Track Ben's sponsored bills, co-sponsored legislation, and voting record
This Act amends federal law to lower the intent standard for carjacking convictions from requiring intent to cause death or serious harm to only requiring the act to be done "knowingly," while clarifying enhanced penalties when death results.
Marsha Blackburn
Senator
TN
Marsha Blackburn
Senator
TN
The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act amends federal law regarding the use of motor vehicles in certain crimes. This bill lowers the required mental state for conviction from proving "intent to cause death or serious bodily harm" to simply proving the act was done "knowingly." It also clarifies that enhanced penalties for death apply when the vehicle was taken with the intent to cause serious harm, and death subsequently occurs.
This bill establishes public tracking for BEAD program progress, creates tools to monitor federal permit acquisition, mandates analysis and reporting on broadband application processing delays, and expands eligibility for streamlined environmental review for large broadband projects.
John Thune
Senator
SD
John Thune
Senator
SD
The Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026 aims to speed up broadband deployment by increasing transparency and efficiency in the permitting process. It mandates new public dashboards to track BEAD program progress and establishes tools to help states monitor federal permit acquisition for subgrantees. Furthermore, the bill requires federal agencies to better track, analyze, and report on delays in processing communications use applications. Finally, it expands eligibility for streamlined environmental review for large broadband infrastructure projects.
This resolution supports the goals of National Nurses Week, recognizing the vital contributions of nurses and encouraging public observance of their importance.
Jeff Merkley
Senator
OR
Jeff Merkley
Senator
OR
This resolution supports the goals of National Nurses Week, observed annually from May 6th to May 12th. It recognizes the vital contributions of nurses across patient care, public health, and research. The bill encourages the nation to observe this week with appropriate recognition for the importance of nurses in everyday lives.
This resolution designates April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month to support efforts aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect, promoting healing for survivors, and ensuring justice for victims.
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 critical need to prevent adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) through evidence-based programs. The bill further supports efforts to raise awareness, educate communities, and aid survivors in healing and seeking justice.
This resolution expresses support for designating the week of May 3, 2026, through May 9, 2026, as National Small Business Week to celebrate the vital contributions of small businesses across the United States.
Joni Ernst
Senator
IA
Joni Ernst
Senator
IA
This resolution expresses support for designating the week of May 3, 2026, through May 9, 2026, as "National Small Business Week." It aims to celebrate the vital contributions and entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses across the United States. The bill recognizes the essential role these businesses play in the national economy and applauds their resilience.
This resolution expresses support for U.S. library staff and the essential, expanding community services libraries provide, while advocating for their funding, civil rights, and the right to organize.
Mazie Hirono
Senator
HI
Mazie Hirono
Senator
HI
This resolution expresses strong support for library staff across the United States and the vital community services libraries provide. It advocates for adequate funding commensurate with the broad social support roles libraries now fill and defends the civil rights and union organizing efforts of library workers against threats like censorship. Ultimately, the bill calls for prioritizing funding to ensure all citizens maintain free access to information and resources.
This bill repeals an executive order and prohibits federal funding for creating national voter/citizenship databases or regulating mail-in ballots, reinforcing state authority over federal elections.
Alejandro Padilla
Senator
CA
Alejandro Padilla
Senator
CA
This bill, the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act, explicitly repeals Executive Order 14399, which attempted to regulate mail-in voting. It prohibits federal agencies, including the Postal Service, from using funds to create national voter/citizenship databases or interfere with state administration of absentee and mail-in ballots. The Act reaffirms that states, not the federal government, control federal election procedures.
This resolution designates April as Community College Month to honor the vital role community colleges play in providing accessible education, workforce training, and economic advancement across the nation.
Edward Markey
Senator
MA
Edward Markey
Senator
MA
This resolution designates April as Community College Month to honor the vital role community colleges play in providing accessible higher education and workforce training nationwide. It recognizes these institutions for supporting over 10 million students and significantly advancing the economic prosperity of the United States.
This act directs the FTC to study anti-competitive conduct in oil and gas markets to ensure fair and transparent consumer gas prices.
Catherine Cortez Masto
Senator
NV
Catherine Cortez Masto
Senator
NV
The Fair and Transparent Gas Prices Act of 2026 directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a comprehensive study into potential anti-competitive practices within the oil and gas industry. This investigation will analyze how company conduct, including stock buybacks, affects consumer prices and fuel supply. The FTC must report its findings and recommend legislative or administrative actions to ensure fair and transparent gas markets.
This act mandates the public disclosure of all federal agreements with drug manufacturers concerning pricing, sales, and other concessions, while also requiring economic analysis of these deals.
Ron Wyden
Senator
OR
Ron Wyden
Senator
OR
The Drug Deal Disclosure Act mandates the public release of all federal government agreements with drug manufacturers concerning pricing, sales, and import conditions. This transparency requirement applies to specific existing deals and any future agreements made after enactment. The law strictly limits what information can be withheld, preventing redactions based on political embarrassment. Finally, it requires analyses from the CBO and GAO on the economic and budgetary effects of these disclosed deals.
The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026 comprehensively updates federal regulations to mandate and enforce accessibility features like captioning, audio description, and sign language support across online video, telecommunications, customer service, and emerging technologies for people with disabilities.
Edward Markey
Senator
MA
Edward Markey
Senator
MA
The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026 comprehensively updates federal law to ensure that all video programming, communications services, and modern playback devices are fully accessible to people with disabilities. This bill mandates closed captioning and audio description for online content, improves accessibility features on devices, and requires sign language video support for customer service and video conferencing. Ultimately, it strengthens enforcement and directs the FCC to keep accessibility standards current with emerging technologies.
This bill overhauls the tax treatment of partnership interests received for services, primarily by changing valuation methods and imposing new ordinary income and capital loss rules on "applicable partnership interests."
Ron Wyden
Senator
OR
Ron Wyden
Senator
OR
This bill, the Ending the Carried Interest Loophole Act, fundamentally changes how partnership interests received as compensation—often by investment managers—are taxed. It redefines the valuation of these interests and introduces a new mechanism that generally requires the income to be treated as ordinary income rather than long-term capital gains. The legislation aims to eliminate preferential tax treatment for compensation derived from investment or asset development businesses.
The YouthBuild for the Future Act reauthorizes and updates the YouthBuild program to expand education, job training, and career pathways for low-income young people, while also establishing new grants for employer partnerships.
Edward Markey
Senator
MA
Edward Markey
Senator
MA
The YouthBuild for the Future Act reauthorizes and updates the existing YouthBuild program to better prepare low-income young people (ages 16-24) for postsecondary education, apprenticeships, and careers in high-demand fields like clean energy. The bill expands authorized activities to include comprehensive support services and requires stronger performance accountability measures. Additionally, it establishes a new grant program to foster employer partnerships specifically designed to create employment and training opportunities for YouthBuild participants.
This bill establishes a new 10% surtax on the income of high-earning individuals exceeding specified modified adjusted gross income thresholds.
Chris Van Hollen
Senator
MD
Chris Van Hollen
Senator
MD
The Millionaires Surtax Act establishes an additional 10% tax on high-income individuals. This surcharge applies to modified adjusted gross income exceeding \$1 million for most filers, or \$2 million for married couples filing jointly, beginning in tax years after December 31, 2026. The calculation specifically excludes investment interest deductions and includes special rules for nonresident aliens and U.S. citizens living abroad.
This act expands the Federal Trade Commission's authority to seek court orders, including restitution and disgorgement, against companies that have violated consumer protection laws.
Maria Cantwell
Senator
WA
Maria Cantwell
Senator
WA
The Consumer Protection Remedies Act of 2026 significantly expands the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) power to protect consumers. This legislation authorizes the FTC to seek court orders against companies that have violated consumer protection laws, not just those currently violating them. Crucially, it grants the FTC new equitable remedies, including the ability to demand restitution, contract changes, and disgorgement of ill-gotten profits from violators. These new enforcement tools apply to legal actions initiated after the bill is enacted.
The Stop CHEATERS Act provides significant new funding to the IRS for enforcement, taxpayer services, and technology upgrades to prevent tax avoidance by corporations and high earners.
Angus King
Senator
ME
Angus King
Senator
ME
The Stop CHEATERS Act aims to prevent tax avoidance by large corporations and high-income individuals. It provides significant, multi-year appropriations to the IRS for increased enforcement, improved taxpayer services, and technology modernization. Furthermore, the bill mandates regular reporting from the IRS and the Treasury Inspector General to Congress detailing efforts to audit high-earners and large businesses.
This act repeals the federal tax credit and gross income exclusion for contributions to and distributions from scholarship granting organizations.
Mark Kelly
Senator
AZ
Mark Kelly
Senator
AZ
The Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act repeals federal tax incentives that encourage private donations to scholarship granting organizations. Specifically, it eliminates the tax credit for contributions and the exclusion of certain scholarship amounts from gross income. This legislation aims to redirect financial support toward public education systems.
The Secure Space Act of 2025 prohibits the FCC from granting satellite licenses or earth station authorizations to any entity that produces or provides covered communications equipment or services.
Deb Fischer
Senator
NE
Deb Fischer
Senator
NE
The Secure Space Act of 2025 prohibits the FCC from granting satellite licenses, U.S. market access, or earth station authorizations to any entity that produces or provides "covered communications equipment or service." This restriction also applies to any affiliates of such entities. The goal is to prevent companies involved in restricted communications technology from operating U.S. satellite systems. This new rule takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill reauthorizes and significantly expands the National Quantum Initiative to accelerate U.S. leadership in quantum science, engineering, and technology through enhanced workforce development, supply chain security, international cooperation, and new research infrastructure.
Todd Young
Senator
IN
Todd Young
Senator
IN
The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026 aims to significantly expand and strengthen the U.S. national commitment to quantum information science, engineering, and technology. This bill reauthorizes and updates the existing initiative by bolstering workforce development, enhancing interagency coordination, and securing the quantum supply chain against foreign threats. It also establishes new programs for quantum testbeds, NIST research centers, and requires a review of regulatory barriers to accelerate domestic quantum innovation.
This resolution designates March as Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month to raise awareness about these life-threatening conditions.
Charles Grassley
Senator
IA
Charles Grassley
Senator
IA
This resolution supports the goals and ideals of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month. It officially designates March as the month dedicated to raising awareness about DVT and PE, which are serious and often preventable conditions. The measure highlights the significant impact these blood clots have on public health and medical costs.