Legislative Activity

This resolution honors the life and enduring legacy of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., a pivotal civil rights leader and advocate for global justice. It recognizes his decades of dedicated public service, his historic political achievements, and his lifelong commitment to equality. The measure further extends formal condolences to his family for their loss.

This resolution commemorates the 175th anniversary of the YMCA, honoring its long-standing commitment to building healthy spirits, minds, and bodies for all. It recognizes the organization’s historical contributions to American society and commends the staff and volunteers who continue to foster community connection and well-being across the nation.

The Promoting Dental Health Act reauthorizes critical federal funding for state-level preventive dental health services. It also extends support for essential research, training, and technical assistance programs through 2031 to ensure the continued improvement of public oral health initiatives.

The Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act of 2026 amends federal law to reform pretrial detention procedures for drug-related offenses. This legislation streamlines Section 3142 of Title 18 by removing specific provisions to update the criteria for release and detention in federal criminal cases.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of March 2 through March 6, 2026, as "National Social and Emotional Learning Week." It recognizes the vital role social and emotional learning plays in boosting student academic achievement and overall well-being. The bill encourages expanding access to these crucial skills for all students and educators.

The Smarter Sentencing Act of 2026 reduces mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain federal drug offenses and creates a specific sentencing category for low-level drug couriers. The bill applies these reforms to both future and past cases, directs the Sentencing Commission to update its guidelines, and mandates new reporting requirements to increase transparency regarding federal criminal offenses and corrections spending.

This resolution officially designates February 2026 as American Heart Month to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the U.S. It highlights the significant impact of CVD, including high mortality rates and substantial economic costs. The resolution commits the U.S. to promoting awareness, supporting research, and improving access to quality care to combat this critical health issue.

The Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park Act establishes a new National Park unit to preserve and interpret the legacy of philanthropist Julius Rosenwald and the historic Rosenwald Schools program. The legislation creates a national park across multiple sites—including a headquarters in Chicago—to honor the partnership that built thousands of schools for African American children in the segregated South. Additionally, the Act establishes the Rosenwald Schools National Network to provide research, educational resources, and financial assistance for the preservation of these historic sites nationwide.

The Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Act of 2026 mandates that FEMA update its criteria for evaluating federal disaster assistance requests to ensure a more standardized and transparent scoring process. By assigning specific weights to factors like localized economic impact, trauma, and infrastructure costs, the bill aims to create a more equitable distribution of aid. These new rules will apply to disaster declarations requested by states since 2012.

The Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act of 2026 aims to address job displacement caused by automation through significant federal investment in worker training. It establishes competitive grants for partnerships to pilot innovative training projects focused on digital skills and in-demand sectors. The bill also expands existing workforce programs to specifically support workers who are, or are likely to become, dislocated due to technological advances. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to prepare the U.S. workforce for jobs requiring advanced technology and digital literacy.

The Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2026 amends tax law to prevent U.S. companies from avoiding domestic taxation by relocating their headquarters overseas. It tightens the definition of an "inverted corporation" by lowering the ownership threshold and establishing new criteria based on where management, control, and business activities are located. This legislation ensures that corporations maintaining significant U.S. operations and shareholder ties are treated as domestic entities for tax purposes.

The American Business for American Companies Act of 2026 prohibits the U.S. government from awarding contracts to "inverted domestic corporations"—companies that relocate overseas but maintain significant U.S. management and business activity. This legislation also imposes restrictions on large prime contractors awarding subcontracts to these prohibited entities. Exceptions exist for national security or critical public health program needs, subject to congressional notification.

This Act establishes new federal prohibitions against marketing products as dietary supplements that do not meet the legal definition or were prepared under the direction of a debarred person. It grants the FDA updated authority to refuse import and seize products that violate these new prohibitions. The law specifically targets dangerous products, such as Tianeptine, by strengthening enforcement measures.

The Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture Study Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of key Mississippian culture sites in Illinois, known as the "Study Area." This study must evaluate the national importance of these sites and determine the feasibility of including them in the National Park System. The Secretary must also consider alternative preservation and interpretation methods and submit a final report with recommendations to Congress within three years of funding.

The ABODE Act establishes a competitive grant program to fund the development or rehabilitation of highly energy-efficient and resilient affordable housing. Grants will be awarded to organizations to build or renovate homes for low-income households, prioritizing projects that reduce costs and increase accessibility. The Department of Housing and Urban Development will study the long-term savings generated by these improved housing standards.

The Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2026 establishes consistent federal eligibility requirements for foreign graduate medical schools seeking to participate in U.S. student aid programs. This aims to increase accountability and protect U.S. students from high debt burdens and poor outcomes often seen at currently exempt for-profit institutions. The bill repeals existing grandfather provisions and sets new standards based on student citizenship and exam success rates. Current students at affected schools are protected and may continue receiving aid under certain conditions.

The Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2026 establishes a demonstration program to award grants to nursing schools to help increase and retain qualified faculty. These grants will supplement eligible faculty salaries, aiming to bridge the compensation gap between academic and clinical nursing roles. The program prioritizes schools demonstrating the greatest need and those serving vulnerable populations.

The Produce Prescriptions for Veterans Act establishes produce prescriptions as a covered medical service for eligible veterans. This service provides veterans with diet-related chronic conditions who are also food-insecure with vouchers or direct benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables. The goal is to improve their health outcomes through better nutrition.

The Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2026 establishes a new federal requirement for all dietary supplements marketed in the U.S. to be listed with the FDA, requiring detailed product and ingredient information. This legislation mandates the FDA to create a public, searchable database of these listings. Failure to comply with the listing requirements will result in the supplement being deemed "misbranded."

The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 addresses the severe harm caused by non-consensual, sexually intimate digital forgeries (deepfakes). This bill establishes a federal civil cause of action allowing victims to sue those who knowingly create, possess with intent to disclose, or disclose these intimate digital forgeries. Successful plaintiffs can recover significant statutory damages, actual damages, and injunctive relief.