Legislative Activity

This resolution supports the goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 2026 by emphasizing the urgent need to raise public awareness about the dangers of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. It highlights the devastating impact these fake medications have on families and young people across the nation. The resolution specifically designates April 29, 2026, as the official awareness day.

This resolution designates April 2026 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month to recognize the widespread impact of sexual violence across the United States. It highlights the need to support survivors, prevent future assaults, and ensure perpetrators are held accountable. The Senate supports efforts to educate the public, improve treatment for victims, and commend the professionals and organizations dedicated to this cause.

The TEACH Improvement Act of 2026 reauthorizes and modifies the TEACH Grant Program, which provides financial aid to students who commit to teaching in high-need fields at low-income schools. The bill sets new grant amounts, revises academic eligibility standards, and strengthens counseling requirements for recipients. It also introduces penalties for institutions whose former grant recipients frequently fail to complete their required teaching service, leading to loan conversion.

This resolution officially designates the week of April 20 through April 24, 2026, as "National Home Visiting Week." It recognizes the vital role of home visiting programs in supporting families with young children, promoting healthy development, and preventing abuse and neglect. The bill highlights the extensive reach and impact of these evidence-based services across the nation.

This bill extends the surveillance authority granted under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for an additional 18 months. It specifically amends the expiration date for this critical national security tool to October 20, 2027.

This resolution supports the goals and ideals of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month. It officially designates March as the month dedicated to raising awareness about DVT and PE, which are serious and often preventable conditions. The measure highlights the significant impact these blood clots have on public health and medical costs.

The Whistleblower Anti-Gag Act of 2026 protects federal employees by prohibiting agencies from enforcing nondisclosure agreements that require prior approval for protected disclosures. This legislation ensures that workers can report misconduct without being restricted by internal agency policies.

This bill amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to strengthen whistleblower protections for federal employees. It clarifies that individuals whose primary job responsibilities involve investigating and reporting wrongdoing are legally protected when making disclosures as part of their normal duties.

This resolution officially designates **March 6, 2026, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day."** The day aims to recognize the essential role of speech and debate in developing vital 21st-century skills like communication, critical thinking, and collaboration. It encourages the entire nation to celebrate and promote the lifelong impact of this education.

The Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act of 2026 modifies the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to increase the debt limits for filing certain bankruptcies. Specifically, it raises the maximum debt threshold for small business bankruptcy eligibility to \$7.5 million and increases the consumer debt limit for Chapter 13 filings to \$2.75 million. These changes apply to all bankruptcy cases filed on or after the date the Act is enacted.

The Litigation Funding Transparency Act of 2026 mandates new disclosure requirements for third-party litigation funders in large federal class and mass actions. This law requires parties to reveal the identity of funders, including any foreign state or sovereign wealth fund involvement, and produce funding agreements for court inspection. The legislation also prohibits funders from influencing litigation strategy and restricts their access to certain discovery materials.

This resolution supports the observation of National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month from January 1 to February 1, 2026. It highlights the severe scope of human trafficking globally and within the U.S., emphasizing the imperative to eliminate these modern-day forms of slavery. The measure calls for increased public awareness and continued collaborative efforts to protect victims and prosecute traffickers.

The Combating Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Counterfeiting Act of 2026 significantly strengthens federal efforts against illicit finance. This bill increases penalties for bulk cash smuggling, expands the scope of money laundering statutes to cover commingled funds and informal value transfer systems like hawalas, and enhances investigative tools like wiretap authority. Furthermore, it explicitly targets the use of remittances for criminal financing and strengthens laws against counterfeiting equipment.

The Student Loan Bond Expansion Act of 2026 aims to make it easier and more affordable for states to finance student loans. This bill achieves this by exempting qualified student loan bonds from federal volume caps and the Alternative Minimum Tax. These changes will apply to bonds issued after the date the law is enacted.

The FISA Accountability and Extension Act of 2026 seeks to increase Congressional oversight of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) by guaranteeing member access to proceedings and shifting the appointment process for court advisors. The bill also strengthens penalties for FISA violations and extends key surveillance authorities under the FISA Amendments Act from two years to eight years. Furthermore, it clarifies whistleblower protections regarding disclosures to Congress.

This bill, the Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act, amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to enhance transparency in lobbying activities. It mandates that lobbyists must disclose the names and addresses of any foreign governments or political parties, beyond the direct client, that are involved in directing or controlling their lobbying efforts. This new requirement ensures greater visibility into the ultimate sources of influence directing lobbying work.

The SAFE Act directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and update federal sentencing guidelines for offenses involving child sexual abuse material. This update must account for the actual harm to victims, modern technology, and the spectrum of offender culpability. The Commission is required to develop new guidelines that specifically address factors like the use of multiple online channels, involvement in prohibited sexual conduct against a child, and the impact on the victim. Importantly, the Act prohibits lowering the existing base offense level for these crimes.

The Stop Sextortion Act criminalizes threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material, even if the material does not exist, to intimidate or coerce victims. This legislation establishes severe penalties for making such threats, mirroring those for actual distribution. Furthermore, the Act increases maximum prison sentences by ten years for crimes involving the use of child sexual abuse material to threaten or harm an individual.

The ECCHO Act establishes a new federal crime for intentionally coercing a minor under 18 to commit harmful acts, including self-harm, violence against others or animals, arson, or specific online offenses like swatting. This legislation defines coercion broadly to include manipulation, threats, and intimidation used to force a child into these prohibited actions. Penalties vary based on the severity of the coerced act, with life imprisonment possible for coercing suicide or homicide. The Act also updates existing federal laws to incorporate this new offense and ensure comprehensive enforcement.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Treasury Secretary, to conduct and submit an annual fraud risk assessment of Obamacare premium tax credit determinations starting in 2025. The assessment must detail current fraud prevention controls and adhere to established government risk management standards. This report will be submitted to relevant Congressional committees and the HHS Inspector General.