Legislative Activity

The Federal Fraud Prevention Workforce Training Act establishes a mandatory, government-wide training program to equip federal employees with the skills needed to identify, assess, and prevent fraud and improper payments in federal programs. This program will cover best practices, relevant federal resources, and internal control mechanisms. Agency heads must ensure covered employees complete initial training within 180 days and renew it biennially, with the Treasury Department also making the training available to state, local, and tribal partners.

The State Emissions Authority Act of 2026 eliminates federal mandates requiring states to operate mandatory vehicle emission inspection and maintenance programs. This legislation amends the Clean Air Act to remove specific requirements for state air quality plans related to these inspections. Consequently, federal vehicles and facilities are also removed from compliance with state inspection programs.

The Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding subminimum wage employment for individuals with disabilities. This bill changes the applicable age for subminimum wage employment from 24 and under to 18 and older. It also modifies employer requirements for providing counseling and documentation related to this employment status.

This act simplifies annual reporting for employee benefit plans by modernizing the Form 5500 filing process. It extends the filing deadline and allows for the use of electronic signatures on required reports. These changes aim to streamline compliance for plan administrators.

The OPT Fair Tax Act proposes to eliminate the current payroll tax exemption for F-1 visa holders working under Optional Practical Training (OPT). This change will require OPT participants to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on their earnings, treating their employment income the same as other forms of employment.

This bill, the "Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act," eliminates federal contracting preferences and goals based on race, ethnicity, or sex for small businesses. It repeals specific programs like the 8(a) Business Development program and revises Department of Transportation requirements. Ultimately, the legislation prohibits federal agencies from considering race, ethnicity, or sex in any aspect of government contracting and awards.

The COMPETE Act establishes a formal federal definition for short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans. It mandates that these plans must have a maximum contract duration of 12 months and may include renewal guarantees that protect policyholders from additional medical underwriting.

The SAFE Pathways Act amends the Federal Power Act to require federal agencies to account for the threat of invasive species when mandating the construction of fishways. This legislation ensures that environmental protections are balanced by requiring consultation with state authorities to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic species.

The CRACKDOWN Act of 2026 aims to reduce financial mismanagement in the Child Care and Development Block Grant program by requiring states with improper payment rates exceeding 5% to implement mandatory corrective action plans. States that fail to meet these standards for two consecutive years face temporary ineligibility for federal funding. This legislation ensures greater accountability and oversight to protect taxpayer resources.

The Migrant Child Safety Act establishes stricter requirements for placing unaccompanied alien children with sponsors. This legislation mandates comprehensive information sharing between Health and Human Services and Homeland Security before placement, including background checks and proof of relationship. It also introduces new safeguards such as in-person home visits, potential electronic monitoring for non-citizen sponsors, and a mandatory minimum $5,000 sponsor bond.

The Safeguarding Benefits for Americans Act of 2026 establishes U.S. citizenship or nationality as a mandatory requirement for receiving most federal public assistance benefits. This law mandates that applicants must attest to their citizenship status and provide documentation for verification against Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security records. These new citizenship verification rules will supersede existing eligibility laws unless those laws are more restrictive. Eligibility determinations under this new standard will begin one year after enactment.

The Fair and Accountable IRS Reviews Act mandates a new layer of oversight for tax penalty assessments. This legislation requires that before any penalty notice is sent to a taxpayer, the initial decision must receive personal approval from the employee's immediate supervisor or a higher-level Treasury official. These procedural changes aim to ensure greater fairness and accountability in the penalty process.

The Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act of 2025 establishes a voluntary Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program within the Department of Labor. This program allows employers in good faith to self-audit and correct unintentional minimum wage or overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Upon full payment of back wages, employers receive limited liability protection, and employees who accept the payment waive their right to sue for those specific claims. The program is set to terminate after five years.

The Randy Susen Visitation Rights Act of 2025 guarantees skilled nursing facility residents the right to designate at least one individual who must be permitted unrestricted visitation access. This designated visitor cannot be restricted by the facility unless the resident explicitly withdraws consent. The Act amends both Medicare and Medicaid rules to ensure this fundamental right to chosen visitation.

Dillon's Law amends federal guidelines to grant preference points to states that allow trained, non-school personnel to administer epinephrine in schools. This change broadens the definition of who can provide life-saving medication beyond just school employees. The law also updates terminology to cover a wider range of epinephrine delivery systems.

The Enforce the Caps Act establishes specific, increasing discretionary spending limits for the federal government for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. This legislation amends existing law to set firm budget authority caps for non-mandatory government programs over the next four years.

The Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2025 mandates that group health plans treat the cost-sharing for oral (take-at-home) anticancer drugs the same as they treat cost-sharing for intravenously administered cancer drugs. This ensures patients do not face higher out-of-pocket expenses for necessary oral chemotherapy medications. The Act also requires the GAO to study the financial impact of this new parity requirement on patients.

The CREATE JOBS Act aims to boost the economy by making permanent 100% immediate expensing for qualified business property. It also introduces an inflation-adjusted depreciation calculation for commercial and residential real estate. Furthermore, the bill eliminates the option to amortize research and experimental expenditures, allowing for immediate deduction of these costs. These changes are designed to accelerate cost recovery and encourage business investment.

The Stop the Baseline Bloat Act of 2025 aims to reform how federal budget baselines are calculated under existing deficit control laws. Specifically, this bill mandates that funding designated as "emergency requirements" or provided through supplemental appropriations must be excluded when determining the baseline spending level. This change seeks to prevent temporary, non-recurring spending from artificially inflating future budget caps.

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Elimination Act proposes to end the federal government's primary incentive for developing affordable housing. Specifically, this bill mandates that no new Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) will be issued for any building placed in service after the law's enactment date. This action effectively phases out the current mechanism used to finance new low-income housing projects.