Legislative Activity

The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to significantly strengthen federal student aid by doubling the maximum Pell Grant award and shifting the program to mandatory funding. This bill also expands eligibility to include Dreamer students, restores Pell eligibility semesters, and reforms Satisfactory Academic Progress rules to better support students. Overall, it seeks to stabilize and increase financial support for millions of postsecondary students, particularly those with high financial need.

The "No Robot Bosses Act" establishes federal protections for workers and job applicants against the unchecked use of automated decision systems in the workplace. The bill mandates transparency, requires rigorous pre-deployment evaluations and annual impact assessments, and grants individuals the right to opt for human oversight in management and hiring decisions. Additionally, it creates a new Fairness and Transparency Office within the Department of Labor to oversee compliance, enforce worker rights, and prohibit forced arbitration for claims related to automated management.

The Stop Spying Bosses Act establishes comprehensive protections against invasive workplace surveillance by restricting the collection, sale, and use of employee data. The bill mandates transparency regarding data practices, grants workers the right to access and correct their information, and prohibits the use of data for anti-union or discriminatory purposes. Additionally, it creates a new division within the Department of Labor to enforce these standards and provides workers with legal recourse against retaliatory or unauthorized data practices.

The Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 establishes a comprehensive U.S. strategy to support the Iranian people by expanding access to uncensored information and countering regime-imposed internet blackouts. The bill mandates the development of new communication technologies, increases funding for digital freedom programs, and requires the identification and sanctioning of individuals complicit in human rights abuses. Additionally, it strengthens support for independent media and provides cybersecurity training to Iranian journalists and civil society activists.

The Pacific POWER Act aims to strengthen U.S. national security and economic interests by promoting geothermal energy development with key international allies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. The bill directs the State Department to establish an international program that fosters public-private partnerships, provides technical and financial assistance, and reduces reliance on energy exports from geopolitical adversaries. By leveraging U.S. expertise and technology, the Act seeks to expand global geothermal capacity while creating new market opportunities for American companies.

The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act prohibits licensed healthcare providers and transplant hospitals from denying organ transplants or related services to qualified individuals solely because of a disability. This legislation mandates reasonable modifications, auxiliary aids, and consideration of a patient's support network to ensure equal access throughout the entire transplant process. Exceptions only apply if a physician determines the disability is medically significant to the transplant, or if accommodations fundamentally alter the service.

The America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes and modifies the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through fiscal year 2033, increasing its authorized funding to \$2.0 billion. This legislation broadens eligible lands for maintenance projects and prioritizes those receiving significant private donations. It also enhances transparency by requiring multi-year project lists and actively encouraging public contributions to address deferred maintenance across federal lands.

The Children Harmed In Life-threatening or Dangerous Labor (CHILD) Labor Act strengthens federal protections against child labor by expanding the definition of hazardous work and increasing corporate accountability across supply chains. The bill imposes significantly tougher financial and criminal penalties for violations, grants the Department of Labor enhanced enforcement tools, and mandates stricter child labor standards for federal contractors. Additionally, it requires annual reporting on workplace injuries to ensure greater transparency and safety for young workers.

This resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to promoting the safety and well-being of refugees globally and domestically. It highlights the severe worldwide displacement crisis and criticizes the current suspension and low caps of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The bill calls for the full restoration of asylum protections and refugee resettlement to uphold U.S. legal obligations and humanitarian leadership.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment collectively. This recognition honors the regiment's crucial and heroic service during the Revolutionary War, notably as one of the first integrated military units in American history. The original medal will be displayed at the Rhode Island State Library, and bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs.

This resolution formally acknowledges and apologizes for the decades of discrimination and mistreatment faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served in the U.S. military, Foreign Service, and federal civil service. It condemns past and recent discriminatory policies that led to wrongful terminations and exclusions. The resolution commits the nation to pursuing equal rights, protections, and respect for all LGBT servicemembers and federal employees moving forward.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the volunteers and communities that supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The Canteen was a massive, entirely volunteer-run operation that fed approximately six million service members traveling across the country. The original gold medal will be permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. The bill also allows the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the medal.

The Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2026 affirms the fundamental right of individuals to travel across state lines to receive reproductive health care that is legal in the destination state. This bill prohibits any government or person from restricting, sanctioning, or discriminating against individuals who travel for such care or those who assist them. It preempts conflicting state laws and establishes robust federal enforcement mechanisms, including civil actions for individuals and the Attorney General, while removing common immunity defenses for violators.

This resolution honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for Michigan. It recognizes his decades in Congress, highlighting key legislative achievements such as co-sponsoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and leading significant banking reforms. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow and adjourns in his memory.

This Senate resolution expresses the commitment to achieving zero traffic fatalities on U.S. roadways by the year 2050. It emphasizes using a data-driven, safe systems approach and advanced vehicle technologies to eliminate preventable deaths. The resolution also calls for strengthening data collection and addressing existing disparities in transportation safety.

This Act mandates the development of a comprehensive strategy for deploying and integrating unmanned and autonomous systems across the Indo-Pacific and Western Hemisphere. The strategy must assess current capabilities, identify system needs for maritime, air, and undersea domains, and plan for necessary basing, logistics, and allied cooperation. Furthermore, it requires a resource plan to address supply chain vulnerabilities and ensure the survivability of these systems against adversaries.

The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 establishes automatic, 14-day continuing appropriations to prevent federal operations from halting when regular funding lapses. This mechanism funds programs at the previous rate until Congress enacts a full budget or continuing resolution. The bill also imposes strict limitations on official travel and congressional business during these funding gaps. Finally, it classifies the costs of this Act as discretionary spending subject to existing budget enforcement rules.

This bill establishes the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act to address the critical need for mental health support in schools. It provides federal grants to states to award subgrants to local educational agencies for recruiting, retaining, and hiring school-based mental health services providers in high-need schools. The goal is to help schools work toward recommended student-to-provider ratios for counselors, psychologists, and social workers.

This resolution officially designates May 3 through May 9, 2026, as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week." It aims to raise national awareness about the mental health challenges facing young people and the critical need for early detection, treatment, and prevention. The bill supports efforts to reduce stigma and improve access to essential mental health resources for all children.

This bill establishes an interagency task force, led by CISA, to coordinate federal efforts against state-sponsored cyber threats from the People's Republic of China targeting U.S. critical infrastructure, specifically mentioning actors like Volt Typhoon. The task force is required to produce detailed annual reports assessing risks, trends, and necessary resources to counter these threats. These reports will include classified assessments regarding potential disruption during a major conflict and must provide unclassified executive summaries for public release.