Legislation

This bill expands federal Do Not Call protections to cover all phone numbers, including business and cell lines, and lowers the threshold for what constitutes a violation. It also updates the definition of an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) to better capture modern robocalling technology. The goal is to strengthen consumer protection against unwanted automated calls.

The Federal Prosecutorial Accountability Act establishes a private right of action allowing individuals to sue federal prosecutors for misconduct, including violations of constitutional rights or procedural rules. Successful plaintiffs can recover compensatory and punitive damages, with the U.S. government held jointly liable. The bill also mandates a one-year prohibition from government representation for any attorney sanctioned under Rule 11.

The Modernization of Derivatives Tax Act of 2026 overhauls the Internal Revenue Code's treatment of derivatives by mandating annual recognition of gains and losses, generally classifying them as ordinary income. The bill establishes detailed rules for "investment hedging units" to coordinate tax treatment between derivatives and their underlying assets. Furthermore, it repeals several outdated rules concerning capital gains and straddles while making extensive conforming amendments across the tax code.

The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026 comprehensively updates federal law to ensure that all video programming, communications services, and modern playback devices are fully accessible to people with disabilities. This bill mandates closed captioning and audio description for online content, improves accessibility features on devices, and requires sign language video support for customer service and video conferencing. Ultimately, it strengthens enforcement and directs the FCC to keep accessibility standards current with emerging technologies.

The Victims of Immigration Conduct Enforcement Act (VOICE Act) establishes a new civil remedy allowing individuals to sue the U.S. government for constitutional or federal rights violations committed by federal law enforcement officers during immigration enforcement actions. If a violation is proven, the responsible federal agency must pay the claimant $2,000,000 in punitive damages. This provision bypasses standard administrative claim requirements, ensuring victims have a direct path to legal redress.

This Act establishes the 6PPD Task Force, led by the Department of Transportation and EPA, to address the environmental threat posed by the tire chemical 6PPD-Q, which is toxic to coho salmon. The Task Force will coordinate research, identify funding opportunities, and recommend strategies for developing and deploying safer alternatives to 6PPD while maintaining tire safety standards. It will also share best practices for mitigating current runoff impacts and maintain a public repository of resources.

This bill prohibits federal family planning funds under Title X from being provided to any entity that performs, promotes, or refers for abortion. Entities receiving funds must certify they will not perform abortions or give funds to organizations that do, with limited exceptions for rape, incest, or life-threatening conditions. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must also submit annual reports to Congress detailing grant recipients and any abortions performed under the exceptions.

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2026 establishes a 20-year demonstration project to modify Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for blind individuals. This project removes the consideration of substantial gainful activity when determining disability eligibility for participants. Instead, benefits will be reduced based on earned income above a specific threshold, allowing blind Americans to work without immediately losing their SSDI entitlement.

The Restoring Rights of Medical Residents Act proposes amending the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude medical residents from the definition of "employee." This change would remove federal minimum wage and overtime protections for residents participating in postgraduate medical training programs. The bill also includes a provision to repeal a section of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004.

This bill establishes the FBI Hiring Review Act, mandating a comprehensive audit of recent FBI hiring practices and background checks. It requires cross-referencing new employees against state-level misconduct files to ensure all relevant information was considered. Furthermore, the legislation requires certification of all agent training and a subsequent report from the Government Accountability Office on these findings.

This bill extends the surveillance authority granted under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for an additional 18 months. It specifically amends the expiration date for this critical national security tool to October 20, 2027.

The Faster Department of Veterans Affairs Construction Act of 2026 aims to streamline the construction and alteration of VA facilities. This bill directs the VA to utilize recognized commercial building codes and standards instead of federal ones where appropriate. It mandates at least three annual pilot projects to test this new approach between 2027 and 2031, with required reporting to Congress.

The Marijuana Impact on Medicaid Act of 2026 proposes to reduce federal Medicaid funding by 10% for any state that legalizes marijuana for adult recreational use. This reduction applies to all state Medicaid expenditures, though states with only medical marijuana programs are exempt. Additionally, the bill mandates a report detailing the costs to Medicaid from marijuana-related hospital and emergency room visits.

The PARITY Act, or Promoting Access and Revenue Integrity Through Institutional Transparency Act, aims to provide regulatory relief for institutions of higher education. This is achieved by repealing two specific provisions within the Higher Education Act of 1965 that currently impose requirements or restrictions on participating institutions.

The Home Modifications for the Climate Crisis Act establishes federal grants to help low- and moderate-income households fund crucial home improvements against climate disasters like floods and wildfires. It also expands services under the Older Americans Act to improve indoor air quality, cooling, and energy efficiency for older individuals. The bill authorizes $500 million annually to support these resilience and health-focused modifications.

This Act permanently bars any Member of Congress convicted of specific corruption or felony sexual abuse offenses committed while in office from receiving their federal pension or retirement annuity. The bill removes the requirement that corruption-related crimes must involve the Member's official duties to trigger forfeiture. These provisions apply to convictions occurring on or after the date of enactment.

The Railroad Retirement Fairness Act of 2026 aims to ensure railroad employees and their families receive equitable Social Security benefit protections. This bill prevents the reduction of Social Security benefits for railroad workers who also qualify for benefits through other employment by treating their railroad retirement annuity as a Social Security benefit for WEP and GPO calculations. Additionally, it eliminates a specific deduction from annuities under the Railroad Retirement Act.

The SAFE through Medicare Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include medically necessary "home resiliency services" for individuals at risk during climate or manmade disasters. These services, effective January 1, 2027, include items like heat pumps or solar batteries for those reliant on electricity or sensitive to extreme weather. The bill mandates establishing a process to identify medically at-risk individuals based on geography, disaster history, and medical needs.

The Climate Change Education Act establishes a federal program, managed by NOAA, to fund comprehensive climate change education for all ages. This initiative aims to increase climate literacy through formal schooling and nonformal programs, focusing on solutions, adaptation, and climate justice. The Act authorizes grants to K-12 systems, higher education, professional associations, and youth corps to develop and implement climate-focused learning and applied research.

The Parents Over Platforms Act establishes new responsibilities for application distributors (like app stores) and developers to protect minors online. This includes requiring age assurance mechanisms and obligating developers to tailor experiences and restrict personalized advertising for users identified as minors. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is granted authority to enforce the Act, which preempts state and local laws on these matters.