Suzanne Bonamici

This concurrent resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran.

Elements of the U.S. Armed Forces needed to defend the United States, an ally, or a partner from imminent attack are not covered by this requirement provided the President complies with a specified provision of the War Powers Resolution. (The provision generally requires the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities no more than 60 days after the President notifies or is required to notify Congress of such involvement, unless Congress authorizes such use. For more information on the War Powers Resolution, see CRS In Focus 13134.)

Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026

This bill expands loan forgiveness for educators by revising the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. The program provides loan forgiveness (up to $17,500) for teachers who are highly qualified, teach full-time in a low-income elementary or secondary school or educational service agency, and complete five years of consecutive service.

Specifically, the bill renames the program as the Educator Loan Forgiveness Programs.

Additionally, the bill expands the program by making additional loan types eligible for benefits under the program (e.g., Parent PLUS Loans).

Further, the bill expands program eligibility to early childhood educators and program directors serving in early childhood education programs and school leaders serving in public high-need schools.

The bill requires the Department of Education to

• make monthly student loan payments on behalf of the educator during qualifying service (i.e., employment as a full-time qualifying educator in a high-need school or an early childhood education program),

• provide complete loan forgiveness after five years of qualifying service (which does not have to be consecutive), and

• take steps to notify borrowers about changes to the program.

Alzheimer's Screening and Prevention Act of 2025 or the ASAP Act

This bill provides for Medicare coverage of blood tests to screen for the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Specifically, the bill provides for coverage of genomic sequencing blood or blood product tests, or other equivalent tests, that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a program to provide, upon request, a firearm lockbox (or voucher for such item) to eligible individuals. Currently, there is a pilot program under which certain veterans may be prescribed a lockbox by a VA clinician.

The VA must also provide information with respect to the benefits of and options for secure firearm storage.

The VA must develop an informational video on the secure storage of firearms as a suicide prevention strategy and publish the video on its website. Additionally, the VA must publish information to inform individuals who participate in the lockbox program that such lockboxes are not for resale.

The VA must also implement a public education campaign to educate eligible individuals about the availability of lockboxes under the program and that participation in the program does not affect the rights of an individual with respect to the lawful ownership of a firearm.

This resolution expresses support for the designation of a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act or the MORE Act

This bill decriminalizes marijuana.

Specifically, it removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana.

The bill replaces statutory references to marijuana and marihuana with cannabis.

The bill also makes changes related to the economic impact of decriminalization, including the following:

• requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees,

• establishes a trust fund to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs,

• imposes an excise tax on cannabis products produced in or imported into the United States and an occupational tax on cannabis production facilities and export warehouses, and

• makes Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers.

The bill also makes changes to other federal programs and legal processes to account for decriminalization, including the following:

• prohibits the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions,

• prohibits the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of an event (e.g., conduct or conviction) relating to possession or use of cannabis that is no longer prohibited under the bill, and

• establishes a process to expunge convictions and conduct sentencing review hearings related to federal cannabis offenses.