Legislative Activity

The Pay Our Public Shipyard Workers Act ensures that civilian and military shipyard workers continue to receive their salaries and benefits if Congress fails to pass a full budget for fiscal years 2026 or 2027. This measure automatically appropriates necessary funds from the Treasury to cover these essential workers during budget delays. This temporary funding mechanism ceases once a standard appropriation bill is enacted or on January 1, 2027.

The Military Learning for Credit Act of 2025 allows eligible veterans to use their existing educational assistance benefits to pay for specific exams and assessments designed to earn college credit. This provision caps the benefit usage at \$500 per covered test, including DSST and CLEP exams. Using these benefits for testing will count against the veteran's total entitlement time, calculated based on the cost of the exam.

The Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act updates the structure and responsibilities of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Rural Affairs. It mandates the appointment of an experienced Assistant Administrator to lead the office and requires increased outreach through national webinars and events. Furthermore, the bill establishes an annual reporting requirement detailing the office's activities, budget, and impact on rural small businesses.

The Investing in Digital Skills Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to prioritize digital literacy within adult education programs. This legislation explicitly mandates that adult education must focus on equipping individuals with the necessary digital literacy skills for full participation in modern life. The bill updates definitions and program requirements to ensure digital proficiency is a core component of adult learning and workforce readiness.