Raja Krishnamoorthi

Preventing Opportunities for Teen E-Cigarette and Tobacco Addiction Act or the PROTECT Act

This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a strategy and carry out a specific initiative to prevent and reduce the use of electronic cigarettes and emerging tobacco products among youth and young adults.

As part of the initiative, the CDC must

• conduct research and surveillance on types of products, patterns of use, health impacts, and other aspects of the use of such products by youth and young adults;

• evaluate prevention and intervention strategies and develop guidance for intervening and treating youth and young adults who use such products;

• identify effective messaging and communication efforts and implement a national public education campaign concerning the use of such products; and

• continue to fund grants for tobacco control programs in health departments, including efforts to prevent and reduce the use of such products by youth and young adults.

Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act of 2026

This bill reauthorizes through FY2032 and otherwise revises Head Start programs.

Specifically, the bill expands eligibility for Head Start programs to include families with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level. The bill also adds a definition for public assistance under the Head Start Act to include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Supplemental Security Income (SSI); the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a program to make grants to Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) to construct or improve facilities. HHS must also establish and carry out a program to make grants to Head Start agencies for increasing the compensation paid to employees.

The bill also provides student loan forgiveness for certain Head Start and Early Head Start child care workers. In particular, the Department of Education must cancel the outstanding balance of principal, interest, and fees due on Federal Direct Loans for a borrower who (1) has been employed full-time by a Head Start or Early Head Start program for three years, and (2) has provided care or instruction to children enrolled in such a program.

No War Appropriations through Reconciliation Act or the No WAR Act

This bill establishes a budget point of order that prohibits considering reconciliation legislation that provides funding for unauthorized military force against Iran.

(Reconciliation is an expedited method by which Congress may adopt changes in spending and revenue laws to achieve the budgetary goals reflected in a congressional budget resolution. Reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.)

Specifically, the point of order may be raised to prohibit the consideration of reconciliation legislation that provides budget authority for hostilities, including hostilities conducted by a proxy force, against Iran unless Congress has authorized such hostilities through a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force.

Under the bill, hostilities includes any offensive military operation, strike, covert action, or sustained engagement involving armed conflict against Iranian military forces, territory, or government institutions.

The point of order may be waived by a vote of at least three-fifths of all Senators duly chosen and sworn (60 votes if there are no vacancies).