Legislative Activity

This bill, the "American Electric Rail Mapping Act of 2026," mandates the Federal Railroad Administration to conduct a comprehensive study on the feasibility of electrifying passenger and freight rail corridors nationwide. The study will map existing and planned rail systems, assess current power sources, and identify segments suitable for electrification or other clean rail technologies. The Administrator is required to consult with various stakeholders and report findings to Congress within two years of enactment.

This bill, the "Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026," mandates a comprehensive study by the EPA on the environmental and energy impacts of AI data centers and infrastructure. It also requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish a consortium to develop measurement standards for these impacts. Finally, the legislation establishes an annual public reporting system for large AI data centers detailing their environmental footprint.

The Rail Motive Power Source Integration Act of 2026 establishes a pilot program overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration to test the integration of diverse motive power sources, such as battery, hydrogen, and electric, into existing rail operations. This initiative aims to research integration challenges, develop adaptable rail car designs, and conduct demonstration projects. The Act also mandates a study identifying locations where power source limitations currently require train substitutions.

The Southeastern Rail Technologies Mapping Act of 2026 directs the Federal Railroad Administration to study the feasibility of upgrading rail corridors between Florida and Washington, D.C., to support modern power technologies like electrification and fuel cells. This study will identify segments suitable for these upgrades and detail the necessary improvements and associated costs for unsuitable segments. The findings will be reported to Congress within 18 months.

This act, the Arlington National Cemetery Viewshed Protection Act, prohibits the construction of any new triumphal arches in Lady Bird Johnson Park. It also restricts the building of any triumphal arch over 50 feet tall on other National Park Service land within the capital region unless explicitly authorized by Congress. The legislation aims to protect the visual landscape surrounding Arlington National Cemetery.

The CLEAN UP Mines Act of 2026 significantly strengthens environmental protection and reclamation standards for surface coal mining operations. It mandates stricter deadlines for backfilling, regrading, and revegetation following the cessation of coal production. The bill also enhances monitoring requirements for water quality and mandates annual biological assessments of local streams. Furthermore, it tightens rules regarding mine idling and the automatic non-compliance of permits left inactive for extended periods.

This bill nullifies a specific decision and order from the Endangered Species Committee regarding certain oil and gas activities. It also imposes a three-year ban on the Committee issuing new exemptions for these activities under the Endangered Species Act. Importantly, all pre-existing Endangered Species Act requirements remain fully in effect for these activities.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to exclude certain charitable distributions made directly from employer-sponsored retirement plans from their gross income. This provision mirrors existing rules for IRA charitable distributions, applying to individuals aged 70½ and older. The exclusion is subject to the same annual dollar limit as IRA charitable distributions, and the bill also removes restrictions on charitable distributions from SEP and SIMPLE IRAs.

The **UNLEADED Act** mandates the FAA to establish a comprehensive education program informing the general aviation community about newly authorized unleaded aviation gasoline. This program requires the FAA to publish detailed compatibility, availability, and safety information on a public, continuously updated tracking mechanism. The goal is to ensure pilots, mechanics, and operators are fully educated on the transition to unleaded fuels through training and accessible resources until the program concludes in 2036.

The Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2026 establishes a national system to map, protect, and restore critical pathways for wildlife movement across federal and nonfederal lands. It creates a scientific mapping program, designates formal wildlife corridors on federal property, and funds grants for habitat connectivity projects on private and state lands. The bill aims to reduce habitat fragmentation, improve species adaptation to climate change, and enhance public safety by mitigating wildlife-vehicle conflicts.

The Millionaires Surtax Act imposes a 10% surcharge on high-income individuals starting in 2027. This surcharge applies to modified adjusted gross income exceeding $1 million for most filers, or $2 million for married couples filing jointly. The tax is calculated based on adjusted gross income, with specific adjustments for investment interest and nonresident aliens.

The AI Foundation Model Transparency Act of 2026 mandates that providers of powerful AI foundation models disclose detailed information regarding their training data, safety benchmarks, and risk management procedures. The Federal Trade Commission will oversee these transparency requirements, ensuring that information is accessible to the public in both consumer-friendly and machine-readable formats. This legislation aims to increase accountability for high-impact AI systems while providing specific compliance support for small businesses and startups.

The GUARDRAILS Act repeals the December 11, 2025, Executive Order regarding national AI policy. This legislation prohibits the use of federal funds to implement or enforce the mandates set forth in that order.

The Working Americans’ Tax Cut Act aims to provide tax relief to low- and middle-income earners by capping their federal income tax at 25.5% for income exceeding a cost-of-living exemption. To offset this, the bill introduces a new graduated tax surcharge on high-income individuals earning over $1 million. These changes are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The SCOPE Act of 2026 mandates the EPA Administrator to develop standardized guidance for industrial operations on calculating and reporting Scope 3 (value chain) emissions. This aims to establish a uniform method for measuring these indirect polluting emissions above set thresholds. The guidance will cover calculation methods, monitoring frequency, and quality control procedures.

This bill establishes the **Older Workers Bureau** within the Department of Labor to address the unique challenges faced by workers aged 55 and older. The Bureau will investigate issues like age discrimination, access to training, and retirement security. It is tasked with developing policy recommendations and administering research and anti-ageism grant programs to promote productive employment opportunities for older Americans.

The Protecting Hospitals from Disaster Act of 2026 directs Medicare's Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) to assist hospitals and other key healthcare facilities in preparing for and responding to extreme weather events. This new mandate is funded by a $50 million transfer from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for fiscal year 2026. The goal is to reduce physical and chronic risks to these essential providers and their patients.

The Airborne Act of 2026 establishes a new business tax credit to incentivize improvements in indoor air quality for commercial, public, and nonprofit buildings. This credit covers costs for air quality assessments, air cleaning system upgrades, and HVAC upgrades, with significantly increased amounts available for projects meeting prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards. The Act also creates a voluntary indoor air quality certification program managed by the Department of Energy and the EPA.

The Methane Monitoring Science Act of 2026 directs NASA to develop a comprehensive, science-based strategy for assessing and improving methane monitoring capabilities across ground, air, and space-based systems. This strategy aims to enhance the detection of methane emissions, including large events, to strengthen American energy security. The plan must facilitate the rapid mitigation of methane leaks and ensure data is accessible to state, local, academic, and commercial entities.

The National Urgent Recruitment for Skilled Employees Visa Act of 2026, or NURSE Visa Act, significantly increases the annual availability of H-1C visas for nonimmigrant nurses from 500 to 20,000. This expansion aims to address critical nursing shortages by prioritizing placements in designated shortage areas. Additionally, the bill mandates that healthcare facilities petitioning for these visas must maintain a formal policy on provider-to-patient staffing ratios.