The Stopping Border Surges Act modifies federal immigration law in several significant ways affecting how families and asylum seekers are processed at the border. First, it changes detention policy by allowing the Department of Homeland Security to detain families together during immigration proceedings and removes state authority to impose licensing requirements on federal immigration detention facilities holding children. Second, it raises the standard for asylum applicants at the border by requiring officers to determine that it is "more probable than not" that an applicant's statements are true before they can proceed with a formal asylum application, effectively requiring border officers to evaluate full asylum eligibility rather than just credible fear of persecution. Finally, the bill makes technical corrections to clarify the roles of the Secretary of Homeland Security and Attorney General in asylum adjudication procedures. The legislation does not specify particular funding levels or implementation timelines in the sections provided.

This bill would create a new federal law requiring courts to issue lifetime no-contact orders against defendants convicted of serious violent crimes or sexual offenses. The orders would automatically remain in effect for the defendant's entire life and prohibit all forms of communication or physical contact with the victim, whether direct or through intermediaries. Violations of these orders would be treated as contempt of court. The lifetime injunctions could only be terminated if the victim requests it and shows changed circumstances, or if the conviction is dismissed or overturned on appeal. The bill requires no filing fees for victims seeking these orders and does not prevent states from applying similar protections under their own laws.

This bill reorganizes three federal appeals courts to redistribute judges and geographic areas among the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits. The most significant change moves several western states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming would shift from the Ninth Circuit to the Eighth Circuit, while Arizona and Nevada would move from the Tenth Circuit to the Ninth Circuit. The reorganization aims to address population imbalances, as the current Ninth Circuit serves over 67 million people across more than 40 percent of U.S. land, while the Eleventh Circuit serves only 37 million. The bill increases judgeships in the Ninth Circuit from 13 to 21 and the Tenth Circuit from 12 to 16, and requires the General Services Administration to submit a plan within one year for building new court facilities in Rapid City, South Dakota. The legislation includes open-ended authorization for whatever appropriations are necessary to implement these changes, though no specific dollar amount is specified.

# Summary This bill restricts the Department of Energy's authority to establish new energy efficiency standards for consumer products and commercial equipment. The legislation requires that any new or amended energy standard must be both technologically feasible and economically justified, and it raises the bar for what qualifies as "significant energy savings" to a ten percent reduction in energy use over thirty years. The bill also extends the timeline for manufacturers to comply with new standards from three to at least six years and prevents the Department from issuing new standards for distribution transformers. Additionally, the legislation preempts state and local governments from imposing their own energy efficiency standards or restricting products based on fuel type, ensuring uniform national standards. The Department must issue updated procedural rules within 270 days of enactment, and if it fails to do so, recent energy conservation standards for furnaces and commercial water heating equipment will be voided.

The Citizenship for International Adoptees Act of 2026 automatically grants U.S. citizenship to foreign-born individuals who were adopted by American citizens before age 18, lawfully admitted to the United States for adoption purposes, and physically present in the country as of the bill's enactment date. The law applies 120 days after enactment to those who meet all eligibility requirements and can prove their adoption was finalized in the United States through a certificate of citizenship application. The bill excludes individuals with serious criminal convictions, gang affiliations, or certain immigration violations, and establishes a higher burden of proof for the government to deny citizenship to those claiming reasonable belief in already being U.S. citizens. Application fees are capped at half the cost of a standard citizenship application. This legislation primarily benefits international adoptees who may have fallen through gaps in previous citizenship laws but lack documented proof of automatic citizenship.

This bill would prohibit the federal government from funding any research or publications related to gender transition treatments for people under age 18. This includes research on hormone treatments and surgical procedures for minors, as well as studies that gather evidence about these interventions. The prohibition applies broadly to all federal funding sources and is based on the bill's definition of sex as determined solely by reproductive biology and genetics at birth. The legislation does not specify any funding amounts or implementation timeline, as it simply restricts how existing federal research dollars can be spent. The bill would affect medical researchers, healthcare providers, and government agencies like the National Institutes of Health that currently support research in this area.

This bill, known as the GRACE Act, would prohibit schools and school districts from receiving federal education funding unless they allow students and employees to opt out of vaccination requirements based on religious beliefs. The legislation applies to all elementary schools, secondary schools, and local and state education agencies that currently have any vaccination mandates. Importantly, the bill requires that schools accept religious exemptions without requiring individuals or their parents to provide any documentation or evidence supporting their religious beliefs. The measure does not include a specific funding amount or implementation timeline, but would create a funding penalty for schools that maintain vaccination requirements without offering religious exemptions. The bill affects students, school employees, and any educational institutions that receive federal funds and have vaccination policies in place.

The PROTECT Act of 2026 requires websites and online platforms that host user-generated content or pornographic material to verify the identity and age of users before allowing them to upload such content, and to obtain explicit written consent from all individuals appearing in pornographic images. The verification process must include government-issued ID checks and consent forms approved by the Attorney General that separately document consent for each sex act and for the specific distribution of the image. The legislation affects social media platforms, streaming services, and other online services that regularly publish intimate visual depictions or host user-generated content. Providers face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for each non-compliant image, while users who upload images without consent face civil liability of at least $10,000 per day and criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment for initial violations and two to ten years for subsequent violations. The requirements take effect 90 days after enactment, with the Attorney General required to create and distribute a standard consent form within 60 days.

License to Drill ActThis bill extends through FY2037 the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) authority to collect oil and gas permit processing fees. For each new permit application, BLM collects a fee that is transferred to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund. (Under current law, the fees are authorized through FY2026.)

This 2026 bill would authorize the President to issue "cyber letters of marque and reprisal," which are commissions allowing private companies and individuals to conduct cyberattacks against foreign targets identified as cyberthreats to the United States, such as ransomware operators and digital asset thieves. The legislation aims to address billions of dollars in annual losses from cryptocurrency scams, hacking, and fraud that harm Americans, particularly seniors, by allowing private entities to seize and recover stolen digital assets from designated foreign cybercriminals and state-aligned actors. Recipients of these letters would be required to post security bonds, maintain detailed records of their activities, and cannot conduct operations against U.S. citizens or entities, with the government potentially recovering up to 15 percent of assets seized to fund future operations and a bounty program. The bill provides immunity from lawsuits for private entities conducting operations that are authorized under these letters and allows for whistleblower rewards of up to 5 percent of recovered assets, with remaining recovered funds directed to the Crime Victims Fund. No specific funding or timeline is appropriated by the bill; instead, it establishes a self-funding model where recovered assets finance ongoing operations.

The End EPA Abuse Act of 2026 would restrict the Environmental Protection Agency's regulatory power under the Clean Air Act by prohibiting rules that restrict vehicle choice, require power plants to switch fuels, reduce electric grid reliability, or mandate commercially unavailable or cost-prohibitive technologies. The bill specifically protects the ability to manufacture and sell internal combustion engine vehicles and prevents EPA regulations that would compromise power grid stability. The legislation affects anyone subject to EPA rules, including automakers, power plant operators, and businesses required to comply with air quality standards. The bill contains no specific funding provisions or implementation timelines beyond the regulatory prohibitions it establishes. Essentially, the legislation would limit EPA's authority to issue environmental regulations that the agency determines go beyond Congress's original intent or create practical or economic hardships for regulated entities.

The Free to Exit Administrative Tribunals Act would allow certain parties involved in Department of Interior administrative proceedings to bypass the agency's internal appeals process and take their cases directly to federal district court instead. Specifically, companies or individuals seeking Interior Department approval for activities requiring permits, or those fighting sanctions and civil penalties imposed by the department, could remove their cases to federal court within 60 days of initiating the administrative proceeding. When cases are moved to federal court, judges would conduct a full independent review rather than deferring to the agency's expertise. The bill affects a range of parties dealing with Interior Department decisions, including energy companies, landowners, and other entities regulated by the agency. No specific funding is authorized in the legislation, and it would take effect upon enactment.

This bill would repeal and modify maritime shipping requirements related to dredging operations at U.S. ports. Specifically, it repeals Section 55109 of federal maritime law, which currently restricts dredging activities, and amends Section 55110 to remove requirements that dredged material be transported using specific vessels. The legislation aims to modernize port infrastructure and improve supply chain efficiency by allowing more flexibility in how dredging projects are conducted and materials are moved. The bill affects port operators, shipping companies, and industries dependent on efficient port operations. The measure was introduced in June 2026 and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for review.

The DEEP Act (Dredging to Ensure the Empowerment of Ports Act) directs the Secretary of the Army to create a new nationwide permit for port dredging projects within 60 days of enactment. This permit would streamline the approval process for dredging activities designed to maintain, expand, or deepen ports up to 60 feet and would remain valid for up to ten years. The legislation accelerates environmental reviews by requiring completion within two years and limits states to one year to approve water quality certifications, with automatic approval if they fail to respond within 14 days. The bill also affects companies and port operators seeking to conduct dredging work, as it simplifies their approval timeline by requiring the Army Corps of Engineers to make decisions on permit applications within 30 days of receiving complete submissions. Additionally, the bill repeals certain maritime transportation requirements for dredged material, potentially reducing costs associated with dredging operations.

This bill allows dredging ships from NATO member countries and major non-NATO allies to operate in U.S. navigable waters. Currently, federal law restricts dredging operations to U.S.-flagged vessels, but this legislation creates an exception for foreign vessels that are documented in NATO countries, built by NATO members or designated allies, and majority-owned by NATO-affiliated entities. The bill also exempts dredged material handled by these foreign vessels from certain transportation requirements that typically apply under maritime law. The legislation aims to modernize U.S. ports by expanding access to allied dredging capability, particularly useful when the domestic dredging fleet is insufficient to meet port maintenance and improvement needs. No specific funding amounts or implementation timelines are specified in the bill text.

This bill, introduced in June 2026, aims to streamline federal requirements for U.S. port expansion by modifying maritime regulations related to dredging operations. Specifically, it eliminates certain rules that govern how dredged material must be transported, removing restrictions that currently apply to vessels carrying such material and allowing more flexibility in how ports can manage dredging projects. The legislation affects port operators, shipping companies, and the maritime industry by reducing regulatory barriers to port deepening and expansion activities. The bill does not specify dedicated funding or implementation timelines, instead focusing on regulatory changes to existing maritime law. By easing these requirements, the bill is intended to make it easier and more cost-effective for U.S. ports to expand their capacity to handle larger vessels and increased cargo volumes.