Legislation

The Streamlining Small Business Contracts Act of 2026 increases the dollar threshold for sole source contracts available to certain small business concerns. This legislation raises the limit from \$7 million to \$10 million for contracts awarded under the 8(a), HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, and Women-Owned Small Business programs. The goal is to simplify and expand opportunities for these specific small businesses.

The "No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act" establishes a U.S. policy to oppose foreign assistance to the Taliban from other countries and NGOs, requiring the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to discourage such support. The bill mandates several reports detailing foreign aid given to the Taliban and oversight of U.S. cash assistance programs in Afghanistan. Furthermore, it requires recurring reports on the status and controls surrounding the Afghan Fund to prevent Taliban misuse of assets.

The Gerald's Law Act expands eligibility for a veteran's burial allowance. It now covers survivors whose veteran died at home while receiving VA hospice care, provided that care immediately followed a stay in a VA hospital or nursing home. This change ensures benefits for veterans transitioning from facility care to end-of-life care at home.

The Application FEES Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-free withdrawals from 529 college savings plans to cover application fees for higher education institutions. This change expands the eligible uses for these tax-advantaged savings.

The Expanding AI Voices Act establishes a new competitive grant program administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This program aims to significantly broaden participation and capacity in U.S. artificial intelligence research, education, and workforce development. Awards will prioritize institutions that have historically received less federal AI research funding, including HBCUs, MSIs, and Tribal Colleges. Funds must support activities like program expansion, faculty development, access to research resources, and integrating ethical practices into AI training.

The VERIFY CDL Act mandates that states use the E-Verify program to confirm the employment authorization of all applicants seeking to obtain or renew a commercial driver's license (CDL). This ensures that only individuals legally authorized to work in the U.S. are issued CDLs.

This resolution commemorates the 15th anniversary of the tragic January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, honoring the six lives lost and the thirteen injured. It specifically commends the courage and ongoing advocacy of gun violence survivor and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. The resolution also recognizes the resilience of the community and reaffirms a commitment to ending political violence.

The Climate Pollution Standard and Community Investment Act of 2025 establishes a national cap-and-trade system to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions from major industries. Proceeds from the pollution permits will fund quarterly cash rebates for low-income households and investments in clean energy and disadvantaged communities. The bill also creates robust federal programs to support workers and communities transitioning away from fossil fuel-dependent economies.

The All American Metal Act expands the advanced manufacturing production credit to incentivize the domestic recycling and purification of copper. Specifically, it offers a tax credit for recycled copper that meets a minimum purity standard of 99.9 percent. This provision aims to boost American manufacturing using recycled materials starting in 2025.

The Critical Mineral Dominance Act establishes a national policy to make the U.S. the world's leading producer of hardrock minerals to strengthen supply chains and national security. The bill mandates economic impact reports on mineral import reliance and directs the expedited approval of priority mining projects on federal lands. Furthermore, it requires identifying all federal lands with hardrock mineral potential and reviewing regulations that impede domestic mining development.

The GUARD Act aims to combat financial fraud targeting seniors and others by allowing law enforcement to use specific federal grant funds to investigate elder financial fraud, "pig butchering," and general financial fraud. The bill also mandates comprehensive reports from the Treasury Department and FinCEN detailing the scope of these scams and federal enforcement efforts. Furthermore, it permits federal agencies to assist local law enforcement with advanced blockchain tracing tools.

The Home Energy Relief Act removes federal restrictions that previously prevented homeowners from combining rebates from the HOMES and High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Programs with other federal grants. The bill also introduces new bonus rebates for energy efficiency upgrades in older urban housing built before 1970. Finally, it mandates that the Secretary of Energy report annually to Congress on the utilization and impact of these rebate programs, including recommendations for improving access for low-income households.

The American Family Housing Act aims to increase housing availability by prohibiting large investment companies, defined as those with over \$100 billion in assets, from purchasing single-family residences. This restriction applies to direct purchases and limits ownership stakes in companies whose primary assets are single-family homes. The goal is to curb large-scale corporate acquisition of residential properties.

The Home Savings Act allows individuals to withdraw funds from certain retirement plans tax-free to use for a down payment or closing costs on a principal residence. This exclusion applies to distributions made between 2026 and 2030 for the account owner or an eligible relative. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to facilitate first-time home buying using existing retirement savings.

The Hands Off Greenland Act prohibits the President from deploying U.S. troops to Greenland without an explicit invitation from the Kingdom of Denmark. This legislation also bars the use of federal funds for any unauthorized troop deployments after the enactment date.

The Youth Financial Learning Act establishes a competitive grant program to incentivize states to integrate comprehensive financial literacy education into public elementary and secondary schools. State educational agencies will receive federal grants to award subgrants to local school districts for implementing and expanding curriculum on topics like credit and student loans. States must secure matching funds and prioritize districts demonstrating the greatest need to ensure broad access to financial education.

The PLATE Act mandates that vehicles used by ICE and CBP for civil immigration enforcement must clearly display visible license plates on the exterior at all times. This requirement applies regardless of any other existing law.

This bill amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to grant certain eligible states the option to receive their allocated federal funds as cash instead of commodities. States choosing this option can then directly purchase food commodities from the private commercial marketplace. This provides flexibility in how states procure food assistance resources.

The Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act of 2026 establishes new federal requirements for the sale and transfer of ammunition. This includes mandating federal licensing for all ammunition dealers and requiring all sales to be conducted face-to-face with ID verification. The bill also institutes recordkeeping for large-quantity sales and restricts interstate ammunition shipments that violate local laws.

This bill establishes a statutory definition for an "essential health system" based on the volume of care provided to low-income and Medicaid patients. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate qualifying hospitals for a five-year period. Furthermore, the bill mandates MACPAC to create an annual index ranking all relevant hospitals based on these financial criteria and to review payment policies supporting these essential systems.