Legislative Activity

The Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act aims to promote de-escalation by exempting specific, clearly defined less-than-lethal projectile devices from federal firearm restrictions and excise taxes. This legislation provides a formal process for determining which devices qualify for these exemptions under both federal law and the National Firearms Act. The bill also modernizes tax regulations by exempting qualifying less-than-lethal devices and their ammunition from federal excise taxes.

The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act aims to support family caregivers as they transition out of their roles. This bill extends medical care coverage for 180 days post-designation and mandates job assistance, including fee reimbursement and access to training resources. Furthermore, it requires the VA to study the feasibility of establishing retirement savings options and creating "returnship" programs for former caregivers.

The Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026 reauthorizes the WISEWOMAN program through fiscal year 2031, securing significant funding for women's health initiatives. This legislation allows for supplemental grants to expand preventive health services, such as blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, to low-income women. These services will be integrated with existing breast and cervical cancer screening programs.

The Water Project Navigators Act establishes a new program within the Department of the Interior to fund specialized "navigators." These navigators will assist eligible entities in planning, developing, and implementing complex, multi-benefit water projects. The goal is to enhance community resilience to climate impacts while improving ecosystem and watershed health. Funding is authorized through 2032, with priority given to projects serving disadvantaged, Tribal, and rural communities.

The No Flight, No Fight Act of 2026 restricts the air transportation of adult roosters to enhance aviation safety and combat illegal activities like cockfighting. The bill prohibits air carriers from knowingly transporting adult roosters as cargo, with an exemption for shipments related to certified commercial farms for legitimate agricultural purposes. Enforcement authority rests with the Secretary of Transportation, and violations are subject to civil penalties.

The Vote by Mail Tracking Act mandates that all mail-in ballot envelopes for federal elections starting in 2026 must include a U.S. Postal Service barcode for tracking. This ensures enhanced transparency and traceability for every mailed ballot. The bill also requires the Postal Service to provide necessary compliance information to election officials annually.

The Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2026 establishes a commission to investigate the history and ongoing impacts of U.S. Indian boarding school policies. This legislation mandates the gathering of survivor testimony and the search for student burial sites across the country. It also creates advisory committees to ensure Native communities guide the process and clarifies existing laws to facilitate the repatriation and respectful reburial of cultural items. Ultimately, the Act aims to provide a formal record, promote healing, and recommend necessary policy changes to Congress.

This bill changes the legal home of the National Woman's Relief Corps by moving its incorporation and domicile from the District of Columbia to Illinois. It also relocates the organization's principal office to Murphysboro, Illinois. Furthermore, the legislation updates where legal documents must be served upon the Corps.

The VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act grants the Department of Veterans Affairs the authority to recoup performance awards, bonuses, and relocation expenses from former employees under specific conditions. This amendment allows the VA to recover these payments if repayment orders are upheld by the Merit Systems Protection Board Director. If the former employee fails to repay within 180 days of the final decision, the amount may be recovered as a debt owed to the United States.

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 U.S.-Israel Anti-Killer Drone Act of 2026 establishes a framework to significantly enhance joint U.S.-Israel cooperation specifically aimed at countering threats posed by Iranian unmanned aerial systems (drones). This legislation increases authorized funding for cooperative missile defense programs and mandates detailed annual reporting on joint counter-drone research, development, and deployment efforts. The goal is to accelerate the exchange of technology and expertise to defend against evolving drone attacks.

The Veterans Scam And Fraud Evasion Act of 2025, or VSAFE Act, establishes a dedicated Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This officer will centralize the VA's efforts to prevent, report, and respond to fraud and scams targeting veterans. The role includes developing guidance, promoting reporting resources, and coordinating with other federal agencies to better protect veterans and their families.

The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act ensures that service-connected disability compensation received by veterans is excluded when calculating income for eligibility in certain federal housing programs. This change aims to increase access to affordable housing for disabled veterans. The bill also mandates a report to Congress reviewing how HUD currently treats this compensation across its programs.

This bill establishes a statutory definition for an "essential health system" based on the volume of care provided to low-income and Medicaid patients. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate qualifying hospitals for a five-year period. Furthermore, the bill mandates MACPAC to create an annual index ranking all relevant hospitals based on these financial criteria and to review payment policies supporting these essential systems.

The Jumpstart Savings Act establishes a new tax-advantaged savings program, the Jumpstart Program, designed to cover expenses for vocational training and professional development. Funds can be used tax-free for apprenticeships, community college programs, professional certifications, and necessary business startup costs. This new program mirrors existing rules for 529 college savings plans and allows rollovers from those accounts.

The Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026 establishes a special pay system to increase the base pay for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officers by 35 percent. This legislation also provides a similar 35 percent wage increase for certain hourly BOP employees involved in inmate custody. The new pay authority is set to expire after five years, unless the Department of Justice Inspector General reports measurable progress in reducing the use of non-custodial staff for officer duties and excessive overtime.

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 bill officially designates January 9, 2026, as "National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day" to honor the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers nationwide. It also establishes National Police Week and National Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15th) to commemorate officers who have died in the line of duty. The legislation encourages the President to issue annual proclamations recognizing these days and calls for flags to be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day.

The SHINE Act of 2026 establishes a voluntary federal program to help local governments streamline and simplify permitting for residential clean energy systems like solar panels and EV chargers. The program, managed by the Secretary of Energy, will develop an exemplary online platform and standardized inspection protocols to speed up installations. It also authorizes funding and incentives to encourage local government adoption of these simplified processes.

The Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 ratifies a comprehensive agreement to resolve all water rights and related damage claims for the Yavapai-Apache Nation in Arizona. The Act authorizes the construction of the T lnchoh Water Infrastructure Project to provide reliable water access and establishes dedicated trust funds to support the Nation’s water management, infrastructure, and restoration efforts. By settling these long-standing claims, the legislation secures essential water resources for the Nation while providing legal certainty for other water users in the Verde and Colorado River watersheds.