Legislative Activity

The **Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act** amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to significantly improve services for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deafblind. The bill mandates better identification, specialized instruction—including access to American Sign Language and Braille—and increased training for qualified personnel across all three disability areas. It ensures these students receive comprehensive support tailored to their unique communication and access needs from early intervention through school age.

The Ukraine Support Act strengthens U.S. diplomatic, military, and economic support for Ukraine while intensifying pressure on Russia through comprehensive sanctions and export controls. The bill establishes long-term reconstruction and security programs, bolsters independent media, and mandates strategies to reduce European reliance on Russian energy. Additionally, it reinforces NATO’s collective defense and imposes strict oversight on the use of U.S. aid to ensure accountability and strategic impact.

The Student Loan Refinancing Act of 2026 establishes a new federal program allowing borrowers to refinance eligible federal student loans to current interest rates while keeping original loan terms. This act ensures borrowers who refinance do not lose credit toward existing income-driven repayment or Public Service Loan Forgiveness progress. The Secretary of Education is mandated to launch this refinancing program within 30 days of the bill's enactment.

This act, the Arlington National Cemetery Viewshed Protection Act, prohibits the construction of any new triumphal arches in Lady Bird Johnson Park. It also restricts the building of any triumphal arch over 50 feet tall on other National Park Service land within the capital region unless explicitly authorized by Congress. The legislation aims to protect the visual landscape surrounding Arlington National Cemetery.

The Celiac Safety Act of 2026 amends federal law to officially classify gluten-containing grains (wheat, rye, and barley) as a major food allergen. This change mandates that foods containing these grains must be clearly labeled as such, similar to existing major allergens like peanuts or milk. This new labeling requirement will take effect 18 months after the Act's enactment.

The Harry Lew and Danny Chen Military Justice Reform Act directs the Secretary of Defense to study the feasibility of creating a separate, specific criminal offense for hazing within the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This analysis must include developing a proposed definition of hazing. The Secretary is required to submit a report detailing these findings and recommendations to Congress within 180 days of the Act's enactment.

The American High-Speed Rail Act significantly expands federal support for high-speed and higher-speed rail development by increasing funding limits, broadening eligibility for public-private partnerships, and establishing new planning and safety requirements. The bill authorizes substantial funding through 2031 for corridor development and planning, while also creating pathways for acquiring necessary right-of-way property and ensuring labor protections on federally-funded infrastructure. It also refines definitions, setting the threshold for true "high-speed rail" at 186 mph or more, and introduces a new category for "higher-speed rail."

This act officially establishes the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and designates its location on the National Mall, requiring the transfer of land jurisdiction to the Smithsonian Institution. The museum is mandated to preserve and present the history and achievements of biological women in the United States. Furthermore, the legislation requires that exhibits and programs reflect diverse political viewpoints and authentic experiences of women, as guided by a broad array of knowledgeable sources.

This bill seeks to disapprove the Department of Education's final rule regarding the "Reimagining and Improving Student Education-Federal Student Loan Program." By utilizing the Congressional Review Act, this legislation prevents the new regulations from taking legal effect. Consequently, the Department of Education cannot implement the changes outlined in that specific rule.

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting January 1, 2026. This coverage is specifically for testing or treatment related to COVID-19, the flu, RSV, strep throat, or during a declared public health emergency. The bill outlines payment structures, generally covering 80% of the cost, and prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.

The Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026 aims to rebalance power between independent music creators and dominant online platforms. It grants individual music creator owners a limited antitrust exemption to collectively negotiate fair licensing terms for their work. This allows smaller creators to negotiate with large platforms without facing antitrust liability.

This Act prohibits a sitting President from filing civil lawsuits against the United States. It also voids the settlement agreement in the specific case of *Trump v. Internal Revenue Service*. Furthermore, the bill bans the use of federal funds to establish any compensation fund to settle civil actions brought by a President or former President against the U.S.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue commemorative gold and silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and survivors, with designs selected in consultation with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges from the sale of these coins will be paid directly to the Memorial and Museum to support its operations and maintenance.

The SLUSH FUND Act of 2026 imposes a 100% tax on certain settlement payments received by former Presidents, their families, and related entities from funds originating from civil actions against the United States. This new tax is treated separately from standard income tax and cannot be deducted. The Act also mandates strict reporting requirements for those making these payments, with penalties for non-compliance.

The Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act of 2026 aims to improve the full spectrum of care for cancer survivors, from diagnosis through the remainder of life. The bill establishes an Office of Cancer Survivorship, mandates Medicare coverage for care planning, and creates programs to support employment and comprehensive survivorship services. It also requires Medicaid to cover essential transition services for childhood cancer survivors and mandates fertility preservation coverage for all cancer patients.

The **Protecting Our Democracy Act** imposes sweeping reforms across the executive branch to strengthen accountability and restore checks and balances. It restricts presidential pardon power, closes loopholes to ensure no President is above the law, and enforces constitutional emoluments clauses to prevent self-enrichment. Furthermore, the Act enhances congressional oversight by strengthening subpoena enforcement, increasing transparency around White House visitors and tax returns, and protecting federal whistleblowers from retaliation.

The IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act authorizes competitive grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and similar institutions for long-term facility improvements, technology upgrades, and infrastructure modernization. Priority for these grants will be given to institutions demonstrating the greatest need, limited fundraising ability, and high percentages of Pell Grant recipients. The bill also mandates immediate forgiveness for certain outstanding balances on existing HBCU Capital Financing Program loans. Finally, it requires comprehensive reporting and studies to assess the program's impact and future funding needs.

This resolution officially supports designating the month of May as "Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Awareness Month." It recognizes the significant and growing threat of Lyme disease across the United States. The bill commits to continuing efforts to raise public awareness and improve the federal response to these illnesses.

The Iranian Temporary Immigration Relief Act provides temporary protected status and work authorization specifically to Iranian nationals lawfully present in the U.S. whose immigration applications were stalled by a USCIS adjudication pause beginning in late 2025. This designation shields eligible individuals from accruing unlawful presence and protects them from removal while their underlying applications remain unprocessed. The Act mandates swift processing of these temporary status applications and requires regular reporting on the resolution of the paused cases.

The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 prohibits the sale or importation of connected vehicles, hardware, or software originating from or controlled by designated "covered countries" (North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran). This measure aims to safeguard U.S. economic and national security against risks like espionage and cyber intrusion posed by foreign adversaries exploiting vehicle connectivity technology. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with issuing regulations to enforce these bans, which begin phasing in starting in 2027, though waivers may be granted under specific national security conditions.