Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.

Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.

This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for various agencies and offices within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), except for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP). 

Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to DHS for Departmental Management, Intelligence, Situational Awareness, and Oversight, including

• the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management;
• the Management Directorate;
• Intelligence, Analysis, and Situational Awareness; and
• the Office of Inspector General.

In addition, the bill provides appropriations for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations, including

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (excluding border security operations of the USBP),
• the Transportation Security Administration,
• the U.S. Coast Guard, and
• the U.S. Secret Service.

The bill provides appropriations for Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, including

• the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and
• the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The bill provides appropriations for Research, Development, Training, and Services, including

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
• the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and
• the Science and Technology Directorate.

The bill also requires specified funds to be used to provide back pay, in accordance with current law, to federal employees affected by a government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations.

Finally, the bill ratifies certain obligations incurred during a government shutdown in anticipation of the funds and authority provided by this bill and the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, including obligations incurred to maintain the essential level of activity to protect life and property and bring about an orderly termination of government functions.

Update Date: 2026-10-14 00:00:00

Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.

Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill provides continuing FY2026 appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through May 22, 2026. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and ends the partial DHS shutdown that began on February 14, 2026, due to a lapse in appropriations for DHS.

The CR generally funds most DHS agencies and programs at the FY2025 levels through the earlier of May 22, 2026, or the enactment of the FY2026 DHS appropriations act.

The bill also requires specified funds to be used to provide back pay, in accordance with current law, to federal employees affected by a government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations.

Finally, the bill ratifies and approves certain obligations that were incurred during a government shutdown, including obligations incurred to maintain the essential level of activity to protect life and property and bring about an orderly termination of government functions.

Update Date: 2026-10-14 00:00:00

Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program Expansion Act of 2026

Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program Expansion Act of 2026

This bill establishes processing timelines and expands claims assistance, outreach, and reporting requirements pertaining to claims for benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty and their survivors.

This bill requires the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to notify a claimant of any missing information required to process a claim within 90 days of receiving the claim and generally requires the BJA to determine eligibility within 270 days of a completed claim.

In addition, the bill requires the BJA to use its subpoena authority to obtain information or documentation that is necessary to adjudicate a claim if a public agency fails to provide it 30 days after a request.

Under the bill, the BJA must conduct ongoing outreach to promote awareness of the PSOB program. The BJA must also report on whether a delay in processing a claim was due to the inaction of the claimant or the public agency from which information is required.

The bill requires the BJA to implement the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the 2024 report, Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program: Transparency, Claims Assistance, and Program Management Improvements Needed.

Finally, the GAO must conduct an annual audit of PSOB claims that have been pending for more than one year.

Update Date: 2026-10-14 00:00:00

Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill reauthorizes the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program through 2034. The program covers a portion of the losses incurred by private insurers for property and casualty insurance coverage for terrorism risk.

Update Date: 2026-10-14 00:00:00

Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act

Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act

This bill eases restrictions for ecosystem restoration projects in designated floodways that meet certain risk criteria.

Under current National Flood Insurance Program requirements, such projects are generally prohibited in a designated floodway if the project would increase the area’s base flood elevation.

The bill establishes conditions under which a community may permit an ecosystem restoration project within a designated floodway that would result in an increase in base flood elevations. Specifically, the project may be permitted if (1) a professional engineer determines that the cumulative effect of the increase will be not more than 1 foot; (2) no insurable structure or critical infrastructure is located in an impacted area; and (3) the community submits an analysis to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the project’s effects after the project is complete.

An ecosystem restoration project is defined by the bill as a project that manipulates the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a site with a goal of recovering, reclaiming, or improving the functions of an aquatic resource or floodplain. 

Update Date: 2026-10-14 00:00:00

Expanding Access to Family Planning Act

Expanding Access to Family Planning Act

This bill provides, subject to specified conditions, funding through FY2035 for federally funded family planning services and clinics.

In particular, the funds must be used for (1) grants and contracts that support the provision of family planning services, and (2) clinic infrastructure (e.g., construction and renovation of clinics).

Clinics that receive funding to provide family planning services must offer each patient with a positive pregnancy test the opportunity for nondirective counseling on (1) prenatal care and delivery; (2) infant care, foster care, and adoption; and (3) pregnancy termination. This counseling must include referrals if requested by a patient.

Additionally, if a funding recipient makes subawards for the provision of family planning services, the recipient may not prohibit an entity from participating in a subaward program for reasons other than the entity's inability to provide family planning services.

Update Date: 2026-10-14 00:00:00

Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act

Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act

This bill excludes from gross income certain damages received by an individual due to any sexual act or sexual contact and establishes the applicable burden of proof in court proceedings regarding the characterization of such damages for federal tax purposes. 

Under current law, amounts received as damages (other than punitive damages) from a judgment, award, or settlement of a claim may be excluded from gross income and, thus, are not subject to federal income tax, if attributable to a personal physical injury or physical sickness. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally interprets personal physical injury to require observable bodily harm (e.g., bruising, cuts, swelling, or bleeding).

Under the bill, amounts received as damages (other than punitive damages) from a judgment, award, or settlement due to any sexual act or sexual conduct, whether or not there are medical records or observable injuries of such act or contact, may be excluded from gross income.

Further, if a judgment, award, or settlement states that damages are due to any sexual act or sexual conduct, then the IRS has the burden of proving otherwise in court proceedings related to the tax liability associated with such damages. 

Finally, the bill requires the IRS to promote public awareness of the exclusion from gross income of damages related to any sexual act or sexual contact.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

Spending Safeguard Act

Spending Safeguard Act

This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish spending limits for certain direct spending programs that (1) are enacted or reauthorized after the enactment of this bill, and (2) do not have a specific level of authorized spending expressed as a dollar amount.

The spending limits must be equal to (1) 120% of the cost of the program for defense, health, income security, or veterans benefits and services programs; and (2) 110% of the cost for other programs. The bill excludes Medicare and Social Security from the spending limits. 

OMB must maintain a publicly available scorecard that displays the spending level for any program that is subject to the limits. OMB and the President must submit specified reports to Congress comparing current spending to the limits.

The bill prohibits obligations for programs that have reached the applicable spending limit. Agencies implementing programs listed on OMB's scorecard must ensure that any contract, offer of benefits, or other material provided to program participants specifies that the program is subject to a spending limit that may impact future availability of funds to pay benefits.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

FIFA World Cup 2026 Commemorative Coin Act

FIFA World Cup 2026 Commemorative Coin Act

This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of the coins shall be promptly paid by Treasury to FWC2026 US, Inc. (the U.S.-incorporated FIFA subsidiary operating the FIFA Men's World Cup 2026) for the purpose of aiding soccer programs and activities in the United States.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

Prohibiting Members of the House of Representatives from bringing or displaying a flag of a foreign nation on the floor of the House, and for other purposes.

This resolution prohibits a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner from bringing or displaying any flag of a foreign nation on the House floor while it is in session. However, the prohibition does not apply to a Member wearing a flag of a foreign nation as a lapel pin or using a depiction of such a flag as part of an exhibit during a speech or debate under House rules.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

Humane Cosmetics Act of 2025

Humane Cosmetics Act of 2025

This bill generally prohibits animal testing in the evaluation of cosmetic products, and it prohibits the sale or transport of cosmetics developed using animal testing, subject to civil penalties. These prohibitions begin one year after enactment.

The bill specifies exceptions to these prohibitions, including if such animal testing (1) is conducted outside the United States to comply with a foreign regulatory authority; (2) is pursuant to a finding by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that there are no nonanimal alternatives to test the safety of a potentially dangerous cosmetic product or ingredient; (3) is of a product or ingredient for a drug or device subject to regulation by the FDA; or (4) is required for a noncosmetic purpose pursuant to a state, federal, or foreign regulatory authority.

Further, evidence derived from animal testing conducted more than one year after the bill's enactment may not be used to establish the safety of a cosmetic product or ingredient that is regulated by the FDA, subject to limited exceptions.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

Federal Firearm Licensing Act

Federal Firearm Licensing Act

This bill generally requires an individual to obtain a license before purchasing, receiving, or possessing a firearm. The bill also requires background checks for firearms transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals).

Specifically, this bill requires individuals who purchase, receive, or possess a firearm to have a valid federal firearm purchasing license (or a state firearm purchasing license with substantially similar requirements). The bill requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to establish a federal system for issuing firearm purchasing licenses and sets forth requirements for the system, including eligibility requirements for a license (e.g., training in firearms safety and background investigation and criminal history check), standards for denying or revoking a license, and requirements for reporting transactions.

The bill makes it unlawful to (1) purchase, receive, or possess a firearm without a valid firearm purchaser license; or (2) sell or transfer a firearm to an individual who does not have a valid firearm purchaser license or fail to report such a sale or transfer to law enforcement.

Additionally, the bill prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a federal firearms licensee (e.g., gun dealer) first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

Healthy Minds for a Better Future Act

Healthy Minds for a Better Future Act

This bill establishes the Middle School Mental Health Task Force at the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The task force must study and report on the resources that are available to secondary school educators and parents for helping students who are experiencing mental health issues.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

Arts Education for All Act

Arts Education for All Act

This bill expands arts education and programming for children in early education, K-12 students, and juveniles and adults in the criminal justice system.

Specifically, the bill allows Child Care and Development Block Grant funding to be used for additional activities, including arts programming.

Additionally, the bill addresses arts programming in elementary and secondary schools by

• directing each state educational agency to include information on arts programming in its state plan, including how it will integrate arts education instruction into the curriculum and increase the number of arts teachers in schools;
• requiring state report cards to include information on arts courses;
• requiring local educational agency (LEA) plans to describe how the LEA will encourage the use of arts education to improve student achievement; and
• allowing certain funds to be used for professional development for arts teachers.

The bill directs the National Center for Education Research to carry out research on the use of arts and arts education in elementary and secondary schools, including in low-performing schools. Further, the National Center for Education Statistics must compile data on arts education.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress must include a specified arts assessment.

The bill requires a state's juvenile justice and delinquency plan to describe how the state will coordinate services and activities for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention with arts agencies and arts organizations. Additionally, grants for adult offender reentry demonstration projects may be used for facilitating arts education.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 2026

Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 2026

This bill requires the Department of Education to issue guidance and recommendations for institutions of higher education to remove criminal and juvenile justice questions from their admission applications.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

America’s College Promise Act of 2026

America's College Promise Act of 2026

This bill provides funding and establishes grant programs to expand access to higher education, including by providing free community college to students.

Specifically, the bill establishes a program to waive resident tuition and fees for community college students. The Department of Education (ED) must award grants to states and tribal colleges and universities to pay the federal share of the program.

As a condition of receiving such a grant, a state must (1) submit a plan to align the requirements for receiving a regular high school diploma with the requirements for entering credit-bearing coursework at community colleges; and (2) submit a plan to improve transfer pathways between institutions of higher education (IHEs), including by ensuring that associate degrees awarded by community colleges are fully transferable to four-year IHEs.

Next, the bill directs ED to award grants to states and tribal colleges and universities for implementing evidence-based institutional reforms and innovative practices to improve student outcomes.

In addition, ED must award grants to participating historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions to waive or significantly reduce the first 60 credits of tuition and fees for low-income students.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2025

Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2025

This bill establishes within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a National Center on Antiracism and Health and a law enforcement violence prevention program.

In particular, the new center must carry out various activities to address racism and its impact on health and well-being. This includes declaring racism a public health crisis, collecting and analyzing data, and administering research and grant programs.

Additionally, the bill specifically directs the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, in coordination with the Department of Justice and other relevant stakeholders, to implement the law enforcement violence prevention program by conducting research and supporting other activities pertaining to law enforcement violence and public health.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

Public Safety Officer Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Health Act of 2025

Public Safety Officer Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Health Act of 2025

This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect and disseminate information about concussions and traumatic brain injuries among public safety officers, including information relating to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

The CDC must put the information it collects on its website. The CDC must also disseminate the information to medical and public health professionals, public safety employers and employee representatives, and other stakeholders.

In implementing the bill, the CDC may support public and private efforts to identify and create guidelines, protocols, and evidence-based practices for treating concussions and traumatic brain injuries in public safety officers.

Update Date: 2026-10-15 00:00:00

Expressing support for the designation of October 8, 2026, as "National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day".

This resolution supports the designation of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.

Update Date: 2026-10-16 00:00:00

A resolution designating October 8, 2026, as "National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day".

This resolution designates October 8, 2026, as National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.

Update Date: 2026-10-16 00:00:00