Legislative Activity

This resolution officially recognizes the Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities, honoring the legacy of Luís Vaz de Camões and the cultural contributions of Portuguese Americans. It reaffirms the long-standing friendship and diplomatic alliance between the United States and Portugal. The bill also supports the commemoration of Portuguese heritage in the U.S.

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 Stop Illegal Fishing Act aims to combat harmful illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing globally. This bill mandates the President to impose sanctions, including asset blocking and immigration restrictions, on foreign persons and vessels involved in IUU fishing activities. It also requires regular reporting to Congress on the implementation of these sanctions.

This bill strengthens U.S. access to critical minerals by authorizing international partnerships and agreements to build secure, transparent supply chains with allies. It establishes Energy Security Compacts to diversify energy and mineral sources while protecting American jobs and the environment. Finally, the legislation creates new leadership roles and exchange programs at the State Department to build a skilled domestic mining workforce and counter foreign leverage over essential resources.

This Act formalizes and strengthens the trilateral partnership between the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. It expresses Congressional support for continuing the strategic alignment established at the Camp David summit. Crucially, it mandates the establishment of a formal US-Japan-ROK Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue to deepen legislative engagement between the three nations.

The Bonuses for Cost-Cutters and Fraud Preventers Act of 2026 enhances the federal employee awards program to reward employees who identify wasteful spending and prevent improper government payments. This legislation increases the maximum cash award for such disclosures from $10,000 to $20,000. It also establishes new reporting requirements for agencies to notify the President and Treasury, and mandates public disclosure of awards given for these cost-saving efforts.

The HEAR Act of 2026 generally prohibits the manufacture, transfer, and possession of firearm silencers and mufflers, with specific exceptions for government, law enforcement, and nuclear security personnel. The bill removes silencers from the federal definition of a "firearm" while simultaneously establishing penalties for violating the new ban. It also mandates the Attorney General to create a 90-day nationwide buy-back program for surrendered silencers using Byrne grant funds.

This bill commemorates the 120th anniversary of the first Filipino immigrants, the Sakadas, arriving in Hawaiʻi to work on plantations. It honors their enduring legacy, recognizing their crucial role in building the state's economy and igniting the labor movement despite facing harsh conditions. The measure also supports the annual observance of Sakada Day on December 20th.

This resolution commemorates the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine relations, recognizing the enduring partnership and the vital contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States. It reaffirms the mutual defense commitment between the two nations and honors the service of Filipino and Filipino-American service members. The bill encourages Americans to celebrate this historic relationship through appropriate programs and activities.

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.

The All Students Count Act of 2026 aims to address educational disparities among diverse Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to mandate the disaggregation of student performance data into specific ethnic subgroups for AANHPI students. By requiring more detailed reporting, the Act seeks to accurately identify and support the unique educational needs of these varied populations.

The Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act prohibits the use of any federal funds, including those from the Judgment Fund, to pay claims submitted to the Anti-Weaponization Fund. This measure ensures taxpayer money is not used to cover payments from the fund established by the Department of Justice.

This bill, the "Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization," extends the existing rural community hospital demonstration program for an additional five years, making it a 20-year program. It also updates the criteria for an additional extension period to cover certain hospitals that join the program between late 2024 and early 2027.

The Protecting Small Business Competitions Act of 2025 codifies the "Rule of Two" into federal small business contracting law. This rule mandates that federal agencies must set aside contracts exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold for small businesses if they can reasonably expect at least two qualified small business offers. This ensures greater opportunities for small businesses to compete for federal contracts while maintaining fair market pricing.

This Act prohibits the use of federal funds for specific settlement payments, including those related to the *Trump, et al. v. IRS, et al.* case. It places new restrictions on the Judgment Fund, barring payments to high-ranking officials, their relatives, and certain entities for specific types of claims. The bill also establishes strict reporting and notification requirements for large government compromise settlements.

This resolution commemorates the 70th anniversary of the United States Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (IPIF). It recognizes the IPIF for its vital scientific research, technical assistance, and contributions to natural resource management across Hawaii and the Pacific islands. The House reaffirms its strong support for the Institute's critical ongoing operations.

The National Guard Relief Act officially recognizes the National Guard Relief Foundation as a military welfare society. This designation amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code, granting the foundation the status afforded to other recognized military support organizations.

The U.S. Vets of the FAS Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs furnish essential health services to veterans residing in the Freely Associated States. This requires the VA Secretary to quickly establish agreements to provide telehealth services and mail-order pharmaceuticals to these veterans. The bill sets a one-year timeline for implementing these services and requires regular reporting on progress and costs.

The FORTIFY Act streamlines defense cooperation among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania by removing the requirement for Presidential consent for the transfer of U.S.-provided defense articles and services between these Baltic states. This legislation aims to enhance regional security and deter aggression by allowing the Baltic nations to more flexibly share military assets. It also mandates the creation of a shared ammunition system among the three allies.

The **Protecting Our Democracy Act** imposes sweeping reforms across the executive branch to strengthen accountability and restore checks and balances. It restricts presidential pardon power, closes loopholes to ensure no President is above the law, and enforces constitutional emoluments clauses to prevent self-enrichment. Furthermore, the Act enhances congressional oversight by strengthening subpoena enforcement, increasing transparency around White House visitors and tax returns, and protecting federal whistleblowers from retaliation.