Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

S 2257: Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for the legislative branch, including the Senate and joint items such as

  • the Joint Economic Committee,
  • the Joint Committee on Taxation,
  • the Office of the Attending Physician, and
  • the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services.

In addition, the bill provides FY2026 appropriations for

  • the Capitol Police;
  • the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights;
  • the Congressional Budget Office;
  • the Architect of the Capitol;
  • the Library of Congress, including the Congressional Research Service and the Copyright Office;
  • the Government Publishing Office;
  • the Government Accountability Office;
  • the Congressional Office for International Leadership Fund; and
  • the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development.

(Pursuant to the longstanding practice of each chamber of Congress determining its own requirements, funds for the House are not included in the Senate bill.)

The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this bill.

HR 3767: Health Professionals Scholarship Program Improvement Act of 2025

Health Professionals Scholarship Program Improvement Act of 2025 or the HPSP Improvement Act of 2025

This bill requires, through FY2027, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure a participant in the Health Professionals Scholarship program receives a contract for employment within 90 days of the completion of their courses. The program provides financial assistance to students in a direct or indirect health care services discipline in exchange for service in the Veterans Health Administration.

The contract must offer employment in the full-time clinical practice of the participant’s profession at a VA facility with the highest need. 

HR 3490: Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025

Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act

This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on (1) the impact of esophageal cancer-related health care spending under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) for federal employees and retirees diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and (2) how often FEHBP participants with a high risk of esophageal cancer undergo screenings according to established guidelines. 

HR 3425: Personnel Oversight and Shift Tracking Act of 2025

Personnel Oversight and Shift Tracking Act of 2025 or the POST Act of 2025

The bill directs the Federal Protective Service (FPS) to improve the performance of security personnel contracted to protect federal buildings and to report on such efforts to Congress.

Within one year after the bill’s enactment, FPS must establish performance testing and improvement protocols for contract security personnel. Specifically, FPS shall (1) establish standards for the collection, maintenance, and analysis of covert testing data; (2) conduct quarterly analytical reviews of covert testing data to identify trends and opportunities for operational improvement; (3) establish a mandatory, cause-specific corrective training and performance improvement plan for any individual who fails a covert test; and (4) update security training guidance to address failed covert tests, emerging threats, and best practices. FPS must report to Congress about implementation upon completion and annually thereafter. 

Within 180 days after the bill’s enactment, FPS must assess whether to replace or upgrade its tracking system for managing and monitoring the deployment availability of contract security personnel. FPS must develop (1) an implementation plan that includes a timeline for the replacement or update; and (2) procedures to ensure timely and accurate communication to building tenants regarding contract security personnel absences or other gaps in coverage. FPS must report to Congress on the assessment within one year after the bill’s enactment and annually for the next three years.

HR 3400: TRAVEL Act of 2025

The Territorial Response and Access to Veterans’ Essential Lifecare Act or the TRAVEL Act of 2025

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assign a physician who has been appointed in the Veterans Health Administration to serve as a traveling physician for a period of not more than one year. Such physician must provide health care to veterans at VA facilities located in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

Traveling physicians must coordinate with non-VA providers when necessary to ensure high quality and coordinated care for veterans receiving hospital care and medical services.

The VA must provide a relocation or retention bonus to traveling physicians.

S 1543: Veterans Opportunity Act of 2025

Veterans Opportunity Act of 2025

This bill establishes the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration to administer economic opportunity assistance programs for veterans and their dependents and survivors.

Specifically, the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration must administer the following Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs:

  • vocational rehabilitation and employment programs,
  • educational assistance programs,
  • veterans’ housing loan and related programs,
  • the responsibilities of the VA with respect to the Transition Assistance Program, and
  • any other VA program that the VA determines is appropriate.

Prior to the transfer of administrative responsibilities, the bill requires the VA to certify that (1) the transition of the provision of services will not negatively affect the provision of such services to veterans, and (2) such services are ready to be transferred.