Legislative Activity

The Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act authorizes the placement of the National Medal of Honor Monument within the Reserve area in Washington, D.C. This legislation provides the necessary site-specific authorization to ensure the monument can be established in this prominent location.

The Supporting Disabled Entrepreneurs Act establishes a dedicated Coordinator for Disabled Small Business Concerns within the Small Business Administration to better support the growth and success of entrepreneurs with disabilities. This role will oversee outreach, technical training, and interagency partnerships to improve access to capital, counseling, and contracting opportunities. Additionally, the bill mandates improved data collection and reporting to better track and serve the needs of disabled-owned small businesses.

The Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026 designates Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) through July 1, 2029, allowing eligible Afghan nationals currently in the United States to live and work legally. The bill mandates expedited processing for TPS applications and provides for fee waivers for qualified applicants. Additionally, it establishes clear requirements for background checks and emergency travel authorization for those granted status.

The Kids Online Safety Act establishes a comprehensive "duty of care" requiring online platforms to design features that mitigate specific harms to minors, such as those related to mental health and exploitation. It mandates that platforms provide minors with default, restrictive safety settings and robust parental controls over data sharing and recommendations. Furthermore, the legislation demands significant transparency regarding algorithmic ranking systems and grants the FTC enforcement authority.

The Pay PCPs Act of 2026 aims to modernize Medicare by introducing a voluntary hybrid payment model for primary care providers, combining predictable prospective payments with traditional fee-for-service billing. This approach is designed to support comprehensive, team-based care and reduce administrative burdens while lowering out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Additionally, the bill establishes a technical advisory committee to improve the accuracy and transparency of how Medicare determines physician payment rates.

The Improving CARE for Youth Act removes barriers to integrated healthcare by ensuring that state Medicaid programs cannot deny payment for mental health and primary care services simply because they are provided on the same day. This legislation facilitates more efficient, coordinated care by allowing providers to be reimbursed for both service types during a single patient visit.

The Emergency Savings Enhancement Act of 2025 aims to simplify and expand access to emergency savings accounts within retirement plans. The bill increases the automatic rollover notice threshold and contribution limits from $2,500 to $5,000, while streamlining eligibility definitions for participants. These updates are set to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

The Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act aims to improve college accessibility for students with disabilities by streamlining the documentation process for accommodations. The bill also mandates that colleges report data on students with disabilities and authorizes $10 million in funding for a national technical support center. These measures ensure greater transparency and support for students navigating the transition to postsecondary education.

The State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act amends the Higher Education Act to formally define and integrate state-based education loan programs into existing financial aid frameworks. This legislation ensures that these state-sponsored, non-federal loans meet specific consumer protection standards and interest rate caps. Additionally, it permits higher education institutions to enter into formal arrangements to offer these loans, provided students are first fully informed of their federal loan eligibility and benefits.

The Fairness in Foreign Filing Act reforms how the IRS assesses and collects certain tax penalties, ensuring taxpayers receive advance notice and an opportunity for independent review before penalties are enforced. The bill also streamlines administrative requirements for foreign trust information returns. These changes aim to enhance taxpayer rights and provide a more transparent process for resolving penalty disputes.

The National Guard for National Service Act establishes a pilot program to integrate National Guard members with national service initiatives to bolster U.S. infrastructure and security. This program focuses on enhancing cybersecurity, improving disaster preparedness, and protecting critical systems. Additionally, it creates a structured workforce development pipeline to provide career pathways and financial stability for part-time National Guard and Reserve members.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to protect Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) recipients from having their tax refunds seized to pay off debts that the IRS has already deemed uncollectible. By preventing these offsets for low-income taxpayers, the legislation ensures that essential tax credits reach those who need them most.

The **Making America's Food Safer Act** strengthens national food safety by expanding the FDA’s third-party certification program and streamlining the destruction of high-risk, refused food imports. Additionally, the bill enhances public health coordination by authorizing the FDA to share critical, non-public food safety data with state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities. These measures collectively improve oversight and response capabilities across the food supply chain.

The Improving Housing Performance Act directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to commission an independent study on the safety and durability of manufactured homes in areas prone to natural disasters and extreme weather. The resulting report will provide Congress with data-driven recommendations to update construction and installation standards while balancing safety improvements with housing affordability.

The Work Without Worry Act of 2026 removes barriers to employment for adults with childhood-onset disabilities by expanding benefit eligibility and eliminating the requirement for continuous disability status. The bill also ensures that beneficiaries can receive the highest possible monthly payment by allowing them to claim benefits based on their own work history alongside childhood disability benefits.

The PROMISE Act of 2026 establishes a formal, expedited legislative process designed to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security. The bill mandates that the Social Security Advisory Board develop recommendations to guarantee 100 percent of scheduled benefits for the next 50 years. It further creates a "fast-track" framework for Congress to introduce, debate, and vote on these solvency measures within a strict 2026 timeline and provides a mechanism for decennial reviews to maintain future financial stability.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Olin Graham, recognizing his decades of dedicated military service and his impactful career in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. It pays tribute to his commitment to national security, the rule of law, and the people of South Carolina. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow for his passing and extends its deepest condolences to his family.

Lulu's Law mandates that the FCC classify shark attacks as an event eligible for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). This ensures that alerts regarding shark attacks can be broadcast to the public via emergency messaging systems.

The Save Our Shrimpers Act directs the U.S. to oppose international financial institution funding for shrimp farming, processing, or export projects in borrowing countries. This measure aims to protect domestic shrimpers by limiting foreign competition supported by these institutions. The opposition requirement is set to expire after seven years unless a national interest waiver is invoked by the Treasury Secretary.

The NO FAKES Act of 2026 establishes a federal property right for individuals and right holders to control the use of their voice or visual likeness in unauthorized, highly realistic computer-generated digital replicas. This grants the right to authorize or prohibit such uses, both during life and for a term following death, creating civil liability for unauthorized distribution or the provision of tools primarily designed for creating such replicas. The Act includes specific liability standards, exclusions for uses like news and parody, and detailed safe harbor provisions for online services that comply with notification and removal procedures.