Legislative Activity

The HONOR Gold Star Families Act increases the military death gratuity payment for survivors of deceased service members from $100,000 to $200,000. Additionally, the bill establishes an annual cost-of-living adjustment to ensure the benefit keeps pace with inflation starting in 2027.

The FOOD for Health Act establishes a pilot grant program to support community-based organizations that partner with healthcare providers to deliver "Food is Medicine" services. This initiative provides funding for medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, and nutrition education to help patients manage and recover from diet-related diseases. The program aims to improve health outcomes and reduce system costs through evidence-based dietary interventions.

The DROUGHT Act of 2026 increases federal financial support—up to 90 percent of total project costs—for critical water infrastructure projects in drought-stricken areas. By prioritizing projects that improve water reliability, affordability, and sustainability, this legislation provides essential resources to communities facing severe water shortages.

The Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to issue a specific right-of-way for an emergency exit along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This requirement becomes mandatory only after the Secretary confirms that necessary environmental reviews and an analysis of alternatives have been completed. The act ensures a designated emergency egress route is established near Milepost 9.6, subject to specific reporting conditions.

The HEALTHY BRAINS Act of 2026 establishes a comprehensive federal research program to investigate how environmental factors contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The bill creates a network of Collaborative Centers for Neurodegenerative Disease Environmental Research to advance scientific understanding, improve prevention strategies, and develop new treatments. This initiative is supported by $50 million in annual funding through 2031 to foster interdisciplinary research and public health education.

The Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act provides a federal income tax credit of up to $1,000 for the purchase of qualified hearing aids. This credit is available to eligible taxpayers once every five years for costs not covered by insurance. The benefit is subject to specific income limitations and applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.

This bill establishes two key provisions to support family caregiving and housing. It creates a new, refundable tax credit for individuals who provide substantial at-home care for qualifying older relatives. Additionally, the legislation authorizes a grant program to fund the construction or renovation of housing specifically designed for multigenerational living arrangements.

The Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct Act (SCAM Act) holds online platforms accountable for displaying fraudulent or deceptive paid advertisements. It mandates that platforms implement strict advertiser verification procedures and actively detect and remove scam ads. This legislation establishes a private right of action for injured consumers and clarifies that existing Section 230 immunity does not apply to violations of this Act.

This resolution officially recognizes the 125th anniversary of the Army Nurse Corps, established on February 2, 1901. It expresses profound gratitude for the unwavering service, skill, and sacrifice of all past and present Army nurses. The bill honors their vital contributions to the health and well-being of the United States Armed Forces.

The Contract Our Veterans Act of 2026 strengthens federal support for veteran-owned small businesses by streamlining sole-source and restricted-competition contracting processes. The bill establishes a government-wide goal of awarding at least 5% of federal contract dollars to these businesses and mandates rigorous annual reporting to ensure transparency. Additionally, it integrates veteran-owned firms into key procurement programs, scorecards, and mentorship initiatives to increase their participation in the federal marketplace.

The Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 streamlines the installation and operation of undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries. It prevents the Secretary of Commerce from imposing duplicative permitting requirements if federal or state authorization is already secured. Additionally, the bill removes previous restrictions on the types of activities that can be covered by sanctuary special use permits.

The After Hours Child Care Act establishes a new Child Care and Development Innovation Fund to improve access to care for parents working nontraditional hours. This fund supports a competitive pilot grant program managed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Grants will help eligible entities expand capacity, contract services, or establish new programs specifically serving families with irregular work schedules. The goal is to help these parents maintain employment and advance their careers.

This act establishes a demonstration program to award federal grants to states for creating or expanding mobile vaccination units. These units aim to improve the delivery of recommended immunizations for all age groups. States receiving funds must use them for unit acquisition, equipment, and vaccine costs. The Secretary of HHS will report on the program's effectiveness by late 2027.

The Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026 reauthorizes the WISEWOMAN program through fiscal year 2031, securing significant funding for women's health initiatives. This legislation allows for supplemental grants to expand preventive health services, such as blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, to low-income women. These services will be integrated with existing breast and cervical cancer screening programs.

The Disaster Zone Energy Affordability and Investment Act allows businesses in federally or state-declared disaster areas to transfer certain unused general business tax credits from prior years. This provision is designed to help affected taxpayers by converting these credits into usable funds based on their eligible operating expenditures within the disaster zone. The credits apply to investments made following disasters declared after December 31, 2023.

The Mammography Access for Veterans Act of 2025 permanently expands and enhances the Department of Veterans Affairs' telescreening mammography program. This legislation mandates that within two years, every state and Puerto Rico must have access to VA-provided breast imaging services, including telescreening, full-service, or mobile options. Furthermore, it ensures these vital services are fully accessible to veterans with disabilities.

The Whale CHARTS Act of 2026 expands federal efforts to protect migratory whales and other large cetaceans. This legislation mandates the creation of high-accuracy distribution maps for whale habitats and funds research into understudied species. It also establishes a competitive grant program to develop and deploy technologies that reduce harmful interactions between whales and ocean users, such as vessel strikes.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act) mandates that individuals must provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It also establishes a federal requirement for voters to present a photo ID indicating U.S. citizenship when casting a ballot in federal elections. The bill outlines specific acceptable forms of proof and requires states to implement verification programs to ensure only citizens are registered and voting.

The Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2026 establishes a demonstration program to combat the shortage of qualified nursing faculty. This program awards grants to nursing schools specifically to supplement the salaries of eligible faculty members for up to three years. The goal is to enhance the recruitment and retention of faculty by bridging the gap between academic salaries and competitive clinical practice wages. Priority will be given to schools demonstrating the greatest need and those serving vulnerable populations.

The Make Elections Great Again Act establishes new federal standards for voter identification, citizenship verification for registration, and statewide voter list maintenance for federal elections. It also standardizes election administration by mandating paper ballots, banning ranked-choice voting, and implementing strict new rules for requesting and returning mail-in ballots. The bill aims to increase election integrity through enhanced documentation and procedural uniformity across states.