness campaign about these new privacy rights. This legislation primarily affects patients seeking reproductive healthcare and the healthcare providers and insurers who treat them.

This bill requires the Judicial Conference to increase transparency in its meetings by establishing specific documentation and public access requirements. The Judicial Conference must publish notice of its meetings at least 30 days in advance on its website, including the meeting date, time, location, and agenda, unless there is good cause to waive this requirement. Additionally, all meetings must be live-streamed with audio accessible to the public at no cost, and the Judicial Conference must archive and publish these recordings within 7 days of each meeting. The bill allows closed sessions only when required by law or when the conference votes to address sensitive or confidential matters, and requires the conference to publicly state the reason for any closed session. These requirements affect the Judicial Conference and related judicial councils, with no specific funding or implementation timeline beyond the 30-day notice and 7-day publication deadlines specified in the legislation.

The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 significantly increases federal financial aid for low-income college students and makes the program permanently funded. The bill doubles the maximum Pell Grant award, raising it from roughly $5,000 to $15,000 by award year 2031-2032, with subsequent annual increases tied to inflation. Starting in award year 2026-2027, grants would be $10,000 and increase by $1,000 per year until reaching the $15,000 baseline. The legislation converts Pell Grants from discretionary to mandatory funding, meaning Congress automatically appropriates whatever money is needed each year without annual budget votes. The bill also expands eligibility to include students with negative expected family contributions who would receive grants exceeding the maximum amount, restores Pell Grant access to undocumented immigrants who meet specific criteria, allows students to use grants for up to 18 semesters instead of 12, and makes it easier for students to regain aid eligibility after academic struggles. Additionally, the bill removes restrictions that previously made students ineligible if they received other scholarships. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, for the 2026-2027 academic year.

This Senate resolution celebrates the 54-year legacy of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education and has significantly expanded educational and athletic opportunities for women and girls since 1972. The resolution acknowledges major accomplishments including increased graduation rates, access to professional schools, and athletic participation for women, while noting that challenges persist such as unequal treatment in women's sports, barriers in STEM fields, and ongoing sexual harassment in schools. The resolution expresses concern about the Trump administration's recent actions, including an announced transfer of Title IX enforcement from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to the Department of Justice, which the resolution argues could undermine civil rights protections and create confusion for schools. The resolution calls on the executive branch to protect all students from sex discrimination, including those who are transgender, and opposes what it characterizes as the weaponization of Title IX to harm vulnerable students or eliminate diversity and inclusion programs. No funding is authorized or required by this resolution, as it is a symbolic measure expressing the Senate's position rather than enacting new law or appropriating money.

To transfer amounts for youth mentoring programs of the Department of Justice.

The All Students Count Act of 2026 requires states to break down school performance data by more specific Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander ethnic groups when reporting to the federal government. Currently, schools report data only for broad racial categories, which obscures educational challenges facing specific communities like Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hmong, Samoan, and Chamorro students who may have distinct needs and experiences. The bill specifically mandates disaggregation into 15 Asian American subgroups and 6 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander subgroups, with the flexibility to add more as feasible, aligning education reporting with categories already used by the U.S. Census Bureau. The changes take effect 18 months after the bill becomes law, giving states time to implement new data collection and reporting systems. No specific funding is allocated in the bill itself, though compliance will require states and school districts to modify their data tracking infrastructure.

This Senate resolution designates May 2026 as "National Wildfire Preparedness Month" to raise awareness about the growing threat of wildfires across the United States. It cites alarming statistics, including that over 1.8 million acres burned in early 2026, 94 percent above the ten-year average, with more than 40 percent of states facing above-normal wildfire risk through the summer. The resolution notes that nearly 85 percent of wildfires are human-caused and highlights health risks to firefighters and the public from smoke exposure, as well as billions of dollars in annual suppression and damage costs. Rather than creating new programs or funding, the resolution is a symbolic measure that encourages federal, state, local, and tribal governments, along with communities and organizations, to promote wildfire preparedness education. It specifically supports initiatives around home hardening, land management, early warning systems, reducing accidental fires, and evacuation planning for people and animals in at-risk areas.

This Senate resolution commemorates the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (IPIF), a research institute based on Hawaii Island that has studied tropical forests, watersheds, and ecosystems across the Pacific region since 1956. The resolution formally recognizes IPIF's scientific contributions, including its work on wildfire risk mapping, invasive species management, biocontrol programs, and research on threats like Rapid Ohia Death affecting native trees. It also highlights the institute's role in partnering with Indigenous communities, supporting rural jobs, and advising officials on forest and wetland conservation. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new funding, programs, or legal requirements, but instead expresses the Senate's formal appreciation and continued support for IPIF's staff and ongoing operations. The measure primarily affects the institute's public recognition rather than imposing any direct impact on individuals or funding streams.

This Senate resolution designates May 10, 2026, as "National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day" to raise awareness about mental health issues affecting these communities. The resolution highlights significant challenges facing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations, including that nearly 65 percent of the estimated 2.6 million people in these communities who have mental health problems do not receive treatment, and that healthcare affordability is a major barrier with 56 percent citing cost as their biggest financial concern. The resolution also notes that from 2018 to 2024, suicide was the leading cause of death for AANHPI youth ages 15 to 24, making them the only racial or ethnic group in that age range with this distinction. The resolution is largely symbolic and calls on federal, state, and local health agencies to develop policies and improve help-seeking rates for mental health services in these communities by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care. There is no funding attached to this resolution, as it functions as a statement of Senate support rather than an appropriations measure.