Legislative Activity

The Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act mandates that the Treasury Department, in coordination with the OMB, include a new analysis of potential financial risks from major "fiscal shocks" in its annual report. This analysis must assess the short-term and long-term financial impacts of events like recessions, natural disasters, or cyber attacks on the federal government. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will subsequently review the methodology and findings of this new fiscal assessment.

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.

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.

The DPA Modernization Act of 2026 significantly updates the Defense Production Act by restricting the use of emergency priorities and allocations powers to specific national emergencies or disasters. It overhauls supply chain strengthening authorities, shifting key decision-making from the President to a new Defense Production Act Committee and Fund Manager, while increasing funding limits for loan guarantees and direct loans. Furthermore, the bill establishes new initiatives, enhances oversight through increased reporting requirements, and restructures the Act's internal organization.

The Main Street Capital Access Act is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize community banking by making it easier to start new banks, tailoring regulations to the size of financial institutions, and increasing transparency in bank supervision. It introduces regulatory relief for smaller banks, streamlines the application process, and reforms how bank failures are resolved to promote competition. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to reduce regulatory burdens and foster a more diverse and accessible financial system.

This resolution congratulates and honors the dedicated Olympians and Paralympians from Michigan who competed in the 2026 Milano Cortina Games. It recognizes their patriotic efforts, highlights the significance of the Games in promoting peace, and specifically names the Michigan athletes who represented Team USA. The resolution celebrates their heroic accomplishments and contributions to the United States.

The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 addresses systemic religious persecution in Nigeria, particularly against Christians, by extremist groups and certain militias. The bill outlines a strong U.S. policy to pressure the Nigerian government to end impunity, protect religious minorities, and repeal blasphemy laws. It mandates targeted sanctions against perpetrators and requires regular reporting on U.S. efforts to combat these atrocities.

This bill, the Financial Stability Oversight Council Improvement Act of 2025, establishes new procedural hurdles for the FSOC before it can designate a nonbank financial company for stricter Federal Reserve supervision. The Council must first make an initial determination, in consultation with the company and its regulator, that other actions are insufficient to address the risk. This ensures that designation is a measure of last resort against threats to U.S. financial stability.

The Community Health Center Drug Pricing Protection Act ensures that Federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) receive the full 340B discounted price for drugs at the point of purchase. This legislation prohibits manufacturers from requiring FQHCs to pay more than the established ceiling price upfront, regardless of any later rebates or reimbursements. The goal is to guarantee immediate, upfront savings for these vital health centers.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of January 25 through January 31, 2026, as "National School Choice Week." It emphasizes the importance of parental choice in selecting diverse K-12 educational options that best suit their children's needs. The bill also recognizes the contributions of students, parents, teachers, and school leaders across all educational environments.

The Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress and their immediate families from purchasing new securities issued by publicly traded companies. It requires advance public disclosure for any sale of existing covered investments, with a mandatory 7-to-14-day notice period before the transaction. Violations result in significant financial penalties, including disgorgement of any net gains, payable by the Member personally.

This bill aims to secure critical mineral and energy supply chains by establishing international partnerships and diplomatic frameworks to reduce reliance on strategic competitors. It authorizes new programs for joint investment with allies and creates dedicated offices within the State and Energy Departments to coordinate these efforts. Furthermore, the legislation establishes fellowship programs to build a skilled American workforce in the international mining sector.

The Remote Access Security Act amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to establish new controls on the remote access of sensitive U.S. items by foreign persons. This legislation grants the Secretary of Commerce authority to regulate such access when it poses a serious risk to national security. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Secretary consult with key congressional committees before issuing new regulations on remote access controls.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

The Critical Mineral Mining Education Act of 2026 establishes programs within the Department of State to address critical mineral workforce shortages through international exchange. It creates fellowship opportunities for U.S. students to study mining abroad and for foreign scholars to teach and collaborate at U.S. institutions. These initiatives aim to strengthen the domestic mining industry by developing a skilled workforce and fostering global cooperation. Funding will be provided through excess foreign currencies and specific appropriations authorized through fiscal year 2035.

The Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices (STAND) Act mandates an annual preventative health evaluation for veterans with spinal cord injuries or disorders. This comprehensive assessment will cover risks, pain management, nutrition, and the need for advanced assistive technologies, including neuromodulation devices. The VA is required to consult with specialists and manufacturers when developing implementation guidelines. Furthermore, the Secretary must report biennially to Congress on the utilization and outcomes of these evaluations and assistive technologies.

The AI OVERWATCH Act establishes strict new licensing requirements for exporting advanced integrated circuits to designated countries of concern, including China and Russia. This legislation mandates detailed national security certifications to Congress before any license can be approved for these high-performance technologies. Furthermore, the bill creates an exemption process for trusted U.S. companies while terminating existing licenses for these sensitive exports.

The Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act aims to ensure federal port infrastructure funding is distributed fairly across the nation. This legislation amends the Port Infrastructure Development Program to mandate equitable geographic distribution when awarding grants for port projects, including those benefiting small ports.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and financial processors from creating or requiring special merchant category codes specifically for firearm retailers. This legislation aims to prevent the singling out of businesses that sell firearms, ammunition, or related components through transaction coding. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcement and reporting annually to Congress on the law's implementation.

The FARM Home Loans Act of 2025 updates rural housing financing by expanding eligible property types to include accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Additionally, this act increases the population limit for eligible rural areas from 2,500 to 10,000 residents. These changes aim to foster greater availability of home loans in rural markets.