Legislative Activity

The ROTOR Act focuses on enhancing aviation safety and transparency, primarily by reforming exceptions that allow aircraft to disable their ADS-B Out tracking systems. It mandates that the FAA require most aircraft to install and use ADS-B In technology for improved situational awareness. Furthermore, the bill establishes new coordination offices and requires comprehensive safety reviews of airspace operations, particularly around major airports, involving both civil and military aviation.

The Tariff Refund Act of 2026 mandates that U.S. Customs and Border Protection issue interest-bearing refunds for import duties collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act that were subsequently ruled unlawful. The bill prioritizes small businesses in the refund process and requires that larger entities pass these savings on to their customers. All refunds must be processed within 180 days of enactment, with regular progress reports provided to Congress.

The American Homeownership Act aims to increase housing affordability by restricting tax incentives for large-scale corporate investors and prohibiting federal agencies from financing their real estate acquisitions. The bill redirects savings from these tax changes to fund affordable housing construction and provide down payment assistance to first-generation homebuyers. Additionally, it strengthens antitrust oversight to prevent excessive market concentration in the residential real estate sector.

This resolution marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reaffirming unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It condemns Russia's ongoing aggression, including attacks on civilians and the forced abduction of children. Furthermore, the resolution emphasizes the critical need for robust, sustained U.S. and transatlantic security guarantees to ensure Ukraine's long-term defense and stability.

The FUTURES Act of 2026 establishes a joint initiative between the U.S. and Israeli defense departments to accelerate and expand cooperation on defense technology research, development, and industrial integration. This program focuses on rapidly incorporating jointly developed and Israeli-origin technologies into U.S. military systems across critical domains like AI, counter-drone systems, and directed energy. The Act authorizes funding for these efforts and mandates regular reporting to Congress on progress and technology transition.

The Healthy Families Act establishes a national standard requiring most employers to provide employees with earned paid sick time, accruing at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. This protected leave can be used for the employee's or a family member's illness, medical care, or for reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The Act strictly prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for using or requesting this time and mandates clear notice requirements regarding these new rights.

The Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act establishes mandatory minimum nurse staffing levels for nursing homes, including 24-hour registered nurse coverage. It also permanently funds the inspection and certification program for healthcare facilities. Finally, the bill directs states to use a portion of collected civil money penalties to fund nursing home workforce recruitment, education, and retention programs.

The Count the Crimes to Cut Act mandates a comprehensive accounting of all federal criminal offenses, both statutory and regulatory. It requires the Attorney General and numerous federal agencies to report detailed information on these crimes, including penalties and prosecution history. Finally, the bill mandates the creation of public, online indexes for all identified criminal offenses.

The **BE HEARD in the Workplace Act** comprehensively strengthens federal workplace protections by requiring new anti-discrimination policies, expanding legal rights for employees, and phasing out the tipped minimum wage. It aims to prevent harassment through mandated training, broadens protections to nearly all workers, and restricts employers' use of secrecy agreements. The Act also establishes grants to increase access to legal aid and worker advocacy nationwide.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Additionally, the bill mandates that voters present a valid photo ID to cast a ballot in person or by mail. These measures aim to ensure that only eligible U.S. citizens participate in federal elections.

This bill establishes the **Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act** to protect confidential attorney-client electronic communications for incarcerated individuals. It mandates the creation of a secure system that prevents the monitoring of privileged digital correspondence between inmates and their legal counsel. While the system is being developed, inmates must be notified that their current electronic communications are subject to monitoring.

The Financial Disclosure Modernization Act updates federal financial disclosure requirements by establishing new, higher reporting thresholds for various income sources like dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains. This legislation mandates more granular reporting for very large financial amounts. These changes apply to all required financial disclosure reports filed after the Act's enactment.

The Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2026 amends tax law to prevent U.S. companies from avoiding domestic taxation by relocating their headquarters overseas. It tightens the definition of an "inverted corporation" by lowering the ownership threshold and establishing new criteria based on where management, control, and business activities are located. This legislation ensures that corporations maintaining significant U.S. operations and shareholder ties are treated as domestic entities for tax purposes.

This resolution denounces any stated intent by the President to nationalize or assume direct control over federal elections. It affirms that the Constitution grants primary authority over elections to state legislatures and Congress, not the President. The resolution declares that any unilateral attempt by the President to take over election processes would be unconstitutional and unlawful.

The GRID Act mandates that new large data centers (20+ MW) must secure all power, including backup, from sources completely separate from the electric grid. Existing grid-connected data centers have a 10-year transition period to obtain a "Zero Rate Effect Certificate" from the Secretary of Energy, proving they do not increase customer electricity rates. The Act also establishes public reporting requirements for utility usage, property acquisitions, and agreements related to utility service for these large data centers.

The Corporate Crimes Against Health Care Act establishes new federal criminal and civil penalties, including asset clawbacks, for individuals at private equity-owned healthcare companies whose actions lead to patient harm or failure. The bill also prohibits federal healthcare payments to entities involved in certain real estate transactions with REITs and mandates comprehensive annual reporting on ownership and financial structures of specified healthcare entities. Finally, it requires a study on the impact of profit-driven practices on patient care and provider well-being.

This resolution supports the observation of National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month from January 1 to February 1, 2026. It highlights the severe scope of human trafficking globally and within the U.S., emphasizing the imperative to eliminate these modern-day forms of slavery. The measure calls for increased public awareness and continued collaborative efforts to protect victims and prosecute traffickers.

The FAIR Act establishes pay increases for federal employees in calendar year 2027. This legislation mandates a 3.1 percent increase to the basic pay rates for General Schedule and similar employees. Additionally, it provides a 1 percent adjustment to federal locality pay rates for the same year.

The Right to Redress Act amends the Federal Tort Claims Act to establish a new procedure for lawsuits against the United States involving injuries or deaths caused by federal law enforcement officers. This legislation grants individuals the right to request a trial by jury in these specific tort claims. Furthermore, it clarifies that judgments against the U.S. under this new process do not prevent separate actions against the individual officer, and it limits the government's discretionary function exception in these cases.

This concurrent resolution commemorates the 15th anniversary of the tragic January 8, 2011, Tucson, Arizona, shooting. It honors the six individuals who lost their lives and recognizes the survivors, including former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. The resolution reaffirms the importance of civility in democracy and Congress's dedication to preventing gun violence.