Legislative Activity

The Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends vital funding for ALS research and clinical trial programs through 2031. This legislation strengthens oversight by enhancing grant review processes, improving safety reporting requirements, and mandating a comprehensive five-year FDA action plan to accelerate the development of treatments for rare neurodegenerative diseases.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.

This act, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, prohibits the Secretary of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed rule regarding heat injury and illness prevention published in August 2024. This restriction extends to any future standard substantially similar to the one proposed.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The Chloe Cole Act of 2026 establishes a federal private right of action allowing individuals to sue healthcare professionals and institutions for damages related to gender-transition medical interventions performed on them as minors. The bill permits lawsuits regardless of when the intervention occurred and sets a statute of limitations extending 25 years past the individual's 18th birthday. Additionally, it mandates strict liability for such interventions performed after the Act's enactment.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and processors from assigning specific merchant category codes to firearms retailers. This legislation aims to protect consumer privacy by preventing the tracking of firearm and ammunition purchases through specialized financial classification. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing these provisions and reporting annually on compliance.

This bill, the Great American Outdoors Act 250, significantly reforms and renames the existing public lands restoration fund to the America’s Legacy Restoration Fund. It secures dedicated funding streams, primarily from energy revenues and new fees on foreign visitors, to address critical deferred maintenance across the National Park Service, Forest Service, and other public land agencies. The legislation establishes strict spending priorities for infrastructure repair while also creating pilot programs for enhancing outdoor recreation and sportsmen's access. Finally, it mandates increased transparency and accountability through standardized metrics and public reporting on all funded projects.

The Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act significantly expands legal immunity for firearm manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations by redefining terms within existing federal law. It mandates the immediate dismissal of pending lawsuits against these entities and establishes strict new standards for any exceptions that might apply. Furthermore, the bill preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability based on the criminal misuse of qualified products.

The TSP Modernization Act facilitates the electronic transfer of funds from Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts to qualified retirement plans. This change will take effect one year after the bill is enacted, allowing participants to move their savings more efficiently. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board is responsible for implementing this new electronic transfer process.

The Bonuses for Cost-Cutters and Fraud Preventers Act of 2026 enhances the federal employee awards program to reward employees who identify wasteful spending and prevent improper government payments. This legislation increases the maximum cash award for such disclosures from $10,000 to $20,000. It also establishes new reporting requirements for agencies to notify the President and Treasury, and mandates public disclosure of awards given for these cost-saving efforts.

The Protecting Kids from Creeps Act prohibits sex offenders from participating in surrogacy arrangements. This bill imposes severe criminal penalties, including lengthy prison sentences, for sex offenders, surrogacy agencies, and their employees who knowingly facilitate such agreements. Furthermore, convicted agencies lose tax-exempt status and eligibility for federal funding, and any resulting surrogacy agreements are void.

This Act invalidates surrogacy agreements between foreign national prospective parents and U.S. surrogate mothers, voiding such contracts. It imposes criminal penalties on surrogacy brokers who facilitate these arrangements for foreign nationals. Furthermore, the bill limits the ability of foreign national parents to gain immigration benefits through a child born under these voided agreements.

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.

The Nuclear Forensics Authority Realignment Act establishes a new National Nuclear Forensics Center within the National Nuclear Security Administration to coordinate federal nuclear forensics efforts. This legislation centralizes coordination and strengthens the nation's technical capability to respond to nuclear terrorism. It also modifies existing programs to build expertise in this critical field and updates related legal references.

The Freedom from Taxes Act of 2026 aims to eliminate several federal taxes associated with National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms. This bill reduces the transfer and making taxes on NFA items to zero and phases out the annual special occupational tax for dealers, importers, and manufacturers. It also simplifies an existing excise tax exemption for these firearms.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 aims to combat sophisticated, cross-jurisdictional organized retail and supply chain theft. It achieves this by strengthening federal laws regarding money laundering and stolen property offenses, including lowering monetary thresholds for prosecution. Furthermore, the bill establishes a dedicated Center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate federal, state, and local enforcement efforts against these criminal organizations.

The Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act significantly narrows the federal beneficial ownership information reporting requirements. This legislation limits reporting obligations exclusively to foreign individuals and foreign-connected companies. Furthermore, it mandates the deletion of all previously collected data pertaining to domestic persons and entities.

This bill establishes the "Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act," granting current and former highly-trained special operations personnel the authority to carry concealed firearms nationwide. This authority mirrors that currently afforded to qualified retired law enforcement officers under federal law. The legislation mandates the creation of a new identification card program by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to verify eligibility. This concealed carry privilege is permanent for qualified individuals who maintain honorable status and are otherwise eligible to possess a firearm.

The Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026 mandates significant safety upgrades across both civilian and military aviation to prevent midair collisions. It requires the FAA to implement advanced collision avoidance systems and new air traffic controller training, while also compelling the Department of Defense to equip most military helicopters with transponders for increased visibility. The bill establishes new transparency measures, including public tracking of safety rule implementation and enhanced reporting on near-miss incidents, particularly around major airports like Reagan National.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 417 West 7th Street in Columbia, Tennessee. The building will now be known as the Pharmacist’s Mate First Class John Harlan Willis Post Office Building. This designation ensures all official references to the facility reflect the new name.