Legislation

The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes in rural areas by providing grants for emergency obstetric training, essential medical equipment, and staffing at facilities without dedicated obstetric units. The legislation also establishes a telehealth pilot program to connect rural providers with maternal health specialists for urgent consultations. Additionally, it mandates a comprehensive study on rural maternity ward closures to better inform future regional care strategies.

The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2026 strengthens the nursing profession by expanding grant eligibility for advanced education and modernizing training resources, including simulation and telehealth technologies. The bill addresses critical workforce shortages by increasing funding for nursing faculty and student programs while broadening support for specialized care, such as services for sexual assault survivors. These updates ensure that nursing education remains robust and responsive to the evolving needs of the healthcare system through 2030.

The EMPOWER for Health Act reauthorizes and increases funding for essential health workforce programs through 2030, supporting the training and development of medical, nursing, and pediatric professionals. The bill strengthens the healthcare pipeline by expanding scholarship and grant opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged students and those in underserved areas. Additionally, it modernizes pediatric specialty programs and updates educational standards to better address the evolving needs of the national health workforce.

The Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2026 aims to combat childhood obesity and diabetes by requiring clear front-of-package health warning labels on ultra-processed and high-sugar foods. The bill also restricts junk food advertising directed at children and empowers the Federal Trade Commission to regulate such marketing practices. Additionally, it increases funding for nutrition research at the National Institutes of Health and establishes a national public education campaign on healthy eating and physical activity.

The **Making America's Food Safer Act** strengthens national food safety by expanding the FDA’s third-party certification program and streamlining the destruction of high-risk, refused food imports. Additionally, the bill enhances public health coordination by authorizing the FDA to share critical, non-public food safety data with state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities. These measures collectively improve oversight and response capabilities across the food supply chain.

The Safeguarding Against Fabricated Exploitation Through Artificial Intelligence Act of 2026 prohibits federal agencies from using AI models capable of generating child sexual abuse material or non-consensual intimate imagery. The bill mandates that NIST establish rigorous performance benchmarks and testing programs to ensure AI safety. Additionally, it creates a private right of action against those who manufacture or distribute tools designed to circumvent these essential safety controls.

The Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act of 2026 establishes new reporting requirements for tax-exempt organizations engaged in fiscal sponsorship arrangements to ensure greater oversight and accountability. The bill also introduces tax penalties for "improper conduit arrangements" where organizations fail to maintain necessary discretion and control over charitable funds. These measures aim to prevent the misuse of tax-exempt status by imposing stricter standards on how sponsorship funds are managed and reported.

The Congressional Trade Powers Reform Act of 2026 shifts authority over international trade from the executive branch to Congress by requiring legislative approval for tariffs, trade remedies, and binding trade agreements. The bill establishes a bipartisan Joint Committee on Tariffs and Trade to oversee these processes and restructures the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative into an independent agency. These reforms aim to increase transparency and legislative oversight, ensuring that trade policy better reflects the interests of Congress and the public.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require annual inflation adjustments for the income thresholds that trigger the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax. Starting in 2027, these thresholds for high-income earners will be indexed to cost-of-living increases to prevent "bracket creep." This change ensures that the tax burden remains consistent with its original intent as inflation rises over time.

The Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2026 expands Medicare coverage to include comprehensive dental and oral health services, such as cleanings, fillings, root canals, and dentures, beginning in 2028. The benefit features a gradual payment phase-in for most enrollees, while providing immediate full coverage for low-income beneficiaries. Additionally, the bill incentivizes state participation by providing full federal reimbursement for dental cost-sharing expenses and ensures oral health representation on the Preventive Services Taskforce.

The Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026 updates the Clean Air Act to broaden the definition of "renewable biomass" eligible for federal renewable fuel programs. By including a wider range of forest residuals and vegetation sourced from wildfire risk reduction and restoration activities, the bill incentivizes the removal of hazardous fuels from both public and private lands. This legislation streamlines the certification process to encourage the use of forest materials in renewable energy production.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply annual inflation adjustments to the income thresholds used to determine the taxation of Social Security benefits. By indexing these thresholds to the cost of living starting in 2027, the legislation aims to prevent taxpayers from being pushed into higher tax brackets on their benefits due to inflation.

The Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act strengthens dental coverage for children and pregnant women enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The bill prohibits states from imposing annual or lifetime dollar limits on dental benefits and mandates the provision of supplemental dental-only coverage. These measures ensure that vulnerable populations receive consistent, comprehensive dental care without restrictive financial barriers.

The Tire Safety Modernization Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Transportation to modernize federal tire safety regulations by removing outdated testing requirements and establishing new, uniform high-speed performance protocols. The bill also clarifies safety standards regarding tire "chunking" to better reflect modern industry practices. Additionally, it mandates a GAO study to evaluate the impact of these regulatory updates on tire safety and market availability.

The End H–1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. visa system, including a three-year suspension of new H-1B visas and the elimination of work authorizations for foreign students. The bill introduces strict reforms such as a $200,000 wage floor, a $100,000 labor import fee, and the removal of derivative visa status for family members. Additionally, it prohibits federal agencies from hiring nonimmigrant visa holders and significantly restricts the ability of temporary visa holders to change or adjust their immigration status while in the country.

The Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act aims to improve outcomes for young parents in the foster care system by increasing their access to essential support services. The bill mandates that states connect expectant and parenting foster youth with evidence-based home visiting programs and provides states with greater flexibility to use federal funding for tailored case management and resource coordination.

This bill reauthorizes the Action for Dental Health program, increasing its annual funding to $15 million for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The legislation aims to address critical dental workforce needs and improve access to oral healthcare services.

The Glenwood Hot Springs Protection Act prohibits the expansion of limestone mining operations on specific Bureau of Land Management lands in Garfield County, Colorado. This legislation prevents the Secretary of the Interior from approving new mining claims or mineral material sales within the designated areas to protect the region's landscape.

This bill officially renames the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Newton, New Jersey, to the "Anthony 'Tony' J. Gallopo VA Clinic." This designation ensures that all official records and references reflect the new name in honor of Anthony J. Gallopo.

The Enhancing K–12 Cybersecurity Act directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to strengthen the digital defenses of the nation’s schools. The bill establishes a centralized information exchange for cybersecurity best practices, creates a voluntary incident registry to track emerging threats, and launches a technology improvement program to provide schools with essential security tools and training.