Legislative Activity

The Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Congressional Gold Medal Act honors the U.S. and Filipino service members and civilians who fought in the Pacific theater during World War II. This legislation authorizes the collective award of a Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of those who defended Bataan and Corregidor and endured imprisonment by Imperial Japanese forces. The medal will be housed at the Smithsonian Institution to ensure their legacy is preserved and shared with the public.

The Medicare Cost Cap Act of 2026 establishes a new annual out-of-pocket spending limit for Medicare Part A and Part B beneficiaries, ensuring that seniors and individuals with disabilities are protected from catastrophic healthcare costs. Additionally, the bill expands access to low-income assistance programs by eliminating asset tests, raising income eligibility thresholds, and streamlining the enrollment process between Medicare and Medicaid.

The "Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act" establishes a national technical assistance center and a grant program to improve the recruitment, training, and retention of direct care professionals. By providing funding for education, career advancement, and supportive services, the bill aims to strengthen the workforce that supports older adults and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the legislation provides resources to assist both paid and unpaid family caregivers in their essential roles.

This resolution honors the 27th anniversary of the landmark *Olmstead v. L.C.* Supreme Court decision, which affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate. It strongly condemns a recent Department of Justice opinion that rejects this fundamental community integration mandate. The resolution calls for the immediate rescission of that flawed opinion and urges Congress to increase funding for home- and community-based services.

This joint resolution disapproves a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule that would have implemented prior authorization for certain Medicare services under the WISeR model. The rule aimed to reduce wasteful spending by requiring pre-approval for specific procedures. Due to this congressional disapproval, the CMS rule will not take effect.

The Small Farm Conservation Act establishes a dedicated Small Farm EQIP subprogram to provide enhanced financial and technical conservation assistance to small-scale agricultural producers. This subprogram mandates minimum payments, offers increased incentives for soil health management on smaller farms, and reserves significant funding for tailored support. It aims to streamline the application process and ensure equitable access for historically underserved groups, including beginning and limited-resource farmers.

The Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026 aims to strengthen the right to community-based services for individuals eligible for long-term supports and services (LTSS), ensuring they can live in the most integrated setting of their choice. It prohibits discrimination by states and LTSS providers against individuals seeking community living over institutionalization. The Act mandates comprehensive planning, self-evaluation, and enforceable objectives to transition people out of institutions and address disparities in service delivery.

The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to significantly strengthen federal student aid by doubling the maximum Pell Grant award and shifting the program to mandatory funding. This bill also expands eligibility to include Dreamer students, restores Pell eligibility semesters, and reforms Satisfactory Academic Progress rules to better support students. Overall, it seeks to stabilize and increase financial support for millions of postsecondary students, particularly those with high financial need.

The PUPIL Act mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to examine the roles, effectiveness, compensation, and career pathways of paraprofessionals and education support staff. This study aims to better understand this essential workforce that supports millions of students nationwide. The resulting report will provide actionable recommendations for improving the stability and quality of these critical school positions.

This bill reauthorizes and strengthens programs designed to support socially disadvantaged, veteran, and beginning farmers and ranchers through 2031. It mandates improved translation and interpretation services for accessing USDA programs and enhances transparency by requiring the collection and publication of detailed demographic data on farmer participation in agricultural programs. The legislation also adjusts grant priorities to favor entities providing language access services.

The Summer for All Act authorizes significant federal funding to expand access to high-quality, affordable summer enrichment programs for youth aged 5 to 22. It establishes competitive grants for community organizations to run direct programs and separate grants for States to plan and implement broader strategies to close access gaps. All funded programs must offer academic enrichment, social-emotional learning, and health/safety activities, with priority given to serving low-income and at-risk youth.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) until early 2029. TPS provides individuals from designated countries with the ability to temporarily live and work in the U.S. due to unsafe conditions in their home nation.

The America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes and modifies the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through fiscal year 2033, increasing its authorized funding to \$2.0 billion. This legislation broadens eligible lands for maintenance projects and prioritizes those receiving significant private donations. It also enhances transparency by requiring multi-year project lists and actively encouraging public contributions to address deferred maintenance across federal lands.

The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act streamlines the approval process for biological products by automatically granting interchangeability status to biosimilars upon licensure. By removing the requirement for separate, redundant interchangeability determinations, this legislation aims to reduce regulatory burdens and accelerate patient access to affordable biosimilar medications.

This joint resolution seeks to block a recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule that established the 2027 benefit and payment parameters for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans. If passed, the resolution would nullify the rule, preventing its implementation and ensuring it has no legal force or effect.

This bill proposes to abolish the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which was established by the Attorney General in connection with the *Trump v. Internal Revenue Service* case. Additionally, it nullifies the Attorney General's related order concerning the release of certain claims, rendering it legally void.

The Child Safety and Well-Being Act of 2026 establishes an independent Children’s Commission to examine and advocate for the interests of all children and marginalized youth across the nation. This Commission is tasked with raising awareness, reviewing policies, conducting research, and advising Congress and agencies on matters affecting child well-being. It is designed to operate continuously, ensuring children's voices are incorporated into federal decision-making processes.

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, 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.

The Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2026 affirms the fundamental right of individuals to travel across state lines to receive reproductive health care that is legal in the destination state. This bill prohibits any government or person from restricting, sanctioning, or discriminating against individuals who travel for such care or those who assist them. It preempts conflicting state laws and establishes robust federal enforcement mechanisms, including civil actions for individuals and the Attorney General, while removing common immunity defenses for violators.