Legislative Activity

This bill, the "Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026," authorizes the President to declare a smoke emergency when wildfire smoke severely impacts air quality in one or more states. Upon declaration, the President can provide federal assistance through FEMA for protective measures like smoke shelters and air purifiers. The Act also establishes grants for small businesses significantly affected by the smoke and adjusts budget rules to accommodate emergency funding.

This resolution expresses support for designating a month to raise public awareness about Necrotizing Fasciitis. The goal is to promote education on early detection and treatment of the serious infection. It also offers support to those affected by the disease.

The COPS Reauthorization Act of 2026 updates and extends the funding for the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program through fiscal year 2031. It also formally establishes the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as a distinct entity within the Department of Justice, headed by a Presidentially-appointed Director. This legislation ensures continued support for community policing initiatives.

The Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026 establishes a federal gasoline tax holiday, suspending the federal excise tax and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate through December 31, 2026. To offset lost revenue, the Treasury will transfer funds from the general fund to the affected trust funds. This legislation intends for consumers to immediately benefit from lower pump prices.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to prioritize competitive housing grants for projects located in or serving federally designated Opportunity Zones. By providing additional weight to these applications, the legislation aims to incentivize the construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of housing in low-income communities.

The Health Investment Zones Act of 2026 establishes a federal program to designate and support economically distressed areas with significant health disparities as "Health Investment Zones." The bill provides targeted financial incentives—including grants, student loan repayment, and tax credits—to attract and retain healthcare practitioners in these underserved communities. Additionally, it increases Medicare reimbursement rates for services provided within these zones to improve overall access to quality care and health outcomes.

The Ensuring Casualty Assistance for our Firefighters Act establishes the Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program to support the next-of-kin of firefighters or staff seriously injured, critically ill, or killed during wildland fire incidents. This program mandates comprehensive support, including travel assistance for families, immediate access to case management and counseling, and clear information on all available federal benefits. It ensures a structured, coordinated federal response to provide timely and thorough assistance to survivors without altering existing death benefits.

The **Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets Act (FREEDOM Act)** aims to accelerate federal permitting for energy and mineral projects by establishing strict timelines, creating a compensation program for project delays, and streamlining review processes. It also includes specific provisions to improve geothermal leasing and reduce federal permitting requirements for certain oil and gas activities on non-federal land. The overall goal is to reduce regulatory uncertainty that deters investment in critical U.S. energy infrastructure.

This act establishes a mandatory two-year lobbying ban for former state utility regulatory commissioners, preventing them from influencing their former commissions or providing related paid services. It requires every state utility regulatory authority to consider and make a final determination on adopting this new standard within two years of enactment. The bill aims to curb undue influence by former regulators on utility decisions.

The Stop SCAMS Act establishes a comprehensive, government-wide strategy to combat fraud and manipulation. It mandates key agencies like the FBI, CFPB, and FTC to standardize scam definitions, improve data collection, and report annually on scam complaints and financial losses. This legislation aims to better track the scope of scams and measure the effectiveness of federal anti-fraud training efforts.

The Protecting Health Care Workforce Pipelines Act amends the Higher Education Act to extend the availability of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans for graduate and professional students at certain health professions schools. This extension pushes key loan termination and limit dates from 2026 to 2030. The affected schools must be located near designated health professional shortage areas or medically underserved communities.

The CAT Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and due process for healthcare providers facing Medicare payment suspensions due to fraud allegations. It mandates that CMS provide detailed information about allegations before suspending payments and establishes strict time limits for investigations. The bill also requires the creation of an independent appeals process for providers challenging these suspensions.

This act establishes federal standards of identity and quality for various grades of olive oil and olive-pomace oil sold in the United States. It mandates the creation of specific quality parameters, testing methods, and clear labeling requirements for producers and marketers. The goal is to ensure consumers receive accurate information regarding the grade and purity of the olive oil they purchase.

This bill establishes the XLabs Initiative within the NIH to provide substantial, long-term funding to institutions conducting breakthrough biomedical research. The program offers competitive awards across four categories, supporting foundational science, resource development, and the formation of new research entities. A key restriction requires award recipients (XL01-XL03) to forgo other federal research grants during their award period to focus on high-risk, high-reward science.

This bill mandates the United States Postal Service to establish a new post office in Mountain House, California. The legislation requires the USPS to open this facility within one year of the law's enactment.

The Bring Down Housing Costs Act establishes a Task Force on Bringing Down Housing Costs, overseen by the Secretary of HUD. This Task Force is charged with identifying states with rising median home prices and developing best practices to address these increases. The group will report annually on its findings and recommendations to various federal and state officials before terminating after five years.

The Double Dependents Relief Act establishes a new, refundable tax credit for working family caregivers who incur significant expenses caring for a qualifying relative with long-term care needs. This credit equals 30% of qualified expenses exceeding $2,000, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually. To qualify, caregivers must have earned income over $7,500 and meet specific certification requirements regarding the care recipient's functional limitations. The provisions of this Act are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Curb Private Utilities Corruption Act (CPUC Act) mandates that state utility regulatory boards publicly disclose meetings held with lobbyists or representatives from electric companies. This aims to increase transparency regarding who is influencing utility regulation decisions. States must review and make a final decision on adopting this public disclosure standard within one year of the Act's enactment.

The Lower Internet Costs Act mandates that broadband providers must clearly display the total, final price of internet service in both advertisements and on monthly bills. This legislation also prohibits providers from charging certain specified fees, such as those related to network maintenance or regulatory compliance. Furthermore, the bill requires clear disclosure of future price increases for customers on introductory internet plans.

The No Bribes for Politicians Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and reduce conflicts of interest for high-ranking officials. This bill mandates biannual financial disclosures for certain employees and expands disclosure requirements to include relatives of the President, Vice President, and Cabinet secretaries. Furthermore, it prohibits the President and Vice President from owning for-profit businesses or using their office for commercial gain while in office. The Act also establishes immediate disposal rules for certain official gifts received by federal employees.