United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2025
Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a five-year pilot program to expand eligibility for the work-study allowance program to individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training at a rate equal to at least half of that required of a full-time student.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2025
Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue operating the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and a related block grant program if there is a lapse in FY2026 appropriations for USDA. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to USDA for any period in which legislation to provide FY2026 interim continuing appropriations or full-year appropriations for USDA has not been enacted. If such a lapse in appropriations occurs, the bill provides the appropriations that are necessary to continue providing uninterrupted SNAP benefits, providing consolidated block grants to Puerto Rico and American Samoa for nutrition assistance programs, and carrying out WIC without interruption. In addition, the bill provides appropriations to pay any benefits under these programs that were missed on or after September 30, 2025, and before this bill is enacted. The appropriations for these purposes are available until the earlier of (1) the enactment into law of legislation to provide FY2026 appropriations for USDA (including continuing appropriations), or (2) September 30, 2026. The bill also requires USDA to use the funds provided by this bill to reimburse state agencies for costs that were incurred to carry out these programs during a lapse in appropriations, to the extent that the programs were carried out in accordance with federal law (including regulations) during the lapse.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2025
Head Start Shutdown Protection Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse a state, local government, or school district that uses its funds to maintain participation in the Head Start program or the Early Head Start program during a government shutdown in which there is a lapse in federal appropriations for the programs. The Head Start programs provide comprehensive early childhood education and development services to low-income children. The programs seek to promote school readiness through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 2025
This resolution requests that the President submit certain information to Congress regarding a reduction in force or the withholding of pay due to the lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown) that began on October 1, 2025. Specifically, the resolution requests that the President submit to Congress any and all documents and communications related to any proposed reduction in force at a federal agency related to the lapse in appropriations, efforts to create a legal determination at the Office of Management and Budget finding or suggesting that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 does not create a self-executing requirement that furloughed federal employees must receive pay for the period in which they were furloughed during a lapse in appropriations immediately after the lapse in appropriations ends, and efforts or plans to withhold pay for the period of the lapse of appropriations for excepted or furloughed federal or District of Columbia employees. The resolution also requests that the President submit to Congress any documents or communications between the President's office, the Vice President's office, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Special Counsel, and the Merit System Protection Board regarding these topics.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2025
This resolution requires the House of Representatives to convene and hold recorded quorum calls during a government shutdown. It also limits recesses and adjournments during a government shutdown. Under the resolution, a government shutdown occurs when there is a lapse in appropriations for any federal agency or department as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or a continuing resolution. The resolution requires the House to convene on each day on which a government shutdown is in effect unless a recess or adjournment is permitted. Under the resolution, such a recess or adjournment is only permitted if the House has met for each of the first five consecutive calendar days on which the government shutdown is in effect, the proposed period of adjournment or recess does not last for more than two consecutive calendar days, and the House has met for at least five consecutive calendar days since the expiration of the most recent period of adjournment or recess. The resolution also requires the House to hold at least one recorded quorum call on each day that the House is in session during a government shutdown. Members of the House who fail to record their presence during a quorum call on two or more consecutive days must be fined $500 for a first offense and $2,500 for any subsequent offense unless the failure is due to an illness. A Member may not use official or campaign funds to pay the fine.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2025
Federal Worker Childcare Protection Act of 2025 This bill authorizes certain federal employees to be reimbursed for childcare expenses paid during the government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025. Under the bill, any federal employee who was furloughed or worked without receiving a paycheck during the lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown) that began on October 1, 2025, and paid for childcare during the lapse is eligible to be reimbursed for the childcare expenses if (1) appropriations are provided for this purpose, and (2) the employee submits a receipt from a childcare provider to the General Services Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2025
Federal Agricultural Relief Maintained during Shutdowns And Federal Emergencies Act or the FARM SAFE Act This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue activities related to agricultural disaster assistance programs during a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown). Specifically, the bill provides that any USDA employee necessary to carry out an agricultural disaster assistance program (1) must be treated as an excepted employee who is required to perform work during a lapse in appropriations, and (2) may not be removed under a reduction in force.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2025
Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act This bill directs financial regulators—including the Federal Reserve Board, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration—to jointly issue guidance relating to a government shutdown. Specifically, financial regulators must issue guidance encouraging financial institutions to work with consumers and businesses affected by a shutdown, recognize that consumers and businesses affected by a shutdown may lose access to credit and face temporary hardship in making payments on debts, consider efforts to modify terms on existing loans or extend new credit to assist consumers and businesses affected by a shutdown, and take steps to prevent adverse credit information from being reported in a manner that harms consumers affected by a shutdown. In addition, financial regulators must jointly issue a press release to notify financial institutions, consumers, and businesses of this guidance in the event of a government shutdown. Financial regulators must also complete a report after a government shutdown regarding the guidance's effectiveness and update the guidance if any shortcoming are identified in the report.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2025
Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 This bill provides back pay to employees of federal contractors who lost pay due to a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown) in FY2026. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for federal agencies that are subject to a lapse in appropriations in FY2026 to adjust the price of contracts to compensate federal contractors for providing back pay to employees who were affected by the lapse in appropriations. The agencies must adjust the price of any contract for which the contractor stopped, suspended, delayed, or interrupted all or part of the work under the contract due to the lapse in appropriations. The price adjustment must compensate the contractor for reasonable costs incurred to (1) compensate employees who were furloughed or laid off, were not working, or experienced a reduction of hours or compensation due to the lapse in appropriations; or (2) restore paid leave taken by employees during the lapse in appropriations if the contractor required or permitted employees to use paid leave as a result of the lapse in appropriations. The maximum amount of weekly compensation of an employee for which an adjustment may be made under this bill may not exceed the lesser of (1) the employee's actual weekly compensation, or (2) $1,442 (or a lesser amount pro-rated for an employee who works less than 40 hours per week). The bill also requires the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to submit a report to Congress on the adjustments made under this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2025
Federal Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act This bill provides continuing FY2026 appropriations to pay federal firefighters if a government shutdown is in effect. It also prohibits the firefighters from being subject to a reduction in force (RIF) during a government shutdown. Specifically, the bill provides continuing FY2026 appropriations to provide pay and allowances to federal firefighters during any period in which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown). The bill provides the appropriations until the earlier of (1) the enactment of specified appropriations legislation, or (2) January 1, 2027. The bill also prohibits federal firefighters from being removed from the civil service due to a RIF during a government shutdown.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2025
This bill prohibits the removal of federal employees from the civil service during a government shutdown due to a lapse in discretionary appropriations. If an employee is removed from the civil service in violation of this bill, the employee may elect to be reinstated with back pay on the date on which the lapse in appropriations ends.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2025
If You See It, Squish It Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to carry out a national campaign to increase public awareness and knowledge of the spotted lanternfly. This invasive plant hopper feeds on a wide range of plants, including grapevines, hops, stone fruit trees, and hardwood trees.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2025
Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act This bill requires federal agencies and Intelligence Community (IC) elements to assess their software inventory and develop software management plans. The bill requires each agency and each IC element to complete a comprehensive assessment of the software paid for by, in use at, or deployed throughout the agency or element. The assessment must include information such as (1) the current inventory of software; (2) contracts and other arrangements used to acquire, build, deploy, or use the software; (3) costs and fees not included in the initial contract or agreement; and (4) the interoperability of the software and restrictions on its use. Each agency and IC element must use their assessment to develop a plan to consolidate software entitlements, develop procedures for cost-effective acquisition strategies, and restrict subordinate entities from using any software entitlement without approval. (A software entitlement is software that has been purchased, leased, or licensed by or billed to an agency and that is subject to use limitations.) Such plans must be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress. Within two years of enactment, OMB must submit recommendations to Congress regarding government software procurement policies and practices to • increase the interoperability of software licenses; • consolidate licenses when appropriate; • reduce costs; • improve performance; and • modernize the management and oversight of agency software. The GAO must report on certain related topics, including governmentwide trends in agency software asset management practices and comparisons of such practices among agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2025
Protecting Free Vaccines Act This bill requires Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and private health insurers to cover, without cost-sharing, vaccines that were recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as of October 25, 2024. The requirement ends on January 1, 2030.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2025
Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 This bill provides continuing appropriations for military pay for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown). Specifically, the bill provides FY2026 continuing appropriations for the pay and allowances of (1) members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service during the period; and (2) civilian personnel and contractors of the Department of Defense (and the Department of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) who are providing support to such members of the Armed Forces. If a government shutdown occurs, the bill provides the continuing appropriations until the earlier of (1) the enactment into law of specified appropriations legislation, or (2) January 1, 2027.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2025
Faster Labor Contracts Act This bill establishes mandatory deadlines for parties negotiating an initial collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and provides for mediation and arbitration to finalize CBAs. Under the bill, CBA negotiations must begin within 10 days after an employer receives a written request from a newly recognized or certified bargaining representative. The bill provides that parties must make every reasonable effort to conclude and sign a CBA. Further, the bill provides that, if the parties have not reached an agreement after 90 days, either party may request mediation by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The bill directs FMCS to use its best efforts to secure an agreement. If mediation does not result in an agreement within 30 days (or an additional period agreed to by both parties), FMSC must refer the parties to an arbitration panel to render a decision settling the dispute. The panel must consider specified factors, including the employer's financial prospects and employees' cost of living. The resulting CBA is binding on the parties for two years. (Parties may agree to amend the terms during the two-year period.) The bill specifies that (1) an employer must maintain current wages, hours, terms, and conditions of employment during negotiations; and (2) an employer's duty to collectively bargain continues even if a representative has been decertified. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress regarding the average number of days between the certification or recognition of a bargaining representative and the date the initial CBA was executed.
United States · United States Congress · 2 September 2025
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2025 or the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes, revises, and establishes several programs related to weather forecasting, monitoring, and research. For example, the bill reauthorizes through FY2030 programs that are administered by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including the U.S. Weather Research Program. It also provides statutory authority for NOAA's Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (known as VORTEX-USA). The bill also requires NOAA to establish programs that support weather forecasting technology, including improvements to radar accuracy, weather forecasting in underserved areas, and coastal flooding forecasting. NOAA must also acquire weather-related data from the private sector and establish a pilot program to test the compatibility of this data with NOAA infrastructure. In addition, NOAA must improve weather-related communication systems, including those related to hazardous weather events, through system upgrades that use more modern technology (e.g., cloud-based services) and that allow for expanded coverage (e.g., in rural areas). Finally, NOAA must administer programs that support weather forecasting for agricultural and water management, including pilot programs to improve precipitation forecasts in the western and central states and a soil moisture monitoring network.