Legislative Activity

The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2026 establishes a dedicated unit within the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute criminal trade activities, such as smuggling, duty evasion, and trade-based money laundering. This legislation aims to bolster enforcement capacity through increased staffing, interagency collaboration, and the development of multi-jurisdictional responses. Additionally, it mandates annual reporting to Congress to ensure transparency and accountability in the government's efforts to protect American industry and labor.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 15642 Sand Canyon Avenue in Irvine, California, as the "Mary Kageyama Nomura Post Office Building."

The Representation Act mandates that states identify and document "communities of interest"—populations sharing common cultural, economic, or social ties—to ensure they remain intact during congressional redistricting. The bill restricts the division of these communities across districts, requires public justification for any such splits, and provides citizens with legal recourse to challenge redistricting decisions. By establishing these standards, the Act aims to protect the integrity of local communities in the electoral process.

The READ Act (Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development Act) reauthorizes and reforms the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants program to improve student literacy nationwide. The bill prioritizes evidence-based instruction aligned with the "science of reading," mandates universal early literacy screening, and provides targeted support for low-performing states. Additionally, it enhances research initiatives and increases transparency by requiring states to report on literacy progress and teacher preparation alignment.

The National Guard for National Service Act of 2026 establishes a pilot program to integrate National Guard and Reserve members into federal national service initiatives. This program aims to strengthen national security and community resilience by focusing on critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and disaster preparedness. Additionally, the bill mandates a feasibility study to create a nationwide employment and training pipeline that provides stable career pathways for service members and their families.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 4640 Cass Street in San Diego, California, as the "Mary Wilding Memorial Post Office Building." All official federal references to this facility will be updated to reflect this new name.

The Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026 designates Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) through July 1, 2029, allowing eligible Afghan nationals currently in the United States to live and work legally. The bill mandates an expedited 90-day adjudication process for applications and provides for fee waivers for those who qualify under this designation.

The Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing or selling individual stocks to prevent conflicts of interest. Additionally, the bill mandates that voters provide valid photo identification when voting in person or by mail in federal elections.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

This bill designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in San Jose, California, as the "Corporal Patrick D. Tillman VA Clinic." This renaming honors the legacy of Pat Tillman, a San Jose native and former NFL player who left his professional career to serve as an Army Ranger and made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

The "No Profiting from Public Service Act" prohibits high-level federal officials, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks, commodities, and other financial derivatives. The bill mandates the divestiture of these assets into qualified blind trusts and bans participation in political prediction markets to prevent conflicts of interest. Violations of these restrictions are subject to significant financial penalties and mandatory public disclosure.

The No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 establishes mandatory identity fraud screening for all federal student aid applications starting in late 2026. If an application is flagged for potential fraud, colleges are prohibited from disbursing aid until they verify the student's identity using strict methods. This legislation also creates a higher scrutiny category for institutional program reviews if a school shows a pattern of paying aid on flagged applications without proper verification.

The Preventing Trafficking of Minors Act of 2026 strengthens federal laws against commercial sex with minors by expanding prohibited activities and removing common defenses for offenders. This legislation specifically eliminates the need to prove force, fraud, or coercion when the victim is under 18. Furthermore, it bars defendants from claiming ignorance of the victim's age, especially if they had the opportunity to observe the minor.

The Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act requires public schools to obtain parental consent before changing a minor student's gender marker, pronouns, or preferred name, or altering sex-based accommodations. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of federal education funding to teach or advance concepts related to gender ideology. This legislation aims to ensure parental involvement in significant decisions regarding their children's records and school environment.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue commemorative gold and silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and survivors, with designs selected in consultation with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges from the sale of these coins will be paid directly to the Memorial and Museum to support its operations and maintenance.

This resolution expresses support for designating May 17, 2026, as "Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day." The goal is to raise public awareness about NEC, a devastating intestinal disease that severely impacts premature infants and their families. By increasing awareness, the resolution seeks to support efforts to reduce the incidence and improve outcomes for those affected by NEC.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 aims to combat sophisticated, cross-jurisdictional organized retail and supply chain theft. It achieves this by strengthening federal laws regarding money laundering and stolen property offenses, including lowering monetary thresholds for prosecution. Furthermore, the bill establishes a dedicated Center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate federal, state, and local enforcement efforts against these criminal organizations.

The Nursing is a Professional Degree Act officially designates nursing as a professional degree under federal law. This bill amends the Higher Education Act to provide a clear statutory definition for "professional degree," explicitly including nursing alongside other established professions like medicine and law. This change ensures consistency in recognizing the advanced academic requirements necessary to practice nursing.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 3817 Marysville Boulevard in Sacramento, California, as the "Grantland Johnson Post Office." This action ensures the building is officially recognized by its new name in all records and documentation.

The Public Lands Workforce Stability Act prohibits the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service from implementing involuntary layoffs or reductions in force for most career employees through September 30, 2030. This measure prevents the use of federal funds for such actions unless specific congressional committee approval is obtained. Separations are only permitted for cause, such as misconduct or poor performance.