Legislative Activity

The Medal of Sacrifice Act establishes a new national award, the Medal of Sacrifice, to honor law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. This act creates a Presidential Commission to administer the award, advise on its design, and make final eligibility determinations, especially in cases involving prior findings of wrongdoing. The medal itself is a distinct silver and gold vermeil design featuring patriotic and heraldic elements.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of January 25 through January 31, 2026, as "National School Choice Week." It emphasizes the importance of parental choice in selecting diverse K-12 educational options that best suit their children's needs. The bill also recognizes the contributions of students, parents, teachers, and school leaders across all educational environments.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates the 52nd annual National Catholic Schools Week, taking place from January 25 to January 31, 2026. It honors the significant contributions of Catholic schools nationwide, highlighting their commitment to academic excellence, diverse student populations, and values-based education. The bill supports the goals of this week, which is cosponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act aims to improve public access to ocean data within the Exclusive Economic Zone. It mandates the standardization and online publication of geospatial data regarding fishing restrictions and recreational activities. This effort requires the Secretary of Commerce to coordinate with various governmental and non-federal partners to ensure data accessibility while preserving existing agency authority and Tribal rights.

The Veterans Scam And Fraud Evasion Act of 2025, or VSAFE Act, establishes a dedicated Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This officer will centralize the VA's efforts to prevent, report, and respond to fraud and scams targeting veterans. The role includes developing guidance, promoting reporting resources, and coordinating with other federal agencies to better protect veterans and their families.

The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act ensures that service-connected disability compensation received by veterans is excluded when calculating income for eligibility in certain federal housing programs. This change aims to increase access to affordable housing for disabled veterans. The bill also mandates a report to Congress reviewing how HUD currently treats this compensation across its programs.

The Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress and their immediate families from purchasing new securities issued by publicly traded companies. It requires advance public disclosure for any sale of existing covered investments, with a mandatory 7-to-14-day notice period before the transaction. Violations result in significant financial penalties, including disgorgement of any net gains, payable by the Member personally.

The Build Housing, Unlock Benefits and Services Act (Build HUBS Act) aims to address the national housing crisis by improving federal financing programs for transit-oriented development. It extends and reforms the TIFIA and RRIF programs to streamline lending, introduce alternative creditworthiness assessments, and offer favorable interest rates for attainable housing projects near transit. The bill also establishes delegated origination programs to speed up the approval process while preserving all existing state and local zoning laws.

This Act mandates a comprehensive risk assessment by the State Department regarding the use of generative AI by foreign adversaries against U.S. national security interests. It requires the development of a diplomatic strategy to engage allies and counter malicious AI use. Furthermore, the bill establishes a requirement for regular, public assessments of specific malicious AI incidents and emerging trends involving foreign adversaries.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 targets the increasing threat posed by organized theft groups impacting retail and the national supply chain. This bill strengthens federal law by expanding money laundering statutes and lowering thresholds for property crimes related to theft. Crucially, it establishes a new federal coordination center within Homeland Security Investigations to align efforts across all levels of law enforcement and the private sector to combat these cross-jurisdictional crimes.

This bill establishes the **Energy Burden Tax Credit Act** to provide financial relief to individuals facing high home energy costs. The credit covers 75% of a taxpayer's annual fuel or electricity expenses that exceed 3% of their modified adjusted gross income, up to a maximum of \$1,500. This temporary credit is available for tax years beginning after 2024 and before 2028, and is limited to taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes of \$75,000 or less.

This bill aims to secure critical mineral and energy supply chains by establishing international partnerships and diplomatic frameworks to reduce reliance on strategic competitors. It authorizes new programs for joint investment with allies and creates dedicated offices within the State and Energy Departments to coordinate these efforts. Furthermore, the legislation establishes fellowship programs to build a skilled American workforce in the international mining sector.

The Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026 establishes a special pay system to increase the base pay for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officers by 35 percent. This legislation also provides a similar 35 percent wage increase for certain hourly BOP employees involved in inmate custody. The new pay authority is set to expire after five years, unless the Department of Justice Inspector General reports measurable progress in reducing the use of non-custodial staff for officer duties and excessive overtime.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

The PLAY Act of 2026 aims to promote youth physical activity through significant tax incentives and new federal funding. It expands the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to include youth sports expenses and increases contribution limits for dependent care FSAs. Additionally, the bill allows certain health savings accounts to be used for youth physical activity costs and establishes a HHS grant program to make recreational sports more affordable.

The SHINE Act of 2026 establishes a voluntary federal program to help local governments streamline and simplify permitting for residential clean energy systems like solar panels and EV chargers. The program, managed by the Secretary of Energy, will develop an exemplary online platform and standardized inspection protocols to speed up installations. It also authorizes funding and incentives to encourage local government adoption of these simplified processes.

The Main Street Capital Access Act is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize community banking by making it easier to start new banks, tailoring regulations to the size of financial institutions, and increasing transparency in bank supervision. It introduces regulatory relief for smaller banks, streamlines the application process, and reforms how bank failures are resolved to promote competition. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to reduce regulatory burdens and foster a more diverse and accessible financial system.

The Rural Investment for Producers and the Environment (RIPE) Act of 2026 establishes a demonstration program within the USDA to pay agricultural producers for implementing environmentally beneficial practices in selected watersheds. This program will offer direct, performance-based contracts ranging from three to five years to improve water quality, soil health, and climate resiliency. Payments will be calculated based on costs, foregone income, and environmental benefits, with increased rates for limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers.

This act mandates a strategic review of the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to ensure its readiness for energy security needs. The Secretary of Energy must report to Congress on the Reserve's optimal capacity, composition, and capabilities. The goal is to create an action plan for maximizing the Reserve's effectiveness in supporting the region's energy security.

The Snowmobiles Arent Weapons (SAW) Act establishes a federal prohibition against using a motor vehicle to intentionally harm or capture mammalian predators on most federal lands. This act sets significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for violations. An exception is made for actions taken in self-defense against immediate harm.