Legislative Activity

The American High-Speed Rail Act significantly expands federal support for high-speed and higher-speed rail development by increasing funding limits, broadening eligibility for public-private partnerships, and establishing new planning and safety requirements. The bill authorizes substantial funding through 2031 for corridor development and planning, while also creating pathways for acquiring necessary right-of-way property and ensuring labor protections on federally-funded infrastructure. It also refines definitions, setting the threshold for true "high-speed rail" at 186 mph or more, and introduces a new category for "higher-speed rail."

This act officially establishes the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and designates its location on the National Mall, requiring the transfer of land jurisdiction to the Smithsonian Institution. The museum is mandated to preserve and present the history and achievements of biological women in the United States. Furthermore, the legislation requires that exhibits and programs reflect diverse political viewpoints and authentic experiences of women, as guided by a broad array of knowledgeable sources.

The Rental Housing Investment Act creates a significant, immediate depreciation deduction for owners of newly constructed, long-term residential rental properties. This incentive is designed to encourage the rapid development of new rental housing across the country. The benefit is enhanced for projects that include affordable housing units, though recapture rules apply if the property ceases to be used for rental housing within 10 to 15 years.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue commemorative gold and silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and survivors, with designs selected in consultation with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges from the sale of these coins will be paid directly to the Memorial and Museum to support its operations and maintenance.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 5951 Riverdale Avenue in Bronx, New York. The facility will now be known as the "Eliot L. Engel Post Office." This designation will apply to all official records and documents referencing the location.

This Act prohibits the use of federal funds for specific settlement payments, including those related to the *Trump, et al. v. IRS, et al.* case. It places new restrictions on the Judgment Fund, barring payments to high-ranking officials, their relatives, and certain entities for specific types of claims. The bill also establishes strict reporting and notification requirements for large government compromise settlements.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 15422 NY 104 in Martville, New York. The facility will now be known as the "Sergeant Staret J. Ingleston Memorial Post Office Building."

The IMPACT to Save Moms Act establishes a demonstration project for states to test alternative payment models for maternity care within Medicaid and CHIP programs. This project aims to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly for high-risk groups, by considering factors like risk stratification and social determinants of health. The Secretary of HHS must evaluate the project's impact and report recommendations to Congress on potential national expansion.

The HUD Data Privacy Act of 2026 establishes strict limits on how the Department of Housing and Urban Development can share personal information collected from housing assistance recipients. Information may only be shared with other entities for the specific purposes of benefit qualification verification and benefit determination. This Act explicitly prohibits the use of shared data for civil immigration enforcement purposes.

The **Protecting Our Democracy Act** imposes sweeping reforms across the executive branch to strengthen accountability and restore checks and balances. It restricts presidential pardon power, closes loopholes to ensure no President is above the law, and enforces constitutional emoluments clauses to prevent self-enrichment. Furthermore, the Act enhances congressional oversight by strengthening subpoena enforcement, increasing transparency around White House visitors and tax returns, and protecting federal whistleblowers from retaliation.

The Moms Matter Act establishes two grant programs to improve maternal mental health. The first program funds initiatives to expand mental health and substance use disorder services for pregnant and postpartum individuals, prioritizing high-risk populations. The second program provides grants to grow and diversify the workforce of mental and behavioral health providers specializing in maternal health.

The Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes during public health emergencies. It authorizes significant funding for enhanced data collection, surveillance, and research across various CDC programs. Furthermore, the bill mandates public data disclosure, requires public health communication campaigns, and establishes a task force to develop federal recommendations for ensuring safe, respectful, and equitable maternity care during crises.

This bill officially designates the United States Chancery building in Pristina, Kosovo, as the "Eliot L. Engel Building." It ensures all official federal records are updated to reflect this new name.

The GUARD Act expands the use of federal grant funds to help state, local, and tribal law enforcement investigate elder financial fraud, "pig butchering" scams, and general financial fraud. This legislation allows agencies to hire specialized staff, receive advanced training on emerging technologies, and acquire necessary investigative tools. Furthermore, the Act mandates comprehensive federal reports to Congress detailing the scope of these scams and the effectiveness of current enforcement efforts.

This bill reaffirms the strong alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea, emphasizing its importance for security, economic growth, and shared values. It recognizes the deep economic ties, the contributions of Korean Americans, and continued commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty. The bill also supports strengthening security, economic, and cultural bonds between the two nations, and celebrates Korean Culture-Kimchi Day.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 aims to combat sophisticated, cross-jurisdictional organized retail and supply chain theft. It achieves this by strengthening federal laws regarding money laundering and stolen property offenses, including lowering monetary thresholds for prosecution. Furthermore, the bill establishes a dedicated Center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate federal, state, and local enforcement efforts against these criminal organizations.

The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 prohibits the sale or importation of connected vehicles, hardware, or software originating from or controlled by designated "covered countries" (North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran). This measure aims to safeguard U.S. economic and national security against risks like espionage and cyber intrusion posed by foreign adversaries exploiting vehicle connectivity technology. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with issuing regulations to enforce these bans, which begin phasing in starting in 2027, though waivers may be granted under specific national security conditions.

The Vote by Mail Protection Act of 2026 officially establishes its name and immediately repeals Executive Order 14399. This action cancels any existing contracts made under that order and prohibits the use of agency funds to support its related activities.

This bill, the Assault Weapon Financing Accountability Act, prohibits the use of "Buy Now, Pay Later" loans for the purchase of semiautomatic assault weapons. It makes it illegal for lenders to issue these loans and for gun dealers to knowingly accept them for these specific firearm sales. Violations carry a significant civil penalty of $100,000 per offense.

The Afterschool for All Act establishes a new competitive grant program to fund high-quality afterschool, before-school, and summer learning opportunities for K-12 students. These grants will support partnerships between schools and community organizations to provide academic enrichment, youth development, and family engagement services. The bill also significantly increases funding for the existing Community Learning Centers program.