Legislation

The Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the feasibility of using satellite technology in broadband projects managed by the Appalachian Regional Commission. This study will specifically examine the effectiveness, economic impact, and cost-efficiency of satellite broadband for business use in the region. The goal is to determine if satellite solutions can effectively promote economic development across Appalachia.

This act establishes a new categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to streamline certain forest health and wildfire risk reduction projects. This exclusion applies to tree density modification activities on areas under 5,000 acres, such as thinning and slash removal, exempting them from standard environmental reviews. The legislation specifically excludes large-scale regeneration harvests and vegetation conversions from this streamlined process.

The Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026 aims to increase patient access to physical therapy services in underserved areas. This bill expands the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program to include physical therapists, helping to address shortages. It also allocates dedicated funding for this expansion and ensures Medicare coverage for physical therapy services provided by Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.

The Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2026 prohibits the Department of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing OSHA's proposed 2024 heat safety standard. Congress finds the proposed rule too rigid, burdensome, and confusing for both businesses and workers across diverse industries. This legislation prevents the adoption of that specific, prescriptive standard or any substantially similar regulation.

The PATH to the Foreign Service Act creates a streamlined career pathway for eligible former USAID employees to transition directly into the State Department's Foreign Service. This legislation waives the Foreign Service Entrance Exam for qualified applicants and mandates the recognition of prior USAID service for seniority and benefits. The goal is to leverage the experience of former USAID personnel within the State Department's Foreign Service ranks.

The **Protecting America’s Workers Act** significantly expands workplace safety protections by extending OSHA coverage to all public employees and strengthening whistleblower rights against retaliation. The bill increases penalties for safety violations, grants victims' families more rights during investigations, and improves federal oversight of state-run safety programs. Overall, it aims to create a more comprehensive, transparent, and punitive system to prevent workplace injuries and hold employers accountable.

The Clinical Trial Modernization Act aims to increase diversity and participation in clinical trials by funding outreach and education efforts targeting underrepresented populations. It amends federal laws to allow trial sponsors to cover participant expenses, provide necessary digital health technologies, and assist with cost-sharing obligations without violating anti-kickback statutes. Furthermore, the bill allows participants to exclude up to \$2,000 in annual payments received from trial sponsors from their gross income.

This bill aims to protect consumers from deceptive content created by generative Artificial Intelligence, such as deepfakes. It requires AI application providers to embed machine-readable disclosures in AI-generated audio or visual content. Covered online platforms must then clearly display these disclosures to users. The FTC is tasked with issuing regulations to enforce these transparency requirements.

Logan's Law mandates the creation of a public, searchable Violent Criminal Offender Database managed by the Attorney General. This legislation requires states receiving Byrne JAG grants to submit data on qualifying convictions to this new database. Furthermore, the bill directs the Attorney General to report on and recommend improvements for increasing criminal record sharing between states and federal entities. Non-compliant states risk losing their Byrne JAG grant funds.

The CLEAN Mergers Act imposes strict new divestiture requirements on large mergers completed between January 20, 2025, and January 19, 2029. It mandates the immediate divestiture of completed threshold transactions (valued at $10 billion or more) unless specific competitive conditions are proven in court. Furthermore, the Act allows federal agencies and state attorneys general to review smaller "enforcement-lapse transactions" for evidence of misconduct or improper influence, potentially leading to required divestiture. Finally, it extends the statute of limitations for antitrust lawsuits from four years to ten years.

This bill officially renames the Federal Aviation Administration facility at the Yakima Air Terminal in Yakima, Washington, as the "Roy A. Rutherford Air Traffic Control Tower." The designation applies to the current tower and any future structure built at that location. This change requires all official documents to use the new name when referencing the facility.

The Main Street BRIDGE Act mandates collaboration between Small Business Development Centers and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Centers to better serve small businesses. This partnership requires joint reporting to Congress on its results, including metrics on businesses served and jobs created. The goal is to enhance resource integration and support for small business growth and equity.

This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that members of the Armed Forces should be authorized to carry personal firearms on military installations when off-duty. It amends existing law to require that requests for authorization begin with the assumption of approval. Any denial must be provided in writing and include specific, objective reasons.

This bill mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) share a veteran's history of opioid prescriptions with their non-VA healthcare providers participating in the Community Care program. This information sharing will occur through a designated Third Party Administrator. The goal is to ensure community providers have critical prescription history for safer veteran care.

The PEAT Act of 2026 clarifies the classification of certain biologics under the Public Health Service Act. This legislation ensures that a biologic cannot be regulated solely based on the presence of a clinically inactive protein component. The bill aims to streamline regulatory requirements by focusing on active components.

The Release Your Taxes Act of 2026 mandates that Members of Congress and congressional candidates must publicly disclose their federal income tax returns. This information will be collected and published in a searchable database maintained by congressional officials within five business days of receipt. Failure to comply will result in the individual's name being publicly listed until they submit the required filings or six years pass.

The Housing FIRST Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to establish formal standards for tenant screening reports, treating them similarly to employment reports. This bill strictly limits the types of criminal and financial history landlords can use when evaluating rental applicants. Furthermore, it mandates specific disclosure and adverse action notification requirements for landlords using these reports.

The Zero Tolerance for Political Violence Act of 2026 establishes severe mandatory minimum sentences for attempting to assassinate high-ranking federal officials. This legislation mandates a minimum of 25 years or life in prison for attempts against members of Congress, Cabinet members, Supreme Court Justices, the President, the Vice President, and certain presidential staff. The bill aims to impose strict penalties to deter political violence against key government figures.

The New Pathways Act amends the Second Chance Act to require the Bureau of Prisons to assist certain returning citizens in obtaining crucial identification documents before their release. This includes providing U.S. citizens with a REAL ID-compliant identification card and helping noncitizens secure proof of lawful status. The goal is to ensure individuals have necessary documentation for successful reentry into their communities.

The Petfax Act of 2026 enhances consumer protection by requiring sellers of dogs and cats to disclose detailed source and health history information before any sale. It also prohibits unfair or deceptive sales practices, such as misrepresenting an animal's origin. Furthermore, the Act strengthens enforcement against problematic breeders by barring individuals whose dealer licenses were recently suspended or revoked from obtaining new licenses at the same location, even through family members or new entities.