Legislative Activity

The Veteran Burial Benefit Correction Act increases the maximum burial and funeral expense payment provided by the VA for veterans who die from a service-connected disability from \$2,000 to \$3,000. This legislation also institutes an automatic annual adjustment to this benefit based on inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 200 1st Avenue Southeast in Austin, Minnesota, to the "John Madden Memorial Post Office." This designation honors the late sports legend, John Madden. The change will be reflected across all official federal records and documents.

This resolution expresses strong support for continuing efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse within Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs. It highlights the significant financial impact of improper payments and recognizes past enforcement actions aimed at protecting taxpayer dollars. The bill advocates for strengthened oversight, enhanced data-driven prevention methods, and coordinated enforcement to ensure the long-term sustainability of these vital safety net programs.

The SBA Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act of 2026 requires the Small Business Administrator to report annually to Congress on the agency's use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. These reports must detail the benefits, risks, and management strategies for these technologies within the SBA. The legislation specifically mandates plans for retaining human oversight in critical decisions informed by AI.

The National Guard Relief Act officially recognizes the National Guard Relief Foundation as a military welfare society. This designation amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code, granting the foundation the status afforded to other recognized military support organizations.

This bill expresses support for designating the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as "National Small Business Week." It aims to celebrate the vital contributions of the nation's millions of small businesses and entrepreneurs to the U.S. economy. The resolution honors the hard work and achievements of small business owners and their employees across every community.

The Federal Loan Systems Modernization Act of 2026 mandates the creation of "Lending.gov," a centralized, modernized platform designed to streamline federal loan application and management processes. By replacing outdated legacy systems with commercial technology, the Act aims to improve program efficiency, enhance fraud detection, and provide a unified experience for borrowers and agencies. Federal agencies are required to migrate their loan programs to this shared platform, which will be overseen by the General Services Administration to ensure cost-effectiveness and operational excellence.

The USDA Express Loan Act of 2026 aims to speed up the approval process for certain USDA-guaranteed farm and rural business loans. It mandates a simplified application for farm loans up to $1,000,000, requiring a 5-day decision for Preferred Lenders. The bill also establishes new, tiered maximum government guarantee percentages for these farm loans.

The Preserving Integrity in Immigration Benefits Act mandates a comprehensive review of immigration benefit requests approved under Presidential Proclamation 10998 between January 20, 2021, and the date of enactment. This review aims to ensure proper adjudication and correct application of standards for these approvals. The results of this review must be briefed to Congressional Judiciary Committees and made publicly available by September 15, 2026.

This bill reauthorizes the White House Conference on Small Business, updating its structure, timing, and purposes to better address current small business challenges. It modifies delegate selection, increases participant fees, and establishes a new funding mechanism relying on non-Federal gifts and bequests. The Act also mandates the creation of an electronic communication system for ongoing delegate collaboration and recommendation tracking.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to create an exception to the automatic enrollment requirements for certain retirement plans. Specifically, it exempts multiemployer plans from these automatic enrollment provisions. This change will take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act of 2025 mandates that states provide recipient-level SNAP data to the Secretary of Agriculture upon request as a condition of program participation. This ensures greater federal oversight and strengthens the ability to enforce program integrity and investigate potential fraud. Failure to comply may result in the withholding of federal administrative funds.

This bill establishes the Conservation Reserve Program Modernization Act, creating the CLEAR Initiative to improve water quality by enrolling eligible land in conservation buffers that reduce nutrient loss and sediment. The program prioritizes practices maximizing water quality benefits, offers rental payments and cost-sharing incentives, and allows for partnerships with states and NGOs. It also updates eligibility requirements and payment structures for land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.

The Restoring Inpatient Mental Health Access Act of 2025 aims to temporarily expand Medicaid coverage for services provided in Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMDs). This legislation modifies existing law to allow for federal financial participation in these services until January 1, 2027. The changes are designed to restore or increase access to inpatient mental health care for eligible individuals during this period.

The Fraud Accountability and Recovery Act aims to combat large-scale fraud against the U.S. government by penalizing foreign countries that refuse to extradite convicted fraudsters or fail to assist in recovering stolen federal funds. This bill mandates the suspension of U.S. foreign assistance to non-cooperative nations, though the President retains a national security waiver. Furthermore, it requires the Secretary of State to annually report on noncompliant countries and the amount of lost U.S. funds tied to their inaction.

This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act to modify and extend the required annual report on military and security developments involving the People's Republic of China. It mandates the inclusion of more specific details, such as China's nuclear and drone cooperation, foreign farmland acquisitions, and strategic conflict planning regarding Taiwan. Furthermore, this legislation extends the requirement for producing this comprehensive report until January 31, 2030.

The Agriculture Skills Preparation for Industry Recruitment Efforts (ASPIRE) Act establishes a new grant program managed by the Secretary of Agriculture to fund specialized workforce training in agriculture. These grants will enable eligible schools to partner with industry to develop hands-on programs, internships, and technical workshops. The goal is to enhance the agricultural workforce by ensuring training directly meets industry needs and supports worker recruitment.

The American Protein Processing Modernization Act establishes a formal, time-bound process for meat and poultry plants to request faster USDA inspection rates, known as "alternate inspection rates." The Secretary of Agriculture must respond to these requests within 90 days, with automatic approval if the deadline is missed. This legislation also outlines clear procedures for maintaining, revoking, or reinstating these faster inspection rates based on ongoing food safety compliance.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into a lease for a new Vet Center in Mankato, Minnesota. The authorization permits spending up to \$1,400,000 for this lease agreement. This authority is specifically available for fiscal years 2025 through 2026, contingent upon the availability of appropriations.

The Next Generation Farmer Act significantly lowers the experience requirement for certain farm loan applicants from three years to just one year. Furthermore, it allows the Secretary to waive this new one-year requirement for qualified beginning farmers who have relevant management experience as hired labor or who have secured a commitment from an approved mentor. This legislation aims to make federal farm loans more accessible to new agricultural producers.