Legislative Activity

The New Mexico Rural Veteran Health Care Access Act mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs realign Otero and Eddy Counties into Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 17. This adjustment aims to improve administrative coordination and health care access for veterans residing in these rural New Mexico communities.

The Strengthening Taxpayer Advocacy Act enhances the independence and effectiveness of the National Taxpayer Advocate by expanding their authority over personnel and ensuring full access to IRS data, legal advice, and meetings. The bill also protects taxpayers by allowing for continued operations during government funding lapses to address economic hardships and removes provisions that previously paused time limits for taxpayers seeking assistance.

The Local Input Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to engage in a transparent public process before offering federal land for oil and gas leasing. This legislation mandates the disclosure of environmental and land-use impacts, ensuring that the public, state and local officials, and Tribal governments have a meaningful opportunity to provide input. Ultimately, the Secretary is empowered to use this feedback to decide against leasing specific parcels of land.

The Tax Complexity and Fraud Prevention Review Act requires the Treasury Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress detailing the IRS’s efforts to combat tax fraud. These reports must analyze fraud-prevention strategies, collaboration with tax-filing providers, and data regarding identified and prevented fraudulent refund claims. To ensure transparency, this information will be made available to the public on the IRS website.

The Taxpayer Transparency and Notice Act requires the IRS to provide taxpayers with quarterly notices regarding overdue tax debts, replacing the current annual notification system. These notices must include updated estimates of potential penalties and interest, as well as information on available taxpayer assistance programs. This measure aims to increase transparency and help taxpayers manage their delinquencies more effectively.

The High Court Gift Ban Act establishes strict limitations on the acceptance of gifts by federal judicial officers to prevent conflicts of interest. The bill sets clear monetary thresholds for permissible gifts, outlines specific exceptions, and mandates enforcement through civil and criminal penalties for violations.

The Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026 establishes a dedicated funding mechanism to ensure the federal government meets its financial obligations under congressionally approved Indian water rights settlements. By creating two specialized subaccounts within the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund, the bill provides a reliable, multi-year stream of funding for both ongoing operations and maintenance costs and the fulfillment of new settlement agreements. This legislation streamlines the distribution of resources to Tribal nations, ensuring that critical water infrastructure and settlement commitments are met without the need for annual congressional appropriations.

The CHILE Act of 2026 establishes a permanent federal framework to provide direct financial assistance to specialty crop producers following adverse events. This framework requires the Secretary of Agriculture to calculate payments based on pre-disaster sales and the determined loss factor, taking into account the unique costs of specialty crops. The bill also sets specific payment caps, with exceptions for high-income farming operations, and appropriates \$5 billion for fiscal year 2027 to fund this assistance.

The Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026 amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to establish two dedicated subaccounts within the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund. These subaccounts will receive annual mandatory funding from the Treasury through 2035 to cover ongoing obligations and support new or continuing water rights settlements. This legislation aims to ensure consistent funding for the U.S. obligations under various authorized Indian water rights agreements.

The Respect Tribal IDs Act of 2026 mandates new training for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration enforcement personnel regarding interactions with tribal members and the acceptance of Native American tribal documents. This training, developed in consultation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal representatives, requires officers to understand how to identify tribal documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. Completion of this specialized training is a prerequisite for performing immigration enforcement duties.

The Digital Opportunity Foundation Act of 2026 establishes an independent, nonprofit Foundation to promote digital inclusion and literacy across the nation. This Foundation will supplement federal efforts by leveraging private and philanthropic funding to increase broadband adoption and digital skills, especially among underserved populations. Governed by a diverse Board of Directors, the Foundation is authorized to conduct studies, award grants, and establish for-profit subsidiaries to stimulate economic development.

The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026 overhauls federal student loan programs to eliminate debt for educators serving in high-need schools and early childhood education settings. After five years of qualifying service, educators can receive 100% forgiveness on remaining federal student loans. The bill also provides monthly loan assistance while educators are actively serving, treating these payments as qualifying service toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This legislation aims to stabilize the educator workforce by significantly reducing the financial burden of student debt.

The Outage Refund Protection Act mandates that cable, satellite, internet, and telephone providers automatically credit customers for service outages lasting four hours or more, as well as upon service termination. This bill also requires the FCC and FTC to establish new rules improving customer service, transparency, and handling of missed appointments for large providers. Furthermore, it requires broadband providers to report service outages to the FCC following disaster declarations.

The Respect Tribal IDs Act of 2026 mandates the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and enforce comprehensive training for immigration officers on interacting with Native American tribal members. This training requires officers to recognize and accept valid Native American tribal identification documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. All relevant DHS personnel must complete this mandatory training annually to perform immigration enforcement duties.

The Advancing Water Reuse Act establishes a new 30% investment tax credit for taxpayers who invest in qualifying water reuse projects. This credit incentivizes the installation or expansion of systems that recycle water for industrial, manufacturing, data center, food processing, or municipal use. The provision applies to projects placed in service within 10 years of enactment, provided construction begins after that date.

The WATCH Personnel Act of 2026 aims to increase compensation for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel. It mandates a minimum annual salary of $40,000 for Transportation Security Officers starting in fiscal year 2026, with future inflation adjustments. The bill also provides continuing appropriations to ensure TSA personnel receive pay and grants a one-time $10,000 bonus to officers employed as of February 14, 2026.

The PRICE Act mandates that third-party delivery platforms clearly and separately disclose the exact dollar amount of any delivery fee to customers before they complete an order. This legislation requires platforms to display item prices and ongoing totals prominently throughout the ordering process. Enforcement of these new pricing and transparency rules will be handled by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general.

The Federal Prosecutorial Accountability Act establishes a private right of action allowing individuals to sue federal prosecutors for misconduct, including violations of constitutional rights or procedural rules. Successful plaintiffs can recover compensatory and punitive damages, with the U.S. government held jointly liable. The bill also mandates a one-year prohibition from government representation for any attorney sanctioned under Rule 11.

This bill establishes the FBI Hiring Review Act, mandating a comprehensive audit of recent FBI hiring practices and background checks. It requires cross-referencing new employees against state-level misconduct files to ensure all relevant information was considered. Furthermore, the legislation requires certification of all agent training and a subsequent report from the Government Accountability Office on these findings.

The Victims of Immigration Conduct Enforcement Act (VOICE Act) establishes a new civil remedy allowing individuals to sue the U.S. government for constitutional or federal rights violations committed by federal law enforcement officers during immigration enforcement actions. If a violation is proven, the responsible federal agency must pay the claimant $2,000,000 in punitive damages. This provision bypasses standard administrative claim requirements, ensuring victims have a direct path to legal redress.