Margaret Wood Hassan

Gateway to Careers Act of 2026

The federal government would create a new grant program to help community colleges, workforce agencies, and other organizations develop training programs that guide students and workers through connected educational steps leading to good-paying jobs. These "career pathways" would combine classroom learning with work experience, allowing people to earn credentials at different levels while moving toward higher-skilled positions in fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. The grants would support programs serving workers of all ages, including those returning to the workforce or switching careers.

Relief for Families of the Fallen Act

Families of police officers, firefighters, and other public safety workers who are killed in the line of duty would receive tax breaks on money they inherit or receive as benefits following their loved one's death. The bill would reduce the tax burden on these families during an already difficult time by modifying how the federal government taxes survivor benefits and inheritance. This change would primarily help the spouses and children of public safety officers who die performing their duties.

A resolution supporting the designation of the week of April 27 through May 1, 2026, as "National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week".

This resolution would officially recognize the week of April 27 through May 1, 2026, as "National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week" to honor school employees like counselors, speech therapists, special education aides, and other support staff who help students succeed. The designation would raise awareness about the important work these professionals do in schools across the country. This is a symbolic measure that does not create new laws or funding, but rather celebrates and acknowledges these workers' contributions to education.

Medication Competition Act

The federal government would be required to clearly determine and announce how long pharmaceutical companies can have exclusive rights to sell newly approved biological medicines (like vaccines and gene therapies) before generic competitors can enter the market. This would give drugmakers and patients more certainty about when cheaper alternatives might become available, and could affect how quickly generic versions of expensive biologic drugs reach consumers. The change would apply to the Food and Drug Administration's decisions about these exclusivity periods.

Protecting Stolen Encrypted Data Act of 2026

This bill would likely create new legal protections and penalties related to stolen encrypted data that affects national security or the military. It probably aims to strengthen how the government handles cases where sensitive encrypted information is stolen, potentially by establishing clearer rules about what counts as a serious crime and what punishments apply. The bill would primarily affect federal law enforcement agencies, military personnel, and possibly cybersecurity professionals who work with classified information.

Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act

The bill would support education programs that teach students mathematical and statistical modeling skills, likely through funding, curriculum development, or teacher training initiatives. These skills help students understand how to use math and data to solve real-world problems in fields like science, engineering, and business. The legislation aims to improve American competitiveness by ensuring more students graduate with strong quantitative reasoning abilities.

Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act

Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act This bill creates and expands federal grant programs within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to increase capacity to provide emergency obstetric health services in rural areas or areas without practitioners or facilities specializing in obstetric services. Specifically, HRSA must establish a program for providing grants to certain hospitals or consortiums that include hospitals in rural areas or areas with maternal health care professional shortages for training, developing a workforce, and purchasing equipment relating to obstetric emergencies. In addition, the bill requires HRSA’s Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Capacity program to provide grants for training on emergency obstetric services for practitioners in rural health care facilities without dedicated obstetric units. HRSA must also establish a pilot program to provide grants to government entities for developing or improving telehealth access programs to support urgent maternal health care in rural facilities without a dedicated obstetric unit.

Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act

This bill would allow the federal government to negotiate drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies for Medicare patients, while also limiting how long companies can extend their patent protections to keep generic competitors off the market. The changes would aim to lower medication costs for seniors and other patients, though drug manufacturers would face reduced profits from their patents. The bill affects pharmaceutical companies, Medicare beneficiaries, and patients who rely on prescription medications.

Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach and Assistance Act

This bill would require the federal government to conduct outreach and provide assistance to help families understand and access existing tax benefits for child care expenses, such as the child and dependent care credit. The goal is to make sure more parents and guardians who qualify for these tax breaks actually know about them and can claim the money they're entitled to. The legislation aims to reduce confusion and increase participation in child care tax benefits that already exist but may be underused.

Housing and Economic Development Act

This bill would likely provide funding and programs to improve housing availability and affordability while supporting economic development in communities, though the specific details are not yet clear since it's still in early stages. It would probably affect low-income families looking for housing, developers building new projects, and local communities trying to revitalize neighborhoods. The bill has been sent to the Senate Banking Committee for review and discussion.

Family-to-Family Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill would reauthorize and likely update federal funding and programs that help families access health services, mental health support, or other family-focused health initiatives. The specific changes would affect families seeking health care, potentially including children, parents, and caregivers who rely on these federally supported programs. Once the Finance Committee reviews it, Congress will decide whether to continue, modify, or expand these family health services.

Stronger Start for Working Families Act

This bill would likely expand tax credits or deductions for working families with lower and middle incomes, making it easier for them to keep more of their earnings or receive larger refunds. The changes would probably target families with children or those struggling to afford basic expenses like childcare or housing. Workers and families earning modest incomes would be the main beneficiaries of any tax relief included in the proposal.

Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act

Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act This bill expands eligibility for the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program to the spouses of certain veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Such program is administered by the Department of Labor and generally provides career and employment services to disabled veterans. The bill expands eligibility for the program to spouses of persons who died while members of the Armed Forces; persons who died of a service-connected disability; members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, for more than 90 days, are listed as missing in action, captured by a hostile force, or forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government power; persons who have a total permanent disability resulting from a service-connected disability; and persons who died while an evaluated total disability was in existence.

Fast Track To and Through College Act

Fast Track To and Through College Act This bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to certain partnerships with state educational agencies to support statewide implementation of early college fast track pathways and early high school graduation fast track pathways. The bill defines early college fast track pathways as programs of advanced coursework resulting in credit that (1) is equivalent to at least two semesters of full-time postsecondary enrollment, and (2) satisfies the requirements for a high school diploma. In addition, the bill defines early high school graduation fast track pathways as scholarships for students who graduate high school early, do not require remedial coursework in postsecondary education, and attend a public two- or four-year institution of higher education. The bill also makes certain high school students participating in an early college fast track pathway eligible to receive Pell Grants.

Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act

This bill would formally recognize and highlight the important work of direct support professionals—people who provide personal care and assistance to individuals with disabilities or developmental delays. The legislation aims to bring attention to this workforce, which includes home health aides and personal care attendants, likely to support efforts for better working conditions, pay, or training standards for these essential workers.

Pray Safe Act of 2025

The bill would require the federal government to develop safety guidelines and emergency preparedness standards specifically for places of worship, helping religious organizations better protect their members during threats or disasters. It would likely provide resources, training, and coordination between faith communities and emergency management agencies to improve security planning at churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other religious facilities. The measure aims to help religious leaders and their congregations prepare for and respond to emergencies more effectively.

Canterbury Shaker Village National Heritage Area Study Authorization Act

This bill would authorize a study to determine whether the Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire should be designated as a National Heritage Area, which would bring federal recognition and potential funding to preserve the historic site and its cultural significance. The study would examine the village's historical importance, its role in American religious and communal history, and how designation might benefit local communities and tourism. If approved after the study, such a designation would help protect the village's buildings and landscape while supporting educational programs about the Shakers who lived there.

DETERRENCE Act

Deterring External Threats and Ensuring Robust Responses to Egregious and Nefarious Criminal Endeavors Act or the DETERRENCE Act This bill establishes sentencing enhancements for various federal criminal offenses if the offenses are directed by or coordinated with a foreign government.

Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act

Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act This bill permits individuals to enroll in a dental benefits plan on a health insurance exchange without also enrolling in a qualified health plan.