Legislative Activity

The Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 aims to support the Iranian people by expanding access to uncensored information and countering government-imposed internet blackouts. The legislation mandates the development of new digital circumvention technologies, increases funding for human rights and media programs, and establishes a framework to hold regime officials and their supporters accountable for human rights abuses. Additionally, it requires the U.S. government to implement a comprehensive strategy to bolster Iranian civil society and secure digital communications for activists and journalists.

This bill reauthorizes and strengthens existing law to accelerate access to ALS therapies by extending program deadlines to 2031. It improves grant renewal processes by requiring review of clinical trial enrollment data and clarifies the definition of a Phase 3 trial. Furthermore, the legislation mandates an updated FDA action plan for ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases, alongside a required GAO report assessing progress.

The America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes and modifies the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through fiscal year 2033, increasing its authorized funding to \$2.0 billion. This legislation broadens eligible lands for maintenance projects and prioritizes those receiving significant private donations. It also enhances transparency by requiring multi-year project lists and actively encouraging public contributions to address deferred maintenance across federal lands.

The Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act directs the Secretary of State to support the development of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). This legislation focuses on strengthening economic and energy cooperation between IMEC nations and key Eastern Mediterranean countries like Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt. The Act authorizes funding to facilitate critical infrastructure projects and promotes private sector investment in energy and technology across this strategic corridor.

The AI DATA Act mandates new, comprehensive data collection efforts by the Department of Labor and the Census Bureau to track the impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on the U.S. workforce. This includes monthly labor market flow data, recurring household time-use surveys, and longitudinal studies following individuals over time. The bill also requires quarterly reporting from the Census Bureau on business AI adoption and an annual joint report assessing AI's effects on hiring, job demand, and worker mobility.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the volunteers and communities that supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The Canteen was a massive, entirely volunteer-run operation that fed approximately six million service members traveling across the country. The original gold medal will be permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. The bill also allows the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the medal.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 2026 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2026, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. The designation aims to increase public understanding, reduce the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress (PTS), and encourage timely treatment for affected veterans and service members. It recognizes the high risk of PTS among those who have served in recent conflicts and supports efforts to ensure those with this treatable injury receive proper care.

The **READ Act** aims to combat the national literacy crisis by promoting reading instruction aligned with the science of reading across K-12 education. It establishes new grant programs to support states in implementing evidence-based policies, improving teacher training, and ensuring early identification and intervention for struggling readers. Furthermore, the bill mandates that schools notify parents when their child is identified as being at risk for reading difficulties.

This resolution honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for Michigan. It recognizes his decades in Congress, highlighting key legislative achievements such as co-sponsoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and leading significant banking reforms. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow and adjourns in his memory.

The FARM AI Act of 2026 aims to accelerate the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence in U.S. agriculture to boost productivity and competitiveness. It prioritizes AI research, development, and deployment across key Department of Agriculture programs, including grants and extension services. The bill also establishes a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor to promote technology adoption, provide technical assistance, and develop national AI standards for the sector.

The Blocking CCP Spy Tech Act of 2026 mandates a national security review of communications equipment and services from specific Chinese technology companies to assess potential risks to U.S. national security. Based on this evaluation, the FCC will either add the identified technology to the official list of equipment posing security risks or clear it. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Defense to determine if any of these entities should be identified as Chinese military companies operating in the U.S.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late former United States Senator John Seymour of California. It recognizes his extensive public service, highlighting his career in business, local government, and his tenure in the U.S. Senate. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow and directs that official copies of this resolution be delivered to his family.

This bill ensures that veterans' disability compensation and related benefits receive a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026. The increase will match the percentage increase applied to Social Security benefits taking effect on December 1, 2026. This adjustment applies to various compensation and dependency/indemnity payments administered by the VA.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, recognizing his significant contributions as a former U.S. Senator, Governor of Idaho, and Secretary of the Interior. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow over his passing and offers condolences to his family. The resolution directs that this tribute be communicated to the House and his family, and the Senate will adjourn in his memory.

This Senate resolution declares the People's Republic of China (PRC) the foremost strategic competitor of the United States, citing threats across military, economic, and technological domains. It calls for countering these threats by making them a top foreign policy priority. The resolution urges strengthening deterrence, protecting U.S. economic interests against predatory practices, and reaffirming commitments to Indo-Pacific allies.

This bill combines two major components: the **Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act**, which reforms and extends key surveillance authorities like Section 702 of FISA with new privacy protections and criminal penalties for misuse, and the **Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act**, which explicitly prohibits the Federal Reserve from creating or issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to the public. In essence, the legislation tightens oversight on foreign intelligence gathering while blocking the creation of a government-controlled digital currency.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of May 3, 2026, through May 9, 2026, as "National Small Business Week." It aims to celebrate the vital contributions and entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses across the United States. The bill recognizes the essential role these businesses play in the national economy and applauds their resilience.

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 bill amends federal law regarding beneficial ownership information reporting. It narrows the reporting requirement to apply only to foreign entities registered to do business in the U.S. The legislation specifically exempts U.S. persons from reporting their ownership information and mandates the deletion of existing U.S. person data from FinCEN records.

This resolution designates April 2026 as "Financial Literacy Month." The designation aims to raise public awareness about the critical importance of personal financial education. It calls upon various sectors of society to observe the month with appropriate programs and activities promoting financial well-being.