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The Boring Parts
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This week, the Senate passed two bills and a resolution, and introduced several more. The passed measures would protect rural broadband access, extend timelines for hydropower construction, and tie senators’ pay to government funding status. The remaining bills are in early stages and would only take effect if they pass both chambers and are signed into law.

Rural internet access

  • The Senate passed the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025. It establishes requirements for how federal agencies manage broadband in rural areas, focusing on maintaining existing infrastructure and keeping service available in remote locations. This matters because rural residents often have only one internet provider and unreliable service.

Accountability during government shutdowns

  • The Senate passed a resolution changing how senators are paid if the federal government shuts down. It links congressional compensation to federal funding status, creating a financial consequence for lawmakers during a shutdown.

Energy infrastructure

  • The Senate passed a law extending the construction deadlines for certain already-licensed hydropower projects. It gives developers more time to begin construction after receiving a FERC license, a technical change meant to accommodate project delays.

Transit and public facilities

  • Senator Shelley Moore Capito introduced the Baby Changing on Board Act. It would require certain public transportation agencies to provide baby changing stations on their vehicles.

Emergency services and flood risk

  • A bill was introduced to improve how the government tracks and manages location data for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Its impact depends on whether current location tracking is insufficient for emergency response.
  • The Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act was introduced. It would create a pilot program to update how the government maps flood risks, but it does not change current mapping requirements unless passed and signed into law.

Education and oversight

  • The Student Aid Fraud Oversight and Accountability Act was introduced. It would change how federal agencies monitor and report fraud related to student financial aid.
  • The IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act was introduced. It would increase federal funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities for operations and student support.
  • The Strength in Diversity Act of 2026 was introduced. It proposes changes to how federal agencies handle diversity and inclusion programs, including reporting requirements.

Environment and conservation

  • Senator Ron Wyden introduced the Advancing Water Reuse Act. It aims to streamline how federal agencies manage water recycling and reuse programs.
  • The Extinction Prevention Act of 2026 was introduced. It proposes a framework for preventing species extinction through federal actions and oversight.

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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