Legislative Activity

The Tribal Warrant Fairness Act aims to enhance cooperation between the U.S. Marshals Service and federally recognized Indian Tribes. This legislation explicitly broadens the Marshals Service's duties to include Tribal fugitive matters and ensures Tribes are integrated into federal threat protection coordination efforts. Ultimately, the bill recognizes and supports Tribal law enforcement within federal frameworks.

The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act mandates that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) submit annual reports to Congress detailing the status of specific, long-pending hydropower license applications. These reports will cover new, subsequent, and original license applications where intent to file was declared at least three years prior. The goal is to increase oversight and provide clarity on the timeline and progress of these complex licensing processes.

This act reauthorizes and extends the competitive grant program for large-scale water recycling and reuse projects. It increases the program's authorization period from five years to ten years.

This act, the Small Business Wildfire Smoke Recovery Act, amends the Small Business Act to officially recognize smoke from wildfires as a qualifying disaster. This change will allow small businesses affected by wildfire smoke to access necessary federal disaster assistance programs.

The Microbusiness Support Act establishes a new direct loan program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) specifically for qualifying microbusinesses. This program will offer loans up to \$100,000 with a fixed annual interest rate of 6%. The SBA is tasked with quickly developing rules to implement the loan terms and operational details for this new support mechanism.

The Safe Bus Routes to School Act establishes a grant program administered by the Secretary of Transportation to help states and local governments enhance the safety of school bus routes and stops. This legislation allows federal highway safety funds to be used for infrastructure improvements like sidewalks and traffic calming, as well as non-infrastructure activities such as safety education. The primary goal is to reduce the risk of injury or death for children using school transportation.

The Veterans Protection from Fraud Act of 2026 enhances penalties for crimes committed against veterans. This legislation specifically amends federal law to include "targeted veterans of any age" as a category of vulnerable victims. Consequently, offenders who target veterans will face stricter punishments under existing statutes.

This resolution designates the week of April 20 through 26, 2026, as National Dark Sky Week to recognize the importance of preserving dark skies and reducing light pollution. It highlights the cultural, economic, and scientific value of the night sky, which is increasingly obscured by artificial light. The bill encourages federal agencies and communities to promote responsible lighting practices and expand opportunities for stargazing and astronomical education.

This bill establishes the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act to significantly advance geothermal energy technologies, including enhanced, closed-loop, and supercritical systems. It mandates expanded research, the creation of public subsurface data repositories, and the drilling of deep exploration boreholes to better characterize U.S. geothermal resources. The legislation also authorizes new grant programs to accelerate the commercial readiness of these next-generation systems.

This bill establishes a Geothermal Ombudsman and a Geothermal Permitting Task Force within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These new entities are designed to streamline and expedite the federal permitting process for geothermal energy projects on public lands. The Ombudsman will serve as a liaison, resolve disputes, and monitor permit processing across BLM offices.

The Energy Consumer Protection Act of 2026 strengthens federal enforcement against energy market manipulation and false reporting. This legislation grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) new authority to prohibit individuals or entities who violate market manipulation or false reporting rules from trading electric energy or natural gas. These new prohibitions apply to violations under both the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act.

The Fair and Transparent Gas Prices Act of 2026 directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a comprehensive study into potential anti-competitive practices within the oil and gas industry. This investigation will analyze how company conduct, including stock buybacks, affects consumer prices and fuel supply. The FTC must report its findings and recommend legislative or administrative actions to ensure fair and transparent gas markets.

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act of 2026 amends existing law to formally recognize the installation of high-efficiency mechanical insulation as a required energy and water efficiency measure in all federal buildings. This ensures that federal energy evaluations specifically identify and prioritize the installation of mechanical insulation that meets or exceeds ASHRAE Standard 90.1 requirements.

The American Homes First Act redirects $1 billion in existing federal appropriations to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to support energy costs for low-income households. To fund this transfer, the bill prohibits the use of these specific appropriations for the "Board of Peace" established under Executive Order 14375.

The JROTC POWER Act mandates that the Department of Defense update its guidance to standardize and evaluate the instructor pay scale across all military branches. This legislation requires the implementation of specific metrics to assess how pay structures impact instructor recruitment and retention. Additionally, the Act mandates regular reporting to Congress to ensure oversight and provide recommendations for future improvements to the JROTC program.

The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act formally defines xylazine and immediately places it into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. This legislation establishes specific rules for the legitimate veterinary use and possession of xylazine while mandating enhanced tracking and requiring the Sentencing Commission to review penalties for related offenses. Furthermore, the bill directs the Attorney General to report to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use.

This Act establishes new requirements for distributors of highly pathogenic agents to maintain detailed electronic sales logs to enhance public health security. It also mandates a federal evaluation of high-containment laboratories to assess national biosafety and biosecurity risks. The legislation aims to centralize oversight and create standards for dangerous pathogen handling and storage.

The Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act of 2026 aims to reduce injuries and fatalities among highway workers and roadside personnel through improved data collection, enhanced safety planning, and expanded public awareness campaigns. The bill mandates the integration of worker safety measures into federal grant applications and directs the Department of Transportation to invest in research and technology to better protect those working on or near our roadways.

The Douglas County Economic Development and Conservation Act facilitates the transfer of federal lands to Douglas County and the State of Nevada for public recreation and conservation, while also expanding the Washoe Tribe’s reservation. The legislation further designates over 12,000 acres as the Burbank Canyons Wilderness and establishes streamlined procedures for local governments to acquire or permit specific U.S. Forest Service lands. These measures aim to balance local development and land management needs with long-term environmental and cultural preservation.

The SECURE Grid Act strengthens national energy infrastructure by requiring states to incorporate local distribution systems into their energy security plans. The bill mandates that these plans address physical and cybersecurity threats, improves federal oversight, and expands the eligible uses of federal assistance for grid upgrades. Additionally, it tasks the GAO with evaluating the effectiveness of these state plans to ensure long-term grid resilience.