Pennies, robocalls, and 23,000-pound peanut candy | August 10, 2026

In this episode of Congress in Context, we pull back the curtain on a day of pro forma sessions to reveal a legislative pipeline packed with bills that directly impact consumer costs and public health. We break down the "Common Cents Act," which proposes the elimination of the penny and the rounding of cash transactions, alongside a new federal push to combat the scourge of international robocalls. Beyond the pocketbook, we examine bipartisan progress on the "INCLUDE Project Act" for Down syndrome research and the "National Plan for Epilepsy Act," showing how the machinery of government continues to address critical health outcomes even when the political noise is at a minimum. From northern border security updates to banning hazardous consumer products like high-concentration sodium nitrite, this episode demonstrates how specific procedural maneuvers set the stage for policies that safeguard the lives and wallets of everyday Americans.

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Legislation Mentioned- Bill Summary

https://buymeacoffee.com/congressincontextext/bill-summary-august-10-2026

• H. Res. 1480 - Resolution honoring USPS employees Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr.
• H.R. 10070 - Act to expand the eligibility of border patrol agents for certain overtime pay
• S. 1525 - Common Cents Act
• S. 1838 - INCLUDE Project Act of 2025
• S. 2398 - Kay Hagan Tick Act Reauthorization Act
• S. 2542 - Federal Building Threat Notification Act
• S. 2666 - Act to combat unlawful robocalls
• S. 2677 - Act to expand information sharing regarding intellectual property rights violations
• S. 289 - Youth Poisoning Protection Act
• S. 3266 - USMMA Athletics Act of 2025
• S. 3897 - Act related to public safety officers' death benefits
• S. 3977 - Act to modify certain bankruptcy eligibility requirements
• S. 434 - Act to establish the Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee
• S. 4850 - Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act
• S. 494 - National Plan for Epilepsy Act
• S. 850 - Act to enhance and review the northern border security of the United States