Legislative Activity

The "Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act" authorizes the creation of the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on the National Mall. It ensures the museum's exhibits and programs reflect the diverse experiences and perspectives of women in the United States, seeking guidance from varied sources. The Act mandates regular reports to Congress on the museum's efforts to meet these diversity requirements.

This bill reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, updating its governing structure and expanding the scope of its oceanographic research and data-sharing capabilities. It also mandates improved collaboration between regional and federal observing systems to enhance data integration. Additionally, the legislation authorizes $47.5 million in annual funding for these initiatives from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 strengthens U.S. policy by imposing mandatory sanctions on foreign persons and financial institutions that support Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, drone, and terrorist activities. The bill specifically targets Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors to cut off funding for these malign programs. Additionally, it expands the State Department’s "Rewards for Justice" program to incentivize the reporting of individuals who evade these sanctions.

This resolution formally honors the life and enduring legacy of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Louis Burns Jackson, Sr. It recognizes his significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, including his work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his founding of Operation PUSH. The bill specifically urges the President to order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in his memory.

The Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and share resources to help small businesses understand, adopt, and integrate artificial intelligence. These technology-neutral resources will include standards, best practices, and case studies, distributed in coordination with the Small Business Administration. The use of these materials by small businesses will be voluntary.

The ASCEND Act establishes a permanent NASA program to purchase and distribute commercial Earth observation data for scientific, operational, and educational needs. This initiative aims to supplement existing government data by acquiring cost-effective commercial imagery, prioritizing U.S. vendors. The bill ensures purchased data can be widely published for scientific purposes and requires regular reporting on program agreements and data usage.

The Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 aims to support the Iranian people by expanding access to uncensored internet and communication technologies. The bill strengthens U.S. policy against regime repression by mandating investigations into human rights abuses and establishing a new Treasury initiative to combat corruption and money laundering by Iranian officials. Additionally, it enhances congressional oversight of sanctions and promotes independent media to counter state-sponsored censorship.

The Freedom House Ambulance Service Congressional Gold Medal Act honors the pioneering Pittsburgh-based service that established the model for modern emergency medical care. As the nation’s first paramedic program, Freedom House revolutionized life-saving techniques while providing vital job training to the Black community. This legislation awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the service to commemorate its enduring contributions to both medical innovation and civil rights.

The Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act aims to promote de-escalation by exempting specific, clearly defined less-than-lethal projectile devices from federal firearm restrictions and excise taxes. This legislation provides a formal process for determining which devices qualify for these exemptions under both federal law and the National Firearms Act. The bill also modernizes tax regulations by exempting qualifying less-than-lethal devices and their ammunition from federal excise taxes.

The "Representing our Seniors at VA Act of 2025" ensures that the National Association of State Veterans Homes is represented in consultations with the Under Secretary for Health. It also adds a representative from the Association with a nursing home administration license to the Department of Veterans Affairs Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee. This aims to improve the quality of care and address the specific needs of senior veterans within state veterans homes.

This bill establishes the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative to accelerate joint research, development, and integration of critical defense technologies. The initiative focuses on key areas like AI, missile defense, and counter-drone systems to enhance the security and technological edge of both nations. It mandates regular reporting to Congress on progress and authorizes funding for fiscal years 2027 through 2029.

This bill establishes the Coastal Storm Risk Management Trust Fund, funded annually by $\$1$ billion from offshore energy revenues. The fund provides dedicated resources for the federal share of costs related to authorized coastal storm risk management projects carried out by the Secretary of the Army. It also creates specific budgetary treatment for appropriations drawn from this fund.

The Safe Intersections for Buses and Pedestrians Act mandates the creation of new federal safety standards to ensure bus drivers have a minimally obstructed forward-facing view. This requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish these standards within one year of enactment. Motorcoaches may meet this requirement through direct visibility or approved camera technology that enhances the driver's field of vision.

The Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to collect and publish comprehensive, up-to-date information on fishing restrictions in federally managed fisheries on a public website. This legislation also mandates the standardization of geospatial data related to ocean activities and marine protected areas. The goal is to improve accessibility and interoperability of critical ocean use information for the public, while explicitly preserving existing regulatory authority and Tribal rights.

This resolution initiates impeachment proceedings against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem for high crimes and misdemeanors. The articles of impeachment charge her with willfully refusing to comply with Congressional oversight laws and violating the Impoundment Control Act by improperly withholding funds. Further articles allege she directed widespread misconduct by ICE agents that violated federal law and constitutional rights, and misused taxpayer funds for personal gain through improper contracting.

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.

This resolution expresses strong support for the Iranian people protesting for freedom, democracy, and basic human rights against the repressive Islamic Republic. It condemns the regime's brutal crackdown on demonstrators and demands an end to violence and the release of political prisoners. Furthermore, it urges the U.S. government to work with allies to deter further lethal violence against protesters.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 targets the increasing threat posed by organized theft groups impacting retail and the national supply chain. This bill strengthens federal law by expanding money laundering statutes and lowering thresholds for property crimes related to theft. Crucially, it establishes a new federal coordination center within Homeland Security Investigations to align efforts across all levels of law enforcement and the private sector to combat these cross-jurisdictional crimes.

The Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment (CSAFE) Act establishes a new federal crime for intentionally compelling a minor to engage in harmful acts, including self-harm, animal crushing, or abusive nonsexual or sexually explicit conduct. This law applies when using mail, interstate commerce, or within U.S. jurisdiction, defining "compel" to include threats, fraud, or manipulation. Penalties range up to 10 years imprisonment, increasing significantly if serious bodily injury or death results.

The Child Predators Accountability Act strengthens federal laws against child sexual exploitation. This legislation expands prohibited acts to explicitly cover coercing a minor to be *depicted* in sexually explicit conduct, even if the minor did not physically participate in the act itself. The bill clarifies that intentionally depicting a minor in such content constitutes a violation.