Legislation

The Millstone Act significantly increases federal penalties for a range of severe offenses. This legislation amends multiple criminal statutes to make the death penalty or life imprisonment the maximum punishment for crimes involving sexual violence against children, child exploitation, and female genital mutilation. Essentially, it mandates the harshest possible sentences for these specific violent crimes.

The Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act authorizes the National Science Foundation to establish a demonstration program providing competitive grants to improve mentorship skills and practices for STEM faculty and researchers. Special consideration for these grants will be given to minority-serving and emerging research institutions. The bill also expands National Science Foundation reporting requirements to include processes for addressing harassment and scientific misconduct.

The Walter Patterson Justice and Extradition Act aims to strengthen U.S. efforts to secure the extradition of fugitives from other nations. It specifically highlights the ongoing case of George Wright, convicted of the 1962 murder of Walter Patterson. The bill mandates the President to submit regular, detailed reports to Congress regarding the status of U.S. extradition requests and diplomatic actions taken. Furthermore, Congress expresses its view that U.S. officials should prioritize advocating for these extradition requests when meeting with foreign counterparts.

The PARKS Act expands access to federal recreation lands by granting free annual passes to families in foster care. This legislation ensures that foster families can enjoy national parks and recreation sites without the barrier of entrance fees. The bill allows for additional passes to be issued for larger foster families to cover all members.

The Let America Build Act of 2026 aims to significantly accelerate domestic energy and mineral development by streamlining federal permitting and limiting environmental reviews and legal challenges across oil and gas, mining, and electric transmission projects. The bill shifts oversight authority to states for certain drilling activities and imposes strict deadlines on federal agencies for project approvals. Ultimately, it reduces regulatory hurdles to boost resource production while curtailing the scope of environmental considerations and public litigation against development.

The Abraham Accords Expansion Act of 2026 formally expands the mission of the Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords to include Central Asia and the Caucasus. This legislation directs the Envoy to promote normalization and integration efforts in these strategically important regions, aligning with U.S. national security and economic interests. The Act utilizes existing authorities and funding to carry out these expanded duties.

The Protect Every Preschooler Act of 2026 expands the existing Gun Free School Zones Act to include early childhood education programs and preschools. This amendment broadens the definition of a "school" to ensure these younger educational settings are covered under federal gun-free zone restrictions.

The Chief Nimham Purple Heart Act authorizes the posthumous award of the Purple Heart to Daniel Nimham. This special recognition honors his service and injuries sustained as a Commissioned Captain in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, waiving standard eligibility requirements.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Energy to conduct a comprehensive study on the practicality, benefits, costs, and risks associated with recycling spent nuclear fuel into new fuels. The study must analyze various recycling technologies, facility siting options, and necessary policy changes. The findings, including recommendations, will be submitted to Congress and made available to the public within one year.

The Boxing Therapy for Parkinson’s Access Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer boxing-based exercise classes as a covered medical service. This benefit is specifically for veterans enrolled in VA health care who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease or a similar movement disorder. The goal is to provide this specialized therapy as a treatment option for these conditions.

This resolution honors the memory of the 49 victims of the tragic 2016 Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando, Florida. It recognizes the attack as an assault on the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities, while also acknowledging the survivors and first responders. The Senate expresses continued support for those affected and reaffirms its commitment to standing against terrorism and hate.

This bill enacts significant reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) by prohibiting the "reverse targeting" of U.S. persons and individuals located in the U.S. It also closes loopholes to prevent warrantless surveillance of people inside the country and establishes stricter court supervision, including warrant requirements, for targeting U.S. persons for foreign intelligence collection. Finally, the legislation includes a three-month extension of Section 702 authority.

The Public Lands Integrity Act amends the Byrd Rule to classify any provision resulting in the sale, disposal, or transfer of federal lands as "extraneous." This change allows senators to challenge and potentially remove such land transfer provisions from budget reconciliation bills. The act aims to protect federal lands from being sold or transferred through the reconciliation process.

The Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026 aims to ensure low-income families with children have access to essential internet service. This bill amends public housing rules to include the cost of basic, high-speed internet within utility allowances. Eligibility is restricted to families whose children qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches, and the service must include content filtering for minors.

The USMMA Athletics Act of 2026 authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish a nonprofit corporation to exclusively support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. This corporation will operate as a 501(c)(3) entity, allowing the Secretary to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements to fund and manage athletics. The bill also outlines provisions for leasing Academy property and managing trademarks to generate revenue for the athletic programs and Academy recruiting efforts.

The PKD Cures Act aims to combat polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a common, life-threatening genetic condition that often leads to kidney failure. This legislation mandates the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to significantly expand and intensify research into PKD mechanisms, treatments, and cures. Furthermore, it requires the NIH to develop a comprehensive, strategic research roadmap in collaboration with experts and patient advocates.

The SHRIMP Act of 2026 mandates the development of a rapid, chemical analysis-based methodology to accurately identify the country of origin for all shrimp entering the U.S. This new protocol aims to enhance food safety, combat illegal fishing, and improve import monitoring. The Secretary of Commerce must deliver a report detailing the operational plan for this new identification method within two years of enactment.

The **READ Act** aims to combat the national literacy crisis by promoting reading instruction aligned with the science of reading across K-12 education. It establishes new grant programs to support states in implementing evidence-based policies, improving teacher training, and ensuring early identification and intervention for struggling readers. Furthermore, the bill mandates that schools notify parents when their child is identified as being at risk for reading difficulties.

This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 to provide an exemption for certain military installations undergoing a mission transition. Specifically, it removes these installations from existing guidance regarding the maintenance of the aggregate square footage of Department of Defense facilities. This change applies to installations actively transitioning their mission when the amendment is enacted.

The Hong Kong Equal Treatment Act prohibits the U.S. government from granting Hong Kong any special treatment separate from the People's Republic of China. It mandates the President to impose sanctions, including asset freezes, on foreign individuals and entities responsible for undermining democracy, human rights, or autonomy in Hong Kong. These sanctions target those involved in enforcing the National Security Law or suppressing freedoms within the region.