Legislative Activity

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the Honorable Kay Granger, celebrating her nearly 28 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives. It recognizes her historic achievements as a trailblazer for women in public office, her dedicated advocacy for national defense, and her lasting contributions to the city of Fort Worth, Texas.

The Deputy Darren Almendarez Act establishes a new federal crime for the illegal trafficking of catalytic converters. This legislation imposes significant fines and prison sentences for the unauthorized possession or sale of these devices, while providing clear exemptions for legitimate automotive repair, recycling, and manufacturing businesses.

This resolution expresses the support of the House of Representatives for Charleston, South Carolina, to host the 2027 annual session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly. It highlights the city’s world-class infrastructure and honors the legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Olin Graham by advocating for the event to proceed as originally planned.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act authorizes $6 million in annual grants over seven years to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. These funds will support the National Law Enforcement Museum’s public education, community outreach, and officer safety and wellness programs. As a condition of the grant, the museum must provide free admission to law enforcement officers and their families, as well as dedicated free hours for the general public.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The Ratepayer Protection Act establishes a new federal standard requiring electric utilities to ensure large industrial customers (100 MW or more) fully cover the costs of necessary infrastructure upgrades. This mandates that large-load customers provide financial assurances before construction begins, protecting existing ratepayers from bearing the risk of future contract terminations. States must consider and adopt this standard within two years, unless they have already implemented similar requirements.

This bill, the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act, directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to convene a technical conference on strategies to shield residential and small commercial utility customers from rising energy costs driven by large loads like AI data centers. Following the conference, FERC must submit a report to Congress detailing recommendations and best practices. The goal is to ensure utility costs remain manageable for everyday families and small businesses.

The Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act of 2026 mandates the restoration of reimbursement rates for the VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program to 2025 levels and requires 90-day congressional notification for any future reductions. The bill also improves oversight by requiring the VA to report annually on provider availability and to provide full transparency regarding the methodology used to calculate reimbursement rates.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026 modernizes the H-2A visa program to better support the agricultural industry by streamlining application processes and establishing a centralized online portal for employers. The bill updates labor certification, housing, and wage requirements while expanding the definition of eligible agricultural work to include a broader range of activities. Additionally, it enhances worker protections—including new heat illness prevention standards—and provides greater administrative efficiency for federal agencies managing the program.

This bill, the Great American Outdoors Act 250, significantly reforms and renames the existing public lands restoration fund to the America’s Legacy Restoration Fund. It secures dedicated funding streams, primarily from energy revenues and new fees on foreign visitors, to address critical deferred maintenance across the National Park Service, Forest Service, and other public land agencies. The legislation establishes strict spending priorities for infrastructure repair while also creating pilot programs for enhancing outdoor recreation and sportsmen's access. Finally, it mandates increased transparency and accountability through standardized metrics and public reporting on all funded projects.

The "Protecting Americas Herds Act" establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. This program is designed to help cooperative extension services prepare for and respond to New World screwworm outbreaks. Funds will support training, livestock inspections, producer education, and technical assistance to prevent and manage infestations. Priority will be given to areas facing a heightened risk of introduction or spread.

This bill, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026, extends the authorization and funding for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. It specifically updates the Commission's operational period through the end of 2028. This action ensures the continued function of the body tasked with monitoring religious freedom abroad.

This bill reauthorizes funding for the National Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL) through fiscal year 2032. It aims to expand existing PAL chapters and establish 250 new chapters in distressed areas and public housing projects. The funding supports youth enrichment programs focused on academics, leadership, mentorship, and building positive relationships between law enforcement and young people.

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 Protect Domestic Oil and Gas Small Business Act of 2026 exempts small "marginal wells" from specific performance standards and reporting requirements set by the EPA under the Clean Air Act. This legislation aims to reduce regulatory burdens on these smaller oil and gas operations. The bill also mandates automatic approval for state plans that remove these standards for marginal wells.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue commemorative gold and silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and survivors, with designs selected in consultation with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges from the sale of these coins will be paid directly to the Memorial and Museum to support its operations and maintenance.

The FAST Act, or Federal Agents Secure Travel Act, makes eligible federal law enforcement officers and their accompanying family members under age 12 for free expedited security screening through the TSA PreCheck Program. This benefit is subject to policies established by the Transportation Security Administration Administrator.

This bill directs the President to remove all U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran within 30 days, utilizing the authority granted by the War Powers Resolution. Congress asserts this action is necessary as it has not formally declared war or authorized military force against Iran. The resolution explicitly preserves the ability of the U.S. to defend itself, its allies, and its facilities from imminent attack, and does not interfere with intelligence-gathering activities.

This resolution officially designates May 15, 2026, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week of May 10-16, 2026, as National Police Week. It honors the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, specifically recognizing 363 officers lost in 2025. The bill expresses unwavering support for law enforcement and acknowledges the need for proper resources to ensure officer safety.