Legislative Activity

The Keep WIC Working Act ensures the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) continues uninterrupted during any potential funding lapse in fiscal year 2026. This bill authorizes automatic funding from the Treasury to maintain program operations if regular appropriations are delayed. It also retroactively reimburses states for any funds they used to keep WIC running during the lapse period.

The No Taxation Without Operation Act suspends the collection of federal income taxes on wages for all citizens during any period of a government shutdown. Furthermore, furloughed federal employees will not pay income tax on any back pay received for the shutdown period. The Treasury Department is required to issue guidance to ensure employers correctly implement these tax suspension rules.

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Retired Colonel Robert J. Graham for his extraordinary valor during the Vietnam War. It specifically waives existing time limitations to recognize his heroic actions on May 1, 1966, where he flew repeated attack passes in a heavily damaged aircraft to save ground troops. Colonel Graham's courage resulted in the destruction of numerous enemy positions and saved hundreds of American lives.

The Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act mandates that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a comprehensive review of the Susquehanna, Delaware, and Potomac River Basin Commissions. This review will examine their operations, ethics, funding, and potential overlaps with federal responsibilities. Following the GAO's report, each commission must submit annual compliance plans to Congress detailing how they are implementing the suggested improvements.

The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act establishes a new program to support local food producers and strengthen regional food security. This initiative requires the Secretary of Agriculture to fund agreements that ensure nutritious, locally sourced food is purchased and distributed widely, prioritizing small and beginning farmers. Funds must be used to buy minimally processed local products and provide technical assistance to producers. The program is backed by mandatory funding starting in Fiscal Year 2026.

The SMART Act mandates that FEMA conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate the effectiveness, cost savings, and strategic impact of its national hazard mitigation programs. This study must analyze financial benefits, community preparedness, insurance impacts, and infrastructure resilience. FEMA is required to report these findings annually to Congress and make the results publicly available online to ensure transparency and inform future program improvements.

The CEASE Act of 2025 limits the number of for-profit companies authorized to issue Section 7 loans under the Small Business Act. Specifically, this legislation mandates that the SBA Administrator cap the total number of these non-nonprofit small business lending companies at sixteen at any given time. This measure aims to control the concentration of for-profit lenders in the program.

The Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act mandates an independent review of all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) forms sent to claimants to ensure they are clear and easy to understand. The VA Secretary must hire an outside entity to assess these forms and implement recommendations for improvement within a set timeline. Additionally, this bill slightly extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments.

This bill amends federal law to prohibit Members of Congress and their spouses from trading or owning certain individual stocks and financial instruments while serving in office. It creates exceptions for existing holdings placed in blind trusts, diversified mutual funds, and U.S. Treasury securities. Violations of this trading ban could result in civil penalties.

The Time to Choose Act of 2025 aims to eliminate conflicts of interest by prohibiting federal consulting contracts for firms simultaneously working for the U.S. government and designated "covered foreign entities," such as China or Russia. This law requires companies to certify they are not aiding these foreign entities or face contract cancellation and penalties under the False Claims Act. Exceptions are narrowly permitted only if deemed essential for national security and approved by top defense and intelligence officials. The Act mandates no new funding to implement these requirements.

Eric's Law addresses instances where a jury is unable to reach a unanimous decision regarding sentencing in death penalty cases. It mandates that the court impanel a new jury to determine sentencing. Should the second jury also fail to reach a unanimous agreement, the court is required to impose a sentence other than death.