Legislative Activity

The PASTEUR Act of 2026 aims to combat antimicrobial resistance by creating a subscription-style contract program to incentivize the research and development of new, life-saving antibiotics. This program will provide substantial annual payments to drug sponsors for ensuring the availability and appropriate use of eligible antimicrobials targeting urgent threats. The bill also establishes grants to promote stewardship programs in healthcare facilities and enhance national surveillance of resistance data.

The TANF Hygiene Access Act establishes a demonstration program to test innovative ways to help low-income households access essential hygiene materials like soap, diapers, and feminine hygiene products. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will award competitive grants to states and tribes to implement these initiatives. Recipients must report on their performance, and the Secretary will ultimately assess the program's feasibility for nationwide expansion.

The No Flight, No Fight Act of 2026 restricts the air transportation of adult roosters to enhance aviation safety and combat illegal activities like cockfighting. The bill prohibits air carriers from knowingly transporting adult roosters as cargo, with an exemption for shipments related to certified commercial farms for legitimate agricultural purposes. Enforcement authority rests with the Secretary of Transportation, and violations are subject to civil penalties.

This resolution condemns current and proposed staffing cuts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), arguing they undermine national preparedness and disaster response capabilities. It highlights that workforce reductions endanger the ability to effectively manage increasingly severe disasters and critical counterterrorism programs. The bill expresses concern that these cuts compromise institutional knowledge and slow vital assistance to communities recovering from events like recent hurricanes. Ultimately, it commits Congress to supporting a stable and adequately resourced FEMA workforce.

This resolution seeks to disapprove the Department of Veterans Affairs' final rule concerning "Reproductive Health Services" issued in September 2024. If enacted, this disapproval, made under the Congressional Review Act, would prevent the VA rule from taking legal effect.

This act mandates that the Commissioner of Social Security regularly advertise the Ticket to Work program to all disabled beneficiaries. Information must be sent to every eligible beneficiary within one year of the law's enactment, and then every six months thereafter. This ensures disabled beneficiaries are consistently informed about available employment support programs.

This bill establishes the Commission on Equity and Reconciliation in the Uniformed Services to investigate and document the history of racial, ethnic, and LGBTQ+ discrimination within the U.S. military since 1775. The Commission is tasked with holding hearings, gathering testimony, and developing recommendations for remedies, including apologies, compensation, and policy changes. It must submit a final report to Congress and the President detailing its findings and proposed actions within 18 months of its first meeting.

The Gerald's Law Act expands eligibility for a veteran's burial allowance. It now covers survivors whose veteran died at home while receiving VA hospice care, provided that care immediately followed a stay in a VA hospital or nursing home. This change ensures benefits for veterans transitioning from facility care to end-of-life care at home.

The Buying American Cotton Act of 2026 establishes the Domestic Cotton Consumption Credit to incentivize the use of U.S.-grown cotton in products sold domestically. This new business tax credit is calculated based on the volume of U.S. cotton used, the market price, and where the product was processed. The bill mandates digital tracing to verify the supply chain and offers significantly increased credit multipliers for products containing U.S.-made cotton yarn or fabric.

The Farm and Family Relief Act provides targeted economic assistance to various agricultural sectors, including producers of eligible commodities, sugar beets, and specialty crops, while also delaying scheduled cost-sharing changes for SNAP benefits. Additionally, the bill establishes new programs to support timber businesses through financial assistance and creates an Office of Technology Transfer within the U.S. Forest Service to commercialize research. Finally, it terminates several specific Executive orders imposing tariffs.

The Community Bank Regulatory Tailoring Act updates various banking and financial regulatory thresholds to account for historical growth in the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Additionally, the bill establishes a mechanism for the Federal Reserve to automatically adjust these thresholds every five years to reflect future economic growth.

The Mental Health and MAMA Act of 2026 aims to improve access to care for new and expecting mothers. This legislation prohibits certain health plans from charging out-of-pocket costs for in-network mental health and substance use disorder services for pregnant and postpartum individuals. Furthermore, it updates continuity of care protections to explicitly cover postpartum individuals receiving ongoing mental health or substance use disorder treatment. These provisions will also apply to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The Fuel the Force Act of 2026 creates a significant federal tax benefit for experienced law enforcement officers. This bill excludes up to $100,000 of annual ordinary income from federal income tax for officers who have served full-time for at least five years. This aims to provide financial relief and recognition for dedicated service in law enforcement roles.

This bill updates the national strategy to counter the production and trafficking of Captagon and other amphetamine-type stimulants in the Middle East following the fall of the Assad regime. It mandates a comprehensive, unclassified assessment of shifting drug patterns across the U.S. Central Command area. The strategy must detail interdiction efforts, partner nation capacity, and recommendations to dismantle these destabilizing narcotics networks.

The PrEP Access Act aims to expand access to HIV prevention by amending Medicare Part B to cover HIV prevention services, such as PrEP and PEP management, when provided by pharmacists. This coverage will take effect on January 1, 2027. The bill also establishes specific payment rates and prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare beneficiaries for these services.

The Seton Hall Fire Victims Remembrance Act of 2026 establishes new federal fire suppression standards for college and university dormitories. It mandates that institutions develop a compliance assessment program, leading to designations as a "Federally Recognized Fire-Safe Campus" or otherwise. Compliance with these new safety standards is linked to participation in federal student aid programs.

The AIWISE Act directs the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop and publish free, publicly accessible educational resources and modules about artificial intelligence (AI) for small businesses. These materials must cover topics like how AI works, risk management, privacy, and best practices for adoption. The SBA must ensure the content is accurate, current, and actionable, coordinating with experts and resource partners to support small business understanding and effective use of AI.

The Worldwide Animal Testing Compliance and Harmonization (WATCH) Act of 2026 mandates quarterly inspections and certification for foreign laboratories receiving U.S. federal funding for animal research. The bill ensures these facilities adhere to established animal welfare standards, with provisions to suspend or revoke funding for those that fail to maintain compliance.

The Expanding AI Voices Act establishes a new competitive grant program administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This program aims to significantly broaden participation and capacity in U.S. artificial intelligence research, education, and workforce development. Awards will prioritize institutions that have historically received less federal AI research funding, including HBCUs, MSIs, and Tribal Colleges. Funds must support activities like program expansion, faculty development, access to research resources, and integrating ethical practices into AI training.

The Shutdown Fairness Act automatically appropriates necessary funds to ensure federal employees and essential contractors receive their regular pay during a government shutdown. This legislation mandates timely payment for covered personnel, regardless of whether they were deemed "excepted" or furloughed. The funds are charged against the agency's subsequent regular appropriations once they are enacted.