Legislative Activity

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

This act establishes the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program to correct historical errors where Jewish service members killed in WWI and WWII were mistakenly buried under non-Jewish grave markers overseas. The American Battle Monuments Commission will contract with a nonprofit organization to identify these "covered members" and contact their survivors over a five-year period. The legislation also extends a deadline related to certain pension payments.

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act modifies the existing scholarship program to better support veterans pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. This bill revises priority categories for applicants and mandates that recipients must exhaust their primary educational assistance benefits before using the STEM scholarship funds. Additionally, the Act extends the expiration date for certain limitations on veterans' pension payments.

The Servicemember Residence Protection Act stops the clock on adverse possession claims against a servicemember's property while they are on active duty. This ensures that time spent serving in the military does not count against their ownership rights. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to update its website with essential resources regarding property security, leasing, and tenant rights for active service members.

This resolution formally condemns the horrific political assassination of conservative spokesman Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. It expresses deep condolences to his family and recognizes the bravery of the first responders at the scene. Ultimately, the measure reaffirms the fundamental American right to peaceful assembly and stands firmly against political violence.

The PRICE Act, or Protect and Respect ICE Act, aims to increase penalties for individuals who assault, resist, or impede officers or employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This legislation specifically doubles the maximum jail time and corresponding fines for committing such offenses against ICE staff.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 765 West Old Route 66 in Ash Fork, Arizona, as the "Fayrene Hume Post Office." This action ensures the post office is formally recognized under this new name in all official records.

This resolution formally condemns the tragic mass shooting in New York City that resulted in the deaths of civilians and NYPD Officer Didarul Islam. It honors the victims and commends the bravery of the New York City Police Department for their response to the attack. Furthermore, the bill takes a stand against all acts of violence directed toward law enforcement officials nationwide.

The Fairness for Khobar Act of 2025 ensures that certain victims of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing receive overdue lump sum payments. This legislation corrects past injustices where victims were denied payments due to relying on incorrect guidance from the Department of Justice. The Act mandates the Special Master to authorize these catch-up payments using designated reserve funds.

The Warrior Impact from Neurological and G-Force Stress Act (WINGS Act) mandates a comprehensive, long-term study by the VA to investigate the physical and mental health effects of military flight operations, particularly high G-forces, on aviators. This research will examine links between flight stress and conditions like TBI, cognitive decline, and mental health issues, comparing aviators to other service members. The bill also requires the creation of a dedicated Military Aviator Neurohealth Registry to track this data over time.

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025 significantly improves the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program for military dependents. This legislation eliminates the age restriction for TYA eligibility and removes the separate premium requirement for coverage. These changes aim to provide broader and simpler healthcare access for adult children of service members.

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

The AI Impersonation Prevention Act of 2025 prohibits the knowing use of artificial intelligence to impersonate a federal official in a way that creates materially false or misleading content. This makes it illegal to generate deepfake audio, video, or text mimicking a government employee without clearly disclosing that the content is not authentic. Exceptions exist for satire and parody, provided the artificial nature of the content is explicitly clear.

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's recently submitted rule on the "Barred Owl Management Strategy." By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the proposed management strategy, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is rejecting the USFWS's plan for managing Barred Owls.

The Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act expedites security assistance and defense sales to Middle Eastern and North African countries that have normalized relations with Israel and cooperate against Iranian threats. This process requires a shortened 15-day congressional notification period from the President for approved transfers. Furthermore, the State Department must submit regular, public reports detailing the security strategy, threat assessments, and progress in countering Iranian proxies. Crucially, the Act ensures that these provisions do not undermine Israel's qualitative military edge.

The NOPAIN for Veterans Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must promptly add specific, FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications to its National Formulary. This ensures veterans have access to alternative pain management options that do not rely on opioids. The VA is required to implement these changes within 90 days of the Act becoming law.

The Make American Guns Again (MAGA) Act of 2025 requires the Secretary of Defense to study the prevalence of foreign-made or foreign-owned small arms and light weapons used by the U.S. military. Within 180 days, the Secretary must report these findings to Congress and the President. This report must also include recommendations for increasing the procurement of domestically manufactured and owned small arms.

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act addresses significant delays in obtaining death certificates for veterans who die from natural causes, often due to VA medical staff delays. This bill mandates that VA medical providers must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours or allow the local medical examiner to step in. Furthermore, the VA must annually report on its compliance with this new timely certification requirement.

This resolution formally condemns the violent attack on the U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, on July 7, 2025. It expresses support for the injured agents and reaffirms Congress's strong backing for the dedicated men and women of the Border Patrol. The bill emphasizes that such violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and undermines national security efforts.

The Hookah Clarification Act of 2025 establishes a distinct federal tax classification for waterpipe tobacco, commonly known as hookah or shisha. This legislation sets a significantly lower tax rate of $0.5662 per pound specifically for waterpipe tobacco, while maintaining the current rate for other types of pipe tobacco. The Act also provides a clear definition for what constitutes "waterpipe tobacco" for tax purposes.