Legislative Activity

The Export Dispute Resolution Act streamlines the interagency review process for export license applications involving countries under comprehensive U.S. arms embargoes. It grants the Committee Chair the authority to resolve disputes when a majority vote cannot be reached, ensuring decisive action on sensitive export matters.

This bill, the "Stop Stealing our Chips Act," establishes a new whistleblower incentive and protection program within the Department of Commerce. It rewards individuals who provide original information leading to successful enforcement actions against violations of U.S. export control laws, particularly concerning advanced AI chips. The legislation also prohibits employers from retaliating against whistleblowers who report these violations.

The Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act significantly narrows the federal beneficial ownership information reporting requirements. This legislation limits reporting obligations exclusively to foreign individuals and foreign-connected companies. Furthermore, it mandates the deletion of all previously collected data pertaining to domestic persons and entities.

The Promoting Access to Local Agriculture Act of 2026 aims to make it easier for local farmers and ranchers to accept benefits from major federal nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC. It mandates the creation of a single, streamlined application process for farmers to become authorized vendors across these programs. Additionally, the bill requires the provision of modern, mobile payment technology to support direct sales at farmers markets.

The Safe Tracks Act mandates immediate updates to federal rail safety regulations concerning centralized train dispatching systems. This legislation requires the Secretary of Transportation to ensure that all existing and future computer-aided dispatching systems comply with established safety requirements outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations.

This bill significantly strengthens consumer control over personal financial data by limiting what financial institutions can collect and share, and granting customers the right to opt-out, view, or delete their information at any time. It also establishes federal law as the primary authority for financial data privacy, overriding most state-level protections. Furthermore, the legislation requires regulators to consider the unique compliance challenges faced by smaller financial institutions when creating new rules.

This bill designates April as Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month to renew the national commitment to reducing the burden of cancer. It aims to address gaps in screening access and promote preventive actions across all populations. The legislation encourages federal investment in early detection programs and supports advancements in lifesaving cancer innovation.

The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 aims to enhance timely access to care and improve oversight for Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees. The bill mandates faster decision-making for prior authorization requests, establishes strict compliance scoring with financial penalties for non-compliant plans, and requires MA plans to use the same medical necessity criteria as traditional Medicare. Furthermore, it protects providers by limiting retroactive denials for pre-approved services and ensuring prompt payment for those services.

This bill officially designates April as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month to combat the rising number of tragic crashes caused by distracted driving. It highlights the severe dangers of visual, manual, and cognitive distractions, such as texting while driving. The resolution supports ongoing public education and enforcement efforts aimed at encouraging drivers to put away their phones and focus solely on the road.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to immediately designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This designation overrides other legal requirements and will remain in effect until early 2029.

The Safeguarding Americans’ Fairly Earned Retirement Act of 2026 (SAFER Act) establishes strict new federal rules governing when financial institutions must turn over certain unclaimed assets, including securities and digital assets, to state governments. This bill mandates specific waiting periods and confirmation of death before assets belonging to individuals or entities can be escheated under state unclaimed property laws. Furthermore, it requires enhanced death record checks for accounts held by retirees before any transfer of assets occurs.

This bill, the "No Taxes on Utility Bills Act," allows individuals to deduct all federal, state, and local taxes, as well as state-mandated surcharges, that are included on their gas or electric utility bills. This change amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat these specific utility charges as deductible taxes for the taxpayer.

This bill authorizes the Artemis Accords, establishing U.S. policy to promote peaceful and responsible civil space exploration through this international framework. It creates a Special Coordinator within the State Department to expand participation in the Accords and requires regular reports to Congress on international space cooperation. Furthermore, the legislation mandates a strategy to integrate U.S. low-earth orbit satellite technology into foreign policy to advance connectivity and counter strategic competitors.

The Foreign Service Age and Integration and Reform (FAIR) Act of 2026 proposes to raise the mandatory retirement age for Foreign Service officers. This legislation adjusts the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 67, or to the individual's applicable Social Security retirement age, whichever is greater.

The Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026 mandates significant safety upgrades across both civilian and military aviation to prevent midair collisions. It requires the FAA to implement advanced collision avoidance systems and new air traffic controller training, while also compelling the Department of Defense to equip most military helicopters with transponders for increased visibility. The bill establishes new transparency measures, including public tracking of safety rule implementation and enhanced reporting on near-miss incidents, particularly around major airports like Reagan National.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 1200 William Street in Buffalo, New York. The facility will now be known as the William J. Donovan Post Office Building. This designation will apply to all federal references to the building.

The Build More Power Act aims to strengthen the nation's energy infrastructure by making it easier for facilities ordered to operate during federal emergencies to qualify for federal loan guarantees. It reserves a significant amount of loan guarantee authority specifically for these emergency-designated projects. Additionally, the bill extends the deadlines for existing energy infrastructure loan guarantee programs and requires a report on investments in power generation upgrades.

The HBCU Research Capacity Act aims to significantly increase federal research funding and infrastructure at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It mandates the creation of a centralized Federal Clearinghouse to connect HBCUs with grant opportunities and best practices. The bill also requires federal agencies to develop strategies and report annually on concrete actions taken to boost HBCU participation in research and development.

This bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl. The award recognizes his heroic efforts to rescue Jewish people during the Holocaust, including establishing an underground group to negotiate ransoms and documenting early accounts of the atrocities. The Treasury will strike the medal, and duplicate bronze copies may be sold to cover costs.

The Grid Expansion and Reliability Act aims to streamline the construction of interstate electric transmission facilities by transferring siting authority from the Secretary of Energy to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This new process allows for self-certification of projects within national interest corridors, subject to annual FERC audits and reporting to Congress on the process's effectiveness. The bill simplifies certain requirements related to landowner engagement during the authorization process.