Congressional Record — July 16, 2026

Overview of the day

On July 16, 2026, the Senate conducted business including the confirmation of multiple nominations to the International Trade Commission and various military ranks, and the consideration of several bills and nominations. The House passed legislation to name a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic and considered a comprehensive veterans' benefits bill. Various Senate committees held hearings on nominations and reported several bills. The House of Representatives engaged in debate regarding veteran benefits and healthcare, specifically focusing on the Take Care of America's Veterans Act. The Senate processed executive nominations for military and commission positions, and handled a motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 198.

Summary of the House proceedings

H.R. 5362 was passed to name the Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty clinic in Marietta, Georgia, as the "Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic".

H.R. 9237 was considered and mentioned as the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, which proposes over 60 provisions to improve VA healthcare, benefits, and accountability, including the following:

H.R. 9237 establishes reporting requirements for covered treatment programs, including data on veterans served, wait times, bed spaces, and staffing gaps.

H.R. 9237 requires a third-party assessment of care provided under covered treatment programs to be completed within four years of enactment.

H.R. 9237 mandates the creation of a public fee schedule for non-Department providers of covered treatment programs within 180 days.

H.R. 9237 requires the development of a training plan for health care providers caring for veterans under covered treatment programs.

H.R. 9237 requires a plan and a pilot program at no fewer than three medical facilities to improve mental health residential treatment access for veterans with spinal cord injury or disorder.

H.R. 9237 amends title 38 to treat psychologists as Title 38 employees and include them in contracts for scarce medical specialist services.

H.R. 9237 authorizes a mentorship program for executive leadership teams at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.

H.R. 9237 requires the Secretary to issue postings for all possible clinicians or professionals who could fill vacant positions when practicable.

H.R. 9237 mandates a standardized nationwide approval process for filling vacant employment positions.

H.R. 9237 requires the establishment of a telework policy within 180 days.

H.R. 9237 expands reimbursement for continuing professional education expenses for various medical professionals, capped at $1,000 per year for up to 50,000 individuals.

H.R. 9237 enhances personnel transparency by requiring quarterly updates on positions and recruitment actions on a public website.

H.R. 9237 modifies licensure authority to allow covered health care professionals to use telemedicine to provide treatment or prescribe controlled substances regardless of location.

H.R. 9237 requires data submission on graduate medical education and health profession scholarship programs.

H.R. 9237 mandates a five-year strategic human capital plan to be developed by September 30, 2027.

H.R. 9237 requires 60-day advance notice to Congress and affected employees prior to any reduction in force.

H.R. 9237 requires detailed plans and justifications for the reorganization of offices.

H.R. 9237 modifies authority for sharing health-care resources to include flexible space utilization via the Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation Act of 2026 (VITAL Act of 2026).

H.R. 9237 allows the use of commercial construction codes and standards and mandates three pilot projects per year from 2027 to 2031.

H.R. 9237 mandates a feasibility study for establishing full-service hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii.

H.R. 9237 requires a strategic plan report for infrastructure and capital assets covering a 10-year period.

H.R. 9237 extends the pilot program for the acceptance of donated facilities and allows the acceptance of donations for minor construction and nonrecurring maintenance projects.

H.R. 9237 requires a report on the use of authorities to increase the acquisition workforce.

H.R. 9237 amends reporting requirements for key capital asset investments, activities, and performance.

H.R. 9237 mandates the development of a revised procurement process for major medical facility leases.

H.R. 9237 requires market-based and full life-cycle cost estimates for major medical facility leases to be submitted with the President's budget request.

H.R. 9237 requires notification and a plan if the lowest offer for a major medical facility lease exceeds the approved prospectus by more than 10 percent.

H.R. 9237 mandates a report on capital asset and information technology needs for the research and development program.

H.R. 9237 requires a report on actions to prevent, detect, and report waste, fraud, and abuse in capital asset projects.

H.R. 9237 mandates a report on physical infrastructure needs for long-term care, specifically for populations with unique needs such as women veterans and those with spinal cord injuries.

H.R. 9237 establishes new authorities for the prescription and dispensation of controlled substances via telemedicine, including specific guidelines for opioid medications.

H.R. 9237 modifies copayments for limited supplies of medications prescribed via telemedicine.

H.R. 9237 requires a plan to implement an interactive, online self-service module for veterans to manage appointments, referrals, and appeals.

H.R. 9237 establishes a Center for Innovation to test innovative payment and service delivery models to reduce expenditures.

H.R. 9237 mandates a review of the Veterans Community Care Program and the implementation of pilot programs for preventive health services and payment bundling.

H.R. 9237 requires a report on recommendations to improve the clinical appeals process.

H.R. 9237 requires a plan to increase accessibility of care for veterans with spinal cord injury or disorder.

H.R. 9237 includes the Major Richard Star Act to end the offset of military retirement by VA disability for combat-injured veterans.

H.R. 9237 includes the Love Lives On Act to allow surviving spouses to remarry at any age without losing benefits.

H.R. 9237 includes the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act to increase benefits for catastrophically disabled veterans and surviving spouses.

H.R. 9237 includes the Veterans' ACCESS Act to improve access to healthcare in local communities.

H.R. 9237 was discussed in relation to proposed changes in how the VA evaluates sleep apnea and tinnitus.

H.R. 9237 includes the ASSIST Act and CRUISE Act to help disabled veterans modify vehicles.

H.R. 9237 includes the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act and the Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act to simplify VA communications.

H.R. 9237 includes the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act to improve medical appointment scheduling.

H.R. 9237 includes the Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment Act to strengthen oversight of VA acquisitions.

H.R. 9237 includes the Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act to allow National Guard and reservists to qualify for VA Home Loans sooner.

H.R. 9237 includes the TRAVEL Act to enable physicians to travel to U.S. territories to deliver medical care.

H.R. 9237 includes the U.S. Vets of the Freely Associated States Act to provide telehealth and mail prescriptions to veterans in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.

A motion to recommit H.R. 9237 to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs was defeated.

H.R. 3029 was reported to support nucleic acid screening by amending the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act.

H.R. 8790 was reported to direct activities in support of next-generation geothermal and closed-loop geothermal systems.

H.R. 9719 was introduced to authorize firearm possession in certain Federal Government units and facilities.

H.R. 9720 was introduced to require Congressional approval for certain Acts of the District of Columbia.

H.R. 9721 was introduced to require reporting by certain charitable organizations regarding fiscal sponsorship arrangements.

H.R. 9722 was introduced to ensure fair treatment of certain charitable organizations.

H.R. 9723 was introduced to establish the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

H.R. 9724 was introduced to clarify birthright citizenship laws in territories.

H.R. 9725 was introduced to abolish the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.

H.R. 9726 was introduced to establish an expenditure limit for House of Representatives candidates.

H.R. 9727 was introduced to require that at least half of funds for certain independent expenditures be contributed by persons in the state where the expenditure is made.

H.R. 9728 was introduced to modify reduction in force requirements for Foreign Service officers and certain Federal employees.

H.R. 9729 was introduced to ensure human command responsibility for autonomous weapons systems and artificial intelligence-enabled systems.

H.R. 9730 was introduced to expedite the rehiring of certain former career members of the Foreign Service.

H.R. 9731 was introduced to make certain nonprofit organizations ineligible for Department of Justice grants if they exceed certain revenue and salary thresholds.

H.R. 9732 was introduced to require issuers with multi-class share structures to disclose certain shareholder voting results.

H.R. 9733 was introduced to establish a Federal Interagency Council on Housing Affordability and Preservation.

H.R. 9734 was introduced to establish requirements for artificial intelligence in prior authorization denials by Medicare Advantage organizations.

H.R. 9735 was introduced to establish a grant program for law students to assist in civil enforcement actions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

H.R. 9736 was introduced to provide appropriations for the Internal Revenue Service to overhaul technology and strengthen enforcement.

H.R. 9737 was introduced to establish a Benefits Assistance Program to improve access to employee welfare benefit plans.

H.R. 9738 was introduced to require an assessment of intergovernmental support agreements for minor military construction projects.

H.R. 9739 was introduced to prohibit eminent domain with respect to Mount Cristo Rey.

H.R. 9740 was introduced to establish a Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed Capability.

H.R. 9741 was introduced to name the District of Columbia tuition assistance grant program the Eleanor Holmes Norton District of Columbia Tuition Assistance Grant Program.

H.R. 9742 was introduced to eliminate certain exceptions to naturalization requirements regarding English language and government knowledge.

H.R. 9743 was introduced to require group health plans and issuers to provide benefits for items and services that address harms caused by sex-rejecting procedures.

H.R. 9744 was introduced to reduce excessive concentration and market power in the meatpacking industry.

H.R. 9745 was introduced to require protections for dependent children of detained aliens.

H.R. 9746 was introduced to provide investment and production credits for open- and closed-loop biomass facilities.

H.R. 9747 was introduced to award grants for career support for an internationally educated health care workforce.

H.R. 9748 was introduced to provide consumer protections for students.

H.R. 9749 was introduced to conduct an assessment of food products imported from foreign facilities.

H.R. 9750 was introduced to establish a cap on income taxes on certain pensions.

H.R. 9751 was introduced to establish additional requirements for claims and appeals under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

H.R. 9752 was introduced to ensure fair reimbursement rates for home and community-based services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

H.R. 9753 was introduced to exempt certain retirement plan distributions used for qualified fertility treatment from early withdrawal tax.

H.R. 9754 was introduced to require group health plans to include information on claim denials in annual reports.

H.R. 9755 was introduced to establish a Senior Biotechnology Official position within the Department of State.

H.R. 9756 was introduced to provide medication assisted treatment for opioid addiction to certain women in the Bureau of Prisons.

H.R. 9757 was introduced to establish requirements and guidelines for conversational AI services.

H.R. 9758 was introduced to combat child marriage in the United States.

H.R. 9759 was introduced to provide funding for programs under the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.

H.R. 9760 was introduced to require the Federal Government to produce a national resilience strategy.

H.R. 9761 was introduced to require country-by-country reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

H.R. 9762 was introduced to require transparency of ticket sales and prohibit withholding ticket availability information.

H.R. 9763 was introduced to increase survivors benefits for disabled widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses.

H.R. 9764 was introduced to deny foreign tax credits for taxes paid to the Russian Federation.

H.R. 9765 was introduced to amend requirements for teaching residency programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

H.R. 9766 was introduced to expand participation by underrepresented populations in service programs under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.

H.R. 9767 was introduced to allow direct shipment of distilled spirits by craft distilleries.

H.R. 9768 was introduced to treat certain tariff revenue as an overpayment of tax.

H.R. 9769 was introduced to require Members of Congress to provide disclosures related to absences from attendance.

H. Res. 1437 was introduced to recognize that equity, diversity, and inclusion in federally funded health research is necessary.

The Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act was mentioned as a bipartisan bill to ensure VA medical centers have private spaces for nursing and pumping.

H.R. 40, H.R. 404, H.R. 563, H.R. 637, H.R. 995, H.R. 1254, H.R. 1628, H.R. 1631, H.R. 1657, H.R. 1826, H.R. 2120, H.R. 2410, H.R. 2424, H.R. 2945, H.R. 3036, H.R. 3543, H.R. 3810, H.R. 3864, H.R. 4109, H.R. 4180, H.R. 4244, H.R. 4382, H.R. 4486, H.R. 4682, H.R. 4821, H.R. 5221, H.R. 5243, H.R. 5269, H.R. 5355, H.R. 5361, H.R. 5486, H.R. 5512, H.R. 5544, H.R. 5545, H.R. 5658, H.R. 5905, H.R. 6024, H.R. 6078, H.R. 6130, H.R. 6151, H.R. 6164, H.R. 6226, H.R. 6875, H.R. 7014, H.R. 7230, H.R. 7385, H.R. 7466, H.R. 7531, H.R. 7543, H.R. 7645, H.R. 7658, H.R. 7836, H.R. 7867, H.R. 7961, H.R. 7994, H.R. 8034, H.R. 8056, H.R. 8124, H.R. 8437, H.R. 8497, H.R. 8501, H.R. 8523, H.R. 8592, H.R. 8630, H.R. 8654, H.R. 8666, H.R. 8689, H.R. 8690, H.R. 8784, H.R. 8791, H.R. 8839, H.R. 8868, H.R. 8910, H.R. 8982, H.R. 9012, H.R. 9021, H.R. 9043, H.R. 9048, H.R. 9084, H.R. 9337, H.R. 9376, H.R. 9415, H.R. 9452, H.R. 9454, H.R. 9458, H.R. 9591, H.R. 9612, H.R. 9615, H.R. 9633, H.R. 9646, H.R. 9667, H.R. 9673, H.R. 9680, H.R. 9693, H.R. 9694, H.R. 9699, H.R. 9718 were mentioned as having sponsors added.

H.J.Res. 154, H.J.Res. 195, H. Con. Res. 37, H. Res. 1188, H. Res. 1430, H. Res. 1436 were mentioned as having sponsors added.

H.R. 1420 and H.R. 4970 were mentioned regarding the permission for a member to be considered as the first sponsor.

Summary of Senate proceedings

(Public Law 118-???) Working Families Tax Cut Act was passed to provide tax cuts on overtime and tips, eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, and create child-owned investment accounts.

S. 3383 was reported to make improvements to the Act of August 9, 1955.

S. 2339 was reported to reauthorize the Young Women's Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009.

S. 4472 was reported to reauthorize the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act through fiscal year 2031.

S. 1175 was reported to provide for additional population tiers by amending section 6903 of title 31, United States Code.

S. 1413 was reported to authorize additional funding for the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act.

S. 2554 was reported to provide for the recognition of certain Alaska Native communities and the settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

S. 2754 was reported to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land and a reservoir managed by the Forest Service to the City of Ouray, Colorado.

S. 3725 was reported to require a study on the feasibility of constructing a project to supply water to expand the capacity of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System, Inc. in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota.

S. 5008 was introduced to require Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators to offer basic access service for energy-only delivery.

S. 5009 was introduced to ensure the Acting Director of National Intelligence possesses required qualifications.

S. 5010 was introduced to modify rules governing the State administration of self-employment assistance programs.

S. 5011 was introduced to impose an excise tax on excessively disparate wages paid to chief executive officers.

S. 5012 was introduced to authorize grants for career support for an internationally educated health care workforce.

S. 5013 was introduced to require a pilot program for veterans with acquired brain injury under the Veteran-Directed Care program.

S. 5014 was introduced to make certain spouses eligible for services under the disabled veterans' outreach program.

S. 5015 was introduced as the Broadband Mapping Accurate Providers Act of 2026 to require the FCC to review and evaluate the processes for updating broadband internet access service maps.

S. 5016 was introduced to modify allotments under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

S. 5017 was introduced to direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a grant program for State paid leave programs.

S. 5018 was introduced as the Disaster Relief Fairness Act to approve major disaster declarations requested under the Trump administration that meet FEMA damage thresholds.

S. 5019 was introduced to require country-by-country reporting under the Securities Act of 1934.

S. 5020 was introduced to require a study on manufactured homes in high-risk natural hazard areas and weather extremes.

S. 5021 was introduced to provide consumer protections for students.

S. 5022 was introduced to decriminalize and deschedule cannabis and provide for reinvestment and expungement.

S. 5023 was introduced to provide for the inadmissibility of certain aliens seeking citizenship for children by giving birth in the United States.

S. 5024 was introduced to designate entities domiciled in foreign adversary countries as foreign instrumentalities for economic espionage prohibitions.

S. 5025 was introduced to impose sanctions and other measures with respect to the Russian Federation.

S. 5026 was introduced to require warning labels on certain foods and beverages and restrict junk food advertising to children.

S. 5027 was introduced to ensure fair reimbursement rates for home and community-based services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

S. 5028 was introduced to establish a Federal standard for recovery of costs for upgrades serving large-load customers.

S. 5029 was introduced to amend requirements for teaching residency programs.

S. 5030 was introduced to require group health plans to provide benefits for services addressing harms caused by sex-rejecting procedures.

S. 5031 was introduced to expand participation by underrepresented populations in service programs.

S. Res. 806 was introduced to designate July 2026 as "Plastic Pollution Action Month".

S. 3857 was considered via a request for unanimous consent, but the request was objected to.

S.J. Res. 198 relating to the Medicare Program and the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model was the subject of a motion to proceed, which was rejected by a vote of 46 yeas and 50 nays.

S. 1031, S. 1289, S. 1328, S. 1677, S. 1814, S. 2265, S. 2761, S. 2821, S. 2941, S. 3267, S. 3524, S. 3605, S. 3622, S. 3784, S. 3934, S. 4144, S. 4221, S. 4233, S. 4329, S. 4437, S. 4467, S. 4501, S. 4775, S. 4814, S. 4999 were mentioned as having new cosponsors added.

S. 2339 had 1 amendment proposed to it.

S. 4472 had 1 amendment proposed to it.

S. 1175 had 1 amendment proposed to it.

S. 2554 had 1 amendment proposed to it.

S. 2754 had 1 amendment proposed to it.

S. 3725 had 1 amendment proposed to it.

S. 4784 had 3 amendments proposed to it.

H.R. 4288, H.R. 6007, H.R. 6963 were referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R. 4647 was read the first and second times and placed on the calendar.

H.R. 2913 was read for the first time.

The Senate confirmed various executive nominations for officers in the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Navy, and Space Force.

The Senate confirmed several members of the United States International Trade Commission, including Brett Doyle, David Foley, Jr., Samuel Negatu, Peter-Anthony Pappas, and Bartholomew Thanhauser.

The Senate agreed to a cloture motion to bring to a close debate on the nomination of Kara Marie Westercamp to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade.

Written by an AI model from that day's Congressional Record, not by a person. It was too long to read in one pass, so it was analysed in 9 parts and merged. .