This bill establishes strict rules to prevent the Department of Defense from manipulating casualty records and military benefits by reclassifying or renaming ongoing military operations. The legislation requires that casualties remain permanently attributed to their original military operation in all official records, even if the operation is renamed or redesignated, ensuring accurate accounting of the human cost of war. The bill also prohibits the Defense Department from reducing or altering military personnel's benefits and awards—such as combat pay, leave, decorations, or veteran preference credits—simply because an operation was administratively reclassified, as long as troops continue fighting the same enemy under the same conditions. Specifically, the bill directs the Secretary of Defense to restore within 30 days all casualty records and benefits that were modified since February 28, 2026, relating to military operations against Iran, and to notify affected service members and families of these restorations. The bill aims to prevent executive branch officials from using administrative changes to obscure the true costs and duration of military operations from Congress and the American people.

This bill requires the Secretary of State and other federal agencies to develop a comprehensive strategy within 180 days to monitor and counter China's gray-zone operations in the Indo-Pacific region, which are defined as coercive activities short of open warfare such as military incursions, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns targeting Taiwan, the Philippines, and other U.S. allies. The strategy must assess current gaps in monitoring capabilities, identify vulnerable territories and allies' ability to respond, catalog existing assistance programs, and outline an action plan for preventing and deterring Chinese gray-zone activities through coordination with partners and public exposure of these tactics. Within 90 days of submitting the strategy, the Secretary of State must establish an interagency task force to implement it, track progress toward established objectives, and identify necessary funding and resources. The task force will conduct annual reviews and report publicly to Congress on the state of Chinese gray-zone operations and actors enabling them, and it will remain active for seven years from its establishment. The legislation does not specify new funding amounts but directs agencies to determine and report funding requirements needed to counter these activities.

This bill directs the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a comprehensive study on artificial intelligence-enabled toys to assess potential physical, mental, emotional, and social risks to children under 14 years old. The study will examine educational outcomes from these toys, parental control usage, marketing practices, and whether evidence supports temporarily suspending sales of AI chatbot toys to children. Within two years of the bill's enactment, the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Product Safety Commission must jointly submit an action plan to Congress with recommendations for legislation, disclosure requirements, safety standards, and consumer education initiatives regarding AI-enabled toys. The bill does not appear to include specific funding amounts but establishes clear timelines for both the study and the regulatory response to ensure children's safety in an emerging technology market.

# Summary of S. 5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026 This legislation protects and expands access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and related fertility treatments nationwide. The bill establishes a federal right for individuals to receive assisted reproductive technology (ART) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), while preventing states from imposing restrictions on these services that go beyond medical safety standards. Individuals, healthcare providers, insurance companies, and manufacturers can sue in federal court to challenge state laws that violate these protections, with prevailing plaintiffs entitled to recover attorney's fees. The bill extends significant fertility benefits to military members and veterans. Active-duty service members can access free ART and IUI treatments, including up to three egg retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers, and can preserve their reproductive material before deployment or hazardous assignments. Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare receive the same fertility treatment coverage, and the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs must coordinate on these services. For the broader population, the legislation requires private health insurance plans and Medicare to cover ART and IUI without cost-sharing that exceeds what applies to other medical services. State Medicaid programs must also provide these treatments beginning October 2027. Federal employees' health insurance plans gain fertility coverage as well. The bill takes effect six months after enactment for most provisions, with Medicare coverage starting January 2027 and Medicaid following October 2027.

The Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2025 requires all newly constructed single-family homes and townhouses that receive federal funding or assistance to include at least one level that meets accessibility standards for people with disabilities, specifically the "visitable" design standards established by the American National Standards Institute. The law applies to any dwelling where the builder or developer received federal assistance such as grants, loans, tax credits, or loan guarantees, with an effective date of one year after enactment. Enforcement occurs through state and local building code review agencies, which must approve construction plans and withhold final approval if homes do not meet the visitability standards, and the federal government can condition housing assistance on compliance. The bill also allows individuals to sue builders or developers for violations within five years, with courts able to award damages, attorney's fees, and order repairs or retrofitting of non-compliant homes.

The All Stations Accessibility Program Reauthorization Act, or ASAP Act, creates a new federal grant program to help states and local governments make older railroad and rail transit systems more accessible to people with disabilities. The bill authorizes $350 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 for competitive grants that can fund station repairs, accessibility improvements, retrofits, and planning projects at rail systems that were operating before 1990. Recipients of grants must commit to long-term accessibility improvements that serve people with physical, sensory, and intellectual disabilities, while also addressing service equity for low-income riders and communities of color. The federal government will cover up to 80 percent of project costs, with local entities providing the remaining funding. Appropriations will be adjusted annually for inflation, and the bill encourages grant recipients to work with disability advocacy organizations when planning and assessing accessibility improvements.

This bill formally establishes the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences as an official federal research center within the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The Institute will operate as a laboratory to study radio frequency emissions, spectrum propagation, electromagnetic spectrum sharing between federal and non-federal users, and interference issues affecting federal communication systems. Additionally, the bill directs the Commerce Department to launch a new initiative through the Institute to develop emergency communication and tracking technologies that can work in environments where standard radio signals don't penetrate well, such as underground mines, collapsed buildings, and other shielded spaces. The Institute is authorized to enter into partnerships with private companies and other federal agencies to assess technical needs and develop specifications for these emergency technologies. Within 18 months of the bill's enactment, the Commerce Department must report to Congress on its assessment of what improvements are needed to make emergency communication and tracking systems more reliable and effective.

# Summary The Blair Holt Firearm Owner Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2026 establishes a federal licensing system for handgun and semiautomatic rifle owners and creates a national record-keeping system for sales of these weapons. Individuals would need to obtain a firearm owner license from the Attorney General or qualify under a state-certified licensing system to possess these firearms, with applicants required to undergo background checks, submit fingerprints, provide a photo and personal information, and certify they meet various legal requirements including mental health standards. The licensing system would take effect one year after enactment for firearms already owned and immediately for new purchases, with licenses valid for five years and renewable through similar processes. The bill also requires licensed dealers to verify firearm owner licenses before transferring qualifying firearms and to report all such transfers to the Attorney General within 14 days, creating a federal database of firearm sales. Private firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals would generally be prohibited unless conducted through a licensed dealer. Violations of the licensing and record-keeping requirements carry criminal penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment, while violations of the firearms transfer restrictions carry up to 5 years. The law allows states to establish their own certified licensing and record systems as alternatives to the federal system and includes various exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, and specific personal transfers between family members and temporary loans for hunting or target shooting.

This Senate resolution honors the 27th anniversary of the landmark 1999 Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court decision, which requires states to offer people with disabilities the choice to receive long-term services in community-based settings rather than institutions. The resolution affects the approximately 70 million adults with disabilities in the United States who rely on protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, emphasizing that despite decades of legal requirements, many individuals with disabilities still live in segregated institutional settings. The resolution condemns a June 2026 Department of Justice opinion that the sponsors argue misinterprets the Olmstead decision and its integration mandate, and it criticizes recent cuts to Medicaid, which funds home and community-based services for people with disabilities. The resolution calls on the Department of Justice to rescind its recent opinion and urges Congress to work together to restore Medicaid funding and expand support for community-based services. No specific funding amounts or timelines are established, as this is a symbolic resolution rather than legislation that appropriates money or creates binding mandates.

The Maternal Health for Veterans Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a comprehensive maternity care coordination program for eligible veterans, providing care from the beginning of pregnancy through 12 months after delivery. The program must include mental health screenings for pregnant and postpartum veterans, training for community healthcare providers on the unique needs of veteran mothers, and a performance management system to track outcomes and progress. The VA Secretary must submit annual reports to Congress detailing maternal health outcomes such as maternal mortality, severe complications, and pregnancy-related deaths, with data broken down by race, ethnicity, age, disability status, and rural location to identify and address health disparities. The legislation also requires the VA to track implementation of recommendations from oversight agencies like the Government Accountability Office and VA Inspector General, and to propose improvements targeting veteran populations with elevated maternal health risks. This bill affects all veterans enrolled in the VA health system who are pregnant or postpartum and repeals a previous maternity care provision from the 2021 Protecting Moms Who Served Act.

This bill directs the Secretary of State, working with the Secretary of Defense, to develop a formal strategy for U.S. diplomatic engagement in the South China Sea within 180 days of enactment. The strategy must outline goals for working with allies and partners, including the littoral states of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan, on issues such as defense capabilities, maritime law enforcement, illegal fishing, territorial disputes, crisis management, foreign influence, and economic coercion. The legislation reaffirms U.S. support for freedom of navigation and a rules-based approach to resolving maritime disputes, while pushing back against Chinese efforts to unilaterally dominate the region. Within 360 days, the State Department must identify any programs, policies, or budget resources needed to implement the strategy for fiscal years 2027 through 2029, followed by a congressional briefing within 30 days after that. The bill explicitly states it does not change existing U.S. policy toward Taiwan or China under the longstanding One China Policy framework.

This bill requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a comprehensive crisis management strategy for the South China Sea, focusing on preventing escalation and protecting U.S. interests in the region. The strategy must identify specific locations where crises could occur and create detailed "crisis playbooks" for each major flashpoint that outline potential warning signs, decision points, and response options across military, diplomatic, and economic tools. Each playbook must include cost-benefit-risk analyses of proposed responses, coordination plans with foreign allies, and opportunities for de-escalation, while addressing six key objectives including protecting U.S. citizens, maintaining trade routes, supporting regional allies, and managing escalation risks. The Secretary of Defense must submit a progress report within 120 days and complete the full strategy by March 2027, with semiannual reviews afterward. The bill does not designate specific funding levels, and these playbooks are meant to inform decision-making rather than limit the President's options during an actual crisis.