Legislative Activity

The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to significantly strengthen federal student aid by doubling the maximum Pell Grant award and shifting the program to mandatory funding. This bill also expands eligibility to include Dreamer students, restores Pell eligibility semesters, and reforms Satisfactory Academic Progress rules to better support students. Overall, it seeks to stabilize and increase financial support for millions of postsecondary students, particularly those with high financial need.

The Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026 aims to strengthen the right to community-based services for individuals eligible for long-term supports and services (LTSS), ensuring they can live in the most integrated setting of their choice. It prohibits discrimination by states and LTSS providers against individuals seeking community living over institutionalization. The Act mandates comprehensive planning, self-evaluation, and enforceable objectives to transition people out of institutions and address disparities in service delivery.

This resolution celebrates the 54-year legacy of Title IX, recognizing its crucial role in expanding educational and athletic opportunities for women and girls. It reaffirms the law's purpose to prohibit sex discrimination in federally funded education while condemning recent actions that undermine protections for all students, including LGBTQIA+ individuals. The bill calls for continued efforts to eliminate remaining barriers to equality, such as sexual harassment and disparities in sports funding.

The Protect Our Polls Act requires explicit Congressional approval before federal troops or armed personnel can be deployed to polling places, even to repel armed enemies. This bill establishes a mandatory 48-hour notification process and an expedited review timeline for Congress to authorize such a deployment. Additionally, it prohibits using federal funds to allow the military access to election records, with these specific provisions expiring in 2029.

The "No Robot Bosses Act" establishes federal protections for workers and job applicants against the unchecked use of automated decision systems in the workplace. The bill mandates transparency, requires rigorous pre-deployment evaluations and annual impact assessments, and grants individuals the right to opt for human oversight in management and hiring decisions. Additionally, it creates a new Fairness and Transparency Office within the Department of Labor to oversee compliance, enforce worker rights, and prohibit forced arbitration for claims related to automated management.

The Stop Spying Bosses Act establishes comprehensive protections against invasive workplace surveillance by restricting the collection, sale, and use of employee data. The bill mandates transparency regarding data practices, grants workers the right to access and correct their information, and prohibits the use of data for anti-union or discriminatory purposes. Additionally, it creates a new division within the Department of Labor to enforce these standards and provides workers with legal recourse against retaliatory or unauthorized data practices.

The Saving the OOI Act of 2026 prohibits the National Science Foundation (NSF) from scaling back or decommissioning critical Ocean Observatories Initiative instruments. This measure ensures the continued operation of these vital coastal and deep-sea monitoring assets until the NSF completes a comprehensive review with community input. The bill mandates the full maintenance of the initiative throughout the review period.

The Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2026 proposes to continue funding for the vital Healthy Start Initiative. This bill authorizes specific funding levels for the program through fiscal year 2031.

The America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes and modifies the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through fiscal year 2033, increasing its authorized funding to \$2.0 billion. This legislation broadens eligible lands for maintenance projects and prioritizes those receiving significant private donations. It also enhances transparency by requiring multi-year project lists and actively encouraging public contributions to address deferred maintenance across federal lands.

This bill proposes to abolish the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which was established by the Attorney General in connection with the *Trump v. Internal Revenue Service* case. Additionally, it nullifies the Attorney General's related order concerning the release of certain claims, rendering it legally void.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment collectively. This recognition honors the regiment's crucial and heroic service during the Revolutionary War, notably as one of the first integrated military units in American history. The original medal will be displayed at the Rhode Island State Library, and bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs.

This resolution formally acknowledges and apologizes for the decades of discrimination and mistreatment faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served in the U.S. military, Foreign Service, and federal civil service. It condemns past and recent discriminatory policies that led to wrongful terminations and exclusions. The resolution commits the nation to pursuing equal rights, protections, and respect for all LGBT servicemembers and federal employees moving forward.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 2026 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2026, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. The designation aims to increase public understanding, reduce the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress (PTS), and encourage timely treatment for affected veterans and service members. It recognizes the high risk of PTS among those who have served in recent conflicts and supports efforts to ensure those with this treatable injury receive proper care.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 5, 2026, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and the entire month of June 2026 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." The bill aims to raise awareness about the impact of gun violence in the United States. It encourages the public to wear orange on the designated day to honor victims and promote community safety discussions.

The Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2026 affirms the fundamental right of individuals to travel across state lines to receive reproductive health care that is legal in the destination state. This bill prohibits any government or person from restricting, sanctioning, or discriminating against individuals who travel for such care or those who assist them. It preempts conflicting state laws and establishes robust federal enforcement mechanisms, including civil actions for individuals and the Attorney General, while removing common immunity defenses for violators.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the volunteers and communities that supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The Canteen was a massive, entirely volunteer-run operation that fed approximately six million service members traveling across the country. The original gold medal will be permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. The bill also allows the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the medal.

This resolution honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for Michigan. It recognizes his decades in Congress, highlighting key legislative achievements such as co-sponsoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and leading significant banking reforms. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow and adjourns in his memory.

The SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 aims to protect veterans from fraudulent and unauthorized fee charging by reinstating strict penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for those who illegally assist with VA benefit claims. The bill mandates the VA to improve transparency by creating an online tool listing accredited representatives and enhancing public warnings about predatory practices on all claim-filing websites. Furthermore, it requires new data collection on paid assistance providers and establishes a robust, accessible accreditation system for legitimate agents and attorneys.

The Elder Pride Act amends the Older Americans Act to explicitly recognize and address the needs of LGBTQI and HIV-positive older adults. It establishes a new Office of LGBTQI Inclusion within the Administration on Aging to coordinate services and promote access. Furthermore, the Act creates a dedicated grant program to fund rural outreach initiatives specifically targeting LGBTQI older individuals and those in other protected classes.

The SAFE for Survivors Act of 2026 comprehensively supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence by establishing job-protected safe leave, prohibiting employment discrimination, and ensuring access to unemployment benefits and insurance protections. The bill reauthorizes critical grant funding for workplace response resources and mandates reasonable accommodations to help survivors maintain employment and stability while recovering. These provisions aim to reduce the economic pressures that often trap victims in dangerous situations by strengthening their safety net across employment, benefits, and insurance sectors.