Legislative Activity

The First-Time Home Buyers Match Act establishes a pilot program administered by HUD to help eligible first-time homebuyers save for a home purchase. This program matches participant savings, up to $5,000 annually, deposited into a qualifying savings account. The matching funds must be used for home purchase costs, and the assistance is treated as a repayable second mortgage if the home is sold within 36 months.

The Leveraging Investment in Mass Building and Employment with Renewable Timber Act of 2026 (LIMBER Timber Act) establishes several new tax credits to incentivize the mass timber industry. These credits target investments in mass timber manufacturing facilities, workforce development for mass timber projects, and the construction of buildings utilizing mass timber. All provisions are set to terminate for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2030.

The SPUR Housing Act establishes a new grant program through HUD to help housing developers offset state/local taxes and impact fees associated with building new residential units. To qualify, developers must secure significant property tax reductions from local governments. The program prioritizes projects that increase affordable housing, are feasible, and can start construction quickly.

The Homebuilders Corps Act of 2026 establishes a new initiative to address the residential construction labor shortage. This act prioritizes and funds the expansion of Job Corps training programs in essential building trades. It also creates a grant program to incentivize construction firms to hire and retain graduates of these specialized training programs.

The Rural Service and Workforce Corps Act establishes a new federal program, modeled after the National Health Service Corps, to address critical workforce shortages in rural America. This program will offer financial incentives like scholarships and loan repayment to individuals who commit to serving three years in designated rural areas. Priority will be given to filling needs in sectors such as healthcare, skilled trades, energy infrastructure, and utilities.

The Invest in Rural Teachers Act establishes a federal program to provide significant financial incentives for teachers serving in rural schools. This legislation authorizes grants to states, which will then offer $5,000 annual signing and retention bonuses for three years to teachers committing to rural education. The goal is to boost recruitment and retention in underserved rural communities, with a focus on encouraging local residents to return to teach.

This act establishes the School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Camera Act to enhance student safety around school buses. It mandates a federal study on the benefits and best practices for using stop-arm safety cameras, including data privacy. Furthermore, the bill creates a grant program to help state educational agencies purchase and install this camera technology on school buses.

The CHIPS Child Care Act establishes a competitive grant program to support child care for individuals training for semiconductor jobs. States can use these funds to provide monthly stipends to child care providers or to improve child care facilities in semiconductor manufacturing regions. The bill prioritizes support for diverse applicants and requires detailed reporting on program impact and trainee success.

The Application FEES Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-free withdrawals from 529 college savings plans to cover application fees for higher education institutions. This change expands the eligible uses for these tax-advantaged savings.

The Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act directs the FAA to study the impact of unauthorized drone flights on federal wildfire suppression efforts. This legislation requires an analysis of how drone incursions delay firefighting operations and increase costs, while evaluating the effectiveness of educational outreach and counter-drone technologies. The findings and recommendations will be submitted in a formal report to Congress.

The Junk Fee Prevention Act aims to protect consumers by establishing federal rules against excessive and hidden fees across several industries. It mandates clear, upfront disclosure of total prices for event tickets and short-term lodging, while also prohibiting deceptive mandatory fees. Furthermore, the bill ends early termination fees for communications services and requires airlines to publicly report detailed data on ancillary fees.

This bill, the Accelerating Home Building Act, authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to award grants to local entities. These grants will help eligible entities select pre-reviewed construction designs for use in building mixed-income, low-rise or mid-rise housing structures. The goal is to speed up housing approvals by utilizing designs already vetted for local building codes, though the funds cannot be used for actual construction.

The Federal Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act ensures that federal firefighters continue to receive their pay and allowances if Congress delays passing the budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation also prohibits the reduction in force or layoffs of federal firefighters specifically due to government shutdowns caused by funding lapses. Essentially, this bill protects the paychecks and employment stability of federal firefighters during budget uncertainty.

The Microplastics Safety Act mandates the FDA to conduct a comprehensive study on the human health impacts of microplastic exposure through food and water. This research must specifically investigate risks to children's health, endocrine function, cancer, and reproduction. Following the study, the FDA is required to report its findings and recommend necessary legislative or regulatory actions to Congress.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating May 2025 as "National Electrical Safety Month" to combat the significant dangers posed by electrical hazards. It encourages citizens to proactively inspect their homes, install modern safety devices like GFCIs and AFCIs, and ensure smoke alarms are functional. Ultimately, the goal is to raise awareness and promote safe electrical practices to reduce fires, injuries, and deaths nationwide.

The Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends the authorization for the Deschutes River Conservancy Working Group until 2032. This bill updates the required membership composition of the Working Group to ensure diverse representation from environmental, agricultural, tribal, and governmental interests. Additionally, it increases the allowable limit for administrative costs from five percent to ten percent.

The Protecting Families from Inflation Act mandates that the Federal Reserve conduct a comprehensive study on the cumulative impact of all U.S. tariffs implemented since 2017. This research will specifically analyze how these trade actions have affected consumer prices and small businesses. The Fed is required to submit its findings to Congress within 270 days of the Act's enactment.