Legislative Activity

This resolution honors the life and legacy of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, recognizing his significant contributions as a former U.S. Senator, Governor of Idaho, and Secretary of the Interior. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow over his passing and offers condolences to his family. The resolution directs that this tribute be communicated to the House and his family, and the Senate will adjourn in his memory.

This resolution officially recognizes Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May 2026. It celebrates the significant and growing contributions of these communities to American history, culture, and government. The resolution also acknowledges important anniversaries and ongoing challenges faced by the community.

This resolution supports designating May 10, 2026, as "National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day." It recognizes the critical need to address significant mental health disparities and barriers to care within the diverse AANHPI community. The bill calls for better data collection, increased provider diversity, and improved access to culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services.

This resolution supports the goals of National Nurses Week, observed annually from May 6th to May 12th. It recognizes the vital contributions of nurses across patient care, public health, and research. The bill encourages the nation to observe this week with appropriate recognition for the importance of nurses in everyday lives.

The Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2026 establishes federal grant programs managed by the FCC to increase enrollment in the Lifeline program. These grants will fund state outreach efforts to inform eligible low-income individuals about the service discounts. Additionally, the bill provides funding for states to better connect their benefit databases with the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier to streamline the enrollment process.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of May 3, 2026, through May 9, 2026, as "National Small Business Week." It aims to celebrate the vital contributions and entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses across the United States. The bill recognizes the essential role these businesses play in the national economy and applauds their resilience.

The No Immunity for Glyphosate Act aims to hold manufacturers of glyphosate-based herbicides and elemental phosphorus accountable for harm caused by their products. This legislation explicitly removes any existing legal immunities that shield these companies from civil liability. It establishes a clear right for injured individuals to sue manufacturers in federal court for damages related to exposure.

The **Protecting America’s Workers Act** significantly expands workplace safety protections by extending OSHA coverage to all public employees and strengthening whistleblower rights against retaliation. The bill increases penalties for safety violations, grants victims' families more rights during investigations, and improves federal oversight of state-run safety programs. Overall, it aims to create a more comprehensive, transparent, and punitive system to prevent workplace injuries and hold employers accountable.

This resolution designates April 2026 as "Second Chance Month." It aims to raise public awareness about the collateral consequences faced by millions of Americans with criminal records long after their sentences are served. The designation encourages communities to support efforts that remove unnecessary barriers to employment, housing, and education, promoting successful reentry and reducing recidivism.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to establish and protect the fundamental right to vote for every eligible U.S. citizen. It sets a strict standard requiring any voting restrictions to serve a compelling government interest using the least restrictive means. Furthermore, the amendment would repeal language in the 14th Amendment that allows states to deny voting rights for reasons other than rebellion and grants Congress enforcement power.

The Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026 establishes the Neighborhood Tree Fund to increase and improve urban tree canopies, prioritizing investments in underserved and high-heat communities. This legislation directs the Department of Agriculture to fund projects that enhance community health and climate resilience through tree planting and maintenance. The Act also updates the composition of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council to better reflect community needs.

The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2026 expands FEMA disaster assistance eligibility to include occupants without formal property ownership, such as those experiencing homelessness. It simplifies repair standards, allowing aid for any home "damaged by a major disaster," and mandates streamlined processes for self-certifying eligibility. The bill also requires FEMA to coordinate with HUD on joint temporary rental assistance programs following a disaster declaration.

This resolution expresses strong support for library staff across the United States and the vital community services libraries provide. It advocates for adequate funding commensurate with the broad social support roles libraries now fill and defends the civil rights and union organizing efforts of library workers against threats like censorship. Ultimately, the bill calls for prioritizing funding to ensure all citizens maintain free access to information and resources.

The HELP Separated Children Act establishes comprehensive procedures to protect the rights and ensure the well-being of children when their parents are apprehended during immigration enforcement actions. It mandates that DHS officials identify detained parents, provide them with immediate access to make childcare arrangements, and facilitate ongoing communication and legal participation in child welfare and custody proceedings. The bill also requires mandatory training for personnel and extensive data collection to track the outcomes for these families.

This bill, the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act, explicitly repeals Executive Order 14399, which attempted to regulate mail-in voting. It prohibits federal agencies, including the Postal Service, from using funds to create national voter/citizenship databases or interfere with state administration of absentee and mail-in ballots. The Act reaffirms that states, not the federal government, control federal election procedures.

This bill establishes the Southeast New England Program within the EPA to protect, enhance, and restore coastal watersheds in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. The program authorizes the EPA Administrator to award grants for projects focused on pollution reduction, habitat restoration, and water quality improvement. It also mandates federal agency coordination to improve resource management in the region, authorizing $30 million annually from 2027 through 2031.

The Speedy Tariff Refund Act of 2026 mandates the immediate, automatic refund of all duties unlawfully collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This legislation requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to issue these refunds, with interest, within 30 days without requiring any formal request or documentation from importers. Congress strongly urges businesses that benefited from these duties to pass the refunds along to affected customers and families.

This resolution supports designating a week in April 2026 as "Black Maternal Health Week" to focus national attention on the severe maternal health crisis impacting Black women and birthing people. It highlights the unacceptable rates of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity due to structural racism and inadequate care. The resolution calls for investments in community-led maternity care, extended postpartum health coverage, and comprehensive, non-discriminatory maternal health policies.

This bill, the Ending the Carried Interest Loophole Act, fundamentally changes how partnership interests received as compensation—often by investment managers—are taxed. It redefines the valuation of these interests and introduces a new mechanism that generally requires the income to be treated as ordinary income rather than long-term capital gains. The legislation aims to eliminate preferential tax treatment for compensation derived from investment or asset development businesses.

The Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act repeals federal tax incentives that encourage private donations to scholarship granting organizations. Specifically, it eliminates the tax credit for contributions and the exclusion of certain scholarship amounts from gross income. This legislation aims to redirect financial support toward public education systems.