Legislation

The "Give America a Raise Act" significantly increases the federal minimum wage, phasing it up to $20.00 per hour over three years, followed by annual adjustments tied to CPI or GDP growth. This legislation also phases out the subminimum wage for tipped employees and workers with disabilities, ultimately requiring both groups to receive the full federal minimum wage. Furthermore, it establishes new requirements for publishing wage increase notices and eliminates the special minimum wage category for young new hires after 90 days of employment.

The Make Congress Drive Union Made Act restricts how Members of the House and Senate can use their official office budgets to purchase or lease motor vehicles starting October 1, 2026. These funds can only be used for vehicles that are both assembled in the United States and built by union labor under a collective bargaining agreement. This legislation aims to ensure federal legislative travel and office vehicle use supports American, unionized manufacturing jobs.

The Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct Act (SCAM Act) holds online platforms accountable for displaying fraudulent or deceptive paid advertisements. It mandates that platforms implement strict advertiser verification and robust detection systems to prevent scams. The bill empowers the FTC, state attorneys general, and private citizens to enforce these new standards against platforms that fail to take reasonable steps to stop advertising misconduct.

The Restoring Sovereignty and Human Rights in Nicaragua Act of 2026 significantly expands U.S. sanctions against the Nicaraguan government, targeting its gold sector and officials involved in human rights abuses. The bill also prohibits new U.S. investment in Nicaragua while establishing a grant program to support civil society and democracy promotion efforts. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to increase economic and diplomatic pressure until Nicaragua commits to a democratic resolution and respects human rights.

The "Give America a Raise Act" significantly increases the federal minimum wage in scheduled steps, culminating in a $20.00 per hour rate, after which it will be adjusted annually based on inflation or GDP growth. The bill also phases out the lower minimum wage for tipped employees, requiring them to receive the full federal minimum wage after a transition period. Furthermore, it establishes a schedule to raise and eventually eliminate the special subminimum wage for workers with disabilities.

This resolution supports the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams competing in the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. It applauds Team USA athletes and acknowledges the efforts of the Italian hosts. Furthermore, the resolution affirms the U.S. commitment to providing safe and secure environments for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles and 2034 Utah Games.

This act establishes the Commission on American Leadership in Robotics to review advancements in robotics impacting U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. The Commission is tasked with making policy recommendations to Congress regarding technological advantage, supply chains, and workforce development in the robotics sector. It must submit an interim report within one year and a final report with recommendations within two years before terminating.

The Federal Grant Neutrality Act prevents the Department of Justice from conditioning the award of its grants on an entity's compliance with specific presidential directives or certain sections of immigration law. This legislation ensures that eligibility for DOJ funding is not tied to adherence to presidential memoranda or Executive orders.

The Balance the Highway Trust Fund Act establishes annual spending limits for federal-aid highway programs based on projected Highway Trust Fund receipts. It also imposes a new spending cap on the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund. These limitations dictate how much the government can legally commit to highway and transit projects each fiscal year. The provisions of the Act are set to take effect on October 1, 2027.

The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 mandates the Department of Transportation to establish new federal safety standards requiring all new commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with comprehensive front, rear, and side underride protection systems. This legislation aims to drastically reduce preventable deaths and injuries from underride crashes involving passenger vehicles and vulnerable road users. The bill also reconvenes the Advisory Committee on Underride Protection and requires new studies and public reporting on crash data and prevention effectiveness.

The Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2026 renames the head of the Indian Health Service from "Director" to "Assistant Secretary for Indian Health." This change elevates the position, requiring the Assistant Secretary to report directly to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Act also makes conforming updates across federal law to reflect this new title and structure.

This act establishes civil liability for "sanctuary jurisdictions" whose policies lead to harm caused by an alien, allowing victims to sue for damages which can be offset from federal funding. It also protects state and local officers who comply with federal immigration detainers from liability by treating them as federal agents during detention. Finally, the bill enhances federal penalties for assaults and murders committed against law enforcement officers.

The Prospectus Modernization Act of 2026 temporarily raises the dollar thresholds requiring the General Services Administration (GSA) to submit a prospectus to Congress for certain real estate projects through fiscal year 2028. Specifically, the threshold for construction or purchase projects increases to $10 million, and the threshold for leasing space increases to $5 million. This legislation also suspends the standard annual inflation adjustment for these new thresholds during the specified period.

The Rail and Highway Transmission Planning Act directs a comprehensive study on the feasibility and best practices for building high-voltage electric transmission lines within existing highway and railroad rights-of-way. This initiative aims to accelerate the deployment of new transmission infrastructure to enhance grid reliability and lower consumer energy costs. The resulting report will provide Congress and stakeholders with an action plan for utilizing these corridors effectively.

The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act prohibits the discharge of plastic pellets and other pre-production plastic materials into U.S. waters from industrial facilities. This requires the EPA to swiftly issue a rule banning these discharges from facilities involved in the manufacturing, use, packaging, or transport of these plastics. The prohibition will be enforced through existing permitting and regulatory systems under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

This act amends immigration law to make non-citizens inadmissible to the U.S. or subject to removal if they have been convicted of or admit to committing acts involving animal cruelty or fighting. It specifically targets convictions under federal laws related to animal crushing and fighting, as well as equivalent state, tribal, or local offenses.

The REAL Health Providers Act establishes stricter requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations to maintain accurate and publicly accessible online provider directories. It mandates regular verification of provider information and protects enrollees from unexpected out-of-network costs if they rely on incorrect directory listings. Furthermore, the bill requires annual accuracy reporting and public posting of accuracy scores for MA plans.

The Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act of 2026 establishes a tiered tax on large investors who purchase single-family homes. Revenues generated from this tax will be allocated to bolster the Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund. Additionally, the bill modifies the minimum funding formula for small states within the Housing Trust Fund.

The Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act of 2026 requires the Attorney General to evaluate whether local governments with over 100,000 residents are credibly reporting hate crime data to the FBI. Jurisdictions found to be failing to report hate crimes may lose eligibility for certain federal funding. An exception to this penalty exists if the jurisdiction demonstrates significant community education and awareness initiatives regarding hate crimes.

This bill mandates the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive study on how compensation and payment structures tied to prescription drug prices operate across the entire supply chain. The resulting report will analyze the prevalence, business models, and potential conflicts of interest associated with these price-based fees. Ultimately, the findings will inform Congress on necessary legislative or administrative actions to promote transparency and fairness.