Track Ben's sponsored bills, co-sponsored legislation, and voting record
This bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded collectively to the First Rhode Island Regiment for their dedicated and integrated service during the Revolutionary War.
Sheldon Whitehouse
Senator
RI
Sheldon Whitehouse
Senator
RI
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.
This bill, the FENCE Act, allows for the use of new or emerging fencing technologies when repairing or replacing fencing under the emergency conservation program without increasing the overall cost.
Pete Ricketts
Senator
NE
Pete Ricketts
Senator
NE
This bill, the FENCE Act, amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to allow farmers to use modern or emerging fencing technologies when repairing or replacing fences under the emergency conservation program. This update is permitted as long as the inclusion of new technology does not increase the overall cost of the repair or replacement.
This bill authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to the volunteers and communities of the North Platte Canteen for their extraordinary World War II service.
Deb Fischer
Senator
NE
Deb Fischer
Senator
NE
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 joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify the Department of Education's final regulations concerning the Federal Student Loan Program.
Jeff Merkley
Senator
OR
Jeff Merkley
Senator
OR
This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify the Department of Education's final rule concerning "Reimagining and Improving Student Education-Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations." If enacted, this action would prevent the new regulations from taking effect, leaving them without any legal force.
This bill establishes a Specialty Crop Advisory Committee to improve federal crop insurance policies and access for specialty crop producers.
Adam Schiff
Senator
CA
Adam Schiff
Senator
CA
This bill establishes a Specialty Crop Advisory Committee to improve federal crop insurance options for specialty crops. The Committee will advise the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation on policy development, risk management, and educational programs. It also revises the role of the Specialty Crops Coordinator to better serve the needs of specialty crop producers.
This resolution honors the life and legislative legacy of former Michigan Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr., recognizing his decades of public service and key accomplishments.
Gary Peters
Senator
MI
Gary Peters
Senator
MI
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.
This bill reinstates penalties for unauthorized fee charging by non-accredited representatives and enhances protections, transparency, and reporting mechanisms for veterans seeking assistance with VA benefits claims.
Richard Blumenthal
Senator
CT
Richard Blumenthal
Senator
CT
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.
This bill establishes Medicare payment for services provided by certified radiologist assistants working under the direct supervision of a radiologist, effective January 1, 2027.
John Boozman
Senator
AR
John Boozman
Senator
AR
The Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2026 aims to improve patient care by establishing Medicare coverage for services provided by certified radiologist assistants. These assistants must operate strictly under the direct supervision of a radiologist. This legislation ensures efficient, high-quality radiology care delivery within the existing radiologist-led team structure, effective January 1, 2027.
This Act significantly increases funding, flexibility, and direct administrative authority for Tribal child welfare programs while streamlining federal requirements.
Lisa Murkowski
Senator
AK
Lisa Murkowski
Senator
AK
The Promoting Strong Native Families and Children Act significantly increases federal funding and administrative flexibility for Tribal child welfare programs. It reserves more federal funds for Tribes across key child welfare services and allows Tribes to receive Social Services Block Grants directly. Furthermore, the Act enables Tribes to operate prevention-only child welfare programs and allows states the option to count tribal caseworker visits toward their own federal requirements.
This Senate resolution expresses the commitment to eliminating all traffic fatalities by 2050 through a data-driven, safe systems approach and the adoption of proven vehicle safety technologies.
Richard Blumenthal
Senator
CT
Richard Blumenthal
Senator
CT
This Senate resolution expresses the commitment to achieving zero traffic fatalities on U.S. roadways by the year 2050. It emphasizes using a data-driven, safe systems approach and advanced vehicle technologies to eliminate preventable deaths. The resolution also calls for strengthening data collection and addressing existing disparities in transportation safety.
This bill reauthorizes and extends the demonstration program providing cost-based Medicare payments to financially vulnerable rural community hospitals through fiscal year 2030.
Charles Grassley
Senator
IA
Charles Grassley
Senator
IA
This bill reauthorizes and extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program through fiscal year 2030. The program allows eligible small, rural hospitals to receive Medicare payments based on reasonable costs for inpatient services to promote financial stability. It maintains participation limits and requires a report evaluating the program's impact on rural access to care and costs.
This Act establishes a competitive grant program to support and expand career and technical education programs focused on early childhood education workforce development.
Jeff Merkley
Senator
OR
Jeff Merkley
Senator
OR
The Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026 establishes a competitive grant program to support and expand career and technical education (CTE) programs focused on early childhood education. These grants will fund partnerships to develop curriculum, recruit and train educators, and provide student support services. The goal is to strengthen the early childhood education workforce by creating clearer career pathways and improving educational outcomes for students.
This joint resolution nullifies the CMS rule implementing prior authorization for select services under the WISeR Model.
Ron Wyden
Senator
OR
Ron Wyden
Senator
OR
This joint resolution expresses Congressional disapproval of a new rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would have required prior authorization for specific services under the WISeR Model. By disapproving the rule, Congress ensures that this CMS requirement will not take effect.
This resolution honors the life, legacy, and public service of former California Senator John Seymour.
Alejandro Padilla
Senator
CA
Alejandro Padilla
Senator
CA
This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late former United States Senator John Seymour of California. It recognizes his extensive public service, highlighting his career in business, local government, and his tenure in the U.S. Senate. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow and directs that official copies of this resolution be delivered to his family.
This bill gradually raises the minimum salary threshold for executive, administrative, and professional employees to qualify for overtime pay exemptions and tightens the duties test for those exemptions.
Bernard Sanders
Senator
VT
Bernard Sanders
Senator
VT
The Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026 significantly updates federal overtime exemptions for executive, administrative, and professional employees. It establishes a phased-in increase to the minimum salary threshold required for these "white-collar" roles to be exempt from overtime pay, eventually tying the threshold to national earnings data. Furthermore, the bill tightens the duties test by lowering the allowed percentage of time spent on non-exempt work from 40% to 20%.
The Informed Foster Youth Act of 2026 strengthens case plan requirements for foster youth by ensuring access to transition services, providing critical records and documents, and furnishing a written list of rights for older youth.
Charles Grassley
Senator
IA
Charles Grassley
Senator
IA
The Informed Foster Youth Act of 2026 strengthens requirements for children in foster care by mandating comprehensive case plans that integrate transition services and provide crucial records. This legislation ensures youth aged 14 and older receive a written list of their rights, annual credit reports, and essential identity documents upon discharge. The bill focuses on expanding personalized transition planning to better prepare older youth for independence in areas like housing, health insurance, and employment.
This resolution expresses support for designating April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and affirms the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect.
John Cornyn
Senator
TX
John Cornyn
Senator
TX
This resolution expresses support for designating April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It highlights the severe, lasting impact of adverse childhood experiences and the substantial economic burden of child maltreatment. The resolution advocates for increased public awareness, education, and evidence-based programs to prevent abuse and support survivors.
This resolution affirms that access to mifepristone for medication abortion should be based on over 25 years of scientific evidence and should be equitable and transparent.
Elizabeth Warren
Senator
MA
Elizabeth Warren
Senator
MA
This Senate resolution expresses the sense that access to mifepristone should be based on over 25 years of proven safety and effectiveness supported by peer-reviewed science. It calls for equitable and transparent laws and policies governing access to this time-sensitive medication abortion care. The resolution affirms the FDA's authority to regulate the drug based on the best available evidence, free from political interference.
This Act establishes federal requirements for scientific integrity policies, officers, and training within agencies that fund, conduct, or oversee scientific research to ensure policy decisions are based on unbiased science.
Brian Schatz
Senator
HI
Brian Schatz
Senator
HI
The Scientific Integrity Act aims to safeguard the role of science in federal policymaking by requiring agencies that fund or conduct research to adopt and enforce strict scientific integrity policies. These policies must prohibit political interference, data suppression, and retaliation against scientists. The legislation establishes Scientific Integrity Officers within agencies and mandates regular training and public reporting on policy implementation to ensure public trust in government science.
This resolution designates May 2026 as National Foster Care Month to raise awareness of the challenges faced by children in foster care and encourage policy improvements to support them.
Charles Grassley
Senator
IA
Charles Grassley
Senator
IA
This resolution designates May 2026 as National Foster Care Month to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children in the foster care system. It honors the resilience of foster youth and expresses gratitude for foster parents, social workers, and advocates. Ultimately, the measure encourages Congress to implement policies that improve outcomes for children in foster care, from prevention to successful transition to adulthood.