Legislative Activity

The Rural Emergency Hospital Designation Improvement Act aims to strengthen rural healthcare by expanding eligibility for rural emergency hospital (REH) status and enhancing financial support for these facilities. The bill introduces new payment incentives, allows for expanded service offerings like swing beds and specialized units, and ensures REHs are eligible for critical grant programs and Medicaid coverage. These measures are designed to increase the sustainability of rural hospitals and improve access to essential care in underserved communities.

The POPCaP Act of 2026 establishes a precision oncology program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve prostate cancer care for veterans. The bill mandates the creation of a national network of centers of excellence, supported by a centralized leadership team, to provide advanced genetic sequencing, clinical trials, and specialized research. This initiative aims to standardize care, expand access to cutting-edge treatments, and track patient outcomes through a comprehensive national registry.

This resolution designates June as National Annuity Awareness Month to promote consumer education on the benefits of annuities, particularly their ability to provide guaranteed lifetime income. It encourages working with financial professionals when considering annuities for retirement and legacy planning. The month aims to raise awareness about how annuities can address the risk of outliving retirement savings.

The Duty Status Reform Act aims to modernize and improve the regulations governing work-hour requirements for professionals in high-stakes industries. By updating duty status standards, the bill seeks to enhance operational safety, reduce fatigue-related risks, and promote better work-life balance for employees.

The **Take Care of America’s Veterans Act** is a comprehensive bill designed to significantly expand compensation, benefits, and healthcare access for veterans and their survivors. It overhauls VA claims processing to be faster and fairer, modernizes education and transition support, and strengthens caregiver resources. Ultimately, the legislation aims to deliver more timely, high-quality, and veteran-centered services across the board.

This bill authorizes a major medical facility project for the Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Louis, Missouri, for Fiscal Year 2026. The project includes significant construction and expansion efforts, such as a new bed tower and clinical building expansion. It authorizes a total project cost not to exceed \$1,762,668,000.

The ABLE Tomorrow Act aims to expand financial security for people with disabilities by enhancing access to and use of ABLE savings accounts. Key provisions include prohibiting Medicaid recovery from ABLE accounts upon the beneficiary's death and creating exceptions to annual contribution limits for specific lump-sum payments. Furthermore, the bill mandates widespread federal and state agency outreach to inform eligible individuals about ABLE programs and allows employees to redirect certain employer retirement contributions directly into their ABLE accounts.

This bill ensures that veterans' disability compensation and related benefits receive a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026. The increase will match the percentage increase applied to Social Security benefits taking effect on December 1, 2026. This adjustment applies to various compensation and dependency/indemnity payments administered by the VA.

This bill combines two major components: the **Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act**, which reforms and extends key surveillance authorities like Section 702 of FISA with new privacy protections and criminal penalties for misuse, and the **Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act**, which explicitly prohibits the Federal Reserve from creating or issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to the public. In essence, the legislation tightens oversight on foreign intelligence gathering while blocking the creation of a government-controlled digital currency.

This bill mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create and maintain a comprehensive, long-term strategic human capital plan to optimize its workforce. It also establishes strict 60-day advance notice requirements and detailed justifications for any workforce reductions or office reorganizations. The goal is to ensure the VA's staffing aligns with projected demand and improves the quality and timeliness of services for veterans.

The Parents Over Platforms Act establishes new responsibilities for application distributors (like app stores) and developers to protect minors online. This includes requiring age assurance mechanisms and obligating developers to tailor experiences and restrict personalized advertising for users identified as minors. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is granted authority to enforce the Act, which preempts state and local laws on these matters.

The SAFEGUARDS Act of 2025 mandates that airline passenger security fees be exclusively used to enhance aviation safety and security, ending any diversion of these funds by 2027. The bill increases dedicated funding for the Aviation Security Capital Fund, ensuring a minimum of \$500 million annually starting in Fiscal Year 2026. Additionally, it establishes the new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund to finance the purchase and maintenance of advanced screening equipment at airports. This legislation aims to guarantee consistent and robust financial support for critical TSA security operations and technology upgrades.

The Consumer Data Privacy and Security Act of 2026 establishes a comprehensive national framework for the protection of personal data, granting individuals greater control over how their information is collected, processed, and secured by businesses. The bill mandates strict security standards, requires transparency through clear privacy policies, and provides individuals with rights to access, correct, and delete their data. Enforcement is overseen by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, ensuring a uniform standard for data privacy across the United States.

This resolution honors the life and service of fallen Kansas City, Kansas police officer Hunter Simoncic. It designates a portion of U.S. Highway 69 in Wyandotte County as the "Officer Hunter Simoncic Memorial Highway" to pay tribute to his noble sacrifice in the line of duty.

This resolution honors the life and dedicated service of Hays, Kansas Police Sergeant Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty on September 27, 2025. It expresses the Senate’s deep appreciation for his contributions to the community and offers formal condolences to his surviving family. The measure also pays tribute to his noble sacrifice and calls for continued support for his loved ones.

The "Love Lives On Act of 2025" modifies eligibility rules for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments for surviving spouses who remarry. It allows remarried surviving spouses to receive certain educational benefits and DIC, and it continues annuity payments to surviving spouses who remarry, particularly those whose spouses died on active duty. Additionally, the Act expands the definition of "dependent" under the TRICARE program to include remarried widows or widowers whose subsequent marriage has ended.

The Veterans Prosthetics Advancement and Reform Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a comprehensive, evidence-based Formulary for all prosthetic and rehabilitative items and services. This new system requires public input during development and ensures all listed items are available at every VA facility. Furthermore, the Act establishes clear processes for veterans to be informed of their benefits and to appeal denials, while also creating a pathway for clinicians to prescribe medically necessary items not currently on the official list.

The Fisher House Availability Act of 2025 expands eligibility for temporary lodging at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Fisher Houses and similar facilities. This expansion specifically includes family members and support persons accompanying veterans or eligible individuals who must travel significant distances for care. The bill also clarifies definitions for "Eligible Individual" and "Fisher House."

The "Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2025" expands Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility to National Guard members performing specific full-time duties. This includes active duty under title 10 or title 14, section 3713, as well as full-time National Guard duty or active duty within the National Guard. These changes are retroactive to service performed on or after September 11, 2001, and will take effect one year after enactment.

The Veterans STAND Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide annual preventative health evaluations for veterans with spinal cord injuries or disorders. These comprehensive assessments focus on chronic pain management, dietary health, and the integration of advanced assistive technologies to improve mobility and independence. The bill also mandates regular reporting on outcomes and ensures that veterans are informed about these specialized care services.