Legislative Activity

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.

The Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue (GUARD) Act establishes federal requirements for companies providing artificial intelligence chatbots to U.S. users. It mandates age verification for all users and prohibits minors from accessing specialized "AI Companions." Furthermore, the bill creates criminal penalties for developing chatbots that solicit minors into sexually explicit conduct or promote violence, and requires covered entities to ensure chatbots clearly disclose they are not human.

The Safeguarding The Overall Protection of Minors Act (STOP Act) prohibits the use of federal funds for gender transition procedures on minors under 18, with specific medical exceptions. It establishes civil penalties for performing these procedures and creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by violations. Furthermore, the Act establishes a grant program to support organizations that assist individuals seeking to reverse prior gender transition procedures.

The Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026 prohibits state and local governments from imposing liability on energy businesses for climate change-related harms through lawsuits or new penalty laws. This legislation asserts that the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of federal law. Consequently, all pending "qualified liability actions" in state or federal court must be dismissed.

This bill prohibits all future United States financial contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). It also restricts the use of federal funds for U.S. delegations to UN bodies chaired by countries deemed to repeatedly support international terrorism. Furthermore, the legislation revokes all privileges and immunities for UNRWA officials and employees.

The "Love Lives On Act of 2025" modifies eligibility rules for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments for surviving spouses who remarry. It allows remarried surviving spouses to receive certain educational benefits and DIC, and it continues annuity payments to surviving spouses who remarry, particularly those whose spouses died on active duty. Additionally, the Act expands the definition of "dependent" under the TRICARE program to include remarried widows or widowers whose subsequent marriage has ended.

The Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026 strengthens privacy protections by requiring warrants for most government surveillance of U.S. persons and prohibiting the purchase of personal data from commercial brokers. The bill mandates increased transparency, stricter court oversight, and enhanced accountability for intelligence agencies while reauthorizing key surveillance programs for four years. These reforms aim to close legal loopholes and ensure that digital information—including vehicle and communication data—remains protected under the Fourth Amendment.

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for designating the Bonneville Shoreline Trail under the National Trails System Act. The proposed trail would stretch approximately 280 miles along the ancient Lake Bonneville shoreline from the Idaho-Utah border to Nephi, Utah. This study will determine the viability of officially recognizing this significant natural feature as a national trail.

The Rural Emergency Response Support Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to provide overtime pay exemptions for emergency medical technicians and paramedics working in small, rural jurisdictions. This legislation aims to support public agencies and private contractors serving populations of fewer than 100,000 residents by easing federal labor compliance requirements.

The Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act of 2026 amends federal law to reform pretrial detention procedures for drug-related offenses. This legislation streamlines Section 3142 of Title 18 by removing specific provisions to update the criteria for release and detention in federal criminal cases.

The Smarter Sentencing Act of 2026 reduces mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain federal drug offenses and creates a specific sentencing category for low-level drug couriers. The bill applies these reforms to both future and past cases, directs the Sentencing Commission to update its guidelines, and mandates new reporting requirements to increase transparency regarding federal criminal offenses and corrections spending.

The Home School Graduation Recognition Act amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to formally recognize home school graduates as high school graduates for federal education purposes. This legislation ensures that students completing secondary education in state-recognized home school settings are treated equitably under federal law.

The TAP Promotion Act mandates the inclusion of a standardized, one-hour presentation on veterans' benefits within the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) preseparation counseling. This legislation ensures service members receive expert guidance on navigating VA benefits with the support of recognized veterans service organizations. Additionally, it establishes annual reporting requirements to track participation and ensure the program's ongoing effectiveness.

The Government Surveillance Transparency Act of 2026 mandates greater public oversight of criminal surveillance by requiring courts to maintain searchable, online dockets for surveillance orders and limiting the government's ability to keep these records sealed. The bill establishes stricter notice requirements for individuals targeted by surveillance and mandates that courts be notified if data is collected beyond authorized limits. Additionally, it introduces comprehensive reporting requirements for government surveillance activities and provides grant funding to help state and tribal courts implement these transparency measures.

This resolution expresses strong support for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams competing in the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy. It applauds the athletes for their dedication and sportsmanship while recognizing the historical significance of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Furthermore, the resolution reaffirms the U.S. commitment to hosting safe and successful Games in Los Angeles (2028) and Utah (2034).

The Payment Integrity Act amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act to require states to pay child care providers based on verified attendance rather than enrollment. This legislation clarifies that payments can be made after services are delivered, ensuring funds align with actual care provided.

The Pay Less at the Pump Act of 2026 terminates the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing tax effective January 1, 2026. This bill also accelerates the repayment schedule for prior advances made from the Superfund to the General Fund. The overall goal is to remove this specific tax burden.

The One Nation, One Visa Policy Act prohibits the admission of any national of the People's Republic of China, including those from Hong Kong and Macau, unless they possess a valid visa. This legislation specifically bars the use of Department of Homeland Security funds to allow Chinese nationals to participate in any existing or future visa waiver programs.

The End the Vaccine Carveout Act aims to remove existing legal protections for vaccine manufacturers and administrators. This change would allow individuals to directly sue these parties in state or federal court for vaccine-related injuries or deaths. The bill also specifically repeals liability shields for COVID-19 vaccines under the PREP Act.

The FENCES Act amends the Clean Air Act to protect states from certain regulatory consequences when air quality standards are unmet due to emissions originating outside the United States. Specifically, it prohibits nonattainment designations if pollution is caused by foreign emissions. Furthermore, the bill exempts severely polluted areas from sanctions and fees if they can demonstrate that compliance failure is due to uncontrollable external emissions or exceptional events. States must still implement all authorized control measures and periodically renew their demonstration to the EPA.