Legislative Activity

The Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Congressional Gold Medal Act honors the U.S. and Filipino service members and civilians who fought in the Pacific theater during World War II. This legislation authorizes the collective award of a Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of those who defended Bataan and Corregidor and endured imprisonment by Imperial Japanese forces. The medal will be housed at the Smithsonian Institution to ensure their legacy is preserved and shared with the public.

This resolution officially recognizes June 2026 as LGBTQ Pride Month to celebrate the history, contributions, and ongoing fight for equality of the LGBTQ community. It acknowledges the systemic discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ individuals both domestically and globally. The resolution supports equal rights and treatment for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, encouraging education and celebration of the community's resilience.

This joint resolution disapproves a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule that would have implemented prior authorization for certain Medicare services under the WISeR model. The rule aimed to reduce wasteful spending by requiring pre-approval for specific procedures. Due to this congressional disapproval, the CMS rule will not take effect.

The DNII Act of 2026 establishes a strict, mandatory order of succession for temporarily filling the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) position. This new order prioritizes the Senate-confirmed Principal Deputy Director and other Senate-confirmed ODNI officials before allowing the use of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act as a last resort. The Act ensures continuity in the leadership of the Intelligence Community by setting clear, high-level qualifications for any acting DNI.

This resolution officially designates July 15, 2026, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day." It seeks to raise public awareness about glioblastoma, the most aggressive and deadliest form of malignant brain tumor. The bill supports increased research efforts and better treatments to improve the outlook and quality of life for those affected by this devastating disease.

This bill, the "Export Control Enforcement and Enhancement Act," establishes a streamlined and expedited process for the End-User Review Committee to consider and vote on changes to the Entity List. It mandates a 30-day timeline for the Committee to decide on proposals for adding, removing, or modifying entities subject to export restrictions. The legislation also clarifies the criteria for adding entities based on national security interests and establishes a default policy of license denial for transactions involving newly added parties.

The Protect Our Polls Act requires explicit Congressional approval before federal troops or armed personnel can be deployed to polling places, even to repel armed enemies. This bill establishes a mandatory 48-hour notification process and an expedited review timeline for Congress to authorize such a deployment. Additionally, it prohibits using federal funds to allow the military access to election records, with these specific provisions expiring in 2029.

The America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes and modifies the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through fiscal year 2033, increasing its authorized funding to \$2.0 billion. This legislation broadens eligible lands for maintenance projects and prioritizes those receiving significant private donations. It also enhances transparency by requiring multi-year project lists and actively encouraging public contributions to address deferred maintenance across federal lands.

This bill, the FIRE SMART Act of 2026, requires the EPA to immediately expand the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. The expansion specifically directs funding toward water infrastructure projects that aid in wildfire suppression for rural communities at high risk from fire. The EPA must prioritize projects that benefit both drinking water quality and fire safety in these vulnerable areas.

The Lifeline for First Responders Act establishes a new grant program administered by NHTSA to support the mental health and wellness of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and first responders. This program provides funding for evidence-based stress reduction, suicide prevention, counseling, and family support services. The Act authorizes $7.5 million annually for this initiative from fiscal years 2028 through 2032.

The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act prohibits licensed healthcare providers and transplant hospitals from denying organ transplants or related services to qualified individuals solely because of a disability. This legislation mandates reasonable modifications, auxiliary aids, and consideration of a patient's support network to ensure equal access throughout the entire transplant process. Exceptions only apply if a physician determines the disability is medically significant to the transplant, or if accommodations fundamentally alter the service.

The **Make More in America Act of 2026** fundamentally expands the mission of the Export-Import Bank to actively finance the domestic development, commercialization, and production of critical technologies, aiming to counter foreign competition, particularly from China. It establishes the new "Make More in America Program" to support U.S. manufacturing projects in strategic industries, requiring job creation commitments and prevailing wage standards. Furthermore, the bill creates an Investment Committee to develop a 10-year national investment roadmap and enhances interagency coordination to align federal resources supporting domestic industrial growth.

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 Promoting Police Leadership Act directs the Attorney General to develop and certify standardized leadership training curricula for command-level law enforcement personnel. This training will focus on critical areas like strategic thinking, risk management, and building community trust through evidence-based methods. The bill also requires tracking trained officers and mandates reports to Congress on implementation and effectiveness, while explicitly preserving state and local authority over their own training standards.

The Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2026 establishes a grant program to strengthen agriculture and natural resources programs at community colleges. These competitive grants will help institutions expand workforce training, education, and research, prioritizing coordination with local industry for experiential learning. The Act also authorizes funding to designate regional or national Centers of Agriculture Advancement.

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.

This bill, the SUSTAIN Act, prohibits the Secretary of the Air Force from reducing, retiring, or modifying existing MQ-9 aircraft units through September 30, 2032, with limited exceptions for unsafe aircraft or approved mission conversions. It also requires the Air Force to submit a comprehensive report detailing the recapitalization and modernization plan for the MQ-9 fleet through fiscal year 2035. The legislation aims to protect the current inventory and operational status of these critical unmanned systems.

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 SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 aims to protect veterans from fraudulent and unauthorized fee charging by reinstating strict penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for those who illegally assist with VA benefit claims. The bill mandates the VA to improve transparency by creating an online tool listing accredited representatives and enhancing public warnings about predatory practices on all claim-filing websites. Furthermore, it requires new data collection on paid assistance providers and establishes a robust, accessible accreditation system for legitimate agents and attorneys.

The "No Payouts for Political Insiders Act" restricts who can receive payments from the Anti-Weaponization Fund, specifically prohibiting payments related to the *Trump v. Internal Revenue Service* settlement to high-level political officials and their associates. The bill also mandates public disclosure of payment details, including the recipient and amount, at least 180 days before any such payment is made. These restrictions apply to pending cases and future causes of action arising after January 20, 2025.