Legislative Activity

The Pathways to a Thriving Household Act (PATH Act) permits public housing agencies and certain assisted housing owners to establish optional work requirements for tenants starting in 2027. If adopted, these requirements cannot exceed 40 hours per week and must include specific exemptions for vulnerable populations. Agencies choosing to implement these requirements must offer supportive services and establish hardship policies.

The Mandatory E-Verify Act of 2026 establishes a permanent, mandatory electronic employment verification system for all U.S. employers, building upon the existing E-Verify program. This legislation phases in requirements for all businesses to use the system to confirm employee work authorization, imposing significantly enhanced civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance or hiring unauthorized workers. The Act also establishes an individual self-check tool and mandates federal agencies to share necessary records to ensure system accuracy and security.

Lulu's Law mandates that the FCC classify shark attacks as an event eligible for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). This ensures that alerts regarding shark attacks can be broadcast to the public via emergency messaging systems.

The GAME Act of 2026 prohibits large digital advertising platforms from displaying targeted advertisements for sports gambling directed at minors under 18. This ban takes effect one year after enactment and will be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Repeat violations may result in criminal prosecution and significant fines for the platform.

The Stop the Scroll Act mandates that social media and anonymous content sharing platforms display conspicuous, hourly-refreshing mental health warning labels to users in the U.S. These labels must detail potential harms and provide access to federal resources like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in consultation with the Surgeon General, is tasked with writing and periodically updating the specific regulations for these warnings. Enforcement authority is granted to both the FTC and State Attorneys General, with significant civil penalties for knowing or repeated violations.

This resolution honors the memory, service, and ultimate sacrifice of six Air Force service members who lost their lives in a 2026 KC-135 Stratotanker accident during Operation Epic Fury. It expresses the Senate’s deepest condolences to the families of the fallen and recognizes their bravery in service to the United States.

The Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2026 significantly increases civil penalties for fraudulent and grossly negligent customs violations, including temporary import bans for violators and their affiliates. It also establishes a new private right of action, allowing U.S. businesses and unions to sue those who financially injure them through customs fraud. Furthermore, the bill bars individuals and affiliated persons found guilty of such violations from participating in the U.S. importer of record program.

The GUARD Act aims to combat financial fraud targeting seniors and others by allowing law enforcement to use specific federal grant funds to investigate elder financial fraud, "pig butchering," and general financial fraud. The bill also mandates comprehensive reports from the Treasury Department and FinCEN detailing the scope of these scams and federal enforcement efforts. Furthermore, it permits federal agencies to assist local law enforcement with advanced blockchain tracing tools.

The Improving Access to Small Business Information Act aims to streamline the work of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation. This bill generally exempts most of the Advocate's information-gathering activities from the stringent requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act. This change is intended to improve the efficiency of collecting necessary data related to small business capital formation.

The NIH IMPROVE Act establishes a new initiative within the National Institutes of Health dedicated to significantly improving maternal health outcomes across the United States. This program will fund research and community-based interventions aimed at reducing preventable maternal deaths and severe complications. A key focus of the initiative is addressing and reducing existing health disparities among disproportionately affected populations before, during, and after pregnancy.

The Citizen Ballot Protection Act amends federal voter registration requirements, specifically concerning mail-in registration forms. It updates the required federal agency reference and grants states the option to require proof of U.S. citizenship after federal elections. This allows states to add an additional citizenship verification step for applicants.

The Small Entity Update Act mandates that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regularly study and update its definition of a "small entity" for regulatory purposes. These studies must assess the current definition against market growth and suggest revisions to ensure a meaningful number of businesses qualify. Following these reviews, the SEC is required to revise its rules and adjust any associated dollar thresholds for inflation every five years.

This bill prohibits non-U.S. citizens from voting in any election within the District of Columbia. It also repeals the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, effectively undoing that prior legislation. The measure ensures that only citizens can participate in D.C. local elections and ballot initiatives.

The PROTECTED Act aims to reform how financial institutions collect and handle sensitive data from small business loan applicants. It mandates clearer disclosures to applicants regarding the voluntary nature of providing data and restricts institutions from retaining data gathered through observation rather than direct submission. Furthermore, the bill modifies reporting requirements and establishes a multi-year timeline for the CFPB to implement new privacy-focused rules.

The Water Research Optimization Act of 2025 reorganizes the National Water Center by placing it within the Office of Water Prediction at the National Weather Service. This Act establishes the Center as the central coordinator for all federal water research and development activities across relevant agencies. A primary goal is to ensure that new water research and advanced computer models are directly integrated into daily operational forecasting systems.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians Parity Act officially extends the provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 to the tribe, treating them as if they were under federal jurisdiction since that date. This legislation also confirms the status of all land previously taken into trust by the Secretary of the Interior for the tribe. In essence, the Act ensures parity and validates past federal actions regarding the tribe's land status.

The Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2025 significantly updates the McKinney-Vento Act to broaden the definition of homelessness, ensuring individuals identified as homeless under any federal program are eligible for services. It mandates that funding decisions prioritize local needs and cost-effectiveness while prohibiting national preference for specific subpopulations or housing models. Furthermore, the bill requires communities to collect and publicly report comprehensive, unified data on all homeless individuals identified across various federal programs.

The MOMS Act aims to support mothers and unborn children through three main areas: establishing a federal resource website, Pregnancy.gov, to connect expecting and new mothers with local services. It also creates grant programs to fund organizations that support carrying pregnancies to term and expand access to prenatal/postnatal telehealth care. Finally, the Act mandates that states establish and enforce child support obligations on behalf of unborn children upon the mother's request.

The Insurance Data Protection Act aims to revise how federal agencies interact with insurance company data. This bill removes certain government subpoena powers and strengthens confidentiality protections when the Federal Insurance Office shares sensitive information. Furthermore, it limits the Office of Financial Research's ability to subpoena insurance companies directly and requires financial regulators to coordinate data collection to avoid duplication.

The Child Care Availability and Affordability Act aims to lower childcare costs for families and incentivize employers to offer benefits. It significantly expands the employer tax credit for providing childcare and increases the tax-free exclusion amount for employee Dependent Care Assistance Programs (DCAPs). Furthermore, the bill introduces a new, refundable tax credit for working families based on their household and dependent care expenses.