Legislation

The Medicare Payment Integrity Enhancement Act of 2026 authorizes Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors to conduct prepayment reviews to stop improper payments before they occur. This legislation establishes a new payment structure for these contractors based on the amount of improper payments they prevent. The Secretary of HHS must implement regulations for this new prepayment review process within one year of enactment.

The Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes during public health emergencies. It authorizes significant funding for enhanced data collection, surveillance, and research across various CDC programs. Furthermore, the bill mandates public data disclosure, requires public health communication campaigns, and establishes a task force to develop federal recommendations for ensuring safe, respectful, and equitable maternity care during crises.

The Respect Our Communities Act requires federal agencies to obtain formal authorization from local and state officials before establishing new Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing or detention facilities. This process mandates a public notice and comment period, followed by a signed agreement with the appropriate local government leaders and the state Governor. Finally, Congress must be notified with a copy of the executed local-state agreement before any construction or operation can begin.

The Supporting Newborn Parents Act of 2026 establishes a new federal income tax credit of up to $2,000 for each qualifying child born during the tax year. This credit includes an option for parents to receive an advance payment shortly after the child's birth. The bill also streamlines the application process by collecting necessary election information directly through the Social Security application for a newborn's number.

The Cable Security Fleet Expansion Act significantly increases the minimum size of the Cable Security Fleet from two to at least six vessels. This legislation also raises the annual per-vessel payment from $\$5$ million to up to $\$7$ million. Furthermore, it revises the annual appropriations authorization to $\$56$ million for fiscal years 2027 through 2040.

The PETS Act, or Practitioner Enforcement and Tracking of Substances Act, aims to strengthen prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). It expands compliance by mandating that veterinarians report controlled substance dispensing for animal patients and requires all practitioners to report non-fatal overdoses. Furthermore, the bill makes it mandatory for PDMPs to share information regarding drug misuse and abuse with authorized recipients.

The Respect Tribal IDs Act mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) develop and implement comprehensive training for its personnel on recognizing and accepting Native American tribal documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. This training will cover proper interaction protocols, document identification, and the U.S. government's trust responsibility to tribes. All immigration enforcement personnel must complete this mandatory training annually and upon regional assignment.

The Campaign Event Contract Integrity Act prohibits individuals with access to confidential campaign information from trading financial contracts based on the outcome of federal elections or political events. It mandates that trading platforms establish safeguards to detect and prevent this prohibited insider trading. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is empowered to enforce these new regulations and penalties.

The SAFE through Medicare Act amends Medicare to cover essential "home resiliency services" for individuals deemed medically at-risk during climate or manmade disasters. This new Part B benefit, starting in 2027, will cover items like heat pumps or solar batteries necessary for health and safety when disasters strike. Medicare will pay 100% of the cost for these medically necessary services, following a determination process that considers regional risks and individual medical needs.

The Screen-time Management And Recommendations for Teens and Kids Act (SMART Kids Act) directs the Surgeon General to develop evidence-informed, age-specific recommendations for daily screen time limits for children and teens. These guidelines must be created in collaboration with an independent, unbiased expert entity. The final recommendations must be published within one year of the bill's enactment.

The VICTIM Act of 2026 establishes a Department of Justice grant program to help law enforcement agencies improve their clearance rates for homicides and firearm-related violent crimes. Funds can be used for personnel, technology, training, and victim support services specifically aimed at solving these serious offenses. The program includes strict reporting requirements, oversight through audits, and mandates a streamlined application process to ensure wide distribution of funds.

The No Delay for Immigration Oversight Act aims to permanently safeguard Congress's constitutional duty to oversee immigration detention facilities. This bill mandates that Members of Congress receive immediate, unannounced access to any facility housing non-citizens for oversight purposes. It requires contractors managing these sites to comply with these access rules or face contract cancellation.

The Student Loan Reform Act establishes a voluntary institutional cosigner program for federal student loans, allowing colleges and universities to cosign loans for their enrolled students starting in 2026. This institutional cosigning results in a reduced interest rate for borrowers. If a borrower defaults, the participating institution assumes the repayment obligation after 90 days. The Act also modifies the cohort default rate thresholds that trigger sanctions for institutions.

The Trade Responsibly for Environmental Emissions (TREE) Act prohibits the import and sale of "deforestation goods"—commodities linked to deforestation or forest degradation after December 31, 2020—starting in 2029. Importers must submit detailed due diligence statements to Customs and Border Protection, with violations resulting in significant civil penalties, including fines up to 4% of U.S. revenue and potential import bans. The bill also mandates a risk-based country categorization system to guide increased border inspections.

The Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act authorizes the construction of a regional water system to ensure an adequate water supply for several counties in Montana and North Dakota. The Secretary of the Interior will partner with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority, with the federal government covering up to 75% of the planning, design, and construction costs. The Act also requires the Western Area Power Administration to supply necessary electrical power for the system's operation. This legislation explicitly preserves all existing state water laws and management authority.

This Act establishes the January 6th Law Enforcement Heroes Compensation Fund to provide financial compensation for injuries and deaths sustained by law enforcement officers defending the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The program will be administered by a Special Master appointed by the Attorney General, who will review claims for economic and noneconomic losses. The bill also mandates an additional, guaranteed payment for all eligible officers, funded in part by certain government settlement amounts related to the attack. Determinations made by the Special Master regarding compensation are final and not subject to judicial review.

The K–12 AI Literacy and Readiness Act of 2026 amends existing federal education funding to explicitly permit the use of Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant funds for K-12 artificial intelligence (AI) instruction and staff training. This allows districts to implement safe, effective, and responsible AI curricula and professional development for educators. The goal is to ensure students and staff are prepared to engage with AI technology.

The Ending Predator Access to Union Power Act amends federal labor law to prohibit individuals convicted of a sex offense against a minor from holding office in a labor organization. This expands existing restrictions that already bar those convicted of serious crimes from union leadership roles. The goal is to ensure the safety of union members by preventing convicted predators from gaining positions of power within unions.

The PATCH Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit consumer reporting agencies from including adverse medical debt information in consumer credit reports. This legislation specifically defines medical debt and prevents creditors from using this information when making credit decisions. The goal is to protect Americans from credit harm resulting from medical expenses.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility at 12109 New Kent Highway in New Kent, Virginia, to the "Patricia Paige Post Office." The legislation mandates that all official federal documents and records must use this new designation for the facility.