Legislative Activity

The Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026 strengthens and broadens protections against retaliation for individuals and entities working on federal, defense, and NASA contracts and grants. The bill expands the definition of protected individuals, clarifies shielded activities, and prohibits the waiver of these rights through private agreements or arbitration. Additionally, it establishes new disciplinary consequences for executive branch officials who request or facilitate reprisal against whistleblowers.

This bill officially renames the District of Columbia tuition assistance grant program to the "Eleanor Holmes Norton District of Columbia Tuition Assistance Grant Program." This change honors the program's namesake and ensures that all official federal documents and references are updated to reflect the new title.

This resolution directs the House Oversight Committee Chair to initiate or intervene in a federal lawsuit within 30 days. The legal action must compel Pamela J. Bondi to comply with a committee subpoena for testimony regarding the DOJ's handling of records related to Jeffrey Epstein and sex trafficking law enforcement.

The Piers Reinvestment Act expands federal infrastructure grant programs to specifically include funding for municipal pier improvements. This legislation increases the total authorized funding for these coastal infrastructure efforts from $\$300$ million to $\$500$ million. The goal is to support the strengthening and upgrading of municipal piers across the nation.

The Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act of 2026 restricts the Department of Defense from selling or purchasing certain military-grade weapons and ammunition from commercial entities. It establishes strict requirements for dealers wishing to sell firearms or ammunition to the DoD, including enhanced background checks, electronic recordkeeping, and limits on ammunition sales. The bill aims to prevent military weaponry from entering the commercial marketplace and ensure accountability among defense contractors.

The Stop Ballroom Bribery Act establishes strict new rules governing donations made for projects related to the White House, Vice President's residence, or related federal monuments. It prohibits accepting donations from individuals or entities currently involved in litigation, seeking federal contracts, or engaging in lobbying activities targeting the executive branch. Furthermore, the bill mandates transparency by requiring disclosure of meetings with high-ranking officials following a donation and imposes significant civil and criminal penalties for violations.

This bill, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Peoples within the Department of State. It codifies U.S. policy to actively combat international criminalization, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide. The legislation also mandates enhanced reporting on these abuses in annual human rights reports and authorizes assistance to support related protection efforts abroad.

The FALCON Act of 2025 mandates that federal employees, contractors, and grant recipients must cooperate with requests from an agency's Inspector General (IG) within 60 days. Failure to comply can result in administrative discipline for employees or adverse actions for contractors, as determined by the agency head. The IG must report any non-compliance to Congress and the relevant agency head within 30 days of determination. This legislation strengthens oversight by ensuring timely access to information for internal watchdogs.

The Safe Airspace for Americans Act mandates the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish standardized procedures for collecting, analyzing, and sharing reports regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) from aviation personnel. This legislation aims to reduce the stigma associated with reporting UAP encounters while ensuring that such reports cannot be used punitively against reporters, except in cases of criminal activity or accidents. The FAA must coordinate with defense and intelligence agencies and protect the employment and certification status of individuals who report these sightings.

This resolution recognizes the immense economic and cultural value of popular arts, including comics, gaming, and television. It highlights how these industries employ millions and inspire creativity while promoting universal values. The bill affirms the importance of supporting these art forms and ensuring fair treatment for the creators who drive them.

The Clean Shipping Act of 2025 establishes mandatory, phased-in standards to drastically reduce the carbon intensity of marine fuels used by large vessels on voyages involving U.S. ports, aiming for a 100% reduction by 2050. Additionally, the bill requires the EPA to set standards ensuring that ships docked or anchored in U.S. coastal waters achieve zero greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions by 2035, or the maximum feasible reduction if that goal proves impossible. The legislation also mandates annual public reporting on fuel usage and emissions data for compliance monitoring.

The AMMO Act modernizes federal oversight of ammunition by requiring federal licenses for all ammunition dealers and mandating background checks through NICS for transfers by licensed sellers to non-licensees. The bill also prohibits straw purchases of ammunition and establishes new federal limits on bulk ammunition sales, requiring recordkeeping and reporting for these transactions. These provisions will take effect 120 days after the date of enactment.

The Securing Help for Immigrants through Education and Legal Development (SHIELD) Act establishes a federal grant program to expand legal services for immigrants facing deportation. This initiative aims to build the necessary legal infrastructure and workforce to ensure high-quality representation, recognizing the critical impact legal counsel has on case outcomes. The Attorney General will administer competitive grants to state/local governments and nonprofits to hire, train, and retain immigration defense staff. Congress authorizes $100 million for this program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

The CLEAR Skies Act establishes a new, temporary federal tax credit for the domestic production and sale of lead-free "qualified aviation gasoline" through the end of 2030. This legislation aims to incentivize the transition away from leaded aviation fuel by offering a per-gallon credit that phases down over time. Additionally, the bill mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to investigate the price differences between leaded and unleaded aviation fuels and assess whether the new tax credit is being passed on to consumers.

The People Over Parking Act of 2025 preempts state and local laws that mandate minimum parking requirements for new developments located within half a mile of qualifying public transit stops. This federal standard allows developers of residential, retail, commercial, or industrial projects near transit to determine the appropriate amount of parking, overriding local mandates. The goal is to encourage transit use by removing parking minimums in highly accessible areas.

This resolution of inquiry formally requests the President to transmit all documents in his possession related to the security clearances, vetting, and background checks for Elon Musk and several named members of the United States Department of Government Efficiency Service (DOGE). The House demands these unredacted records within 14 days of the resolution's adoption. This action seeks transparency regarding the clearance process for these specific individuals associated with the DOGE team.

This bill, the Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act, aims to increase public oversight of how the Office of Special Counsel enforces political activity restrictions for federal employees. It mandates new, detailed reporting to Congress regarding investigations and disciplinary actions against both career and non-career appointees. Furthermore, the legislation requires the OSC to publish anonymized, demographic statistics on Hatch Act allegations on its website.

The Fair Disaster Assistance Act of 2025 prevents FEMA from sending disaster assistance denial notices to applicants before their insurance claims are fully processed. This ensures individuals are not prematurely denied assistance while awaiting insurance determinations. The Act directs FEMA to establish regulations to implement this change.

The FLASH Act of 2025 streamlines the Department of Health and Human Services' ability to rapidly procure medical countermeasures and innovative technologies during public health emergencies. The bill authorizes non-competitive follow-on production contracts, experimental supply purchases, and expedited acquisition of innovative commercial products. These measures are designed to reduce bureaucratic delays and strengthen national health security by accelerating the development and deployment of critical supplies.

The SEWER Act (Surveilling Effluent Water for Epidemic Response Act) establishes a coordinated national wastewater surveillance system to detect and monitor the spread of dangerous pathogens, such as influenza, mpox, and SARS-CoV-2. The bill authorizes $150 million annually from 2026 through 2030 to support these public health efforts while ensuring participation by wastewater utilities remains voluntary.