Legislative Activity

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act aims to establish comprehensive standards for the care, health services, and housing of pregnant individuals in federal custody, including those held by the Bureau of Prisons, CBP, ICE, and ORR. The bill mandates extensive data collection on the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women and strictly prohibits the use of restraints and restrictive housing during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery, with very limited exceptions. Furthermore, it requires federal agencies to provide essential services like family unity programs, specialized medical care, and comprehensive education for pregnant and postpartum individuals.

The Vote by Mail Protection Act of 2026 officially establishes its name and immediately repeals Executive Order 14399. This action cancels any existing contracts made under that order and prohibits the use of agency funds to support its related activities.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives commending public servants for their dedication to defending the Constitution and delivering essential services to the American people. It specifically designates the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as Public Service Recognition Week. The bill honors the millions of federal, state, and local employees and uniformed service members who support the economy and democratic foundations of the nation.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 4 through May 8, 2026, as Teacher Appreciation Week. It recognizes the vital role of public school teachers and highlights their key priorities, including support for existing federal protections and funding. Furthermore, the bill encourages leaders to engage directly with teachers to ensure their expertise informs education policy.

This resolution demands the President provide the House of Representatives with specific records concerning the alleged unauthorized copying and sharing of sensitive Social Security Administration data (like NUMIDENT and death information) by an individual associated with the Department of Government Efficiency. It also seeks documents related to any reported expectations of a presidential pardon concerning these actions. The requested materials must be delivered within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.

This bill officially designates May 2026 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It calls for nationwide recognition and celebration of the significant contributions, achievements, and history of these communities to the United States. The measure emphasizes that these communities enhance the nation's diversity and strength.

The Reward Work Act aims to shift corporate focus from shareholder enrichment to worker investment. It achieves this by prohibiting publicly traded companies from conducting open market stock buybacks and mandating that large companies reserve at least one-third of their board seats for employee representatives. This legislation requires the SEC to establish regulations ensuring fair employee elections for these director positions.

The PFAS Cleanup Act establishes a new excise tax on the sale or use of PFAS "forever chemicals" to generate revenue for remediation efforts. It also creates a federal tax credit for public water systems that incur qualified expenses to remove PFAS contamination exceeding EPA safety standards. This legislation aims to address the significant health and social costs associated with PFAS pollution.

The New Pathways Act amends the Second Chance Act to require the Bureau of Prisons to assist certain returning citizens in obtaining crucial identification documents before their release. This includes providing U.S. citizens with a REAL ID-compliant identification card and helping noncitizens secure proof of lawful status. The goal is to ensure individuals have necessary documentation for successful reentry into their communities.

This bill, the Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act, aims to significantly improve support for pregnant and parenting youth currently in or transitioning out of foster care. It mandates that states enhance their foster care plans to include specialized parenting support services and caseworker training for these youth. Furthermore, the legislation requires better data collection on this population and ensures these young parents are connected with evidence-based home visiting and resource coordination services.

The Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act establishes a grant program to help current and former foster youth gain vital employment skills and work experience. This legislation expands educational and training opportunities for individuals who experienced foster care, lowering the entry age and broadening eligibility for support services. The bill authorizes significant funding to provide job training, internships, educational assistance, and supportive services for youth aged 14 to 26.

This Act nullifies three specific Department of State rules concerning foreign assistance, effectively treating them as if they never existed. It prohibits any federal agency from implementing or enforcing these rules, or any substantially similar future policies. The legislation aims to prevent the enforcement of rules related to "Protecting Life," "Discriminatory Equity Ideology," and "Gender Ideology" in foreign aid.

The CONNECT Act updates the purposes of the Chafee Foster Care Program to focus on helping older youth in foster care develop and maintain supportive relationships and connections. It also strengthens the rights of these youth to participate in their permanency planning process. The bill mandates new guidance for state and tribal agencies on best practices for mentoring, peer support, and documenting relationship-building activities.

The Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act aims to significantly improve the lives of direct care professionals by increasing their pay, benefits, and training opportunities through federal funding and grants. The bill establishes new labor protections, including fair scheduling, paid sick leave, and workplace violence prevention plans. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to stabilize the essential long-term care workforce to ensure better quality care for older adults and people with disabilities.

The HCBS Access Act aims to fundamentally transform long-term care by mandating that all states provide home- and community-based services (HCBS) as a required Medicaid benefit, backed by 100% federal funding. This sweeping legislation seeks to eliminate waiting lists, end institutional bias, and ensure older adults and people with disabilities can receive care in their own homes. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to strengthen the direct care workforce through better classification, training, and grant funding, while also requiring comprehensive national evaluation of the changes.

The Living Wage For All Act establishes a phased increase of the federal minimum wage, ultimately aiming to tie it to two-thirds of the national median hourly wage. It creates differentiated wage schedules, requiring large corporations to reach higher minimums sooner than other employers. Furthermore, the bill phases out subminimum wages for tipped workers and workers with disabilities, and extends federal wage protections to incarcerated workers.

This bill officially designates the week of April 24th through April 30th as "National Reentry Week." It recognizes the challenges of mass incarceration and the high rates of recidivism facing formerly incarcerated individuals. The legislation encourages increased support and investment in programs that promote successful reentry, including access to housing, education, job training, and mental health services. Ultimately, the goal is to foster safer communities by supporting the stability and success of those returning to society.

This bill amends federal law to reclassify clergy and religious workers as employees for Social Security and Medicare tax purposes, requiring churches to withhold these taxes. It also repeals the existing religious exemption that allows clergy to opt out of Social Security coverage. Furthermore, the Act establishes a process for currently exempt clergy to revoke their exemption and mandates the IRS to report on informing these workers of their new options.

The SEED Act (Supporting Early-childhood Educators Deductions Act) expands the existing federal educator expense deduction to include early childhood educators. This legislation allows childcare providers and preschool teachers to claim tax deductions for out-of-pocket classroom expenses, mirroring the benefit currently available to K-12 teachers. The change is set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This bill, the Rehabilitation of Historic Schools Act of 2026, amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the federal rehabilitation tax credit to expenditures made on public school buildings. This change allows for tax incentives for renovating qualified public educational facilities. The Treasury Department will report to Congress on the impact of this new credit five years after enactment.