Legislation

The Defend Elections from Trump Act prohibits the use of federal funds or official resources for political campaign activities related to federal elections. It also strictly bans the deployment of federal law enforcement, intelligence, or military personnel at domestic election locations through the end of 2026, unless specifically authorized by Congress. Violations are subject to civil penalties enforced by the Attorney General.

The Advance Global Health Act streamlines reporting by requiring the State Department's Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy to consolidate most of its required reports to Congress into a single, annual, machine-searchable document. This consolidation aims to improve efficiency while preserving specific quarterly and pre-spending reports. The Act ensures that all existing congressional notification requirements remain in effect.

The VALOR Act clarifies rules regarding VA home loan funding fees for veterans with pending disability claims. It mandates that any improperly collected fee must be refunded or credited to the veteran. Furthermore, if a veteran pays the fee while a disability claim is pending and is later approved for compensation, the VA must reimburse the full fee amount.

The GUIDE Act establishes a program within the Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response to recruit, train, and retain specialized professionals. This initiative aims to ensure the Bureau has the necessary expertise in areas like logistics, public health, and engineering to effectively manage complex international disaster assistance operations.

This Act mandates the State Department to develop a comprehensive strategy to identify and mitigate security risks posed by relationships between European academic institutions and specific Chinese entities of concern. The strategy must assess the scope of these entities' activities in Europe and recommend diplomatic actions to safeguard U.S. foreign policy interests. This measure aims to counter foreign malign influence and protect transatlantic academic and research integrity.

The Transparency in Foreign Assistance Act establishes a one-year pilot program to increase congressional oversight of certain foreign assistance. This program requires key State Department officials to notify Congress with detailed information whenever specific programs in Africa or counterterrorism efforts require additional funding. The goal is to ensure transparency regarding the use and scope of these funds.

The Stop the Sexualization of Children Act prohibits the use of federal education funds to develop or promote programs, activities, or materials for minors that include sexually oriented material. This restriction specifically targets content exposing children to nudity, stripping, or lewd dancing. The bill carves out exceptions for standard science coursework, classic literature, classic art, and major world religious texts.

The Humanitarian Theft Enforcement Act establishes financial liability for foreign persons or entities that divert or destroy U.S. humanitarian assistance. The Secretary of State is required to take steps to recover the value of the lost aid. Recovered funds will be available for use by the Department of State or transferred to the original funding agency.

This bill, the Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act, requires the Secretary of State to improve international cooperation on biodefense, biosecurity, and biotechnology with U.S. allies and partners. It mandates the development of two key strategies focused on enhancing biodefense cooperation within NATO and expanding global engagement on biotechnology security. The legislation aims to strengthen allied capabilities, coordinate export controls for dual-use items, and promote adherence to high safety standards globally.

This Act establishes a new tax exclusion for "post-graduation scholarship grants" used to repay student loans. These grants must be provided by specific charitable organizations to individuals who agree to live and work in designated underserved communities. The legislation ensures these loan repayments are not counted as taxable income for the recipient, similar to traditional scholarships.

The Improving Housing Access Act mandates a comprehensive study by the Comptroller General to identify ways to remove barriers and enhance housing options for elderly and disabled persons. This study will specifically examine the potential benefits of providing capital advances for existing federal supportive housing programs for these populations.

This Act mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to determine the number of residential and public housing units located within one mile of any National Priorities List (Superfund) site. The GAO must then report these findings to Congress within six months of enactment.

The SHADOW Act aims to strengthen U.S. defense against hybrid warfare by requiring the State Department to assess threats and enhance diplomatic engagement with allies, particularly NATO. It establishes a new Coordinator for Hybrid Warfare Accountability to oversee information sharing and coordinate response strategies against threats from actors like China and Russia. Furthermore, the bill mandates a report identifying Chinese entities materially supporting Russia's defense industrial base and recommending appropriate countermeasures.

The GRADUATE Act amends tax law to transform the existing student loan interest deduction into a broader education loan deduction, effective after 2025. This new deduction allows taxpayers to deduct the total amount paid on qualified education loans, up to a maximum of \$10,000 plus an additional \$500 per dependent. The maximum deduction amount is subject to an income-based phase-out, beginning when Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) exceeds \$125,000 for individuals or \$250,000 for married couples filing jointly.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility at 4431 Main Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the "Dr. Constance 'Connie' E. Clayton Post Office." The legislation ensures that all federal records and documents will henceforth refer to the location by its new name.

The RISE Reauthorization Act of 2026 reauthorizes and expands the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant program through 2030, dedicating $50 million annually. This legislation refocuses the grants on creating high-wage jobs and new businesses in rural areas, with a specific emphasis on supporting smaller communities. It updates authorized activities to provide broader technical assistance and workforce training for rural businesses.

The Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026 mandates that Medicaid programs cover up to 12 mental health telehealth visits annually for certain individuals recently released from incarceration and placed under home confinement. This provision aims to improve access to crucial mental health services during the critical transition period following release.

The Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act of 2026 establishes a pilot program offering competitive grants to local entities in high-unemployment areas to create guaranteed jobs for all eligible adult residents. These guaranteed jobs must meet strict standards for wages, benefits, and working conditions, while also providing supportive services for participants. The bill mandates rigorous reporting and evaluation to assess the program's impact on employment, poverty, and economic indicators.

The Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act of 2026 aims to address job displacement caused by automation through significant federal investment in worker training. It establishes competitive grants for partnerships to pilot innovative training projects focused on digital skills and in-demand sectors. The bill also expands existing workforce programs to specifically support workers who are, or are likely to become, dislocated due to technological advances. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to prepare the U.S. workforce for jobs requiring advanced technology and digital literacy.

This Act officially designates two Department of Veterans Affairs clinics in Iowa to honor fallen Iowa National Guard heroes. Specifically, it names the Des Moines VA clinic after Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar and the Marshalltown VA clinic after Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard. This legislation ensures these service members are permanently recognized at these facilities.