Legislative Activity

This bill authorizes the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a ceremony on June 24, 2026. The event will dedicate the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 2026 as "Black Music Month" to celebrate the profound and enduring contributions of Black American music to the nation's culture. It recognizes Black music's shaping influence across virtually every genre and its central role in the struggle for Black freedom. The resolution calls on the nation to observe the month by elevating Black artistry, promoting diversity, and honoring this deep-rooted musical legacy.

This bill, the "Encouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Land Act," amends existing law to mandate six specific fee-free days annually for entry to federal recreational lands and waters. These free admission days are set to coincide with significant holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Veterans Day. The goal is to promote national pride and encourage public volunteerism by increasing access to these public lands.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to speed up the process of securing a first collective bargaining agreement after a union is certified. It establishes a mandatory timeline, including mediation and binding arbitration, if an agreement is not reached within 90 days of bargaining. This process is designed to prevent lengthy delays that currently weaken the union's position. The bill also requires a GAO report on current time-to-contract averages.

The Double the Wage for Overtime Act of 2026 amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to increase the required overtime pay rate for covered employees from time-and-a-half to double their regular rate of pay. This means employees will earn twice their normal hourly wage for all hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. This change will take effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.

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 Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act updates tax-exempt bond rules to support economic growth. It expands financing options and increases dollar limits for qualified small issue bonds used in manufacturing and production, including intangible property. Additionally, the bill significantly raises the financing limit for first-time farmers purchasing farmland and equipment. These provisions are subject to future inflation adjustments.

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 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 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.

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.

This bill reauthorizes the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection program, ensuring its continued operation to gather historical documents related to unsolved civil rights investigations. It strengthens the Civil Rights Cold Case Review Board's authority to obtain and expedite the public release of federal, state, and local records, removing previous opt-out exceptions for state and local entities. Furthermore, the legislation extends the tenure of the Review Board from seven to eleven years to complete its review process.

This Act prohibits the use of federal funds for specific settlement payments, including those related to the *Trump, et al. v. IRS, et al.* case. It places new restrictions on the Judgment Fund, barring payments to high-ranking officials, their relatives, and certain entities for specific types of claims. The bill also establishes strict reporting and notification requirements for large government compromise settlements.

This Act, the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act, immediately bans the imposition of the death penalty for all federal crimes upon enactment. It also mandates that individuals previously sentenced to death for federal offenses must be resentenced.

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 IMPACT to Save Moms Act establishes a demonstration project for states to test alternative payment models for maternity care within Medicaid and CHIP programs. This project aims to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly for high-risk groups, by considering factors like risk stratification and social determinants of health. The Secretary of HHS must evaluate the project's impact and report recommendations to Congress on potential national expansion.

The Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026 significantly updates overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It establishes a phased-in, rising minimum salary threshold for executive, administrative, and professional employees to qualify for overtime exemption, eventually tying it to national earnings data. Additionally, the bill tightens the "duties test," reducing the amount of non-exempt work an employee can perform while remaining exempt from overtime pay. These changes aim to restore overtime eligibility to more salaried workers.

The Department of Justice Integrity Act of 2026 establishes a one-year post-employment restriction for former federal prosecutors. This ban prevents former attorneys who substantially participated in a federal prosecution or deferred prosecution agreement against a specific business entity from representing or assisting that same entity in related matters after leaving government service. This measure aims to enhance integrity by limiting the revolving door between federal prosecution and private representation of former targets.

The Corporate Prosecution Reform Act strengthens oversight of corporate criminal activity by establishing stricter judicial standards for deferred prosecution agreements and mandating greater transparency in how the Department of Justice handles these cases. The bill creates a dedicated Office of Corporate Enforcement to monitor compliance and requires the public disclosure of all corporate settlement agreements. Additionally, it prohibits the use of non-prosecution agreements that rely solely on monetary payments, ensuring that corporate penalties prioritize accountability, victim compensation, and the deterrence of future offenses.

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.