Legislation

The Correctional Facility Disaster Preparedness Act of 2026 mandates annual reporting from the Bureau of Prisons detailing the impact of major disasters on facilities, staff, and inmates. It requires the Bureau to submit a comprehensive corrective action plan to improve emergency preparedness. Furthermore, the Act expands the National Institute of Corrections Advisory Board and requires a public hearing to incorporate diverse expertise into future disaster planning.

The ICE Protection Act of 2026 enhances penalties for assaulting federal officers, specifically Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, with a motor vehicle. This legislation establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences based on the severity of injury caused by using a vehicle as a weapon. The bill aims to provide stronger legal protection for ICE agents while they are performing their duties.

This Act requires the Attorney General to create victim-centered guidance to strengthen protections for child sex trafficking victims who testify against their traffickers. It mandates training on these new protocols for law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges, and expands how block grant funds can be used to support these child witnesses. Finally, the bill modernizes federal rights for child victims and witnesses by updating terminology and explicitly allowing for digital recording technology in testimony procedures.

The No Tax on Wrongful Delay Act of 2026 exempts interest paid by the IRS to taxpayers on tax overpayments from gross income. This exemption applies specifically to interest resulting from IRS audits, taxpayer lawsuits for refunds, or civil actions initiated by the U.S. government to collect taxes. This change aims to prevent taxpayers from being taxed on compensation received for delays caused by the government.

The Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025 modernizes GI Bill benefits and support for service members and veterans. This bill revises the repayment timing for service members who contribute to their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and expands eligibility for independent study programs. It also provides service members with new options when called to active duty during their education and updates compliance survey procedures for educational institutions.

The Mental Health and MAMA Act of 2026 aims to improve access to care for new and expecting mothers. This legislation prohibits certain health plans from charging out-of-pocket costs for in-network mental health and substance use disorder services for pregnant and postpartum individuals. Furthermore, it updates continuity of care protections to explicitly cover postpartum individuals receiving ongoing mental health or substance use disorder treatment. These provisions will also apply to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The Alleviating Intergenerational Debt (AID) Act modifies the federal financial aid calculation by introducing a "student loan allowance" for dependent students starting in the 2027-2028 award year. This allowance, based on a percentage of parental federal student loan debt (up to \$4,000), reduces the amount of income considered available to pay for college, provided parents meet specific income thresholds. The law also mandates annual reporting to Congress on the impact of this new allowance on student aid eligibility.

The Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act establishes a clear process for paying a veteran's pension that was awarded by the VA before their death but issued afterward. This legislation prioritizes payment to the veteran's spouse, children, or dependent parents before the estate. The bill also makes a minor extension to the expiration date of certain existing pension payment restrictions.

The Waste Heat to Wattage Act of 2026 officially recognizes "waste energy recovery" as a source of renewable energy. This legislation defines waste energy recovery as capturing otherwise lost heat or pressure from commercial, residential, or industrial processes. The recovered energy must then be used as the sole input to generate electricity.

The Replacement Parts Availability Act exempts certain pre-existing replacement parts for complex durable and consumer goods from specific chemical regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act. This exemption generally applies unless the EPA Administrator determines, with substantial evidence, that the part significantly contributes to public health risks. The bill also ensures manufacturers of these exempted parts can continue using necessary chemicals and provides a minimum 10-year transition period for any permitted restrictions.

The PATH to Education Act establishes a new federal grant program to improve public transit access for students attending community colleges, technical schools, and Head Start programs. These grants will fund projects like adding new routes or increasing service frequency to better connect students with their educational institutions. Priority will be given to partnerships serving institutions with a high percentage of Pell Grant recipients.

The Lobbyist Loophole Closure Act expands federal lobbying disclosure requirements by broadening the definition of lobbying activities to include preparatory counseling. This legislation also lowers the threshold for mandatory lobbyist registration from 20% to 10% of an individual's time spent on client work. These changes aim to increase transparency regarding influence activities in Washington.

This bill changes the legal home of the National Woman's Relief Corps by moving its incorporation and domicile from the District of Columbia to Illinois. It also relocates the organization's principal office to Murphysboro, Illinois. Furthermore, the legislation updates where legal documents must be served upon the Corps.

The Student Visa Integrity Act of 2026 establishes new fees and stricter requirements for academic institutions to enhance the integrity and security of the student visa program. The bill mandates accreditation for schools enrolling foreign students, increases criminal penalties for immigration document fraud, and imposes new reporting and disclosure rules, including those related to foreign government influence. Furthermore, it modernizes the SEVIS tracking system and sets specific limitations on online study and admission periods for certain visa holders.

The Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act updates the requirements for approving nurse aide training programs in skilled nursing and nursing facilities under Medicare and Medicaid. This bill specifies that facilities with significant penalties or quality of care deficiencies will be disqualified from having their training programs approved. The goal is to ensure that training programs are overseen by facilities meeting high standards of care.

The SECURE Minerals Act of 2026 establishes the Strategic Resilience Reserve Corporation to secure U.S. supply chains for critical minerals. This new entity will manage a national stockpile, finance domestic and allied production, and reduce reliance on foreign adversaries. The Act mandates supply chain targets, rigorous oversight, and public transparency for all operations.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act) mandates that individuals must provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It also establishes a federal requirement for voters to present a photo ID indicating U.S. citizenship when casting a ballot in federal elections. The bill outlines specific acceptable forms of proof and requires states to implement verification programs to ensure only citizens are registered and voting.

This bill grants Dr. Yue-Cheng Yang lawful permanent resident status (a green card) and provides related immigration relief. It makes him eligible to adjust his status despite certain standard immigration limitations and waives past grounds for removal or inadmissibility. Dr. Yang must apply within two years of enactment for these provisions to take effect.

The Stop Body Camera Paywalls Act requires states and local governments to stop charging the public fees to access or obtain copies of specific law enforcement camera footage, including body-worn and dash camera video. To receive funding from major federal law enforcement grant programs, applicants must certify they comply with this requirement. Non-compliant governments will be ineligible for these federal grants.

This bill expresses support for designating a specific week as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week." It encourages the public and relevant groups to observe this week with activities celebrating the vital contributions of Tribal Colleges and Universities.