Lower Costs for Everyday Americans Act

This section requires the EPA Administrator to report on composting and recycling infrastructure capabilities, including an inventory of materials recovery facilities and data on recycling and composting programs. It also mandates the Comptroller General to report on Federal agency recycling activities and requires a study on the diversion of recyclable materials from a circular market.

This section establishes a pilot grant program, the 'Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program,' to award competitive grants to eligible entities (states, local governments, Indian Tribes, public-private partnerships) to improve recycling accessibility in underserved communities. Funds can be used to increase transfer stations, expand curbside recycling, and leverage public-private partnerships, with a minimum grant of $500,000 and a maximum of $15,000,000.

This section amends the Clean Air Act to modify regulations concerning ethanol-blended fuels. It allows fuels with 10 to 15 percent ethanol to be introduced into commerce if they meet other Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements, effectively extending a higher RVP waiver for E10-E15 blends year-round. It also mandates the EPA and Commodity Futures Trading Commission to review Renewable Identification Number (RIN) data to identify and reduce renewable fuel market manipulation.

This section bans consumer products containing 10 percent or more by weight of sodium nitrite, classifying them as banned hazardous products under the Consumer Product Safety Act. It explicitly excludes commercial/industrial uses, as well as products defined as drugs, devices, cosmetics, or food (including meat, poultry, and egg products).

This title expands the responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis to promote critical supply chain resilience and identify vulnerabilities, especially concerning critical and emerging technologies. It establishes a 'Supply Chain Resilience Working Group' across federal agencies to assess, map, and model critical supply chains, identify gaps, and develop strategies to respond to supply chain shocks. The Assistant Secretary is also tasked with designating critical industries, supply chains, and goods, and updating these designations every four years.

This title establishes a federal criminal prohibition on the intentional disclosure of nonconsensual intimate visual depictions (NCIVD), including digital forgeries (deepfakes), of both adults and minors, with specific penalties. It also mandates that 'covered platforms' (websites/online services primarily featuring user-generated content or hosting NCIVDs) establish a notice-and-removal process for NCIVDs, requiring removal within 48 hours of a valid request and reasonable efforts to remove identical copies. Failure to comply with removal obligations is deemed an unfair or deceptive act by the FTC.

This section makes it unlawful for hotels, short-term rentals, or intermediaries to advertise a price for covered services (lodging) that does not clearly, conspicuously, and prominently display the total services price, including all mandatory fees, at the first display and throughout the purchasing process. It also requires disclosure of government-imposed taxes/fees before final purchase. Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts by the FTC, with state attorneys general also empowered to bring civil actions. It preempts state/local laws on fee disclosure unless they require total services price inclusion.

This title makes it unlawful for ticket issuers, secondary market ticket issuers, or exchanges to offer event tickets without clearly displaying the total event ticket price (including all fees) in advertisements and throughout the purchasing process, along with an itemized list of the base price and fees. It bans 'speculative ticketing' (selling tickets not in possession) and requires clear disclosures about secondary sales and affiliations. It also mandates full refunds for canceled events and specific refund/replacement options for postponed events, along with clear disclosure of refund policies.

This section increases transparency for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers under Medicaid by requiring states to report annually on waiting lists (including screening, re-screening, number of people, and average wait times) and service delivery (average time to receive services, percentage of authorized hours provided). It also establishes a demonstration program for up to 5 states to expand HCBS coverage to individuals who do not meet institutional levels of care, with planning grants available for up to 10 states. The Secretary of HHS is required to issue guidance on interim HCBS coverage.

This section mandates that Medicaid contracts with Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) or managed care entities require a transparent prescription drug pass-through pricing model. This means PBM payments for drugs must be limited to ingredient cost and a professional dispensing fee, passed through entirely to pharmacies. Administrative fees for PBMs must reflect fair market value. Any 'spread pricing' (where the PBM charges the state more than it pays the pharmacy) is disallowed for federal matching payments. PBMs must also provide detailed cost and payment information to states and the Secretary of HHS.

This section amends the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage for 'multi-cancer early detection screening tests' (MCEDs) beginning January 1, 2029. These tests must be FDA-cleared/approved, genomic sequencing blood tests or comparable, and determined by the Secretary of HHS to be reasonable and necessary for prevention/early detection. Payment amounts are set initially at the level of multi-target stool screening DNA tests, with a shift to market-based rates later. Limitations apply based on age (starting at 65, increasing annually) and frequency (not within 11 months of a previous test), but these limitations do not apply if the test receives an A or B recommendation from the USPSTF.

This section introduces new requirements for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in Medicare Part D, effective January 1, 2028. It mandates that PBMs and their affiliates derive income only from 'bona fide service fees' (flat dollar amounts reflecting fair market value for services), with an exception for fully passed-through rebates/discounts that comply with DIR rules. PBMs must provide annual detailed reports to PDP sponsors and the Secretary of HHS on drug spending, rebates, and remuneration, including information on affiliated pharmacies and formulary placement rationales. It also grants PDP sponsors audit rights over PBMs and requires PBMs to reimburse sponsors for civil monetary penalties incurred due to PBM violations.

This section amends the Public Health Service Act to adjust the funding formula for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTC Program). For fiscal years 2026 through 2040, the annual funding amount will be the previous fiscal year's amount multiplied by 1.05, and further adjusted by the ratio of WTC Program enrollees in the previous fiscal year to the fiscal year prior to that. It also mandates a report from the Secretary of HHS to Congress every three years assessing anticipated budget authority and outlays through 2090, including comparisons of funding formulas.

This section amends the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act to enhance youth prevention and recovery efforts, specifically by including strategies to increase education and awareness of the potency and dangers of synthetic opioids (like fentanyl-contaminated drugs). It also establishes a 'Federal Interagency Work Group on Fentanyl Contamination of Illegal Drugs' within the Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders Coordinating Committee. This Work Group will examine federal efforts, identify strategies for state/tribal responses, coordinate public awareness campaigns, and make recommendations to Congress, with a focus on youth.

This section strengthens the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) by requiring a detailed annual review of inventory and risk mitigation strategies, including tracking progress on closing gaps. It mandates that SNS management policies be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect best practices and requires the use of tools for timely and accurate tracking of stockpile contents during deployment. It also requires communication to vendors about contract modifications within 30 days and extends the authorization of appropriations for the SNS through fiscal year 2026.

This section amends the PREVENT Pandemics Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from funding research involving the creation, transfer, and use of enhanced pathogens of pandemic potential or listed biological agents/toxins if such research is conducted by a foreign entity at a facility in a 'country of concern.' Initial countries of concern are China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran, with the Director of National Intelligence able to add others based on evidence of malicious intent. A waiver for this prohibition is available from the President during initial responses to novel outbreaks, with Congressional notification.

This section establishes the 'INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE Project' (INCLUDE Project) within the NIH. It mandates a program of research, training, and investigation related to Down syndrome, focusing on high-risk/high-reward research, expanding clinical trials, studying biological mechanisms, improving diagnosis/treatment of co-occurring conditions (like Alzheimer's), and enhancing quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. The NIH Director must ensure coordination, prioritize non-duplicative research, consult stakeholders, and submit biennial reports to Congress.

This section mandates that for plan years beginning 30 months after enactment, group health plans and health insurance issuers (or their PBMs) cannot contract with an 'applicable entity' unless that entity agrees to disclose information and not limit or delay disclosure to the plan. It requires PBMs to submit semi-annual reports to group health plans with detailed information on drug costs, contracted compensation, rebates, and remuneration, broken down by drug and therapeutic class. It includes specific reporting for plans offered by large employers or large plans, and for PBMs with affiliated pharmacies. Violations are subject to civil monetary penalties by the Secretary of HHS, Labor, or Treasury.

This section amends ERISA to require that, for plan years beginning 30 months after enactment, contracts for pharmacy benefit management services between covered plans and service providers are only 'reasonable' if the PBM remits 100% of rebates, fees, alternative discounts, and other remuneration related to drug utilization or spending to the group health plan or health insurance issuer. These remittances must be quarterly, fully disclosed, and auditable. It also creates an exception for 'innocent plan fiduciaries' from certain prohibited transaction rules if they reasonably believed remittances were made, requested them upon discovery of failure, and notified the Secretary if the PBM failed to comply.

This section amends Title 35 of the U.S. Code (patent law) to limit the number of patents a reference product sponsor (innovator biologic company) can assert in an infringement action against a biosimilar applicant under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA). The limit is generally 20 patents, with no more than 10 issued after a specific date related to the BPCIA information exchange. The court may increase this limit under certain conditions, such as if the biosimilar applicant failed to provide required information or if there's a material change to the biosimilar product. This limitation applies only if the biosimilar applicant completes all required information exchange actions.