Legislative Activity

The "Love Lives On Act of 2025" modifies eligibility rules for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments for surviving spouses who remarry. It allows remarried surviving spouses to receive certain educational benefits and DIC, and it continues annuity payments to surviving spouses who remarry, particularly those whose spouses died on active duty. Additionally, the Act expands the definition of "dependent" under the TRICARE program to include remarried widows or widowers whose subsequent marriage has ended.

The Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025 strengthens the ability of claimants to recover art looted by the Nazis by ensuring cases are decided on their legal merits rather than procedural technicalities. The bill prevents courts from dismissing claims based on the passage of time or other non-merits defenses and clarifies that these actions may proceed regardless of the victim's nationality. These updates aim to remove legal barriers and ensure that justice for victims of Nazi persecution is not frustrated by procedural delays.

The End Prediction Market Corruption Act prohibits the President, Vice President, and Members of Congress from trading event contracts to prevent conflicts of interest and the misuse of nonpublic information. The bill also mandates strict financial disclosure requirements for high-level government officials and establishes civil penalties for those who violate these trading restrictions.

This resolution designates March 5, 2026, as "National Slam the Scam Day" to combat pervasive government imposter scams. The day aims to raise public awareness and promote education about these fraudulent schemes that cost consumers billions annually. It encourages the public to ignore suspicious solicitations and report known scams to relevant authorities.

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Restoration Act of 2026 aims to modernize and expand the SSI program by increasing income and resource limits, adjusting benefit amounts, and eliminating outdated penalties. The bill also simplifies eligibility rules, excludes specific assets like retirement accounts from calculations, and extends full SSI program coverage to U.S. territories.

The **Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act of 2026** aims to increase transparency and accountability in U.S. elections by closing loopholes that allow foreign spending and requiring greater disclosure of political donors. The legislation mandates that organizations report significant political expenditures, forces leaders to take personal responsibility for political advertisements, and streamlines the legal process for campaign finance challenges. Ultimately, these reforms seek to provide voters with clearer information about who is funding political campaigns and judicial nominations.

TREY’S Law prohibits the enforcement of nondisclosure agreements that prevent survivors of child sexual abuse from reporting or discussing their experiences. By rendering these clauses void and unenforceable, the bill ensures that private contracts cannot be used to obstruct justice, conceal criminal conduct, or silence victims. This legislation applies retroactively to all past and future agreements to protect the constitutional rights and safety of minors.

The Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against living organ donors regarding life, disability, or long-term care coverage. The bill also amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to explicitly classify organ donation surgery as a serious health condition, ensuring job-protected leave for donors. Additionally, it mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services update public educational materials to reflect these new protections and the realities of organ donation.

The Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development Act strengthens Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) by improving the bond guarantee program and establishing new liquidity and capitalization initiatives. The bill also creates a dedicated relending program to expand homeownership opportunities within Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. Additionally, it mandates increased congressional oversight and reporting regarding the effectiveness of these federal financial programs.

The Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026 mandates a transition to secure, chip-enabled EBT cards to better protect SNAP recipients from fraud and benefit theft. The bill requires states to modernize their digital account management tools, improves online transaction security, and establishes a grant program to help small retailers upgrade their payment terminals. Additionally, it streamlines the card replacement process and prohibits states from charging fees for replacing cards compromised by fraud or technical malfunctions.

The Direct File Act of 2026 establishes a permanent, free, and user-friendly online tax filing program operated directly by the IRS. The bill prohibits the Treasury from entering into agreements that restrict government-provided filing services and mandates the development of a seamless, accessible platform for federal and state tax returns. This initiative aims to simplify the filing process for taxpayers while ensuring the government maintains full control over its own tax preparation software.

This resolution expresses strong support for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams competing in the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy. It applauds the athletes for their dedication and sportsmanship while recognizing the historical significance of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Furthermore, the resolution reaffirms the U.S. commitment to hosting safe and successful Games in Los Angeles (2028) and Utah (2034).

This bill authorizes the display of the Pride flag at all National Park System units. Additionally, it expresses the Senate's formal support for restoring and maintaining the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument in New York.

This resolution celebrates Black History Month by recognizing the profound history and enduring contributions of African Americans to the United States. It acknowledges past injustices while honoring the achievements across all fields that have shaped the nation. The resolution encourages continued reflection and unity as we move forward with liberty and justice for all.

The Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 aims to support the Iranian people by expanding access to uncensored information and countering government-imposed internet blackouts. The legislation mandates the development of new digital circumvention technologies, increases funding for human rights and media programs, and establishes a framework to hold regime officials and their supporters accountable for human rights abuses. Additionally, it requires the U.S. government to implement a comprehensive strategy to bolster Iranian civil society and secure digital communications for activists and journalists.

The 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2025 establishes an advisory committee to address challenges in transmitting precise location information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This committee, composed of experts from telecommunications, public safety, and mental health sectors, will study policy, technical, and cost issues related to geolocation data. The committee must then report its findings and recommend legislative actions to Congress and the FCC within one year.

The Healthy Families Act establishes a national standard requiring most employers to provide employees with earned paid sick time, accruing at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. This protected leave can be used for the employee's or a family member's illness, medical care, or for reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The Act strictly prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for using or requesting this time and mandates clear notice requirements regarding these new rights.

The FUTURES Act of 2026 establishes a joint initiative between the U.S. and Israeli defense departments to accelerate and expand cooperation on defense technology research, development, and industrial integration. This program focuses on rapidly incorporating jointly developed and Israeli-origin technologies into U.S. military systems across critical domains like AI, counter-drone systems, and directed energy. The Act authorizes funding for these efforts and mandates regular reporting to Congress on progress and technology transition.

The Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Reauthorization Act of 2026 reauthorizes and expands the RISE grant program to support economic development in rural communities. This legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize smaller communities, ensuring at least 10% of funds benefit areas under 10,000 residents. The bill authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and updates program language for broader application.

The Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2026 prohibits retail food stores from charging grossly excessive prices and bans the use of surveillance technology to set customized prices for individual consumers. The law mandates that all prices must be displayed using clear, non-digital methods like physical labels, and it grants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to enforce these provisions. Violators face significant civil penalties, and consumers are granted the right to sue for damages.