Legislative Activity

The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2026 establishes a dedicated unit within the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute criminal trade activities, such as smuggling, duty evasion, and trade-based money laundering. This legislation aims to bolster enforcement capacity through increased staffing, interagency collaboration, and the development of multi-jurisdictional responses. Additionally, it mandates annual reporting to Congress to ensure transparency and accountability in the government's efforts to protect American industry and labor.

The Permanent CBDC Ban Act seeks to codify a long-term prohibition on the issuance of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) by the Federal Reserve. By amending the Federal Reserve Act, this legislation aims to permanently restrict the government from implementing a digital dollar.

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 Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing or selling individual stocks to prevent conflicts of interest. Additionally, the bill mandates that voters provide valid photo identification when voting in person or by mail in federal elections.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 1225 Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The facility will now be known as the "Colonel Edward Shames Post Office Building." This designation will be used in all future federal references to the building.

The Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026 protects the tax-exempt status of religious organizations by ensuring their beliefs regarding marriage, sexuality, and gender identity are not deemed inconsistent with public policy. Additionally, it clarifies that religious beliefs do not need to be central to a specific faith system to qualify for tax-exempt recognition.

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 act, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, prohibits the Secretary of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed rule regarding heat injury and illness prevention published in August 2024. This restriction extends to any future standard substantially similar to the one proposed.

This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a formal investigation into potential antitrust violations within the fire truck manufacturing industry. The inquiry aims to address concerns regarding market consolidation, surging equipment prices, and extended delivery delays. The FTC is required to report its findings and recommendations for corrective legislative action to Congress within one year.

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 Chloe Cole Act of 2026 establishes a federal private right of action allowing individuals to sue healthcare professionals and institutions for damages related to gender-transition medical interventions performed on them as minors. The bill permits lawsuits regardless of when the intervention occurred and sets a statute of limitations extending 25 years past the individual's 18th birthday. Additionally, it mandates strict liability for such interventions performed after the Act's enactment.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and processors from assigning specific merchant category codes to firearms retailers. This legislation aims to protect consumer privacy by preventing the tracking of firearm and ammunition purchases through specialized financial classification. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing these provisions and reporting annually on compliance.

The End EPA Abuse Act of 2026 aims to significantly limit the regulatory authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This bill amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit the EPA from issuing regulations that restrict vehicle sales, mandate fuel-switching at power plants, or reduce electric grid reliability. It also bars the EPA from requiring the use of technologies deemed commercially unavailable, cost-prohibitive without subsidies, or otherwise infeasible.

The Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act significantly expands legal immunity for firearm manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations by redefining terms within existing federal law. It mandates the immediate dismissal of pending lawsuits against these entities and establishes strict new standards for any exceptions that might apply. Furthermore, the bill preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability based on the criminal misuse of qualified products.

The No PLA Employees Act of 2026 amends immigration law to establish new grounds for inadmissibility and deportability. These grounds specifically target individuals currently or previously employed by designated Chinese military companies or foreign institutions engaged in problematic activity. This legislation adds these employment-based restrictions to existing sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The Local Communities Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2026 establishes a voluntary Urban Bird Treaty Program to protect and restore bird habitats within urban areas. Through partnerships and a competitive grant program, the initiative supports local organizations in reducing urban hazards, conducting scientific monitoring, and engaging communities in conservation efforts.

This bill, the "Tiananmen Square Memorial Act of 2026," officially designates a specific section of International Place Northwest in Washington, D.C., as "Tiananmen Square Memorial Boulevard." The legislation also renames a specific building address on that street to reflect the new designation. Finally, it mandates the installation of street signs marking the newly named boulevard.

The "No Safe Haven for Terrorist Families Act" amends immigration law to bar entry to and mandate the deportation of specified close family members of foreign threat actors, including designated terrorists and senior officials from adversarial nations. This measure expands inadmissibility grounds to address national security risks posed by relatives of individuals involved in terrorism, state sponsorship of terrorism, or significant corruption. The Act requires mandatory visa revocation and prioritizes the removal of these inadmissible individuals, eliminating most forms of discretionary relief.

The Medal of Sacrifice Act establishes a new national medal to honor law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. This legislation creates a Commission to advise on the medal's design, presentation, and final eligibility decisions, particularly when there are findings of wrongdoing. The medal itself will feature specific symbolic elements and will be awarded to eligible fallen heroes.