Legislative Activity

The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act amends federal law regarding the use of motor vehicles in certain crimes. This bill lowers the required mental state for conviction from proving "intent to cause death or serious bodily harm" to simply proving the act was done "knowingly." It also clarifies that enhanced penalties for death apply when the vehicle was taken with the intent to cause serious harm, and death subsequently occurs.

The 287(g) Expansion Act aims to significantly broaden the authority of state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws through expanded 287(g) agreements. It mandates that the Department of Homeland Security enter into these agreements with any qualifying agency that requests one. Furthermore, the bill authorizes increased federal grant funding for jurisdictions that participate in this expanded immigration enforcement partnership.

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 Safer Prisons Act of 2026 focuses on increasing the safety of correctional officers by significantly enhancing penalties for assaulting Bureau of Prisons staff. This legislation doubles the maximum prison sentence and adjusts fines for individuals convicted of such assaults.

The Guard Equal Benefits for Federal Missions Act ensures that certain full-time National Guard duty performed in support of federal law enforcement operations is counted as qualifying service for federal benefits. This provision specifically covers duty authorized by the President or Secretary of Defense that addresses significant criminal activity or threats to public safety. As a result, this service will now qualify for benefits such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill and eligibility for retired pay.

The Rural Health Innovation Act of 2026 establishes grant programs to expand urgent care, triage, and primary care services in rural communities. By providing funding to health centers and local public health departments, the bill aims to improve emergency response times and increase access to essential medical resources. These initiatives are supported by $50 million in annual authorized funding through 2031.

The American Innovation Act of 2026 supports new businesses by simplifying and expanding tax deductions for start-up and organizational costs. Additionally, the bill protects early-stage companies by allowing them to preserve net operating losses and tax credits even after a change in ownership. These measures are designed to reduce financial barriers and encourage long-term growth for emerging enterprises.

The Rural America Health Corps Act establishes a demonstration program to incentivize healthcare professionals to work in rural areas facing provider shortages. By offering up to $200,000 in student loan repayment in exchange for a five-year full-time service commitment, the bill aims to improve medical access in underserved communities.

The RECOVER Act establishes a three-year Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program to provide grants to non-profit mental health providers. These grants support the delivery of culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care to veterans at no cost to them. The program aims to improve veteran access to care by distributing funding across both rural and urban areas while encouraging enrollment in VA medical services.

This resolution designates March 12, 2026, as "Detransition Awareness Day." It outlines concerns regarding medical interventions for minors experiencing gender dysphoria and emphasizes the importance of protecting children from irreversible procedures.

The Women Veterans Specialty Care Access Act streamlines healthcare for women veterans by allowing them to schedule gynecology, obstetrics, maternity, and postpartum appointments directly. This legislation removes the requirement for a primary care referral, ensuring faster and more convenient access to essential specialty services at VA facilities and through the Veterans Community Care Program.

The Federal Loan Systems Modernization Act of 2026 mandates the creation of "Lending.gov," a centralized, shared-services platform designed to modernize and streamline federal loan management. By replacing outdated agency-specific systems with standardized, commercially available technology, the Act aims to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the borrower experience. The legislation establishes clear oversight, performance standards, and a mandatory migration timeline for federal agencies to ensure a unified and secure digital lending infrastructure.

The Migrant Crime Reporting Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to assist states in collecting, analyzing, and publicly reporting data on criminal charges and convictions involving migrants. To qualify for funding, states must commit to maintaining transparent, accessible records of this data. The bill authorizes $50 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to support these reporting efforts.

The Veterans Affairs Opportunity for Small Businesses Act of 2026 streamlines the Department of Veterans Affairs' procurement process by consolidating contracting preferences. It simplifies the hierarchy by merging the specific category for service-connected disabled veteran-owned businesses into the broader category for veteran-owned small businesses.

The Safe Cloud Storage Act establishes strict cybersecurity and operational requirements for technology companies storing child sexual abuse material for law enforcement investigations. It grants limited liability protections to approved vendors who comply with these rigorous standards, including NIST-level security and U.S.-only data storage. The bill also sets clear evidence retention rules for law enforcement agencies utilizing these cloud services.

This bill establishes a two-year demonstration project for the VA to test covering FDA-cleared, over-the-counter hearing aids for eligible veterans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. The project will compare the effectiveness and fiscal impact of these devices against traditional prescription hearing aids. Additionally, the Comptroller General is required to study the broader landscape of hearing aid benefits for veterans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss and provide recommendations to Congress.

The Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-in Programs Act of 2026 removes existing upper age restrictions for working adults with disabilities seeking Medicaid coverage. This change allows states the option to cover these individuals regardless of age, provided they meet specific disability and earnings criteria. The bill modifies existing law to expand access to essential healthcare for this population.

The Veterans’ Bill of Rights Act of 2026 formally establishes a comprehensive set of rights for all veterans interacting with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This bill mandates that the VA clearly inform veterans of their rights regarding health care, benefits, and services. It requires the VA Secretary to integrate these rights into all policies, training, and public-facing materials to ensure consistent, respectful, and transparent administration nationwide.

The Fraud Accountability Act makes fraud a deportable offense for non-citizens, regardless of the loss threshold. This legislation also mandates detention for non-citizens convicted of these fraud crimes. Furthermore, it establishes a process for the automatic revocation of citizenship for naturalized citizens convicted of certain serious crimes, including fraud.

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.