Congress clears the penny phase-out, plus 20 more bills

From Publius Papers. On Oct 14 the Senate formally notified the House that it had passed 21 House bills without changes in late September. That means all 21 have cleared both chambers in identical form and go to the President next. Here are the eight that touch the most people, plus a quick list of the rest.

Sponsor: Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI)
Latest action: Senate's passage message sent to the House (Oct 14, 2026). The House passed it by voice vote on Sept 14 and the Senate passed it without changes by unanimous consent on Sept 28.

What it does: The U.S. Mint would stop making pennies for everyday use (it could still make them for collectors), and existing pennies would stay legal tender. When exact change can't be given in a cash sale, businesses may round the total, tax included, to the nearest 5 cents: amounts ending in 1, 2, 6 or 7 cents round down, and amounts ending in 3, 4, 8 or 9 round up. Rounding is optional and never applies to card, check, electronic or gift-card payments. Employers who round cash wages must round up. The bill also lets the Treasury make nickels with a cheaper zinc core and requires the Federal Reserve to report on keeping pennies flowing during the phase-out. (The official CRS summary describes the introduced version, which said businesses "must" round. The final text says they "may".)

Who it affects: Anyone who pays or gets paid in cash, retailers, banks and credit unions, the U.S. Mint, and coin collectors.
Odds it moves: Its next stop is the President. It passed both chambers in identical form, and its sponsor and cosponsor come from different parties.
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Sponsor: Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA)
Latest action: Senate's passage message sent to the House (Oct 14, 2026). The House passed it by voice vote on Sept 16 and the Senate passed it unchanged by unanimous consent on Sept 28.

What it does: Higher debt limits for two kinds of bankruptcy, which CRS says restores limits that expired in 2024. Small businesses could use the faster "Subchapter V" reorganization if they owe up to $7,500,000 (CRS: up from about $3.4 million). Individuals with regular income could use a Chapter 13 repayment plan if they owe less than $2,750,000, now counted as one combined limit for secured and unsecured debt. The new limits apply to cases filed on or after the day it becomes law.

Who it affects: Struggling small-business owners, individuals and couples with large debts, their creditors, and bankruptcy courts.
Odds it moves: Its next stop is the President. It passed both chambers in identical form, and its cosponsors come from both parties.
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Sponsor: Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA)
Latest action: Senate's passage message sent to the House (Oct 14, 2026). The House passed it 350–5 (Roll no. 139) on April 27 and the Senate passed it unchanged by unanimous consent on Sept 30.

What it does: Ministers, members of religious orders and Christian Science practitioners can opt out of Social Security and Medicare taxes on their ministry earnings, and under current law that choice can't be undone. This bill opens a one-time window to reverse it. The deadline is the tax-return due date for the second tax year beginning after Dec 31, 2028. Anyone who reverses would start paying those taxes and earning credit toward benefits, and could never opt out again. The IRS must also come up with a plan to tell eligible clergy about the option.

Who it affects: Clergy who opted out of Social Security, and their families (survivor benefits), plus the IRS and the Social Security Administration.
Odds it moves: Its next stop is the President. It passed both chambers in identical form, including a recorded 350–5 House vote.
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Sponsor: Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA)
Latest action: Senate's passage message sent to the House (Oct 14, 2026). The House passed it by voice vote on Dec 1, 2025 and the Senate passed it unchanged by unanimous consent on Sept 29.

What it does: Social Security would rename its claiming ages in all its rules, guidance and materials. "Early eligibility age" becomes "minimum monthly benefit age." "Full retirement age" and "normal retirement age" become "standard monthly benefit age." The term "delayed retirement credit" would be dropped, and age 70 would be called the "maximum monthly benefit age." Only the wording changes; the text doesn't touch benefit amounts or ages. The deadline is 12 months after it becomes law or Jan 1, 2027, whichever is later.

Who it affects: Anyone planning when to claim Social Security, and the Social Security Administration.
Odds it moves: Its next stop is the President. It passed both chambers in identical form, and its cosponsors come from both parties.
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Sponsor: Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL)
Latest action: Senate's passage message sent to the House (Oct 14, 2026). The House passed it by voice vote on July 22 and the Senate passed it unchanged by voice vote on Sept 28.

What it does: The 2021 ALS law (Public Law 117-79) funds research grants and programs so people with ALS can try investigational drugs and new treatments get developed faster. This bill extends it from 2026 through 2031. Grant renewals would require reviewing a drug's enrollment, safety and any efficacy data. Grantees would have to promptly report serious, unexpected safety problems, and combined phase 2/3 trials could qualify. The FDA would have to publish a five-year action plan for rare neurodegenerative diseases within 18 months.

Who it affects: People with ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases and their families, plus researchers, drug developers, NIH and FDA.
Odds it moves: Its next stop is the President. It passed both chambers in identical form, has 103 cosponsors from both parties, and cleared committee 46–0.
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Sponsor: Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY)
Latest action: Senate's passage message sent to the House (Oct 14, 2026). The House passed it by voice vote on Sept 15 and the Senate passed it unchanged by unanimous consent on Sept 30.

What it does: For Americans the government determines were held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, and for their spouses, the time spent in captivity wouldn't count against federal tax deadlines. Interest and penalties for that period would be waived, and the IRS would have to cancel and refund any already charged. By Jan 1, 2027, the Treasury must also set up a refund program for late penalties and interest paid for periods from Jan 1, 2021 through the day the bill becomes law, and notify the people the State and Justice Departments identify.

Who it affects: Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, their spouses and dependents, and the IRS.
Odds it moves: Its next stop is the President. It passed both chambers in identical form, cleared the Ways and Means Committee 40–0, and its cosponsors come from both parties.
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Sponsor: Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX)
Latest action: Senate's passage message sent to the House (Oct 14, 2026). The House passed it by voice vote on April 20 and the Senate passed it unchanged by unanimous consent on Sept 30.

What it does: Phone carriers that send Wireless Emergency Alerts and also offer satellite service would have to tell the FCC whether they'll send those alerts by satellite too, so they can reach phones outside cell coverage. Carriers that opt in can't charge extra and must honor customers' alert opt-outs. Carriers that don't opt in must tell their subscribers. The FCC has 18 months to write the rules, which can't take effect until at least 36 months after they're published.

Who it affects: Cell phone users, especially in rural or remote areas and during disasters that knock out towers, plus wireless carriers, the FCC and FEMA.
Odds it moves: Its next stop is the President. It passed both chambers in identical form, cleared the Energy and Commerce Committee 52–0, and its cosponsors come from both parties.
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Sponsor: Rep. John Joyce (R-PA)
Latest action: Senate's passage message sent to the House (Oct 14, 2026). The House passed it by voice vote on July 20 and the Senate passed it unchanged by voice vote on Sept 30.

What it does: Starting Jan 1, 2028, Medicare would have to create separate billing codes for ultralightweight manual wheelchair frames made of titanium or carbon fiber and for those made of other materials. Medicare would pay what it normally pays. A patient who wants a titanium or carbon-fiber frame could pay the supplier the difference, and Medicare could require suppliers to tell patients that cost up front.

Who it affects: Medicare beneficiaries who use manual wheelchairs, plus wheelchair suppliers and makers.
Odds it moves: Its next stop is the President. It passed both chambers in identical form, cleared the Energy and Commerce Committee 45–0, and its cosponsors come from both parties.
View on Congress.gov

Data: Congress.gov API (Library of Congress), pulled Oct 15, 2026. These cover actions since Oct 14 in both chambers. No Senate-numbered bill or resolution (S., S.J.Res., S.Res., S.Con.Res.) had a new action in that window; today's Senate news is its passage of the House bills above. Summaries are based on the enrolled (final) bill text and official CRS summaries, and where they differ we follow the final text. We only include "Odds it moves" when there's a real signal, like a vote, committee action or cosponsors from both parties.