Legislative Activity

This bill, the Great American Outdoors Act 250, significantly reforms and renames the existing public lands restoration fund to the America’s Legacy Restoration Fund. It secures dedicated funding streams, primarily from energy revenues and new fees on foreign visitors, to address critical deferred maintenance across the National Park Service, Forest Service, and other public land agencies. The legislation establishes strict spending priorities for infrastructure repair while also creating pilot programs for enhancing outdoor recreation and sportsmen's access. Finally, it mandates increased transparency and accountability through standardized metrics and public reporting on all funded projects.

The Support our Firefighters Act establishes paid rest and recuperation leave for federal wildland firefighters within the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. It also permanently waives overtime pay caps for these federal employees. Furthermore, the bill authorizes a limited transfer of funds between agency accounts to ensure continuity of base salary increases and associated premium pay for wildland firefighters.

The VA Home Loan Navigator Act establishes a new, free program to provide comprehensive housing loan support services to veteran borrowers. This program will offer education, guidance, and assistance navigating all aspects of their VA home loan benefits, from eligibility to foreclosure prevention. Services will be delivered by independent, neutral third-party organizations approved by the VA and HUD. Participation is entirely voluntary for the borrower.

The **Take Care of America’s Veterans Act** is a comprehensive bill designed to strengthen benefits and modernize services across compensation, education, health care, and VA operations. It eliminates benefit offsets for disabled retirees, expands educational flexibility, sets new standards for timely health care access, and invests in VA technology and infrastructure. Overall, the legislation aims to provide faster, fairer, and more comprehensive support for veterans and their families.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to speed up the process of securing a first collective bargaining agreement after a union is certified. It establishes a mandatory timeline, including mediation and binding arbitration, if an agreement is not reached within 90 days of bargaining. This process is designed to prevent lengthy delays that currently weaken the union's position. The bill also requires a GAO report on current time-to-contract averages.

The Seaport Security Act of 2026 establishes federal restrictions on operating unmanned aircraft systems (drones) over major U.S. seaports to counter national security and smuggling risks. This law prohibits unauthorized drone flights up to 1,000 feet above covered port airspace, with specific exceptions for authorized government or emergency operations. Violators face significant civil penalties up to \$25,000, and willful or malicious violations can result in criminal charges and up to ten years in prison.

This resolution recognizes the vital economic and historical contributions of American automotive workers, with a special focus on Michigan's central role in the industry. It highlights the sector's impact on national manufacturing, job creation, and security. The resolution further expresses support for designating September 2026 as "American Automotive Worker Recognition Month."

This bill, the Military Readiness Permitting Efficiency Act of 2026, authorizes the Department of Defense (DoD) to enter into agreements with federal wildlife agencies to expedite environmental reviews for priority military programs. Under these agreements, the DoD can provide direct financial assistance to hire personnel to complete reviews required under laws like the Endangered Species Act. This mechanism is intended to ensure timely completion of reviews deemed essential for national defense when agencies lack sufficient resources.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act prohibits the VA from reporting veterans to the NICS background check system solely because a fiduciary was appointed to manage their benefits. This legislation ensures that a VA finding of mental incompetence or the appointment of a fiduciary alone is not used to treat a veteran as a "mental defective" for gun control purposes. Furthermore, the VA must notify the Attorney General about past transmissions of this information that lacked a proper legal basis.

This act officially establishes the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and designates its location on the National Mall, requiring the transfer of land jurisdiction to the Smithsonian Institution. The museum is mandated to preserve and present the history and achievements of biological women in the United States. Furthermore, the legislation requires that exhibits and programs reflect diverse political viewpoints and authentic experiences of women, as guided by a broad array of knowledgeable sources.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the school-based health centers grant program. It secures $55 million in annual funding for these centers from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support continued student access to essential health services.

The Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding subminimum wage employment for individuals with disabilities. This bill changes the applicable age for subminimum wage employment from 24 and under to 18 and older. It also modifies employer requirements for providing counseling and documentation related to this employment status.

The Rural Hospital Revitalization Act of 2026 establishes a temporary, zero-interest loan program to help eligible, long-standing rural hospitals replace, improve, or renovate their facilities. Loans prioritize hospitals serving the most remote and underserved populations, offering a five-year interest-free period with potential renewals based on financial need and community impact. Following the initial period, loans are refinanced under standard terms unless the hospital remains financially vulnerable, in which case further interest-free extensions or technical assistance are provided.

The Keeping Deposits Local Act amends federal law to adjust how reciprocal deposits are treated for institutions, potentially encouraging local deposit retention. It modifies the definition of an "agent institution" based on its financial health rating. Furthermore, the bill mandates a study by the FDIC on the performance, usage, and risks associated with reciprocal deposits.

This act strengthens national defense by expanding the Job Corps program to train disadvantaged youth and veterans for critical roles in the defense industrial base. It establishes a Defense Skilled Trades Pipeline Program to provide vocational training in areas like welding, machining, and cybersecurity. The legislation authorizes significant funding to develop these specialized programs in coordination with defense contractors and the Department of Defense.

The Rural MOMS Act of 2026 aims to support maternity care in small rural hospitals. This bill amends Medicare rules to exclude beds used only for labor and delivery from the acute care inpatient bed count for Critical Access Hospitals. This change allows these vital rural facilities to maintain their special status while continuing to offer essential maternity services.

The Recognizing Community Organizations for Veteran Engagement and Recovery (RECOVER) Act establishes a three-year Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to non-profit organizations. These grants fund the provision of culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care specifically for veterans. Recipients cannot charge veterans for this care and must encourage them to enroll in the VA system for ongoing services. The VA must report on the program's outcomes, including veteran engagement and care quality, after the pilot concludes.

The Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act expands the advanced manufacturing production tax credit to include several new critical minerals, such as copper, silicon, and uranium. The bill also allows extraction costs for domestically sourced ore to qualify for the credit when refined into these minerals. Finally, it repeals the existing credit reduction previously applied to metallurgical coal.

The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 prohibits the sale or importation of connected vehicles, hardware, or software originating from or controlled by designated "covered countries" (North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran). This measure aims to safeguard U.S. economic and national security against risks like espionage and cyber intrusion posed by foreign adversaries exploiting vehicle connectivity technology. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with issuing regulations to enforce these bans, which begin phasing in starting in 2027, though waivers may be granted under specific national security conditions.

The Nursing is a Professional Degree Act officially designates nursing as a professional degree under federal law. This bill amends the Higher Education Act to provide a clear statutory definition for "professional degree," explicitly including nursing alongside other established professions like medicine and law. This change ensures consistency in recognizing the advanced academic requirements necessary to practice nursing.