Legislative Activity

The Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act of 2026 seeks to restructure the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by bringing it under congressional appropriations and establishing more rigorous oversight and transparency requirements. The bill introduces stricter standards for enforcement actions, clarifies definitions of abusive practices, and provides new regulatory frameworks for emerging financial products like earned wage access. Additionally, it adjusts supervisory thresholds and limits the Bureau’s ability to use market-monitoring data for enforcement, aiming to increase procedural fairness for both financial institutions and consumers.

The Border Patrol Overtime Parity Act removes the GS-12 grade restriction currently required for certain overtime pay eligibility. This legislation ensures that more Border Patrol agents qualify for overtime compensation regardless of their specific grade level.

The Lawful Hemp Protection Act establishes a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products to ensure consumer safety and industry accountability. The bill mandates strict age-gating, standardized manufacturing and labeling requirements, and FDA oversight to eliminate deceptive products. Additionally, it implements a federal tax and permit system for manufacturers and wholesalers while preserving the authority of states to enforce their own regulations.

This act, the Border Patrol Supervisors Retention Act, expands eligibility for higher rates of regularly scheduled overtime pay for U.S. Border Patrol agents. Specifically, it extends these enhanced overtime rates to agents classified from grade GS-12 through GS-15. The goal is to improve retention among supervisory-level Border Patrol personnel.

The Critical Minerals Supply Chain Resiliency Act of 2026 aims to speed up federal permitting for projects supporting the domestic supply of critical materials, as determined by the Secretary of Defense under Presidential Determination 202211. This legislation treats these defense-related activities as "covered projects" for expedited review under existing surface transportation permitting laws. Project sponsors retain the option to opt out of this expedited permitting process.

This bill authorizes the Treasury Secretary to establish temporary, emergency programs that provide full insurance for non-interest-bearing transaction accounts at banks and credit unions during periods of systemic financial stress. These programs are designed to stabilize the financial system by mitigating the risk of deposit flight. To ensure accountability, the legislation mandates strict oversight, reporting requirements, and a mechanism for recovering any program losses through special industry assessments.

The "No Tax on Drill Pay Act" seeks to provide financial relief to members of the National Guard and Reserve by excluding their inactive-duty training compensation from federal gross income. By eliminating federal taxes on this pay, the bill aims to increase the take-home earnings of service members for their training efforts. This change would apply to all qualifying compensation received following the date of the bill's enactment.

The Dalilah Law restricts the issuance of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and specific work visa holders. The bill mandates English language proficiency for all CDL applicants and requires states to recertify existing license holders. States that fail to comply with these eligibility and testing requirements face the loss of federal transportation funding.

The Afghanistan Vetting and Accountability Act of 2026 mandates comprehensive biometric and in-person vetting for individuals evacuated from Afghanistan between 2021 and 2022. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to maintain a tracking database and report progress to Congress. Furthermore, it restricts access to federal means-tested benefits and unemployment compensation for those who have not yet completed the mandatory vetting process.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation Strategic Modernization Act updates the agency’s mission to better address global strategic competition and secure critical mineral supply chains. The bill mandates new assessments of foreign countries' economic exposure to strategic competitors and requires earlier engagement with the U.S. private sector to improve project impact. These reforms aim to strengthen U.S. economic security and national interests while maintaining the Corporation’s core commitment to poverty reduction and good governance.

This bill, the "Eliminating Fraud in the CFPB’s Complaint Database Act," establishes new requirements for submitting consumer complaints to the CFPB. It mandates that consumers attest to the truthfulness of their complaints and prove they first attempted to resolve the issue directly with the company. Furthermore, the legislation requires the CFPB to protect the confidentiality of complaint narratives while allowing financial companies to close certain unauthorized or frivolous complaints.

The Community Bank Relief Act mandates the Federal Reserve Board to adjust the maximum allowable fees for certain prepaid card transactions to account for inflation. This ensures that fee caps remain relevant over time, with an initial adjustment based on the CPI from 2009 to 2025, followed by annual adjustments thereafter.

The Taiwan SOS Act of 2026 mandates that U.S. government officials must permit Taiwanese dignitaries and service members to display symbols of sovereignty, including the flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan). This permission is specifically limited to certain official purposes, such as government-hosted ceremonies or appearances on Department of State and Defense social media promoting engagements.

The Community Bank Regulatory Tailoring Act updates various banking and financial regulatory thresholds to account for historical growth in the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Additionally, the bill establishes a mechanism for the Federal Reserve to automatically adjust these thresholds every five years to reflect future economic growth.

The Fiscal State of the Nation Act mandates an annual joint hearing where the Comptroller General presents the findings of the federal government's financial audit to the Budget Committees. This presentation must objectively analyze the nation's financial position and sustainability measures based on the Treasury Secretary's report. The hearing ensures public review of the government's fiscal health, open to all members of Congress.

The SUCCESS for BEAD Act mandates that states and territories use any remaining BEAD program funds for competitive subgrants focused on critical infrastructure and workforce development. These subgrants prioritize projects like building fiber, internet exchange points, and Next Generation 911 systems to enhance national security and AI readiness. The bill also establishes specific requirements for workforce training and ensures coordination for modernizing 911 emergency services.

This bill amends four federal financial oversight laws to require banking regulators to explicitly consider economic growth alongside safety and soundness when performing their supervisory duties. By integrating economic growth into their mandates, the legislation aims to ensure that regulatory actions support broader financial prosperity.

The Bank-Fintech Partnership Enhancement Act mandates federal regulators to study the impact of partnerships between banks and fintech companies on competition, innovation, and consumer protection. It also requires a separate study on similar partnerships involving credit unions. The goal of these studies is to recommend necessary changes to laws and regulations to better promote effective collaboration between traditional financial institutions and technology firms.

The Tailoring and Indexing Enhanced Regulations Act of 2025 (TIER Act) significantly raises the asset thresholds that subject financial institutions to enhanced supervision under various banking laws. It adjusts current dollar thresholds based on historical GDP growth to reflect current economic realities. Furthermore, the bill mandates future, automatic five-year adjustments to these thresholds based on subsequent U.S. GDP growth to ensure regulations remain appropriately scaled.

The Affordable Homeownership Access Act aims to support owner financing as a method for increasing access to homeownership, particularly for underserved buyers. This legislation provides specific exceptions to federal loan originator licensing and registration requirements for property owners who offer financing on a limited basis. The bill also mandates a study and report on the impact and potential of owner financing for lower-priced homes.