United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2026
Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act This bill includes combatting the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) as a Department of Agriculture (USDA) high-priority research and extension area and reauthorizes other USDA research and extension initiatives. The bill specifically allows grants for developing and disseminating research-based tools and treatments to combat the spotted lanternfly, which is an invasive species native to Asia that feeds on a wide range of crops and plants (e.g., grapes, apples, hops, walnuts, and hardwood trees). Further, the bill reauthorizes USDA grants to support competitive specialized research and extension activities, including high-priority areas, through FY2028. The bill also specifically reauthorizes through FY2028 the Pulse Crop Health Initiative; the Comprehensive Food Safety Training Network; pollinator protection research and extension grants; increased USDA capacity and infrastructure to address and conduct research on colony collapse disorder and other pollinator issues; and a USDA-conducted nationwide honey bee pest, pathogen, health, and population status surveillance program.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2026
Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 This bill imposes a variety of sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions related to Russia. For example, under the bill, the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on specified persons (individuals and entities) such as the Russian president, certain Russian military commanders, and any foreign person that knowingly provides goods or services relating to Russia's defense industrial base; increase the rate of duty on all goods imported into the United States from Russia to a rate of up to 500% ad valorem (i.e., relative to the value); increase the rate of duty up to 100% ad valorem on all goods imported into the United States from a country that was among the five largest importers of Russian-origin crude oil and natural gas if such country knowingly makes new purchases of such products after enactment of the bill; impose property-blocking sanctions on financial institutions organized under Russian law and owned wholly or partly by Russia; and impose property-blocking sanctions on foreign vessels that knowingly transport certain products of Russian origin, including crude oil, uranium, and coal. The bill prohibits (1) the export, reexport, or in-country transfer to or in Russia of U.S.-produced energy or energy product; (2) U.S. persons from making new investments in Russia or purchasing Russian sovereign debt; and (3) trading the securities of Russian government-owned, -controlled, or -affiliated entities on U.S. national securities exchanges. The President may waive requirements of the bill by certifying it is in the national interest.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2026
This joint resolution prohibits the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from testing a new Medicare payment model in certain states that involves a prior authorization process and the use of enhanced technology by third-party contractors to determine whether certain claims should be paid. Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies a notice issued by the CMS on July 1, 2025, titled Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model . (On May 12, 2026, the Government Accountability Office issued a letter of opinion stating that this notice constituted an agency rule and is therefore subject to the Congressional Review Act.) The CMS selected six states to participate in this model over a six-year period: New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Washington. Under the model, contracted companies must process prior authorization requests (i.e., requests for coverage determinations before a service is furnished) for certain services using enhanced technology (e.g., artificial intelligence). Contracted companies are paid based on the share of resulting savings. The CMS aims to test the model's ability to produce accurate results while streamlining the prior authorization process for Medicare claims. The model is based in part on similar processes used for Medicare Advantage claims. CMS began implementing the model on January 1, 2026. This joint resolution prohibits the CMS from continuing to do so.