Legislative Activity

The **Protecting American Taxpayers Act** is a comprehensive legislative package designed to combat fraud, reduce government waste, and ensure the integrity of federal spending programs. The bill implements stricter oversight for child care and health care payments, permanently bars those convicted of pandemic-related fraud from future Small Business Administration assistance, and rescinds unspent COVID-19 relief funds to reduce the national deficit. Additionally, it enhances whistleblower protections for government contractors, strengthens data-sharing to intercept improper payments, and establishes new safeguards against foreign influence and deep fake scams.

The SMART Energy Efficiency Standards Act updates federal energy regulations for furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps. It shifts the compliance trigger for regional efficiency standards from the product's installation date to its manufacture or import date. This change streamlines the enforcement of energy standards for these appliances across designated states.

The Preventing Fugitive Fraudsters Act mandates that individuals indicted for major federal financial crimes, such as wire fraud and money laundering, must surrender their passports and refrain from international travel as a condition of pretrial release. This measure aims to prevent defendants from fleeing the country to avoid prosecution. A judicial officer may only waive these restrictions by providing specific written findings that they are unnecessary to ensure the defendant's appearance in court.

The Specialized Infant Formula Protection Act ensures the continued availability of critical preterm infant formula by centralizing related civil litigation in federal courts. By establishing federal jurisdiction and streamlining the removal process for these cases, the bill aims to prevent procedural gamesmanship and ensure consistent legal standards nationwide.

This act officially designates **February 1st as Blue Star Mothers Day** to honor the service, sacrifice, and contributions of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. The legislation recognizes the organization's founding in 1942 and its ongoing support for servicemembers and military families. It encourages public and governmental recognition of this important day.

The Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 mandates the public reporting of "other transaction agreements" (OTAs) on USASpending.gov to increase transparency in federal spending. It requires the automatic transmission of OTA data to the public website within three years, alongside annual reports detailing any unreported spending. The bill also refines existing transparency laws by updating data quality requirements and establishing a clearer, regularly updated list of agencies responsible for reporting spending data.

The Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act grants federal agencies and the Treasury Department the authority to temporarily pause or condition payments when there is an elevated risk of fraud or improper payment. This pause must be based on objective indicators and last only as long as necessary to verify the payment details. The bill establishes strict timelines for notifying payees and resolving paused payments, ensuring routine transactions continue moving while high-risk payments are reviewed.

This bill, the Ending Double Dealing Act of 2026, prohibits the Department of Defense from contracting with consultancies that also serve specified foreign adversaries. It mandates disclosure from bidders regarding current or recent work with "covered entities" to prevent conflicts of interest. Failure to disclose or contracting with a covered consultancy can result in contract termination and debarment.

This bill mandates that the United States Postal Service assign a single, unique ZIP Code to each of 75 specified communities. The USPS must complete this designation process within one year of the bill's enactment.

This bill, the "No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act," amends federal law to require the forfeiture of government annuities and retired pay for federal employees and retirees convicted of specific sex crimes. The forfeiture applies to individuals convicted of these offenses on or after the date the Act is enacted. This legislation ensures that those convicted of serious sex offenses cannot receive taxpayer-funded retirement benefits.

This resolution expresses Congressional appreciation for key military alliances and the sacrifices made by allied special operations forces in conflicts like Afghanistan and Iraq. It voices concern that recent, politically motivated war crimes allegations against allied forces undermine mutual trust and morale. The bill urges that investigations into such matters remain impartial and free from political interference to preserve essential defense partnerships.

This bill, the SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act, extends the statute of limitations to 10 years for prosecuting fraud related to the Shuttered Venue Operators and Restaurant Revitalization programs. It also mandates regular reporting from the Attorney General to Congress detailing enforcement activities against fraud in these specific COVID-19 relief programs.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of May 3, 2026, through May 9, 2026, as "National Small Business Week." It aims to celebrate the vital contributions and entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses across the United States. The bill recognizes the essential role these businesses play in the national economy and applauds their resilience.

The **Protecting American Taxpayers Act** is a comprehensive bill aimed at reducing government waste, preventing fraud, and increasing financial transparency across federal programs. It targets improper payments in areas like child care and Medicare, permanently bars pandemic relief fraudsters from future SBA aid, and cancels unspent COVID-19 relief funds to reduce the deficit. Additionally, the Act strengthens oversight of welfare programs, enhances fraud enforcement timelines, and expands whistleblower protections for federal contractors.

This bill aims to improve child care reliability for military families by expanding the pool of eligible providers and streamlining hiring processes. It establishes a mandatory preclearance system for child care employees and authorizes job-sharing arrangements to increase staffing flexibility. Furthermore, the Act mandates the creation of a comprehensive data system to track child care readiness and requires reports on waitlists and the link between child care availability and military readiness.

The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act reauthorizes the SBIR and STTR programs through 2031 while strengthening national security through enhanced due diligence and foreign risk screening for award applicants. The bill also introduces a "strategic breakthrough" funding mechanism to accelerate the development of critical technologies and streamlines administrative processes to improve commercialization and program efficiency.

This resolution designates March 21, 2026, as "National Women in Agriculture Day" to honor the vital contributions of women across the agricultural industry. It celebrates the essential roles women play as producers, educators, and leaders, while encouraging the nation to support and empower the next generation of female agricultural professionals.

The Cost Openness and Spending Transparency (COST) Act of 2026 mandates that recipients of federal funds clearly disclose the specific dollar amounts and percentages of federal versus non-governmental funding used for their projects. The bill establishes rigorous compliance oversight by the Office of Management and Budget, including annual audits and a public mechanism for reporting non-compliant communications.

The End-of-Year Fiscal Responsibility Act prevents federal agencies from artificially increasing discretionary spending during the final two months of the fiscal year. It mandates that agencies maintain spending rates consistent with their previous ten-month averages, with exceptions for national security and disaster relief. Additionally, the bill requires agencies to publicly report and certify their end-of-year expenditures to ensure greater fiscal transparency and accountability.

This bill establishes an annual **National STEM Week** to highlight the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. It directs a committee to designate this week and report on nationwide participation and its impact on closing educational gaps. The goal is to encourage family engagement, showcase STEM careers, and foster partnerships between schools and industry leaders.