Legislative Activity

The Stopping Border Surges Act proposes comprehensive reforms to U.S. immigration law by tightening asylum eligibility requirements and expanding the government's authority to detain or repatriate noncitizen children and families. The bill introduces stricter standards for asylum claims, shortens application deadlines, and increases penalties for immigration fraud. Additionally, it modifies the processing and placement procedures for unaccompanied minors while overriding existing judicial consent decrees regarding family detention.

The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act extends critical funding and support for national vector-borne disease initiatives through 2030. This legislation updates program administration to improve efficiency and ensures the continued operation of regional centers of excellence dedicated to combating tick-borne illnesses.

The MATCH IT Act of 2026 aims to improve patient safety and reduce healthcare costs by establishing national standards for accurate patient identification and medical record matching. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to define uniform patient match rates and adopt a minimum data set to enhance interoperability across health IT systems. Additionally, it creates voluntary reporting programs and incentive measures to encourage providers to improve their matching accuracy.

The Kids Online Safety Act establishes a comprehensive "duty of care" requiring online platforms to design features that mitigate specific harms to minors, such as those related to mental health and exploitation. It mandates that platforms provide minors with default, restrictive safety settings and robust parental controls over data sharing and recommendations. Furthermore, the legislation demands significant transparency regarding algorithmic ranking systems and grants the FTC enforcement authority.

The Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends vital funding and support for ALS research and treatment access through 2031. This legislation strengthens grant application requirements, enhances FDA reporting on rare neurodegenerative disease action plans, and mandates new assessments to improve the effectiveness of ongoing programs. These updates ensure continued momentum in the development of life-saving therapies for patients living with ALS.

The READ Act aims to address the national literacy crisis by supporting states and schools in implementing evidence-based, science-of-reading instructional practices. The legislation provides grants for teacher training, early literacy screenings, and targeted student interventions to improve proficiency and close opportunity gaps. Additionally, it mandates that schools notify parents when students are identified as at risk for reading difficulties, ensuring families are informed and involved in their child's progress.

The College Transparency Act establishes a secure, privacy-protected federal data system to track postsecondary student outcomes, including enrollment, completion, and post-college earnings. By repealing the existing ban on a national student-level database, the bill aims to provide students and families with transparent, customizable information to help them make informed educational decisions. The system is designed to streamline institutional reporting requirements while strictly prohibiting the use of personal data for law enforcement, immigration, or federal ranking purposes.

The 21st Century Dyslexia Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to explicitly recognize dyslexia as a specific learning disability. This legislation establishes a formal definition of dyslexia and mandates equal access to educational accommodations and services for all eligible students, regardless of their socioeconomic or linguistic background.

The Railroad Retirement Board Stability Act of 2026 streamlines the agency's funding by consolidating administrative accounts to ensure consistent, reliable operations. The bill also mandates dedicated funding and oversight for the modernization of the Board’s outdated benefit processing systems. Additionally, it requires the GAO to provide reports on these modernization efforts to ensure accountability and progress.

The Collaboration on Adversarial Threats and Security Risks Act provides a limited antitrust exemption for non-federal entities to collaborate on identifying and mitigating significant national security risks posed by artificial intelligence. This legislation allows companies to share information and coordinate security measures—such as delaying deployments—provided these actions are taken in good faith to address specific, defined threats. The bill also empowers the Attorney General to seek injunctive relief if these collaborative actions violate antitrust laws or fail to effectively reduce security risks.

The Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now Act of 2026 aims to lower insulin costs by capping out-of-pocket expenses for insured patients and increasing transparency for pharmacy benefit managers. The bill also fosters competition by accelerating the approval of generic and biosimilar drugs and establishes new support programs to provide affordable insulin access for uninsured individuals.

The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 prohibits the sale or importation of connected vehicles, their parts, and related software originating from or controlled by covered adversarial countries (North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran). Enforced by the Secretary of Commerce, this law aims to mitigate national security risks associated with foreign adversary access to sensitive vehicle data and control systems. The Act establishes phased bans starting in 2027 for vehicles and software, and 2030 for hardware, while setting up processes for compliance, authorization, and enforcement.

This joint resolution directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate potential antitrust violations within the fire truck manufacturing industry, including price fixing, monopolization, and serial acquisitions. The investigation aims to address the industry's extreme market consolidation, which has led to skyrocketing costs and multi-year delivery delays for critical emergency equipment. Ultimately, the FTC must report its findings and provide legislative recommendations to mitigate the severe safety and financial impacts currently facing fire departments nationwide.

The Ban Birth Tourism Act of 2026 amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the entry of foreign nationals traveling to the United States primarily to secure U.S. citizenship for their children through birth. The bill authorizes immigration officials to deny admission or initiate deportation proceedings against individuals determined to be engaging in this practice.

The Harry Reid Immigration Stabilization Act is a comprehensive legislative overhaul designed to significantly reduce legal immigration, tighten border security, and increase enforcement against undocumented individuals. The bill restricts family and employment-based immigration, implements stricter asylum and refugee standards, and mandates new employment verification systems. Additionally, it expands grounds for deportation, limits birthright citizenship, and imposes new financial requirements on immigrants and their sponsors.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Olin Graham, recognizing his decades of dedicated military service and his impactful career in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. It pays tribute to his commitment to national security, the rule of law, and the people of South Carolina. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow for his passing and extends its deepest condolences to his family.

The **Protecting American Taxpayers Act** is a comprehensive legislative package designed to combat fraud, reduce government waste, and ensure the integrity of federal spending programs. The bill implements stricter oversight for child care and health care payments, permanently bars those convicted of pandemic-related fraud from future Small Business Administration assistance, and rescinds unspent COVID-19 relief funds to reduce the national deficit. Additionally, it enhances whistleblower protections for government contractors, strengthens data-sharing to intercept improper payments, and establishes new safeguards against foreign influence and deep fake scams.

This resolution commemorates the anniversary of the Supreme Court's *Dobbs* decision, celebrating the overturning of *Roe v. Wade* and the return of abortion regulation to elected representatives. It affirms the right to life for the unborn and commits to supporting families and expectant mothers. The resolution also recognizes the role of pregnancy centers and advocates for laws protecting unborn life.

The Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026 prohibits physicians from performing dismemberment abortions, except when necessary to save the life of the mother. The bill establishes criminal penalties for violators and provides civil remedies for patients or their parents to sue for damages. It explicitly excludes the woman undergoing the procedure from criminal prosecution or monetary liability.

The Countering CCP Act mandates a federal cybersecurity review of networked medical devices manufactured by entities headquartered in or controlled by the People's Republic of China. The FDA, in consultation with CISA, is authorized to recall any devices found to pose significant cybersecurity risks or those for which manufacturers fail to provide necessary security documentation. This legislation aims to protect patient data and ensure the integrity of medical technology within the U.S. healthcare system.