Legislative Activity

The Buying American Cotton Act of 2026 establishes the Domestic Cotton Consumption Credit to incentivize the use of U.S.-grown cotton in products sold domestically. This new business tax credit is calculated based on the volume of U.S. cotton used, the market price, and where the product was processed. The bill mandates digital tracing to verify the supply chain and offers significantly increased credit multipliers for products containing U.S.-made cotton yarn or fabric.

The PRESS Act establishes a new federal crime for manufacturing or distributing equipment used to make illegal drugs if that equipment is intended for substances that will be unlawfully imported into the United States. This legislation amends the Controlled Substances Act to create specific prison sentences for these supply chain offenses. The Act also directs the Sentencing Commission to update federal guidelines to reflect these new penalties.

The Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act of 2026 mandates that state Medicaid programs cover whole genome and whole exome sequencing for children with specific medical conditions, effective January 1, 2027. This sequencing is to be covered as a first-tier diagnostic test for genetic disorders, rare diseases, or conditions of unknown origin. The bill also directs the HHS Secretary to promote awareness and address implementation challenges for this new mandatory benefit.

The Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress and their immediate families from purchasing new securities issued by publicly traded companies. It requires advance public disclosure for any sale of existing covered investments, with a mandatory 7-to-14-day notice period before the transaction. Violations result in significant financial penalties, including disgorgement of any net gains, payable by the Member personally.

This resolution expresses strong support for the Iranian people protesting for freedom, democracy, and basic human rights against the repressive Islamic Republic. It condemns the regime's brutal crackdown on demonstrators and demands an end to violence and the release of political prisoners. Furthermore, it urges the U.S. government to work with allies to deter further lethal violence against protesters.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

This act ensures that individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are not penalized for receiving legal settlement payments related to personal injury, physical sickness, or property damage. Specifically, it excludes these settlement amounts from being counted as income or resources for SSI eligibility and benefit calculations. This provision explicitly covers settlements from the *In Re: East Palestine Train Derailment* case.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to create an exception to the automatic enrollment requirements for certain retirement plans. Specifically, it exempts multiemployer plans from these automatic enrollment provisions. This change will take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

This bill exempts specific, carefully defined less-than-lethal projectile devices and their ammunition from the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. It also removes these qualifying devices from regulation under the National Firearms Act. The legislation establishes clear criteria, including velocity limits and design restrictions, to ensure the exemption applies only to tools intended for de-escalation rather than lethal force. Manufacturers can request official classification for their products to confirm eligibility for these tax and regulatory benefits.

The Helping Individuals Rejoin Employment (HIRE) Act extends the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for five years, making it available for wages paid to qualified employees hired before January 1, 2031. This legislation also expands the credit by adding qualified Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries as a new eligible hiring group. These modifications aim to incentivize businesses to hire individuals facing employment barriers.

The Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act (CLASS Act) establishes new disclosure requirements for public elementary and secondary schools receiving federal funding. As a condition of this aid, schools must report any foreign funding or contracts exceeding \$10,000 within 30 days. This reporting mandates identifying the foreign source, country of origin, and the terms of the funding or contract.

The Energy Choice Act places federal restrictions on state and local governments, preventing them from enacting regulations that prohibit or limit energy service based on its type or source. This means local governments cannot ban or restrict access to energy services sold in interstate commerce. The legislation aims to ensure consistent access to various energy sources across jurisdictions.

The Claiming Age Clarity Act mandates that the Social Security Administration update its official terminology to provide clearer language regarding benefit claiming ages. This legislation replaces terms like "early eligibility age" and "full retirement age" with "minimum monthly benefit age" and "standard monthly benefit age," respectively. These changes must be implemented within 12 months of enactment or by January 1, 2027, whichever is later.

The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act extends the popular Acute Hospital Care at Home program through September 2030. It also mandates a comprehensive new study comparing the quality, outcomes, and costs of home-based acute care versus traditional inpatient hospital care. Finally, the bill makes a minor adjustment to the funding level of the Medicare Improvement Fund.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

This bill, the CREATIVE Act of 2025, establishes a new federal grant program through the Department of Commerce to support nonprofit arts organizations. These competitive grants aim to increase job opportunities for artists and creative professionals, and improve the quality and availability of arts facilities and programming. Funding can be used for hiring, facility construction/acquisition, or maintenance and repairs.

This bill extends and significantly enhances the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for employers hiring from targeted groups, increasing the credit amount and adjusting it for inflation through 2031. It also removes the age limit for SNAP recipients claiming the credit and adds qualified military spouses as an eligible group. Furthermore, the legislation mandates an inter-agency initiative to promote the hiring of targeted workers in key industries like manufacturing and healthcare.

The Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2025 incentivizes first-time homebuyers to complete financial literacy housing counseling programs. By completing the required counseling before applying for a loan or signing a sales agreement, eligible homebuyers will receive a 25 basis point discount on their mortgage insurance premium payments. This act aims to promote financial preparedness among new homeowners.

The Catastrophic Specialty Hospital Act of 2025 establishes a new, separate Medicare payment system for hospitals specializing in complex, long-term care for catastrophic injuries like spinal cord or acquired brain injuries. To qualify, hospitals must meet strict criteria regarding patient focus, continuum of care, volume, out-of-state patient draw, and research commitment over a three-year period. This designation grants these specialized facilities an exemption from standard Medicare payment rules for three-year renewable terms.