Legislation

The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act establishes the new Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) plan for federal student loans. This income-driven option features low monthly payments calculated based on a percentage of income above 250% of the federal poverty line. The plan offers loan forgiveness after 10 or 15 years, depending on whether the borrower has undergraduate or graduate loans. Additionally, 50% of each payment is applied directly to the loan principal.

The Protect our Pets Act strengthens federal laws against animal cruelty by significantly increasing penalties for animal crushing offenses. This legislation also establishes a new federal crime prohibiting the abandonment or endangerment of domesticated animals on federal land. These measures aim to provide stronger protections for animals across the nation.

This bill, the SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act, extends the statute of limitations to 10 years for prosecuting fraud related to the Shuttered Venue Operators and Restaurant Revitalization programs. It also mandates regular reporting from the Attorney General to Congress detailing enforcement activities against fraud in these specific COVID-19 relief programs.

The Supporting Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Act primarily extends key tax incentives for biodiesel and renewable diesel through 2029. It also introduces new provisions to prevent taxpayers from claiming multiple overlapping benefits for the same fuel, ensuring credits are not double-counted.

The Pipeline Integrity, Protection, and Enhancement for Leveraging Investments in the Nation's Energy to assure Safety Act of 2025 significantly increases funding for federal pipeline safety programs through 2030. It modernizes regulations by increasing penalties for violations, allowing for risk-based inspections, and mandating public access to safety standards. The bill also directs studies and new rules for emerging gases like hydrogen and carbon dioxide, while strengthening emergency response and tribal involvement in oversight.

The Expanding the Surety Bond Program Act of 2025 significantly boosts support for small businesses seeking contract bonds. This legislation raises the maximum bond guarantee amount the SBA can offer from $6.5 million to $18 million. It also establishes new reporting requirements and limits administrative spending from the program's revolving fund.

This resolution officially designates April as "Undiagnosed Awareness Month" and April 29th as "Undiagnosed Day." It recognizes the millions of Americans living with rare or undiagnosed diseases and the long diagnostic journeys they face. The bill also highlights the crucial work of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) in identifying diseases and improving patient outcomes.

This bill directs the President to withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities involving Iran, unless those forces are necessary for imminent self-defense or the defense of an ally. The removal must comply with the War Powers Resolution reporting requirements. This directive ceases if Congress issues a formal declaration of war or specific authorization for military force against Iran.

This bill directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, pursuant to the War Powers Resolution. It terminates existing authorizations for military action against Iran unless Congress explicitly approves future force. The resolution maintains the ability for the U.S. to defend itself or allies from imminent attack and preserves intelligence-sharing activities.

This resolution supports designating the week of April 27 through May 1, 2026, as "National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week." It recognizes the vital role of over one million school-based professionals, such as counselors, social workers, and therapists, in removing barriers to learning for all students. The bill commends these individuals for delivering essential educational, social, and emotional support that improves student outcomes and school climate.

This resolution expresses support for designating April as Sikh History Month. The designation aims to recognize the rich history, culture, and significant contributions of Sikh Americans. It encourages public education to promote awareness, combat stereotypes, and foster respect for religious diversity.

This bill officially designates the week of April 24th through April 30th as "National Reentry Week." It recognizes the challenges of mass incarceration and the high rates of recidivism facing formerly incarcerated individuals. The legislation encourages increased support and investment in programs that promote successful reentry, including access to housing, education, job training, and mental health services. Ultimately, the goal is to foster safer communities by supporting the stability and success of those returning to society.

This Act, the Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Modernization Act of 2026, significantly updates the rules for filing lawsuits in federal court based on the diverse citizenship of the parties. The primary change is raising the minimum amount of money in dispute required for these cases from \$75,000 to \$500,000. This new threshold applies to all civil lawsuits filed after the law takes effect.

The Achieving Interoperability of Medical Systems (AIMS) Act of 2025 mandates that the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs jointly adopt and implement interoperable image-sharing software technology. This new system must seamlessly connect military and VA medical facilities, as well as certain external providers, to ensure rapid and comprehensive exchange of medical images and related patient data. The Secretaries must submit a detailed plan and timeline within 180 days to achieve this full interoperability, aiming to replace outdated methods like CDs and DVDs.

This Act directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct a comprehensive study on motor vehicle flammability hazards. The study will examine occupant safety risks, the materials used to meet current flammability standards, and potential health and environmental hazards associated with those materials. NHTSA must report its findings and recommendations for mitigation to Congress within 30 months of enactment.

The Energy Bills Relief Act is a comprehensive bill designed to lower energy costs for American families, accelerate the deployment of low-cost, clean energy, and modernize the nation's electricity grid. It achieves this by reversing harmful policies against renewables, expanding energy assistance programs, streamlining grid connection processes, and increasing transparency in utility regulation. Ultimately, the legislation aims to create a more reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy system while ensuring communities have a stronger voice in energy development.

This bill establishes a permanent Full Risk Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Program within Medicare to improve health outcomes and lower costs. It allows provider groups to take on full financial responsibility for managing the care of their Medicare patients in exchange for innovative payment models. The program offers options like primary care capitation or total care capitation, moving providers away from traditional fee-for-service payments. It mandates full financial risk sharing for savings and losses, with specific structures for standard and complex care ACOs.

The Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026 establishes a new, separate personnel system within the Department of State to maintain a pool of trained civilian experts ready for immediate deployment. This Corps will be gradually built up to 1,000 members and can be called to active service during national emergencies or to augment diplomatic efforts abroad. The legislation details comprehensive rules for appointments, compensation, benefits, retirement, and service obligations, closely aligning the Corps' structure and protections with those of the Foreign Service and uniformed services.

The PROTECT Act of 2026 significantly revises H-1B visa requirements by mandating higher minimum wages, limiting visa validity for third-party worksites, and prioritizing petitions offering greater compensation. Additionally, the bill exempts qualifying healthcare workers from H-1B visa fees, provided employers demonstrate good-faith efforts to hire U.S. workers first. These changes apply to all petitions filed on or after the date of enactment.

The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 aims to enhance timely access to care and improve oversight for Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees. The bill mandates faster decision-making for prior authorization requests, establishes strict compliance scoring with financial penalties for non-compliant plans, and requires MA plans to use the same medical necessity criteria as traditional Medicare. Furthermore, it protects providers by limiting retroactive denials for pre-approved services and ensuring prompt payment for those services.