Legislative Activity

The PASTOR Act of 2026 ensures that Medicare-participating healthcare providers grant patients access to their designated clergy upon request. This right remains protected even during public health emergencies, provided that clergy members adhere to established safety protocols.

The TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends the federal terrorism reinsurance program through 2034. This legislation also updates the certification process for acts of terrorism by establishing a structured review timeline, increasing the property damage threshold for future claims, and enhancing transparency through expanded annual reporting requirements.

This bill officially elects Representative Gallagher to three standing committees of the House of Representatives: Foreign Affairs, Science, Space, and Technology, and Transportation and Infrastructure.

The Build Housing Affordably Act directs HUD to study the impact of the *Build America, Buy America Act* on affordable housing projects, including associated costs and waiver processes. It temporarily pauses the *Buy America* requirements for federally funded housing projects until the study is reported to Congress. Furthermore, the bill mandates a 90-day deadline for HUD to decide on waiver requests for these housing projects, with automatic approval if the deadline is missed.

This bill mandates a comprehensive study by federal banking agencies on the current use, effectiveness, and barriers to adopting advanced fraud detection technologies like AI and machine learning in financial institutions. The study must specifically address challenges faced by smaller community banks and credit unions in accessing these tools. Following the study, the agencies are authorized to launch a voluntary pilot program to help smaller institutions gain better access to and implement these advanced fraud prevention technologies.

This bill establishes the Precision Agriculture Workforce Training and Development Act to create a federal grant program supporting workforce training in precision agriculture. The grants will help eligible entities develop and expand programs that teach skills related to technologies like GPS, drones, and data analytics for modern farming. This legislation aims to increase the number of skilled workers ready for careers utilizing advanced agricultural technology.

The Least Cost Exception Act amends FDIC rules to allow the agency to choose a bank resolution method that is *not* the least costly option. This exception permits the FDIC, in consultation with the Federal Reserve and Treasury, to prioritize limiting concentration among global systemically important banks. Any alternative method chosen must still be less costly than outright liquidation and subject to specific cost limitations and special assessments on acquiring entities.

The VA TRUST Act aims to increase transparency regarding compensation for senior executives at the Department of Veterans Affairs. It mandates that reports on performance awards and bonuses must detail the funding source and the recipient's base pay. Furthermore, the bill establishes standardized pay rules for these senior executive positions, aligning them with the government-wide Senior Executive Service structure.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 1201 Calvert Street in Lincoln, Nebraska, as the "Commodore Dixie Kiefer Memorial Post Office Building." This change ensures all official records and documents will now use the new memorial name for the building.

This bill mandates the U.S. Postal Service to create and sell a "Veterans Medical Debt Relief Stamp." All proceeds from the sale of this special stamp will be transferred directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA must then use these funds exclusively to pay down medical debt, including copayments and coinsurance, owed by veterans for VA and Community Care Program services.

The USS Frank E. Evans Act mandates the Secretary of Defense to add the names of the 74 crew members lost when the USS Frank E. Evans sank on June 3, 1969, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. This action must be completed within one year of the Act becoming law. The Secretary is required to consult with relevant authorities regarding space on the Memorial Wall for these additions.

The HOME Reform Act of 2025 amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to modernize definitions, adjust income thresholds for low-income assistance up to 100% of area median income, and allow HOME funds to support infrastructure improvements in nonentitlement areas. The bill also streamlines regulatory burdens by exempting certain small projects and infill housing from environmental reviews and limits federal restrictions on local housing use choices. Furthermore, it expands long-term affordability mechanisms for homeownership and provides exceptions for military members and heirs of deceased owners.

The HOME Reform Act of 2025 updates the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act by redefining eligibility for low-income assistance and expanding local flexibility in using housing funds. It allows certain infrastructure spending adjacent to affordable housing and streamlines environmental review processes for smaller projects. Furthermore, the bill removes expiration dates on certain trust funds and adjusts affordability standards for homeownership and rental units.

The College Students Continuation of Mental Health Care Act of 2025 establishes a system for licensing reciprocity, allowing college mental health providers to offer telehealth services to their enrolled students across state lines. This streamlines care by generally adhering to the provider's home state licensing rules, while ensuring patient safety through required disclosures and identity verification. The Act also encourages interstate agreements to further facilitate this cross-state mental health support for students.

This bill centralizes the authority for establishing federal manufactured home construction and safety standards under the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It requires any other federal agency to obtain the Secretary's explicit approval before implementing new or updated standards. The Secretary can reject proposed standards based on cost concerns or conflicts with existing safety regulations.

The Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act aims to address the national housing shortage by encouraging local governments to reform restrictive land use and zoning rules. Recipients of certain federal housing grants must now submit a report every five years detailing their policies on increasing housing types, reducing development restrictions, and streamlining permitting. This measure seeks to clear regulatory roadblocks that currently make building affordable housing too difficult or expensive.

This Act, the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act, aims to accelerate housing development by modernizing and simplifying the environmental review process managed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It reclassifies numerous routine housing and rehabilitation activities for faster processing under NEPA, including assistance programs and infill projects. The Secretary of HUD must annually report on the resulting administrative cost savings and increased speed over five years.

The Equal Opportunity for All Investors Act of 2025 mandates that the SEC create a comprehensive certification examination to allow non-wealthy individuals to qualify as accredited investors. Passing this free, standardized test will grant access to investment opportunities previously reserved for the wealthy. This aims to broaden participation in private markets by ensuring a baseline level of financial competency among new investors.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Information Act mandates that the Energy Information Administration (EIA) begin collecting and reporting detailed data on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This new reporting will cover the feedstock sources, production volumes by state, and import statistics for SAF. The goal is to provide transparent, accurate information on the growing sustainable aviation fuel supply chain.

The Weather Workforce Improvement Act aims to strengthen the National Weather Service's ability to provide accurate and timely forecasts critical for public safety. It grants the NWS Director temporary direct-hire authority to quickly fill essential, public safety-related staffing vacancies. Furthermore, the bill mandates regular workforce assessments and reports on employee health and morale, particularly concerning shift work.