Legislative Activity

The Patient Debt Relief Act establishes new standards for hospitals participating in Medicare regarding financial assistance and medical debt collection practices, including limits on liens and wage garnishment. It also creates a grant program for eligible nonprofits to purchase and eliminate the medical debt of low-income individuals. These provisions aim to protect patients from aggressive debt collection and provide avenues for debt relief.

This resolution calls for the formal annulment of the historical Monroe Doctrine, citing decades of U.S. interventionism in Latin America and the Caribbean. It proposes replacing this doctrine with a "New Good Neighbor" policy focused on fostering genuine partnership and cooperation. Key elements include ending unilateral sanctions, reforming international financial institutions, and respecting regional sovereignty.

This resolution officially recognizes January 2026 as National Mentoring Month to honor the dedicated staff and volunteers in mentoring programs. It highlights the significant benefits of mentoring, such as boosting educational achievement and reducing juvenile delinquency. The bill encourages the growth of quality mentoring programs nationwide to ensure more young people have supportive adult connections.

This bill recognizes the historic 1960 Greensboro Four sit-in, honoring the students whose peaceful protest launched a nationwide movement against segregation. It designates February 1, 2026, as the 66th anniversary, coinciding with the start of Black History Month. Furthermore, the bill encourages states to include the Greensboro Four's contributions in educational curricula.

This bill immediately halts all hiring and transfers of personnel to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) using federal funds. The hiring freeze will remain in effect until Congress passes and enacts a new law specifically designed to supersede this provision.

The Stop Inhumane Conditions in ICE Detention Act of 2026 mandates minimum health, safety, and legal standards for all ICE detention facilities, prohibiting funding for non-compliant sites. It establishes rigorous, real-time health reporting systems and requires unannounced inspections with penalties, including contract termination, for facilities that fail to meet these standards. Furthermore, the bill creates anonymous complaint channels and mandates annual audits focusing on gender-related health protections.

This act mandates the Congressional Budget Office, in collaboration with the Council of Economic Advisers, to conduct a comprehensive study on the long-term economic impacts of potential mass deportation policies enacted after January 20, 2025. The study will analyze effects on industries, public safety, GDP, tax revenue, and more over a 20 to 40-year period. Relevant federal agencies are required to provide necessary data to complete this analysis.

This resolution supports the goals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by recognizing the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black Americans. It encourages testing, commends organizations providing culturally competent care, and supports the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to reduce disparities. The bill also calls for prioritizing funding for minority-led agencies and addressing systemic barriers to care.

The Growing Reputable Academic Departments (GRAD) Act expands eligibility for existing federal grant programs benefiting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). This expansion specifically targets institutions offering qualified master's degree programs. The bill also updates the formula for distributing leftover funds within these grant programs.

The PASTEUR Act of 2026 aims to combat antimicrobial resistance by creating a subscription-style contract program to incentivize the research and development of new, life-saving antibiotics. This program will provide substantial annual payments to drug sponsors for ensuring the availability and appropriate use of eligible antimicrobials targeting urgent threats. The bill also establishes grants to promote stewardship programs in healthcare facilities and enhance national surveillance of resistance data.

The Drain ICE Act of 2026 aims to fundamentally reform immigration enforcement by repealing specific sections of a prior law (Public Law 11921) and rescinding associated funding. This legislation is introduced in response to Congressional findings detailing concerns over mass deportation policies, inhumane detention conditions, and the detention of non-criminal individuals under the Trump Administration. The bill seeks to end practices deemed contrary to constitutional protections and human rights in immigration enforcement.

The Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in ICE and CBP Custody Act establishes minimum standards for health screening, nutrition, sanitation, and shelter for individuals detained by ICE and CBP. This bill mandates specific protocols for medical care, facility conditions, and personnel training to ensure humane treatment. It also requires regular inspections and public reporting on compliance and sexual abuse complaints.

This resolution condemns current and proposed staffing cuts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), arguing they undermine national preparedness and disaster response capabilities. It highlights that workforce reductions endanger the ability to effectively manage increasingly severe disasters and critical counterterrorism programs. The bill expresses concern that these cuts compromise institutional knowledge and slow vital assistance to communities recovering from events like recent hurricanes. Ultimately, it commits Congress to supporting a stable and adequately resourced FEMA workforce.

The Restoring Community Trust Act of 2026 repeals Section 642 of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. This action aims to restore constitutional balance by limiting federal intrusion into state and local control over their public institutions and internal operations. The bill respects state and local authority while affirming the federal government's exclusive role in civil immigration enforcement.

This bill mandates the President to withdraw all United States Armed Forces from Venezuela. This action is required unless Congress has formally declared war or passed specific legislation authorizing the use of military force in that country.

The Language Access for All Act of 2026 mandates that federal agencies provide meaningful access to programs and services for individuals with limited English proficiency. The bill requires agencies to implement comprehensive language access plans, establish technical standards for translation and interpretation, and appoint dedicated coordinators to ensure compliance. Additionally, it creates a public complaint system and sets strict guidelines for the use of AI in language services to ensure accuracy and accountability.

This bill aims to end immigration detention and electronic monitoring by abolishing detention authority and terminating related contracts within a set timeframe. It mandates the release of all currently detained individuals and prohibits future use of federal funds for monitoring programs. Finally, the legislation redirects funding toward a new grant program providing voluntary, comprehensive wrap-around social services through community-based organizations.

The Follow the Science Act aims to insulate the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from political influence by prohibiting most political appointees from working on or managing NIH programs. This legislation specifically bars political employees from participating in the review, selection, or awarding of NIH grants and contracts. Furthermore, it restricts the NIH Director from canceling or delaying existing funding agreements unless specific findings of mismanagement or fraud are documented and reported to Congress.

The Youth Financial Learning Act establishes a competitive grant program to incentivize states to integrate comprehensive financial literacy education into public elementary and secondary schools. State educational agencies will receive federal grants to award subgrants to local school districts for implementing and expanding curriculum on topics like credit and student loans. States must secure matching funds and prioritize districts demonstrating the greatest need to ensure broad access to financial education.

The Stop Body Camera Paywalls Act requires states and local governments to stop charging the public fees to access or obtain copies of specific law enforcement camera footage, including body-worn and dash camera video. To receive funding from major federal law enforcement grant programs, applicants must certify they comply with this requirement. Non-compliant governments will be ineligible for these federal grants.