Legislation

The Meeting Demand for Organic Produce Act introduces a new option for organic producers to verify their soil or growing medium is free of prohibited substances through certified testing. This allows producers to meet a key organic requirement by confirming the absence of synthetic chemicals prior to planting. The bill mandates the USDA to develop standards for these new testing and verification methods.

The Expanding WKSI Eligibility Act redefines a "well-known seasoned issuer" by lowering the required market value threshold and removing the existing worldwide market value requirement. This change aims to expand the pool of eligible issuers under federal securities laws. Additionally, the bill mandates that the SEC annually report on withdrawn applications related to this issuer status.

The Student Loan Bond Expansion Act of 2026 aims to make it easier and more affordable for states to finance student loans. This bill achieves this by exempting qualified student loan bonds from federal volume caps and the Alternative Minimum Tax. These changes will apply to bonds issued after the date the law is enacted.

This bill establishes a new federal crime prohibiting state and local government officials from intentionally interfering with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Specifically, it criminalizes policies or actions that shield aliens from federal authorities or restrict cooperation with immigration agencies. Violators face significant federal penalties, including imprisonment, which can extend to life if the interference leads to death.

This bill establishes the **Older Workers Bureau** within the Department of Labor to address the unique challenges faced by workers aged 55 and older. The Bureau will investigate issues like age discrimination, access to training, and retirement security. It is tasked with developing policy recommendations and administering research and anti-ageism grant programs to promote productive employment opportunities for older Americans.

The U.S. Farmworker Protection Act aims to address the rapid growth of the H-2A agricultural guestworker program, which Congress finds threatens U.S. farmworker wages and employment. This bill establishes an annual cap of 400,000 H-2A worker certifications per fiscal year. However, any positions filled by workers represented by a certified bargaining representative (union) will not count toward this annual limit.

The ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act establishes a civil remedy allowing individuals to sue the U.S. government for monetary damages when ICE or CBP officers violate their constitutional or legal rights. This liability applies even if the officer was not following official policy. The bill aims to hold the government financially accountable for misconduct such as racial profiling and unreasonable searches by these agencies.

This bill, the Terminate Unaccountable Spending, Abuse, Deception, and Fraud Act, proposes the immediate termination of the United States African Development Foundation. It repeals the foundational act establishing the Foundation and makes necessary conforming amendments across existing federal laws.

The Stopping Transfers of Public Funds Abroad Act prohibits individuals receiving federal public assistance from sending remittance transfers while on benefits. Applicants must sign a declaration under penalty of perjury affirming they will not send such transfers. Violators face a significant penalty of a $100,000 fine.

This bill, the "Passports for Purple Hearts and Medals of Honor Act," exempts recipients of the Purple Heart and Medal of Honor from paying standard U.S. passport fees. It directs the State Department to coordinate with the Department of Defense to establish verification procedures for these eligible applicants.

The Community Health Center Drug Pricing Protection Act ensures that Federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) receive the full 340B discounted price for drugs at the point of purchase. This legislation prohibits manufacturers from requiring FQHCs to pay more than the established ceiling price upfront, regardless of any later rebates or reimbursements. The goal is to guarantee immediate, upfront savings for these vital health centers.

This Act mandates the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Puerto Rico's water and wastewater infrastructure needs. The resulting report to Congress will detail current vulnerabilities, ongoing project status, and provide recommendations for modernization and improved federal-local coordination to enhance resilience.

The Making Homeownership Affordable Again Act eliminates the current tax exclusion limits on the profit made from selling a principal residence. Additionally, it allows homeowners to exclude this gain entirely if they sell their home to a qualified first-time homebuyer. This legislation aims to boost housing market activity and affordability.

The Save for Success Act amends the tax code to allow tax-free distributions from 529 college savings plans for qualified housing expenses. These expenses are defined as costs associated with purchasing a principal residence for a designated beneficiary who qualifies as a first-time homebuyer. This provision aims to help beneficiaries utilize their education savings for essential homeownership costs.

This bill immediately halts all hiring and transfers of personnel to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) using federal funds. The hiring freeze will remain in effect until Congress passes and enacts a new law specifically designed to supersede this provision.

The More Behavioral Health Providers Act of 2026 aims to increase the availability of mental health and substance use disorder services in shortage areas. It achieves this by amending the Medicare health professional shortage area bonus program to offer a higher 15% payment incentive for these specific services. This increased bonus will apply to eligible practitioners furnishing mental health and substance use disorder care in designated shortage areas starting in 2027.

The Empowering Young Readers Act of 2026 establishes a pilot program to improve children's access to books through competitive grants. These grants, up to $200,000, will be awarded to eligible organizations for purchasing, distributing, or hosting literacy programming related to books. The Secretary of Education will administer the program and report to Congress on its impact on book access and community literacy rates.

The ABODE Act establishes a competitive grant program to fund the development or rehabilitation of energy-efficient and resilient affordable housing for low-income households. Grants will prioritize projects that reduce development costs, improve accessibility, and are scalable for wider implementation. The Secretary of HUD will study the long-term savings generated by these enhanced housing features and report findings to Congress.

The DALCI Act establishes the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative to address environmental challenges in the Midwestern Driftless Area. This initiative directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide assistance for implementing climate-smart agricultural practices focused on soil health, carbon sequestration, and ecological restoration. Key activities include improving ground cover, managing woodlands, restoring prairies, and rehabilitating cold water stream corridors. The program is authorized with $5 million in funding annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

The Efficiency Adjustment Delay Act postpones a planned Medicare payment adjustment affecting physician work values until at least January 1, 2030. The bill also mandates a report to Congress assessing the need for a one-time adjustment to certain physician service values. Furthermore, it modifies the annual Medicare physician payment updates for 2026 and subsequent years based on participation in Alternative Payment Models.