Legislative Activity

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 Broadband Deployment and Economic Impact Study Act of 2026, directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to conduct a comprehensive study on current broadband internet access technologies. The resulting report to Congress must analyze the workforce needs, economics, performance metrics, and consumer costs associated with technologies like fiber, wireless, and satellite. The goal is to provide Congress with detailed information on the landscape of broadband deployment.

This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to mandate state participation in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program starting in the summer of 2027. While participation is voluntary through 2026, all states operating the school lunch program must implement Summer EBT thereafter. The legislation also updates administrative deadlines for program management and coverage for Indian Tribal organizations.

This proposed constitutional amendment establishes a fundamental federal right to vote for all eligible U.S. citizens. It prohibits denying or restricting this right and mandates that states administer elections according to federal standards, including requiring same-day registration and voting. Congress is authorized to pass legislation to enforce these provisions.

The Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act of 2026 aims to redirect funding by eliminating federal tax incentives for private school scholarships. Specifically, it repeals the tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations and removes the income exclusion for certain scholarship amounts received. These changes are set to take effect starting in 2027.

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.

This resolution expresses support for designating a week as "Our Roads, Our Safety Week" to promote safer interactions between all road users and large commercial vehicles. It recognizes the essential role of trucks and buses in the economy while emphasizing that road safety is a shared responsibility. The bill encourages continued education and outreach to reduce preventable crashes involving commercial motor vehicles.

The Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act authorizes the National Science Foundation to establish a demonstration program providing competitive grants to improve mentorship skills and practices for STEM faculty and researchers. Special consideration for these grants will be given to minority-serving and emerging research institutions. The bill also expands National Science Foundation reporting requirements to include processes for addressing harassment and scientific misconduct.

The Critical Access Hospital RIP Act of 2026 aims to protect critical access hospital (CAH) status for facilities that might otherwise lose it due to new or improved roadways. Specifically, it ensures that a CAH retains its designation if it only fails the distance requirement because of a transportation infrastructure improvement completed after the hospital was initially designated. This prevents necessary roadwork from inadvertently jeopardizing essential rural healthcare access.

The RESTORE Third Spaces Act of 2026 establishes a three-year pilot grant program to renovate and develop vital community gathering places, known as "third spaces," outside of homes and workplaces. Administered by the Secretary of Commerce, the program prioritizes projects in underserved communities that strengthen local economies and combat social isolation. Grantees must ensure the resulting spaces remain free or low-cost to the public to foster social cohesion and civic engagement.

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."

The **Stay Cool Act** is a comprehensive bill designed to combat the dangers of extreme heat through coordinated federal response, improved public warnings, and direct aid to vulnerable seniors. It establishes significant grant programs to fund community cooling centers, upgrade public housing with air conditioning, and develop urban green spaces and water features for neighborhood cooling. Overall, the legislation aims to increase community resilience, protect residents in federally assisted housing, and ensure more equitable access to safe, cool environments during heat emergencies.

The Rural Hospital Revitalization Act of 2026 establishes a temporary, zero-interest loan program to help eligible, long-standing rural hospitals replace, improve, or renovate their facilities. Loans prioritize hospitals serving the most remote and underserved populations, offering a five-year interest-free period with potential renewals based on financial need and community impact. Following the initial period, loans are refinanced under standard terms unless the hospital remains financially vulnerable, in which case further interest-free extensions or technical assistance are provided.

This bill, the SCREEN for Type 1 Diabetes Act of 2026, mandates the creation of a national public awareness campaign to promote the detection, screening, and management of type 1 diabetes. The campaign will utilize evidence-based materials and public service announcements targeted at both healthcare providers and the general public. It also authorizes funding for grants to support local efforts in increasing screening rates, particularly in highly affected communities.

The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act establishes a federal grant program to increase the number of school-based mental health providers in high-need schools. This funding flows from the Department of Education to states, which then award competitive subgrants to local educational agencies. The goal is to help schools work toward recommended student-to-provider ratios for counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Funds must supplement existing resources and require state matching to support recruitment and retention efforts.

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 nullifies a specific decision and order from the Endangered Species Committee regarding certain oil and gas activities. It also imposes a three-year ban on the Committee issuing new exemptions for these activities under the Endangered Species Act. Importantly, all pre-existing Endangered Species Act requirements remain fully in effect for these activities.

The Closing the HPV Testing Gap Act directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct a comprehensive study on developing a standardized, noninvasive HPV test for men. This action aims to close a critical gap in cancer prevention and public health surveillance, which currently lacks FDA-approved testing for men. The resulting report will provide recommendations for research, implementation, and interagency coordination to advance gender equity in cancer prevention efforts.

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 Extinction Prevention Act of 2026 establishes dedicated conservation funds and competitive grant programs across four titles to protect threatened and endangered species. These titles focus on North American butterflies, Pacific Island plants, freshwater mussels, and Southwest desert fish. The legislation aims to provide reliable, multi-year funding for on-the-ground habitat restoration and research, prioritizing species already listed under the Endangered Species Act.