Legislative Activity

The Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to significantly strengthen services for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, and deafblind. This legislation mandates that states accurately identify and evaluate these students to ensure they receive specialized instruction, including language and communication skills tailored to their specific needs. The bill aims to guarantee access to appropriate services, qualified personnel, and critical skills development for greater independence.

The Elder Pride Act amends the Older Americans Act to explicitly recognize and address the needs of LGBTQI and HIV-positive older adults. It establishes a new Office of LGBTQI Inclusion within the Administration on Aging to coordinate services and promote access. Furthermore, the Act creates a dedicated grant program to fund rural outreach initiatives specifically targeting LGBTQI older individuals and those in other protected classes.

This bill amends the Long-Term Leasing Act to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land within the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). This update extends the existing leasing authority to include these tribal lands.

The Reactors at Risk Act of 2026 mandates a joint report from the Department of Defense and the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security assessing the national security and civilian risks posed by nuclear reactors located in or near areas prone to armed conflict. This report must detail potential dangers and outline steps the U.S. and its allies can take to prevent and mitigate these risks. The assessment covers reactors in regions with recent conflict, contested areas, or potential flashpoints like Taiwan or the Korean Peninsula.

The Expanding the Surety Bond Program Act of 2025 significantly boosts support for small businesses seeking contract bonds. This legislation raises the maximum bond guarantee amount the SBA can offer from $6.5 million to $18 million. It also establishes new reporting requirements and limits administrative spending from the program's revolving fund.

This resolution expresses support for designating April 2026 as "Fair Chance Jobs Month." It aims to promote employment opportunities for people with criminal records by advocating for the removal of barriers to fair-chance hiring. The bill supports expanding workforce programs and fostering collaboration to help formerly incarcerated individuals secure stable jobs and successfully reenter society.

The Investing in the American Dream Act expands eligibility for key Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and surety bonds. This change allows businesses majority-owned by certain immigrants, non-citizens lawfully present in the U.S., and even some individuals residing abroad to access federal support. The bill ensures that businesses meeting ownership and location criteria are not denied SBA financing solely because of the status of their eligible owners.

This resolution designates April 22, 2026, as "National Assistive Technology Awareness Day." It recognizes the critical role assistive technology plays in enabling millions of Americans with disabilities and older adults to participate fully in education, employment, and community life. The day aims to highlight the necessity of these devices and services, which are vital for independence and economic self-sufficiency.

The Youth Climate Leadership Act of 2026 mandates that five key federal agencies establish formal Youth Advisory Councils. These councils, composed of members aged 16 to 29, will provide recommendations on climate change, environmental justice, and pollution reduction. The Act ensures young people have a structured voice in federal environmental decision-making, particularly concerning disadvantaged communities. Funding is authorized for these activities through fiscal year 2037.

The Climate Change Education Act establishes a federal program, managed by NOAA, to fund comprehensive climate change education for all ages. This initiative aims to increase climate literacy through formal schooling and nonformal programs, focusing on solutions, adaptation, and climate justice. The Act authorizes grants to K-12 systems, higher education, professional associations, and youth corps to develop and implement climate-focused learning and applied research.

This resolution designates April as Community College Month to honor the vital role community colleges play in providing accessible higher education and workforce training nationwide. It recognizes these institutions for supporting over 10 million students and significantly advancing the economic prosperity of the United States.

The Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act establishes a federal grant program to provide financial compensation to essential, non-remote healthcare workers for hazardous duty performed during declared emergencies or disasters. These grants will fund supplemental pay, capped at \$13 per hour and \$25,000 annually per worker, for duties deemed hazardous by the Secretary. Funds may also be used by facilities to implement safety measures for these frontline workers.

The SAFE through Medicare Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include medically necessary "home resiliency services" for individuals at risk during climate or manmade disasters. These services, effective January 1, 2027, include items like heat pumps or solar batteries for those reliant on electricity or sensitive to extreme weather. The bill mandates establishing a process to identify medically at-risk individuals based on geography, disaster history, and medical needs.

The Home Modifications for the Climate Crisis Act establishes federal grants to help low- and moderate-income households fund crucial home improvements against climate disasters like floods and wildfires. It also expands services under the Older Americans Act to improve indoor air quality, cooling, and energy efficiency for older individuals. The bill authorizes $500 million annually to support these resilience and health-focused modifications.

The Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act aims to safeguard maternal and infant health from climate-related risks like extreme heat and air pollution. It establishes grant programs to fund community initiatives and professional education focused on mitigating these dangers for vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of a research consortium and a national strategy to identify high-risk zones for pregnant individuals and young children.

The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026 comprehensively updates federal law to ensure that all video programming, communications services, and modern playback devices are fully accessible to people with disabilities. This bill mandates closed captioning and audio description for online content, improves accessibility features on devices, and requires sign language video support for customer service and video conferencing. Ultimately, it strengthens enforcement and directs the FCC to keep accessibility standards current with emerging technologies.

The YouthBuild for the Future Act reauthorizes and updates the existing YouthBuild program to better prepare low-income young people (ages 16-24) for postsecondary education, apprenticeships, and careers in high-demand fields like clean energy. The bill expands authorized activities to include comprehensive support services and requires stronger performance accountability measures. Additionally, it establishes a new grant program to foster employer partnerships specifically designed to create employment and training opportunities for YouthBuild participants.

The **No Big Fossil Bailouts on Your Power Bill Act** amends the Federal Power Act to place strict new limits and transparency requirements on the Department of Energy's emergency authority to order electricity generation. This legislation narrows the conditions under which emergency orders can be issued and mandates consideration of environmental alternatives and customer cost impacts before action is taken. Furthermore, it generally prohibits using emergency orders to prevent the retirement of power plants unless absolutely necessary.

The "No Nuclear Weapons for Saudi Arabia Act of 2026" prohibits the United States from entering into a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia unless the kingdom formally renounces uranium enrichment and reprocessing. The bill mandates that any such agreement must receive explicit approval from Congress and requires Saudi Arabia to adopt an Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Additionally, it establishes a U.S. policy to oppose the transfer of nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia through the Nuclear Suppliers Group until these non-proliferation conditions are met.

The Youth AI Privacy Act protects minors by prohibiting AI chatbot developers and deployers from collecting, profiling, or using the personal data of users under 18 for commercial purposes or algorithm training. The bill mandates clear disclosures about the non-human nature of AI, restricts addictive design features, and limits data retention to protect young users. Enforcement is overseen by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, with additional provisions for parental legal action and expanded federal research into the impact of AI on youth development.