Legislative Activity

This bill officially designates April 18, 2026, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day." It recognizes the vital contributions of linemen in maintaining critical energy infrastructure and serving as essential first responders during emergencies. The resolution expresses strong support for these brave men and women who work under dangerous conditions to keep communities safe and powered.

This bill designates April as Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month to renew the national commitment to reducing the burden of cancer. It aims to address gaps in screening access and promote preventive actions across all populations. The legislation encourages federal investment in early detection programs and supports advancements in lifesaving cancer innovation.

The Pets Belong with Families Act aims to ensure that pets can remain with their families by removing unnecessary barriers in federally assisted housing. This legislation prohibits most pet bans, fees, and breed restrictions in these housing situations. Housing providers can still enforce reasonable rules regarding pet behavior and safety, but cannot charge deposits beyond a specified limit or deny pets based on breed.

This bill reauthorizes the popular Breast Cancer Research Stamp program, extending the authority to issue the special postage stamp until 2037. This ensures continued funding for breast cancer research through stamp sales.

The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026 significantly expands federal accessibility mandates across video programming, communication services, and customer support. This comprehensive bill requires closed captioning and audio description for online content, improves accessibility features on video playback devices, and mandates real-time sign language support for emergency services and customer assistance. Ultimately, the legislation aims to ensure that Americans with disabilities have equal access to modern communication and media technologies.

The Protecting Families from Fertility Fraud Act of 2026 establishes a new federal crime for knowingly misrepresenting the source of DNA used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) or artificial insemination. This offense, which applies when interstate or foreign commerce is involved, carries penalties of a fine and up to 10 years in prison. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for prosecution once the perpetrator is identified.

The Tech to Save Moms Act establishes grant programs to improve maternal health outcomes by leveraging technology for better identification, monitoring, and response to pregnancy-related risks. It directs the Secretary of HHS to fund projects using remote monitoring, telehealth, and digital tools to reduce maternal mortality and severe morbidity, with a focus on underserved populations. The legislation also mandates studies and reports on integrating technology into maternity care and improving telehealth models for Medicaid recipients.

The Parents Decide Act mandates that operating system providers implement age verification for all users, requiring parental consent for anyone under 18. This law tasks the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with creating regulations to ensure secure data handling and parental control over access for minors. The goal is to give parents oversight regarding what minors can access on devices.

The Parental Bereavement Act of 2026 (also known as the Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger-Barklage Act) amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide employees with job-protected, unpaid leave following the death of a son or daughter. This legislation allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of leave within a year of the loss, with the option to substitute accrued paid leave. These protections extend to both private-sector and federal civil service employees.

The Moldova Support Act of 2026 strengthens the U.S.-Moldova partnership by establishing an annual strategic dialogue to advance democratic, economic, and energy security goals. The bill mandates a comprehensive four-year strategy to support Moldova’s European Union accession and effectively counters malign foreign influence. Additionally, it imposes strict congressional oversight requirements for the potential lifting of existing sanctions against individuals and entities undermining Moldovan stability.

The Prioritizing Rural Broadband Affordability Act amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to ensure that broadband affordability is a key factor in federal infrastructure determinations. By requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to consider cost when defining "unserved" households and territories, the bill aims to improve access to reasonably priced internet in rural communities.

The Rural Utilities Service Modernization Act aims to improve the efficiency and transparency of federal assistance for rural infrastructure projects. The bill mandates the creation of a centralized online platform for project tracking, establishes new grants for early-stage project planning, and requires the implementation of predictable, standardized timelines for grant applications. Additionally, it directs the USDA to modernize its administrative processes and report to Congress on strategies to further expedite service delivery to rural communities.

The Quality Broadband for Connected Communities Act modernizes internet standards by increasing the minimum speed requirements for projects funded under the Community Connect Grant Program. The bill raises the mandatory download speed to 25 Mbps and the upload speed to 3 Mbps to ensure better connectivity for rural areas. These updated standards will take effect six months after the legislation is enacted.

The Expanding Access to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act updates existing rural development programs to better support modern connectivity needs. The bill broadens federal grant eligibility to include cybersecurity support, digital literacy, and workforce development training. These enhancements aim to strengthen rural infrastructure and prepare the local workforce for the demands of the digital economy.

The Chip Security Act mandates the installation of security mechanisms on advanced integrated circuit products before they are exported from the United States. These requirements aim to verify chip location, prevent diversion, and protect U.S. technological leadership. The Secretary of Commerce must also study and implement additional security features to enhance export control enforcement and national security.

The Veterans Benefits Information Protection Act amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the use of automated telephone equipment to place repeated, interactive calls to federal departments or agencies. This legislation aims to prevent unauthorized entities from using automated systems to contact federal agencies on behalf of others.

The Cyber Ready Workforce Act establishes a competitive grant program within the Department of Labor to support the creation and expansion of registered cybersecurity apprenticeship programs. By providing funding to workforce intermediaries, the bill aims to develop skilled talent through industry-recognized training, certifications, and comprehensive support services for apprentices. The initiative is authorized at $10 million annually from 2024 through 2028 to help bridge the cybersecurity skills gap.

The 988 Connect Act strengthens the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline by establishing a grant program to provide essential follow-up care for individuals in crisis. Additionally, the bill mandates technical improvements to ensure that all mobile devices and multi-line telephone systems can directly connect users to 988 services.

The Words Matter Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive update across all federal laws, replacing the outdated terms "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" or "individuals with intellectual disabilities." This change is strictly a linguistic update intended to align federal statutes with current, respectful terminology. The Act explicitly states that this language revision does not alter eligibility for benefits, rights, or responsibilities under any existing federal program. Agencies are required to update their regulations to reflect this new terminology while maintaining a record of the previous language used.

The AI Foundation Model Transparency Act of 2026 mandates that providers of powerful AI foundation models disclose detailed information regarding their training data, safety benchmarks, and risk management procedures. The Federal Trade Commission will oversee these transparency requirements, ensuring that information is accessible to the public in both consumer-friendly and machine-readable formats. This legislation aims to increase accountability for high-impact AI systems while providing specific compliance support for small businesses and startups.