Legislation

The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act mandates that the Bureau of Prisons implement critical Inspector General recommendations to address the widespread sexual harassment and assault of correctional staff by inmates. The bill requires improved data collection, oversight, and reporting to Congress regarding these incidents. Additionally, it directs the Attorney General to establish national standards for preventing and punishing such misconduct within federal facilities.

This bill updates and corrects technical errors within chapters 4, 10, and 131 of title 5, United States Code, to ensure the text remains current with recently enacted laws. It strengthens federal oversight by enhancing the independence and reporting requirements of Inspectors General and establishing a new inspection and ombudsman system for the Bureau of Prisons. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of an online database for federal judicial financial disclosure reports and makes necessary conforming updates to federal statutory citations.

This bill implements minor technical corrections to Title 49 of the United States Code to improve the clarity and accuracy of the text. These updates address punctuation, spelling, formatting, and cross-reference errors throughout various chapters. These amendments are strictly administrative and do not alter any substantive legal requirements.

The Local Access to Courts Act (LACA) improves judicial accessibility by expanding the list of authorized federal court locations. Specifically, the bill mandates that federal district court sessions be held in College Station, Texas, and El Centro, California.

The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2026 establishes a dedicated unit within the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute criminal trade activities, such as smuggling, duty evasion, and trade-based money laundering. This legislation aims to bolster enforcement capacity through increased staffing, interagency collaboration, and the development of multi-jurisdictional responses. Additionally, it mandates annual reporting to Congress to ensure transparency and accountability in the government's efforts to protect American industry and labor.

The NDO Fairness Act of 2025 reforms the legal standards for government-issued nondisclosure orders (NDOs) that prevent electronic service providers from notifying customers about warrants or subpoenas. The bill establishes stricter judicial oversight, sets clear time limits on secrecy, and mandates that customers be notified once an order expires. Additionally, it introduces new transparency requirements, including annual reporting to Congress on the government's use of these orders.

The Federal Worker Protection Act strengthens whistleblower rights by ensuring that federal non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) cannot be used to suppress or retaliate against employees who report government wrongdoing. The bill mandates clear disclosure of whistleblower rights in all agency agreements, requires pre-clearance of NDA templates by the Office of Special Counsel, and establishes a private right of action for employees facing retaliatory enforcement. Additionally, it bolsters oversight by requiring independent Inspector General reviews of all NDAs and providing new protections for Inspectors General against retaliatory removal.

This bill mandates that the United States Postal Service provide curbside mail delivery to residents in qualifying small housing developments of 50 homes or fewer. It further prohibits the Postal Service from using funds to restrict or discontinue this service for these communities.

The GRANT Reform Act of 2026 increases federal spending transparency by requiring the Comptroller General to publish annual reports detailing all federal grant distributions and project outcomes. It mandates that grant recipients submit comprehensive financial reports upon project completion, with non-compliance resulting in future funding ineligibility. This legislation ensures greater accountability for taxpayer dollars by standardizing reporting requirements across all federal grant programs.

The Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act establishes mandatory screening protocols for companies that synthesize nucleic acids or sell related equipment to prevent the misuse of high-risk biological sequences. The bill requires covered entities to verify customer identities, screen orders against a federal list of restricted sequences, and report suspicious activity to the Secretary of Commerce. Additionally, it grants the Secretary authority to enforce these standards through audits, investigations, and civil penalties to protect U.S. national security and public safety.

The We Can't Wait Act of 2026 allows individuals to elect to receive Social Security disability insurance benefits during the mandatory waiting period. To maintain fiscal neutrality for the Disability Insurance Trust Fund, participants who choose this option will receive a permanently reduced monthly benefit amount. The Social Security Administration is required to provide online tools and resources to help applicants understand and manage these election choices.

The "Sell Your Stocks or Step Down Act" prohibits the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and senior executive and judicial officials from owning or trading individual stocks, commodities, and other financial assets. To prevent conflicts of interest, covered individuals must divest from restricted investments within 30 days of taking office or the bill's enactment. The legislation establishes strict financial penalties for noncompliance and mandates public reporting of all violations.

The Defense AI Reliability and Reporting Act directs the Department of Defense to establish a centralized, non-punitive program for reporting and remediating artificial intelligence incidents and vulnerabilities. This initiative aims to identify systemic risks and improve the safety, security, and operational effectiveness of AI systems across the military. The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress to ensure transparency and accountability regarding AI performance and corrective actions.

The Pennington County Land Conveyance Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer approximately 8.97 acres of Black Hills National Forest land to Pennington County, South Dakota. This land will be provided at no cost to the county to support the development of a public works facility or other necessary public uses. Following the transfer, the boundary of the Black Hills National Forest will be officially modified to reflect the change in ownership.

This resolution supports the designation of September 2026 as "Peace Month" to honor the United Nations International Day of Peace. It reaffirms the United States' commitment to global peace and human rights while calling on Congress to take proactive steps to promote peace both domestically and internationally.

The Banning Antiquated Duties and Delivering Equitable American Levies (BAD DEAL) Act of 2026 repeals Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, effectively ending the President's authority to impose trade-related retaliatory duties under that provision. The bill further mandates the nullification of all existing presidential proclamations issued under this authority and requires the federal government to refund all tariffs previously collected as a result of these actions.

The "Missed Paychecks for Missed Deadlines Act" prohibits Members of Congress from receiving pay during any period of a federal government shutdown. It mandates that payroll administrators withhold salary for each day a lapse in funding occurs and explicitly forbids retroactive back pay for those days.

The Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act mandates the restoration of independent press access to the Pentagon, reversing recent restrictions that limited journalists' movement and workspace. The bill requires the Department of Defense to reinstate the access policies that were in place as of May 2025, ensuring credentialed reporters can continue their essential oversight of military operations. Additionally, it establishes a secure, non-political process for issuing press credentials and requires congressional consultation before any future changes to media access can be made.

The "Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act" prohibits the federal government from altering or renaming any of the five Great Lakes. Additionally, the bill formally nullifies Executive Order 14422, which sought to rename Lake Ontario, and prevents the use of federal funds to implement any similar renaming initiatives in the future.

The Part D Premium Protection Act of 2026 establishes a temporary premium credit for Medicare Part D enrollees throughout 2027. This legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to subsidize plan premiums by an amount equivalent to the average reduction seen in previous stabilization demonstrations. By directly offsetting these costs, the bill aims to keep prescription drug coverage more affordable for Medicare beneficiaries in 2027.