Shared Values Package

Full Title:
Shared Values Act

Summary#

This bill, called the Shared Values Act, is a package of many changes across agriculture, health, homeland security, tax, House rules, veterans’ care, and other areas. The main changes include new or changed funding for local food programs, nursing workforce grants, and a CDC climate-and-health program; new requirements or authorities for agencies (for example, CISA and the State Department); and several policy rules (for example, House ethics language and an Amtrak baby‑changing table rule). The bill mixes binding law (changes to programs and funding) with nonbinding statements of congressional intent.

Key changes:

  • Raises and reshapes funding for the Farmers’ Markets and Local Food Promotion program, adds a 25% matching requirement, and reserves 30% of some funds for entities starting new farmers’ markets.
  • Appropriates $610 million for nursing workforce development for fiscal year 2026.
  • Continues and authorizes $110 million per year for a CDC Climate and Health program starting in FY2026.
  • Adds a nonbinding “sense of Congress” recognizing Black Midwives Day and urging actions to support Black midwives and diversify perinatal care.
  • Prohibits Members of the House from having sexual relationships with employees who work under their supervision (with a married‑couple exception).
  • Requires Amtrak-owned passenger trains (purchased after enactment) to have a baby changing table in at least one restroom per car.
  • Allows the Secretary of State to provide assistance abroad to prevent or respond to criminalization, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQI+ people.
  • Lets veterans receive a full‑year supply of prescribed contraceptives on request and requires providers to notify veterans of that option.
  • Increases the cap on the federal deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) from $10,000 to $15,000 for single filers (and to $30,000 for joint filers, by the bill’s formula).
  • Reduces Byrne justice grants by 25% for states that do not have laws limiting restraints on pregnant people in prison similar to federal law; reallocates withheld funds to compliant states.
  • Requires the Director of National Intelligence to report annually on foreign threats to U.S. elections.

What it means for you#

  • Farmers and local food groups

    • Some grant funding for farmers’ markets and local food promotion would be increased in near years and reserves would be set aside to help groups start new markets. Eligible grantees must provide matching funds equal to 25% of the federal grant, unless they qualify for an exception.

  • Nurses and nursing students

    • The bill provides a one‑time appropriation of $610 million for nursing workforce programs for FY2026, which could fund education, training, and scholarships under existing Title VIII programs.

  • Communities and public health agencies

    • The CDC program that links climate science to public‑health planning is continued and authorized at $110 million per year. This funds tools and support for state, local, Tribal, and territorial health departments.

  • Black midwives and maternity‑care advocates

    • The bill expresses congressional support for recognizing “Black Midwives Day” and urges removing barriers to Black midwives, expanding training and payment pathways, and allowing autonomous practice—these are statements of intent, not direct legal requirements.

  • House employees and Members of Congress

    • House Members would be barred from sexual relationships with employees who work under them, or with staff of committees or leadership offices where the Member serves, except for spouses.

  • Veterans

    • Veterans enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs care can choose a full‑year supply of prescribed contraceptives; providers must tell patients about this option.

  • Amtrak passengers

    • New Amtrak trains owned by the corporation and bought after the bill would be required to have a baby changing table in at least one restroom per car, and that restroom must be signed to indicate the table is present.

  • Taxpayers

    • The federal cap on itemized deductions for state and local taxes would be increased from $10,000 to $15,000 for single filers, and the joint amount increases accordingly. The change applies to tax years starting after Dec 31, 2024.

  • States and corrections systems

    • States without laws limiting restraints on pregnant incarcerated people comparable to a listed federal standard risk a 25% reduction in certain Byrne grant funds; withheld funds would go to states that meet the standard.

  • Critical infrastructure owners and local officials

    • The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) would create training pilot programs for local officials and maintain one or more online clearinghouses with voluntary security guidance and best practices.

  • General public / oversight

    • Several reporting requirements and hearings are added (for example, USDA reports on farmers’ market grants, IG review, DNI election threat reports, and committee hearings on implementation).

Expenses#

Some parts of the bill include specific dollar amounts; other parts do not include cost estimates.

  • Known federal amounts in the bill:

    • $610,000,000 appropriated for Nursing Workforce Development programs for fiscal year 2026.
    • Authorization of $110,000,000 per year (FY2026 and each year thereafter) to carry out the CDC Climate and Health program.
    • Farmers’ Markets and Local Food Promotion program funding is changed in timing and amounts: the bill changes a listed $50,000,000 figure to $100,000,000 for earlier years, then sets $50,000,000 annually beginning in FY2027 (as amended in the program text).
    • Commemorative coin program requires the Treasury to ensure minting will not result in net cost to the government (the bill requires financial assurances).

  • Other fiscal points and unknowns:

    • The SALT cap increase would reduce federal tax revenue, but no revenue estimate is provided in the bill text.
    • Many provisions (for example, DOE projects for national labs; Amtrak installations; NPS program to reduce disposable plastics; Byrne grant reallocations) could have fiscal effects, but the bill text does not include a comprehensive fiscal note.
    • Where the bill directs agencies to act or create programs (training pilots, clearinghouses, reports, hearings), there could be administrative costs; no detailed cost estimates are supplied in the text.

If you need exact budget numbers or estimates of revenue effects, no detailed fiscal note is included in the provided material.

Proponents' View#

(The following describes likely rationales and goals stated or implied in the bill text.)

  • The bill appears intended to strengthen local food systems by increasing funding and encouraging new farmers’ markets, with matching funds to ensure local buy‑in.
  • It appears intended to expand the health workforce (nurses and midwives), address racial disparities in maternal health, and improve access to culturally appropriate care by supporting Black midwifery and nursing training.
  • Continuing and funding the CDC Climate and Health program is aimed at helping local health departments prepare for the public‑health impacts of climate change.
  • Allowing veterans to obtain a full‑year supply of contraceptives is designed to improve access and continuity of care.
  • Increasing the SALT deduction cap is aimed at reducing the federal tax burden for some taxpayers who pay state and local taxes.
  • Provisions for CISA training and clearinghouses are intended to give state and local officials and infrastructure owners practical tools and guidance to reduce security vulnerabilities.
  • The House ethics change aims to reduce abusive workplace relationships by prohibiting sexual relationships between Members and supervised staff.

Opponents' View#

(The following are possible concerns grounded in the bill text and its design.)

  • Cost and budget effects: Several provisions increase or authorize multi‑year spending and change tax rules, but the bill text does not include full fiscal estimates; the SALT cap increase would reduce federal revenue without a specified offset.
  • Implementation and clarity: Some provisions lack detailed implementation language (for example, how DOE will fund lab projects, how the Byrne grant reallocation would be administered, or how Amtrak will phase in baby changing tables), which could delay or complicate execution.
  • Paperwork Reduction Act exemption: The bill exempts certain rulemaking or information collection from the Paperwork Reduction Act, which may raise concerns about reduced public review of government information requests.
  • Definitions and scope questions: Several sections use broad or unusual definitions (for example, which nonprofit organizations qualify for CISA outreach, or which trains count as “covered passenger rail trains”), which could create uncertainty about coverage and enforcement.
  • Enforcement and due process: The House rule change bans certain relationships but does not set out enforcement processes or investigative steps in the text provided; details would determine how the rule is applied.
  • State penalty for prison restraints: Withholding Byrne grant funds from entire states for not having laws matching a federal standard could be seen as a blunt tool that shifts funds away from crime‑prevention programs and raises federal‑state tension.
  • No cost offsets shown: The bill increases authorized spending and widens a tax preference without identifying offsets; fiscal impact is unclear in the materials provided.

What is unclear: The bill text does not include comprehensive fiscal notes, detailed implementation plans for many agency actions, or administrative timelines beyond the few specified deadlines.