Legislative Activity

The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026 significantly updates and extends NOAA's weather and environmental forecasting authorities through 2030. The bill prioritizes public safety by funding research to improve warnings for severe weather like tornadoes and hurricanes, while also modernizing infrastructure through AI integration and commercial data use. Furthermore, it establishes new programs to enhance forecasts for agriculture, water management, wildfires, and harmful algal blooms.

This resolution officially designates **March 6, 2026, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day."** The day aims to recognize the essential role of speech and debate in developing vital 21st-century skills like communication, critical thinking, and collaboration. It encourages the entire nation to celebrate and promote the lifelong impact of this education.

The SPONSOR Act holds tax-exempt organizations legally and financially accountable for the actions of the projects they fiscally sponsor. Under this bill, sponsoring organizations face criminal and civil liability if their sponsored projects engage in terrorism, violent intimidation, or the obstruction of lawful commerce. The legislation establishes a presumption of responsibility, requiring sponsors to maintain rigorous oversight to ensure funds are not used for prohibited activities.

The Home School Graduation Recognition Act amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to formally recognize home school graduates as high school graduates for federal education purposes. This legislation ensures that students completing secondary education in state-recognized home school settings are treated equitably under federal law.

This resolution officially designates February 2026 as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month to celebrate and support CTE programs nationwide. It recognizes CTE's vital role in preparing a skilled workforce for high-demand careers and boosting American economic competitiveness. The resolution encourages promotion of CTE as a respected educational pathway for students.

This resolution expresses support for designating February 21-28, 2026, as "National FFA Week." It recognizes the National FFA Organization's role in developing future leaders. The resolution also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the chartering of the Alaska State FFA Association.

This resolution establishes the first full week of February each year as "Career and Technical Education Educator and Work-Based Learning Coordinator Appreciation Week." It recognizes the vital role these educators play in preparing students for the workforce and supporting critical economic sectors. The bill calls upon the President and local entities to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies.

The Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act prohibits federal agencies from providing funding or support for the creation or maintenance of state-level firearm ownership databases. This legislation ensures that federal resources cannot be used to track lawful gun owners or their property, with narrow exceptions for databases tracking lost or stolen firearms.

The ROTOR Act focuses on enhancing aviation safety and transparency, primarily by reforming exceptions that allow aircraft to disable their ADS-B Out tracking systems. It mandates that the FAA require most aircraft to install and use ADS-B In technology for improved situational awareness. Furthermore, the bill establishes new coordination offices and requires comprehensive safety reviews of airspace operations, particularly around major airports, involving both civil and military aviation.

The Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act aims to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the FAA's aircraft certification process. It mandates the FAA to publish plans, establish standard expected timelines for certification milestones, and set clear criteria for issue papers. Furthermore, the bill updates guidance on delegating certification work and affirms Congress's support for U.S. leadership in aviation innovation.

This bill aims to modernize the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) aircraft type certification process to better support new technologies. It mandates increased transparency, establishes standard timelines for key certification steps, and updates criteria for technical issue papers. Furthermore, the legislation requires updated guidance on the FAA's delegation of certification authority to industry stakeholders.

The National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025 establishes a national network of advanced, remotely accessible research facilities managed by the National Science Foundation. This network aims to accelerate scientific discovery and maintain U.S. competitiveness by providing researchers broad, secure access to automated instrumentation. The Act directs the selection of designated "nodes" and mandates the development of interoperability standards to ensure seamless, reproducible experimentation across the system. All provisions and authorities established by this Act will sunset on September 30, 2031.

The Lifelong Learning Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to increase funding reservations for incumbent worker training and transitional jobs programs. It also establishes new performance reporting requirements for incumbent worker training programs. Finally, the bill expands flexibility by allowing local workforce development boards to serve as one-stop operators under specific conflict of interest safeguards.

This resolution strongly condemns the Government of Iran for its violent suppression of peaceful protests and widespread human rights abuses against its citizens. It highlights the regime's use of deadly force, internet blackouts, and severe persecution in response to demonstrations sparked by economic hardship. The resolution commends the courage of the Iranian people and calls for free and fair elections.

The Radar Next Program Act of 2026 establishes a new program within NOAA to modernize the nation's weather radar network. This act mandates the development of performance requirements and a detailed plan to replace the current NEXRAD system by September 30, 2040. The program aims to improve weather coverage, accuracy, and severe weather detection across the U.S. and its territories, including by filling existing data gaps.

The Drone Espionage Act strengthens federal law to explicitly prohibit the unauthorized recording or transmission of video of sensitive defense information. This amendment updates existing statutes to specifically cover video recordings, addressing modern surveillance capabilities.

The ePermit Act mandates the creation of a unified, digital system for managing all federal environmental reviews and project permits. This system will require electronic submission, real-time tracking, and public accessibility of all authorization data. The goal is to modernize the permitting process through standardized data and transparent, efficient digital workflows, while ensuring existing environmental laws are upheld.

The Protect America Act is a comprehensive bill focused on strengthening immigration enforcement and penalizing non-cooperation. It mandates that state and local governments cooperate with federal immigration authorities to receive federal funding, increases penalties for illegal entry and reentry, and creates new protections and harsher sentences for assaulting federal officers. Furthermore, the bill revokes tax-exempt status for nonprofits that support criminal violence.

This resolution officially honors the 67 victims of the tragic 2025 mid-air collision between an Army helicopter and an airliner over the Potomac River. It expresses deep sympathy for the families affected and commends the hundreds of agencies and first responders involved in the response and recovery efforts. Furthermore, the resolution commits to translating safety lessons from the incident into action to prevent future tragedies.

This bill, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act), mandates that individuals must provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It also establishes a federal requirement for voters to present a photo ID containing a citizenship indicator when casting a ballot in federal elections. Furthermore, the legislation requires states to implement ongoing programs to verify and remove non-citizens from voter rolls.