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The Boring Parts
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During the week of April 20–26, 2026, the Senate introduced six bills. None of them passed, and none have become law; they are all proposals that will still need to advance through committees and be approved by both chambers. Here is what the introduced legislation would do, in plain language.

Changes for students and drug pricing

  • FAFSA Verification Efficiency Act – Would direct the Department of Education to change how it checks information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The goal is to cut down on administrative delays for students waiting on federal financial aid, though whether that happens depends on how the department carries out the changes.

  • Drug Deal Disclosure Act – Introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders. Would require pharmaceutical companies to report certain drug pricing and sales data to the government. It is a data-gathering measure intended to give regulators more visibility into how drug prices are structured.

Agriculture and water rights

  • America Grows Act of 2026 – Would change how certain agricultural programs are managed and funded. It is a new legislative proposal with no current legal effect on farms or food programs.

  • Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act – Would settle long-standing water rights disputes between the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and local and state governments. It would provide a legal framework for how water is allocated in that region, giving local water managers more certainty about future access.

Environmental and land management processes

  • CLEAR Path Act – Introduced by Senator Maria Cantwell. Would change how federal agencies handle certain environmental and land management procedures. Its effects would only take hold if the bill passes and becomes law.

Foreign policy oversight

  • Russia’s War on Faith Act – Introduced by Senator Roger Marshall. Would require the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a report to Congress on how the Russian government is targeting religious organizations and individuals inside Russia. This is a reporting requirement only and would not change current law or policy on its own.

This weekly agency digest is generated from federal records (the Federal Register and Congress.gov) and summarized in plain English. It may simplify or omit detail — follow the linked official sources before relying on any item. Part of The Boring Parts.

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