Legislative Activity

This bill authorizes the Pride flag to be displayed at all units of the National Park System. Additionally, it expresses the sense of Congress that the Pride flag should be restored and prominently displayed at the Stonewall National Monument in New York.

The Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026 mandates a transition to secure, chip-enabled EBT cards to better protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from fraud and skimming. The bill requires states to implement modernized digital account management tools, establishes new federal cybersecurity standards for online transactions, and prohibits fees for replacing compromised or malfunctioning cards. Additionally, it provides funding to help retailers upgrade to secure payment terminals and requires regular reporting to Congress on program security and benefit theft trends.

The Secure Firearm Storage and Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 aims to reduce firearm-related injuries and suicides, particularly among youth. It directs the Secretary of Education to develop national best practices for secure firearm storage and suicide prevention education. Local educational agencies must then create and distribute tailored guidance incorporating these federal standards to students and parents annually.

This Act prohibits federal officials from initiating or pursuing criminal investigations or prosecutions based on a person's political associations or beliefs. It mandates specific attestations in legal documents confirming the absence of political motivation and establishes a right to sue for violations. Furthermore, the bill reforms grand jury procedures to allow for dismissal of politically motivated indictments and strictly prohibits White House influence over individual Justice Department decisions.

The GRADUATE Act amends tax law to transform the existing student loan interest deduction into a broader education loan deduction, effective after 2025. This new deduction allows taxpayers to deduct the total amount paid on qualified education loans, up to a maximum of \$10,000 plus an additional \$500 per dependent. The maximum deduction amount is subject to an income-based phase-out, beginning when Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) exceeds \$125,000 for individuals or \$250,000 for married couples filing jointly.

The SAFE VISITS Act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to annually analyze and share information regarding potential threats posed by visiting foreign nationals seeking access to state, local, Tribal, and territorial government officials or facilities. Based on this analysis, DHS must provide guidance to these governments on mitigating security risks. Furthermore, DHS must proactively offer assistance and vetting support for identified high-risk targets.

This bill permanently authorizes an emergency safety and security grant program for public housing agencies. The program provides dedicated federal funding to improve security measures, such as cameras and lighting, and address critical health and safety needs like fire and temperature control. Public housing agencies can apply for grants to purchase, install, or repair these essential safety improvements.

The ICE OUT Act reforms the standards for qualified immunity for federal immigration agents from ICE and CBP when they are sued for law enforcement activities. This legislation specifically removes immunity for claims involving the use of excessive force. For all other civil rights claims, agents must meet a "clearly established law" standard to claim immunity.

The Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026 establishes a special pay system to increase the base pay for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officers by 35 percent. This legislation also provides a similar 35 percent wage increase for certain hourly BOP employees involved in inmate custody. The new pay authority is set to expire after five years, unless the Department of Justice Inspector General reports measurable progress in reducing the use of non-custodial staff for officer duties and excessive overtime.

The Honest Oversight of Ticketed Dining and Onsite Grub (HOTDOG) Act mandates the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study concession pricing at publicly subsidized sports and entertainment venues. This study will compare in-venue food and drink prices against those in surrounding communities. The FTC must then report its findings and recommendations to Congress within one year to improve pricing transparency and affordability for consumers.

The Immigration Court Due Process Protection Act of 2025 restricts Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers from arresting or detaining individuals attending or departing from immigration court proceedings or scheduled appointments, unless a judicial warrant is present or an imminent threat exists. The bill mandates specific supervisory approval for arrests during scheduled check-ins. Furthermore, it requires the DHS Inspector General to submit an annual report to Congress detailing compliance with these new protections.

The ROBINHOOD Act establishes a new 20 percent excise tax on certain secured business loans and lines of credit exceeding $400,000 in adjusted gross income. This tax applies when the loan is secured by capital assets, excluding residential mortgages and farmland loans. The borrower is responsible for paying this annual tax to the Treasury.

The Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025 seeks to reverse harmful provisions affecting unaccompanied children. This bill eliminates various immigration-related fees for current and former unaccompanied children, including those for asylum and employment authorization. It also prohibits physically intrusive medical examinations and restricts the sharing of sponsor information with immigration enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the Act mandates the refunding of previously paid fees.

This bill, the Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act, mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continuously improve outreach, technical assistance, and support for recipients of the Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program grants. This includes conducting annual stakeholder surveys to gather feedback on the grant process. The legislation also requires a review by the Comptroller General and a subsequent report from the DHS Administrator detailing actions taken based on the new outreach requirements.

The Michelle Alyssa Go Act revises the definition of an "institution for mental diseases" under Medicaid to allow federal funding for smaller facilities. Specifically, it excludes mental health facilities with 36 beds or fewer from the IMD exclusion if they meet specific, evidence-based quality standards set by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This change aims to increase access to care by making smaller, qualified treatment centers eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.

This resolution formally condemns the tragic mass shooting in New York City on July 28, 2025, which highlighted the danger of inconsistent state gun laws. It calls for immediate and comprehensive federal action to establish national gun safety standards. The bill emphasizes that stronger federal laws are necessary to prevent firearms from easily crossing state lines and undermining local safety efforts. Ultimately, Congress is urging the passage of nationwide measures like universal background checks to combat the epidemic of gun violence.

The ATF Data and Anti-Trafficking Accountability (DATA) Act mandates the annual public release of detailed firearm trace data collected by the ATF. This comprehensive report will include information on source dealers, time-to-crime statistics, and firearms recovered in high-crime areas. The goal is to increase transparency regarding gun tracing and provide crucial data for analyzing firearm trafficking patterns.

The Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act makes it illegal for individuals released on bail or under specific court orders to purchase or possess a firearm if that order explicitly prohibits it. This legislation updates federal gun laws, including the Gun Control Act and the Brady Act, to incorporate these pretrial release restrictions into existing prohibitions for firearm dealers and background checks. Furthermore, the bill establishes a grant program to incentivize states and Tribal nations to report these specific court orders restricting firearm possession to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The No Gratuities for Governing Act of 2025 updates federal law regarding illegal gifts involving government agents who manage federal funds. It establishes new criminal penalties for giving or accepting gifts valued at \$1,000 or more in connection with official transactions worth \$5,000 or more. The Act also increases the maximum prison sentence for existing offenses under this statute from 10 to 15 years.

The No Secret Police Act of 2025 mandates that federal officers engaged in border security or immigration enforcement must clearly display identification, wear visible badges or uniforms, and refrain from wearing face coverings during detentions or arrests. This ensures accountability by requiring clear identification from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. The bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on current tactical gear policies and research methods to improve officer visibility.