Legislative Activity

This concurrent resolution marks the nation's 250th anniversary as a crucial moment to reaffirm the commitment to saving lives and reducing gun violence. It recognizes the severity of the gun violence crisis and honors those affected by it. The resolution calls on Congress to prioritize evidence-informed strategies, support community intervention efforts, and ensure robust funding for victim services as a national priority for the country's future.

This bill amends the Higher Education Act to expand how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) can use grant funds, specifically to strengthen their arts, arts education, and cultural programs. It authorizes funding for student assistance, outreach, mentorship, and the preservation of Black art collections. The legislation also permits HBCUs to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry out these expanded activities.

The Financial Access Protection Act prohibits covered financial institutions from collecting or requesting a consumer's citizenship or immigration status to open or maintain an account. This legislation also prevents federal banking regulators from requiring or encouraging the collection of such information. The bill ensures financial access while explicitly preserving existing obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act for anti-money laundering compliance.

The Extending WIC for New Moms Act increases the duration of WIC eligibility for postpartum and breastfeeding mothers from the current limit to 24 months after giving birth. Additionally, the bill mandates a comprehensive report to Congress evaluating the impact of these extensions on maternal and infant health outcomes, breastfeeding rates, and program accessibility.

This joint resolution disapproves the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rule regarding "Pay-to-Pay Fees" in debt collection practices. By disapproving the rule under the Congressional Review Act, it is nullified and has no legal effect.

The Professional Degree Access Restoration Act amends the Higher Education Act to remove restrictive loan limit rules previously imposed on graduate and professional students. By restoring standard loan limit provisions, this bill aims to increase financial accessibility for students pursuing advanced degrees.

The Maryland Whole Watershed Program Federal Partnership Act of 2026 authorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to serve as an official advisory member of the Maryland Whole Watershed Program. This legislation enables the Office to provide critical technical assistance, financial resources, and interagency coordination to support restoration projects throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026 reauthorizes and expands the CDC’s WISEWOMAN program to provide critical cardiovascular screenings and preventive health services for high-risk women. With $250 million in authorized funding through 2031, the bill aims to improve health outcomes related to blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Additionally, it mandates a GAO study to evaluate the program's reach, cost-effectiveness, and potential barriers to care.

This bill establishes the National Council on African American History and Culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council will consist of 12 Presidentially appointed members tasked with advising on national policy related to African American history and culture. Its duties include preparing annual reports, monitoring related organizations, and recommending policies to foster understanding and preservation of this history. The Council is set to terminate 10 years after the Act's enactment.

This bill mandates a comprehensive study by the Comptroller General to assess the economic fallout of federal workforce reductions on state and local governments. The study will analyze lost wages, decreased tax revenue, and increased demand for public assistance in affected areas. The resulting report will provide Congress with findings and policy recommendations to address these fiscal harms.

The Transportation Project Accountability Act of 2026 establishes new federal requirements for states regarding major transportation projects. It mandates that states publish annual public reports detailing covered projects, including performance scores and anticipated benefits. Furthermore, states must incorporate a review of project progress and cost-effectiveness into their planning processes.

This act reauthorizes and makes permanent the Wildlife Crossings Program, dedicating \$100 million annually from 2027 through 2031. It increases federal funding support, especially for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities, and provides technical assistance to Tribal entities. The bill aims to enhance wildlife connectivity by establishing this long-term federal program.

The Medicare Investment and Gun Violence Prevention Act restores the federal tax on firearm transfers and manufacturing to \$200 per firearm. Additionally, it allocates \$1.7 billion in new funding to the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for fiscal year 2026.

This resolution designates November 2025 as National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month. It aims to highlight the significant and growing crisis of homelessness among children and youth, citing alarming statistics on enrollment, mental health, and educational attainment. The observance seeks to encourage greater support and intensified efforts from governments, organizations, and volunteers to address the causes and solutions for this issue.

This bill establishes the "21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act" to address disparities in STEM education. It creates a competitive grant program for eligible local educational agencies to fund comprehensive, K-12 STEM activities specifically targeting girls and underrepresented minorities. These four-year grants aim to improve student interest, skills, and career preparation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

The Healthy Maternity and Obstetric Medicine (Healthy MOM) Act aims to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes by ensuring comprehensive and affordable maternity coverage. It establishes special enrollment periods for pregnant individuals across various health plans, including employer-sponsored and exchange plans. Furthermore, the bill mandates that dependent coverage must include maternity care and makes 12 months of continuous postpartum coverage mandatory under Medicaid and CHIP.

This Act grants federal employees and contractors the right to request a 90-day forbearance on their Federally backed mortgage loans during a lapse in appropriations affecting their agency. During this period, no additional interest or fees will accrue, and missed payments cannot be demanded as a lump sum upon forbearance ending. Servicers must report these accommodations favorably to credit bureaus, treating the account as current if the borrower makes required payments.

The Shutdown Student Loans for Feds Act provides relief for federal employees and certain contractors affected by government shutdowns lasting 14 days or more, starting in fiscal year 2026. During these lapses in appropriations, federal student loan payments must be suspended, and no interest will accrue on those loans. Furthermore, suspended payment periods will count toward loan forgiveness requirements and be reported positively to credit agencies.

The Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns Act (Help FEDS Act) ensures that essential federal employees required to work during a government shutdown can receive unemployment benefits for those weeks. This legislation requires states to allow these "excepted employees" to claim benefits even while working without pay. The federal government will reimburse states for these unemployment payments and associated administrative costs, with mechanisms in place to prevent employees from receiving duplicate compensation once back pay is issued.

The Protecting Students with Disabilities Act ensures that key federal offices overseeing disability education and services, such as OSEP and RSA, remain permanently housed within the Department of Education. This legislation prohibits the executive branch from unilaterally relocating these offices or using appropriated funds to undermine their statutory duties. Furthermore, the Act prevents the Department from outsourcing the enforcement or administration of major disability laws like IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act.