Legislation

The BUSES Act establishes a national minimum idling standard of 15 minutes for over-the-road buses and school buses, preempting any stricter state or local rules. This legislation also bars private citizens from filing civil lawsuits over idling violations under the Clean Air Act and prohibits bounty-based enforcement programs targeting over-the-road bus idling.

The State Department Integrity and Transparency Act aims to strengthen U.S. foreign policy by ensuring senior State Department officials possess deep expertise and experience. The bill mandates that a majority of Assistant Secretaries must come from the career Foreign or Senior Executive Service and enhances disclosure requirements for all high-level nominees. Furthermore, it increases transparency by requiring the public posting of nominee reports and certifying that political contributions did not influence appointments. The legislation also places limits on the duration of certain short-term, politically appointed positions at diplomatic missions abroad.

The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act aims to support volunteer first responders by making it easier for them to access housing assistance. The bill allows qualified volunteers to receive an $18,000 income deduction when applying for USDA guaranteed home loans. Additionally, it makes these volunteers eligible to purchase discounted homes through HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program and similar initiatives. Eligibility requires continuous service, meeting minimum activity standards, and holding current first responder certification.

The Orbital Sustainability Act of 2025 (ORBITS Act) aims to preserve safe and sustainable access to space by addressing the growing threat of orbital debris. The bill directs federal agencies, primarily NASA and the Department of Commerce, to develop a prioritized list of debris for cleanup and fund demonstration projects for active debris removal technologies. Furthermore, it mandates the updating of national standards for orbital debris mitigation and the development of standard practices for space traffic coordination.

The Natural Climate Solutions Research and Extension Act of 2026 establishes natural climate solutions as a priority for USDA research and extension grants. This legislation directs funding toward land management practices that enhance carbon storage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across agricultural lands, forests, and wetlands. The supported practices will emphasize biodiversity, climate resilience, and the incorporation of traditional ecological knowledge.

The Restore Military Families’ Voices Act aims to strengthen protections for military families living in privatized housing. This legislation prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to sign nondisclosure agreements regarding housing conditions or services. Furthermore, it expands the list of officials and offices to whom tenants can report housing issues without fear of retaliation.

The Combat Emerging Threats to Critical Infrastructure Act of 2026 mandates the CISA Director to update security plans for all 16 critical infrastructure sectors within one year. These updates must specifically address risks posed by disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Furthermore, the Act requires CISA to reassess and revise these sector-specific plans biennially to keep pace with evolving threats.

This act prohibits the use of federal funds for any legal financial settlements benefiting the President personally or politically. Instead, the bill redirects $1.776 billion from the U.S. Treasury to significantly increase funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help lower current grocery costs.

This bill mandates U.S. Customs and Border Protection to link the NEXUS applications of family members living in the same household. This linkage allows one family member to schedule interviews for the entire group and may permit joint interviews. Additionally, the Commissioner can waive the interview requirement for children under 14 when linked to an eligible family member.

This Act establishes the Foreign Investment Review Monitoring and Commitment Tracking Oversight Board (FIRM) to oversee foreign investment commitments made to the United States. FIRM will review these investments to ensure they provide a "net economic benefit" and meet strict criteria for "quality jobs." The legislation creates the Foreign Investment Review Authority (FIRA) to monitor compliance, enforce ethics rules, and report annually on investment fulfillment and economic impact.

The Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act grants federal agencies and the Treasury Department the authority to temporarily pause or condition payments when there is an elevated risk of fraud or improper payment. This pause must be based on objective indicators and last only as long as necessary to verify the payment details. The bill establishes strict timelines for notifying payees and resolving paused payments, ensuring routine transactions continue moving while high-risk payments are reviewed.

The JAWBONE Act prohibits federal agencies from coercing private speech platforms, including AI systems, into taking specific content actions against protected speech. It establishes a federal cause of action allowing harmed parties to sue for violations of this prohibition. Furthermore, the Act mandates the creation of standards for logging government communications with these platforms and establishing a public portal to report these interactions.

This Act aims to modernize and streamline U.S. port operations by making key changes to maritime regulations. Specifically, it expands eligibility for vessel documentation to facilitate port work and removes dredged material from existing coastwise transportation requirements. These changes are intended to incentivize and support the expansion and efficiency of U.S. ports.

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to annually assess terrorism threats posed by the use of generative artificial intelligence. These assessments, produced in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, will analyze how terrorist organizations might use generative AI for propaganda or to enhance weapon development. The findings will be shared with Congress and incorporated into information sharing with state and local fusion centers.

This bill establishes the Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Task Force will improve healthcare and benefits for veterans affected by blast exposure by aligning research, establishing baseline measurements, and prioritizing translational research into related conditions. It is required to submit annual reports detailing its progress and recommendations for evaluating service-connected neurological injuries.

This bill strengthens protections for taxpayer information by significantly increasing both criminal and civil penalties for unauthorized disclosure. It raises maximum fines and prison time for willful disclosures and establishes new, severe penalties for IRS contractors who fail to safeguard confidential data. The legislation also increases the minimum civil damages available to individuals whose information is improperly disclosed.

This bill establishes a Department of Defense pilot program to evaluate the safety, quality, and qualification pathways for using printable energetic feedstocks in additive manufacturing. The program will assess how these new materials impact handling safety, supply chain resilience, and logistics compared to traditional methods. A key focus is developing necessary test methods and qualification criteria to ensure these materials meet all explosive safety and security requirements. The Secretary of Defense must report annually to Congress on the program's findings and recommendations for wider adoption.

The Port Modernization and Supply Chain Protection Act aims to streamline port operations by removing outdated restrictions on dredging activities. This legislation repeals requirements that U.S. dredging must be performed by American-built and flagged vessels. It also removes specific regulations concerning the transportation of dredged material.

The Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act of 2026 mandates that most private health plans must cover the first three primary care visits and the first three behavioral health care visits each year with absolutely no cost-sharing for the patient. This ensures immediate, no-cost access to essential routine and mental health services. The bill also prohibits plans from imposing discriminatory limits or payment cuts on these covered visits.

The Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026 establishes a national standard requiring federal agencies to increase resilience against current and future flooding. It mandates that federal actions in floodplains use updated science, often requiring construction above the traditional base flood level. The Act directs agencies to avoid floodplain development where possible and implement measures to minimize harm when action in a floodplain is unavoidable.