Legislative Activity

The "Love Lives On Act of 2025" modifies eligibility rules for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments for surviving spouses who remarry. It allows remarried surviving spouses to receive certain educational benefits and DIC, and it continues annuity payments to surviving spouses who remarry, particularly those whose spouses died on active duty. Additionally, the Act expands the definition of "dependent" under the TRICARE program to include remarried widows or widowers whose subsequent marriage has ended.

The Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2026 reaffirms the United States' commitment to the security and strategic partnership of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The bill mandates a comprehensive report from the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense to analyze emerging regional threats and provide recommendations for strengthening deterrence, cybersecurity, and democratic resilience in the Baltic region.

The Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act reforms the procedures for antitrust consent judgments and voluntary dismissals by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. The bill increases judicial oversight, mandates greater public disclosure of settlement negotiations, and establishes a process for State Attorneys General to intervene or continue cases that the federal government seeks to dismiss.

The Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act imposes a new excise tax on large oil producers and importers when crude oil prices exceed 2025 baseline levels. Revenue generated from this tax is deposited into a dedicated fund used to provide quarterly gasoline price rebates to eligible individual taxpayers.

The Equal Tax Act proposes significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, effective after 2026, to limit preferential tax rates on dividends and capital gains for incomes exceeding $1 million. The bill introduces a "deemed realization" rule that triggers capital gains taxes on assets transferred via gift or at death, while providing specific exclusions and installment payment options for family farms and businesses. Additionally, the legislation places new caps on tax-deferred like-kind real estate exchanges and modifies deductions for qualified business income.

The Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends the program’s authorization through 2033 and formally expands its scope to include Maryland. The bill also introduces new grant priorities to better support projects serving small, rural, and disadvantaged communities within the basin.

This resolution honors the life and enduring legacy of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., a pivotal civil rights leader and advocate for global justice. It recognizes his decades of dedicated public service, his historic political achievements, and his lifelong commitment to equality. The measure further extends formal condolences to his family for their loss.

The Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to ensure home care workers receive essential minimum wage and overtime protections. By narrowing existing exemptions, the bill clarifies that these labor standards apply to professional caregivers, distinguishing them from casual, non-professional babysitting services.

The Working Americans’ Tax Cut Act aims to provide tax relief to low- and middle-income individuals by establishing an alternative maximum tax rate based on cost-of-living exemptions. To offset these reductions, the bill introduces a progressive tax surcharge on high-income earners. These changes are slated to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act proposes using revenue from specific foreign import tariffs to provide direct tax relief to eligible households. The bill establishes a refundable tax credit of $600 per adult and qualifying child, with advance payments scheduled to begin in 2025. This initiative aims to support working families through income-based tax credits while ensuring the funds are distributed efficiently to residents across the U.S. and its territories.

The Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention Act (RAYS Act) requires school districts receiving federal funds to provide students with easy access to mental health and suicide prevention resources. Under this legislation, contact information for crisis lifelines must be included on student identification cards or prominently displayed on school websites and digital portals. Additionally, the bill mandates federal outreach campaigns to ensure students, parents, and staff are well-informed about available mental health support.

The PREDICT Act establishes a national wastewater surveillance program to improve the early detection and monitoring of infectious diseases. By providing grants and technical support to state, Tribal, and local health departments, the bill creates a standardized framework for analyzing community wastewater data. This initiative aims to enhance public health responses through better data transparency, rigorous testing standards, and ongoing research into emerging health threats.

This concurrent resolution recognizes March 10, 2026, as "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day" to honor the courage and essential care provided by abortion clinic staff. The measure condemns recent legal and political restrictions on abortion access and affirms a commitment to protecting the safety of providers and the reproductive rights of patients.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran. It asserts Congress's constitutional authority to declare war while ensuring the military remains permitted to conduct defensive operations, intelligence gathering, and the evacuation of U.S. citizens.

The AADAPT Act aims to improve dementia care by expanding grant eligibility to a broader range of public and nonprofit health entities. By explicitly including dementia care in the scope of supported services, the bill seeks to increase provider training and enhance health outcomes for patients.

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 America’s Living Library Act establishes a pilot program within the Department of the Interior to collect and sequence genetic data from species across National Parks. This initiative will create a secure, public genomic database to support scientific research and conservation efforts while ensuring all samples and data remain under U.S. control. The program prioritizes ecological diversity and provides a framework for long-term biological storage and interagency collaboration.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities against Iran. It mandates the cessation of military action unless Congress provides a formal declaration of war or specific authorization for the use of force. The bill preserves the military's authority to defend against direct attacks and support partner nations in defensive operations.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran. It asserts that Congress has not authorized these military actions, which are currently underway and have resulted in casualties. The bill mandates withdrawal unless Congress explicitly authorizes the use of force through a declaration of war or specific authorization. Permitted exceptions include defending U.S. personnel and facilities, intelligence sharing, and assisting allies with defensive measures.

The Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act of 2026 restricts the Department of Defense from conducting business with firearm and ammunition dealers who do not meet strict federal safety and compliance standards. The bill prohibits the government from purchasing from or selling to dealers who supply military-grade weapons to the commercial market or fail to adhere to rigorous security, recordkeeping, and background check requirements. By leveraging federal procurement power, the legislation aims to ensure that companies supplying the military also uphold high standards of public safety and accountability.