Legislative Activity

The Restoring Accountability in Appropriations Act strengthens the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 by creating new legal avenues to challenge the executive branch when it improperly withholds congressionally mandated funds. The bill empowers private citizens to file civil lawsuits against federal officials for such violations and establishes a fast-track procedure for the House of Representatives to initiate litigation to ensure budget authority is made available.

The Congressional Oversight and Agency Access Act grants Members of Congress and their staff expanded access to federal buildings and contractor-operated facilities to ensure effective oversight. The bill establishes clear protocols for entry during business hours, emergencies, and secure areas, while prohibiting agencies from obstructing observational access.

The Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act of 2026 streamlines the rehiring process for qualified former career Foreign Service members who were involuntarily separated due to reductions in force between 2025 and 2030. This legislation allows the Secretary of State to reappoint these individuals without requiring them to repeat standard written or oral examinations.

The Human Authority over Autonomous Weapons Act of 2026 mandates that all lethal force deployed by U.S. Armed Forces using autonomous or AI-enabled systems remains under direct human command and oversight. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to establish procedures ensuring a "human-in-the-loop" for target authorization, while requiring secondary verification of targets for the first five years. These requirements exclude specific missile and defensive weapon systems currently used to protect the United States.

The *Saving Lives and Reducing Health Care Waste by Improving Diagnosis in Medicine Act* aims to reduce preventable patient harm and healthcare costs caused by diagnostic errors. The bill establishes a comprehensive federal research and quality improvement program, modernizes patient-safety reporting infrastructure, and promotes the use of data science and AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, it creates an interagency council to coordinate federal efforts and mandates new training and quality standards to ensure safer, more timely diagnoses across the U.S. healthcare system.

The Modernizing Aeronautical Standards Act directs NASA, in coordination with the FAA and NOAA, to conduct a comprehensive study on how shifting atmospheric conditions impact aircraft performance and airport infrastructure. This study will analyze historical and future climate trends to provide recommendations for updating aeronautical standards, aircraft design, and infrastructure investments. The findings will help ensure the U.S. aviation industry remains safe and efficient in a changing environment.

The Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act significantly expands and modernizes paid family and medical leave for federal workers across various agencies, including the Postal Service and Congressional staff. This legislation introduces new qualifying reasons for leave, such as recovery from domestic violence, sexual assault, or fertility challenges. It also adjusts service requirements, leave duration rules, and establishes repayment/work obligation agreements for certain paid leave.

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.