Legislative Activity

The Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act of 2026 establishes a pilot program offering competitive grants to local entities in high-unemployment areas to create guaranteed jobs for all eligible adult residents. These guaranteed jobs must meet strict standards for wages, benefits, and working conditions, while also providing supportive services for participants. The bill mandates rigorous reporting and evaluation to assess the program's impact on employment, poverty, and economic indicators.

The State Authority to Protect Civil Rights Act empowers State Attorneys General to file civil lawsuits in federal court on behalf of state residents whose civil rights have been violated. This authority specifically applies to conspiracies against rights and deprivations of rights under color of law. Successful lawsuits may result in injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and punitive damages under certain conditions.

The Under Color of Law Accountability Act establishes new federal criminal offenses for specific misconduct by individuals acting under the color of law. This bill specifically prohibits the use of excessive force, theft of property, and obstruction of justice or evidence by those acting under official authority. It sets clear penalties for these violations, including imprisonment, and addresses related actions like conspiracy and failure to intervene.

The Miranda Vargas School Bus Driver Red Flag Act establishes a national employer notification service to automatically alert employers when a school bus driver has a significant change in their driving record, such as a conviction or license suspension. This law requires states to implement this service for all commercial drivers with a school bus endorsement within two years of federal regulation. The Act also clarifies that schools and school districts are considered employers under this service and mandates that drivers receive simultaneous notification of any report sent to their employer.

The SECURES Act of 2026 mandates the Secretary of Transportation to establish new federal standards for seat belts on all new school buses within 180 days of enactment. This rulemaking must consider the proven safety benefits of lap-shoulder belts and incorporate innovative detection and reminder systems. The goal is to ensure every child rides on a school bus equipped with the highest level of available restraint protection.

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.

The AI Grand Challenges Act of 2026 establishes a new prize competition program managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to spur AI research and development addressing major national problems. This program will award significant cash prizes for solutions in critical areas like national security, health, and energy. The Act also mandates the coordination of federal agencies to publish foundational datasets to support these AI challenges.

The Federal Grant Neutrality Act prevents the Department of Justice from conditioning the award of its grants on an entity's compliance with specific presidential directives or certain sections of immigration law. This legislation ensures that eligibility for DOJ funding is not tied to adherence to presidential memoranda or Executive orders.

This resolution officially designates January 23, 2026, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day." It aims to raise public awareness about the critical issues of maternal mortality, morbidity, and significant health disparities in the United States. The day encourages federal, state, and local entities to take action to improve maternal safety and eliminate inequities in care.

The Federal Officers Camera Use for Safety Act (FOCUS Act) mandates that federal law enforcement officers engaged in immigration enforcement must wear and operate body-worn cameras. This bill establishes specific requirements for camera equipment, video retention periods, and public access to footage under FOIA. It also outlines disciplinary actions for non-compliance and requires annual reporting to Congress on violations and remedial actions.

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act aims to fundamentally reform immigration detention by prohibiting the use of jails and private criminal facilities for immigrant detention. It establishes stringent new standards for dedicated immigration facilities, mandates regular public reporting and rigorous oversight, and creates a presumption of release for detained individuals, prioritizing community-based alternatives. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the detention of children and the use of solitary confinement for all detained noncitizens.

The Fair Competition for Small Business Act of 2025 empowers state attorneys general to file lawsuits on behalf of their residents for damages resulting from violations of antitrust laws. This amendment to the Clayton Act strengthens enforcement by allowing states to seek redress for harm caused by Sherman Act violations.

The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 mandates the FDA to update federal regulations by replacing references to "animal tests" with the broader term "nonclinical tests." This action ensures regulatory consistency following recent legislative changes regarding drug development methods. The required interim final rule will take effect immediately upon publication.

The EQIP Improvement Act of 2025 reforms the Environmental Quality Incentives Program by adjusting payment limits for conservation practices and establishing a new, lower overall payment cap of $150,000 per entity. This legislation also mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture submit an annual report to Congress detailing funding obligations by state, practice category, and producer operation size.

The Zero Food Waste Act establishes a grant program at the EPA to help cut national food waste in half by 2035 compared to 2015 levels. These competitive grants will fund eligible entities for studying, planning, collecting data on, or implementing activities that reduce food waste sent to landfills. The legislation authorizes significant funding over ten years to support these reduction efforts across the country.

The NOTICE Act establishes new notification requirements for Congress before the President calls the National Guard into federal service for domestic emergencies. This legislation mandates at least 24 hours' notice detailing the justification, scope, and training of the deployed Guard units. Furthermore, the bill requires ongoing written updates every 72 hours for deployments lasting longer than 48 hours.

The PATHS to Tutor Act of 2025 establishes a $500 million competitive grant program to fund high-quality tutoring partnerships between schools and educator preparation programs. These partnerships will place trained tutors in small groups within high-need or hard-to-staff schools. The goal is to accelerate student learning while providing aspiring teachers with valuable, compensated experience. The bill also coordinates these tutoring positions with national service programs to offer educational awards to tutors upon completion of service.

The Freedom to Heal Act of 2025 establishes a special registration process for physicians to administer certain unapproved, experimental Schedule I drugs to terminally ill patients under existing "Right to Try" laws. This process, overseen by the Attorney General, requires physicians to meet specific application criteria, including manufacturer verification and state law compliance. The bill mandates swift action on applications and outlines procedures for drug quantity management and treatment at multiple sites to ensure patient access while preventing diversion.

This resolution commemorates World AIDS Day and supports the global and domestic goals to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. It recognizes significant progress made through initiatives like PEPFAR and the Ryan White Program while highlighting ongoing challenges, particularly regarding disparities in affected communities. The resolution urges continued funding for prevention, treatment, and research both in the U.S. and internationally.

The Ending Forced Arbitration of Race Discrimination Act of 2025 invalidates predispute arbitration agreements and joint-action waivers for claims involving race discrimination. This means individuals alleging race discrimination can choose to pursue their claims in court rather than being forced into private arbitration. Federal law will determine the applicability of this rule, and courts, not arbitrators, will decide if the chapter applies to any given agreement.