Legislative Activity

The Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025 mandates that state child welfare agencies develop comprehensive "family partnership plans" focused on identifying, recruiting, and supporting foster and adoptive families. These plans must utilize data to improve placement stability, increase kinship care, and better match families with children's needs, especially for teens and sibling groups. Furthermore, the bill enhances federal reporting by requiring detailed, state-by-state data on foster family capacity and recruitment challenges to be submitted to Congress annually.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment collectively. This recognition honors the regiment's crucial and heroic service during the Revolutionary War, notably as one of the first integrated military units in American history. The original medal will be displayed at the Rhode Island State Library, and bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs.

The Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 mandates the public reporting of "other transaction agreements" (OTAs) on USASpending.gov to increase transparency in federal spending. It requires the automatic transmission of OTA data to the public website within three years, alongside annual reports detailing any unreported spending. The bill also refines existing transparency laws by updating data quality requirements and establishing a clearer, regularly updated list of agencies responsible for reporting spending data.

The Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2025 addresses the high rates of PTSD and acute stress disorder among public safety officers and telecommunicators. This bill directs the Attorney General to study and report on options for providing state-of-the-art, confidential mental health treatment and preventative care to these essential personnel. The resulting report will outline proposed programs, necessary legislative language, and funding estimates for implementation across all levels of government.

This resolution officially designates May 10–16, 2026, as the 27th Annual National Charter Schools Week. It congratulates the students, parents, teachers, and leaders of public charter schools nationwide for their contributions to education. The bill highlights the growth, accountability, and positive academic impact of these tuition-free public schools. It encourages communities to hold events supporting high-quality charter schools during that week.

This resolution recognizes the strategic importance of the Arctic region to U.S. national security and economic interests. It supports continued congressional engagement with Arctic allies and partners to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development. The Senate specifically backs efforts to strengthen Arctic security, infrastructure, and scientific research while upholding a rules-based international order. The resolution also affirms the vital role of Indigenous peoples in Arctic governance.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the volunteers and communities that supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The Canteen was a massive, entirely volunteer-run operation that fed approximately six million service members traveling across the country. The original gold medal will be permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. The bill also allows the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the medal.

The **READ Act** aims to combat the national literacy crisis by promoting reading instruction aligned with the science of reading across K-12 education. It establishes new grant programs to support states in implementing evidence-based policies, improving teacher training, and ensuring early identification and intervention for struggling readers. Furthermore, the bill mandates that schools notify parents when their child is identified as being at risk for reading difficulties.

The CHEERS Act of 2026 reclassifies qualified energy-efficient draft alcohol property, such as specialized kegs and tap equipment, as 15-year property for tax depreciation purposes. This change allows businesses like restaurants and bars to recover the cost of this qualifying equipment more quickly through tax deductions. The provision applies to equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025.

This resolution honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for Michigan. It recognizes his decades in Congress, highlighting key legislative achievements such as co-sponsoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and leading significant banking reforms. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow and adjourns in his memory.

The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act aims to strengthen protections and increase fairness for individuals reporting tax fraud. It grants the Tax Court the authority to conduct a fresh, independent review of denied whistleblower awards and mandates that awards are protected from federal budget sequestration cuts. Furthermore, the bill enhances whistleblower privacy by allowing anonymity in Tax Court proceedings and requires the IRS to pay interest on awards delayed beyond a specified timeframe.

The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 establishes automatic, 14-day continuing appropriations to prevent federal operations from halting when regular funding lapses. This mechanism funds programs at the previous rate until Congress enacts a full budget or continuing resolution. The bill also imposes strict limitations on official travel and congressional business during these funding gaps. Finally, it classifies the costs of this Act as discretionary spending subject to existing budget enforcement rules.

This bill establishes the **Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative** to address the critical shortage and high cost of childcare in rural communities. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize funding for projects that improve childcare availability, quality, or affordability in rural areas between fiscal years 2027 and 2029. The initiative ensures that existing USDA loans and grants are preferentially awarded to applicants focused on enhancing rural childcare infrastructure.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late former United States Senator John Seymour of California. It recognizes his extensive public service, highlighting his career in business, local government, and his tenure in the U.S. Senate. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow and directs that official copies of this resolution be delivered to his family.

The Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act aims to eliminate barriers to sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. It establishes grant programs to train the healthcare workforce, expand the number of providers with disabilities, and fund accessible health education. The bill also creates a National Technical Assistance Center and mandates a study to identify effective care models and coordination gaps.

This Senate resolution expresses the sense that access to mifepristone should be based on over 25 years of proven safety and effectiveness supported by peer-reviewed science. It calls for equitable and transparent laws and policies governing access to this time-sensitive medication abortion care. The resolution affirms the FDA's authority to regulate the drug based on the best available evidence, free from political interference.

This resolution expresses support for designating April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It highlights the severe, lasting impact of adverse childhood experiences and the substantial economic burden of child maltreatment. The resolution advocates for increased public awareness, education, and evidence-based programs to prevent abuse and support survivors.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 10 through May 16, 2026, as "National Police Week." It serves to recognize and honor the service, sacrifice, and valor of law enforcement officers across the United States. The measure encourages the public to observe this week by honoring law enforcement personnel and promoting awareness of their essential mission.

This resolution designates May 2026 as National Foster Care Month to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children in the foster care system. It honors the resilience of foster youth and expresses gratitude for foster parents, social workers, and advocates. Ultimately, the measure encourages Congress to implement policies that improve outcomes for children in foster care, from prevention to successful transition to adulthood.

The Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act aims to significantly improve health outcomes for mid-life women by boosting federal research, public awareness, and professional training related to menopause. The bill establishes new programs for research funding, public education campaigns, and specialized training for healthcare providers. It also supports the creation of Centers of Excellence to advance evidence-based care and address disparities in treatment access.