Legislative Activity

The **BE HEARD in the Workplace Act** comprehensively reforms workplace protections by mandating new anti-discrimination policies and training, while strengthening federal laws to explicitly protect LGBTQ+ individuals and expand filing deadlines for all workers. The bill also phases out the lower federal minimum wage for tipped employees and restricts employers' use of mandatory arbitration and non-disclosure agreements. Finally, it establishes federal grant programs to fund education, legal assistance, and state-level advocacy systems to combat workplace discrimination.

The Audit the Pentagon Act of 2026 addresses the Department of Defense's repeated failure to pass a financial audit. This bill establishes automatic spending reductions for any DoD component that fails to receive a clean audit opinion after fiscal year 2025. It also outlines Congressional priorities regarding protecting wounded warrior accounts and maintaining financial controls for classified programs.

This bill establishes the Office of Small Farms within the Department of Agriculture to better support small farm, ranch, and forest operations, defined by specific acreage and income thresholds. The Office will coordinate support, review programs for disadvantages to small farms, and develop new initiatives, including grants up to $25,000. It also mandates the creation of State small farms coordinators to ensure effective, localized technical assistance and program access for these operations.

This bill aims to defend the human rights of Palestinian children and families living under Israeli military occupation. It establishes policy prohibiting U.S. assistance funds from supporting specific Israeli actions, including the military detention of Palestinian children and the seizure of Palestinian property in violation of international law. The legislation also mandates annual reporting and oversight requirements regarding these activities and U.S. defense assistance to Israel.

The Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2026 addresses the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by eliminating a specific work requirement exemption and related state funding provisions. Congress finds that existing SNAP work requirements are ineffective at reducing poverty and create significant barriers to food assistance, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. This legislation aims to streamline access to benefits by removing these administrative hurdles.

The Pensions for All Act aims to expand retirement security by providing federal grants to help states establish retirement programs for private-sector workers without workplace plans. It also mandates that employers either offer a comparable retirement plan or enroll employees in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Furthermore, the bill establishes tax credits for small employers and self-employed individuals contributing to these plans, alongside penalties for non-compliance.

The Healthy Families Act establishes a national standard requiring most employers to provide employees with earned paid sick leave. Employees will accrue a minimum of one hour of paid time for every 30 hours worked, usable for personal or family health needs, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The Act prohibits employer retaliation for using this leave and ensures existing, more generous leave policies are not diminished.

The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act prohibits the discharge of plastic pellets and other pre-production plastic materials into U.S. waters from industrial facilities. This requires the EPA to swiftly issue a rule banning these discharges from facilities involved in the manufacturing, use, packaging, or transport of these plastics. The prohibition will be enforced through existing permitting and regulatory systems under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

This Act mandates the U.S. Secretary of State to ensure and report on sufficient food assistance for all civilians in Gaza. It requires certification within 30 days that policies are in place to guarantee children receive three nutritious meals daily and other civilians receive two. The Secretary must also submit detailed oversight procedures and publicly report on food distribution efforts, including prompt notification to Congress of any aid interference.

The No Funds for Forced Labor Act aims to prevent U.S. support for international financial institution loans that fund projects involving forced labor, particularly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It directs the Treasury Secretary to use U.S. influence to oppose such loans and requires annual reporting on these efforts. Congress asserts that international financial institutions should not fund entities credibly accused of using forced labor.

This resolution establishes a comprehensive Transgender Bill of Rights to codify and protect the rights of transgender and nonbinary people across the United States. It mandates federal action to ensure equal access to healthcare, employment, housing, legal recognition, and safety. The bill aims to eliminate discrimination and affirm bodily autonomy by amending existing federal civil rights laws.

The FAIR Act establishes a 3.1% pay increase for General Schedule and prevailing rate federal employees in 2027. Additionally, the bill mandates a 1% increase to federal locality pay rates for the same year.

The Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026 reauthorizes the WISEWOMAN program through fiscal year 2031, securing significant funding for women's health initiatives. This legislation allows for supplemental grants to expand preventive health services, such as blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, to low-income women. These services will be integrated with existing breast and cervical cancer screening programs.

The Fair Repair Act mandates that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) must provide owners and independent repair shops with necessary documentation, parts, and tools for digital electronic equipment repair on fair and reasonable terms. This law specifically prohibits OEMs from using practices like parts pairing to restrict functionality or block independent repairs. Enforcement of these requirements will be handled by the Federal Trade Commission and State Attorneys General.

The Justice for Shireen Act mandates that the FBI Director and Secretary of State submit a comprehensive, unclassified report to Congress within 30 days regarding the death of Shireen Abu Akleh. This report must identify responsible parties and any U.S. materials implicated in the incident. The findings will also be made publicly available on the Department of State's website.

This resolution seeks to disapprove the Department of Veterans Affairs' final rule concerning "Reproductive Health Services" issued in September 2024. If enacted, this disapproval, made under the Congressional Review Act, would prevent the VA rule from taking legal effect.

The Prison Libraries Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program, administered by the Attorney General, to fund essential library services for incarcerated individuals. These grants aim to reduce recidivism and boost reintegration efforts by supporting education, job training, and access to modern library materials. States and territories can apply for these renewable, multi-year grants, which must be used strictly for library-related activities and cannot charge inmates for access to resources.

This resolution asserts that advancing the rights of women and girls in Haiti is crucial for the nation's stability and successful transition from crisis. It condemns the widespread gender-based violence and the exclusion of women from leadership roles in the transitional government. The bill calls for urgent measures to center women's needs, ensure their representation in government, and prioritize funding for survivor services and accountability for violence.

This bill establishes a statutory definition for an "essential health system" based on the volume of care provided to low-income and Medicaid patients. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate qualifying hospitals for a five-year period. Furthermore, the bill mandates MACPAC to create an annual index ranking all relevant hospitals based on these financial criteria and to review payment policies supporting these essential systems.

The Returning Home Act establishes a new grant program to provide rental assistance and housing support services for individuals reentering the community after incarceration. This initiative, run by the DOJ and HUD, offers up to 24 months of rental aid and crucial supportive services to help reduce homelessness among formerly incarcerated individuals. The law prioritizes applicants who implement a "housing first" approach and specifically excludes law enforcement entities from receiving grants.