Legislative Activity

The VA Home Loan Affordability Act aligns the VA housing loan program with certain Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requirements to make homeownership more accessible for veterans. This legislation streamlines processes by waiving appraisals for certain refinances and removing development approval requirements for condominiums. It also establishes new limits on veteran-paid closing costs and seller fees, while requiring regular review of debt-to-income ratios.

The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act aims to significantly improve access to and quality of mental health and substance use care nationwide. It strengthens Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) by establishing stable Medicaid and Medicare payment systems, providing substantial grant funding for expansion, and extending federal liability protection to their clinicians. Overall, the bill seeks to ensure comprehensive, affordable, and sustainable behavioral health services for patients across all major federal health programs.

This bill mandates a comprehensive report to Congress detailing Russia's systematic persecution of religious groups in occupied Ukrainian territories. It requires the administration to identify responsible individuals and entities involved in suppressing religious freedom, including the destruction of houses of worship. Following the report, the President must impose sanctions on those found responsible for this religious persecution.

The BIS IT Modernization Act mandates a comprehensive overhaul of the Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) technology systems through fiscal year 2030. This modernization aims to leverage advanced tools like AI and data analysis to speed up export licensing and enhance supply chain tracking. The goal is to improve national security by better identifying and tracking entities involved in illicit trade, particularly concerning adversaries like China and Russia. Ultimately, the Act requires a unified, secure IT environment to boost efficiency and data sharing capabilities across government and industry partners.

The Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025 affirms the critical importance of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to U.S. national security amidst Russian aggression. This bill mandates that the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense deliver a comprehensive report to Congress detailing emerging military, cyber, and political threats to the Baltic states. The report must also recommend specific actions to enhance U.S. and NATO defense cooperation and bolster Baltic resilience.

The Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act significantly narrows the federal beneficial ownership information reporting requirements. This legislation limits reporting obligations exclusively to foreign individuals and foreign-connected companies. Furthermore, it mandates the deletion of all previously collected data pertaining to domestic persons and entities.

The SECURE Data Act establishes comprehensive consumer privacy rights, including the rights to access, correct, and delete personal data. It imposes strict requirements on companies regarding data minimization, security, and transparency, particularly concerning sensitive data and targeted advertising. The Act also mandates registration for data brokers and creates a framework for enforcement by the FTC and state attorneys general, while preempting conflicting state laws.

This bill officially designates April 18, 2026, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day." It recognizes the vital contributions of linemen in maintaining critical energy infrastructure and serving as essential first responders during emergencies. The resolution expresses strong support for these brave men and women who work under dangerous conditions to keep communities safe and powered.

The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 aims to enhance timely access to care and improve oversight for Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees. The bill mandates faster decision-making for prior authorization requests, establishes strict compliance scoring with financial penalties for non-compliant plans, and requires MA plans to use the same medical necessity criteria as traditional Medicare. Furthermore, it protects providers by limiting retroactive denials for pre-approved services and ensuring prompt payment for those services.

The Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026 mandates significant safety upgrades across both civilian and military aviation to prevent midair collisions. It requires the FAA to implement advanced collision avoidance systems and new air traffic controller training, while also compelling the Department of Defense to equip most military helicopters with transponders for increased visibility. The bill establishes new transparency measures, including public tracking of safety rule implementation and enhanced reporting on near-miss incidents, particularly around major airports like Reagan National.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 2407 State Route 71, Suite 1, in Spring Lake, New Jersey. The facility will now be known as the James J. Howard Post Office. This designation will apply to all future official federal references to the location.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate that all community health centers provide behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorder services. To support this expansion, the legislation authorizes $700 million in annual funding from 2027 through 2031 to ensure these essential services are accessible to the public.

The Moldova Support Act of 2026 strengthens the U.S.-Moldova partnership by establishing an annual strategic dialogue to advance democratic, economic, and energy security goals. The bill mandates a comprehensive four-year strategy to support Moldova’s European Union accession and effectively counters malign foreign influence. Additionally, it imposes strict congressional oversight requirements for the potential lifting of existing sanctions against individuals and entities undermining Moldovan stability.

The Chip Security Act mandates the installation of security mechanisms on advanced integrated circuit products before they are exported from the United States. These requirements aim to verify chip location, prevent diversion, and protect U.S. technological leadership. The Secretary of Commerce must also study and implement additional security features to enhance export control enforcement and national security.

The Vets CLEAR Act streamlines the collection and management of funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections Fund. The bill grants the VA Secretary new flexibility in depositing reimbursements and mandates that specific recoveries from legal or administrative processes be directed into the fund. Additionally, it requires regular reporting to Congress to ensure transparency regarding how these recovered resources are utilized for veteran care and services.

The Supporting VA Families Act establishes a supplemental parental leave program for Department of Veterans Affairs employees. This legislation provides eligible staff with four additional administrative weeks of unpaid leave following the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. This benefit is designed to supplement, rather than replace, existing family and medical leave entitlements.

This bill, the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act, mandates that Members of Congress will not receive pay for any day a government shutdown is in effect. For shutdowns occurring before November 2026, the pay will be withheld and held in escrow, to be released after the pay reduction requirement takes effect. This ensures that congressional salaries are directly impacted by lapses in government appropriations.

The Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act ensures that veterans suffering from health conditions resulting from military sexual trauma receive retroactive disability benefits. Under this legislation, approved claims will be backdated to the day following the veteran's discharge, providing them with the full financial support they are owed.

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 Nitrous Oxide Safety Act of 2026 classifies consumer products containing nitrous oxide as banned hazardous substances under the Consumer Product Safety Act. This legislation aims to restrict recreational misuse while maintaining legal access for medical, commercial food production, and research purposes. The ban is set to take effect 180 days following the bill's enactment.