Legislative Activity

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late former United States Senator John Seymour of California. It recognizes his extensive public service, highlighting his career in business, local government, and his tenure in the U.S. Senate. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow and directs that official copies of this resolution be delivered to his family.

The Nursing is a Professional Degree Act formally defines "professional degree" within federal law to explicitly include nursing degrees. This change ensures nursing education meets the statutory standard for professional degrees, recognizing the advanced academic and skill requirements necessary to practice.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 10 through May 16, 2026, as "National Police Week." It serves to recognize and honor the service, sacrifice, and valor of law enforcement officers across the United States. The measure encourages the public to observe this week by honoring law enforcement personnel and promoting awareness of their essential mission.

The Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act aims to significantly improve health outcomes for mid-life women by boosting federal research, public awareness, and professional training related to menopause. The bill establishes new programs for research funding, public education campaigns, and specialized training for healthcare providers. It also supports the creation of Centers of Excellence to advance evidence-based care and address disparities in treatment access.

This resolution expresses support for designating May 5, 2026, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls." It aims to honor the lives of missing and murdered American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women and girls and demonstrate solidarity with their families. The bill also calls for a new Department of Justice study to update statistics on this ongoing crisis.

This bill allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to grant licensees of certain hydropower projects, licensed before March 13, 2020, an extension of up to six additional years to begin construction. This extension is available upon request and demonstration of good cause. The legislation also addresses projects whose original deadlines expired recently, allowing for reinstatement of the license before the extension period begins.

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 bill strengthens oversight of nurse aide training programs in nursing facilities by removing outdated exceptions and allowing the government to temporarily disapprove programs at facilities with serious quality-of-care violations. It also expands access to the National Practitioner Data Bank, enabling more Medicare and Medicaid providers to conduct essential employee background checks. The goal is to ensure higher standards of care and safety for seniors in long-term care settings.

This bill establishes the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act to significantly advance geothermal energy technologies, including enhanced, closed-loop, and supercritical systems. It mandates expanded research, the creation of public subsurface data repositories, and the drilling of deep exploration boreholes to better characterize U.S. geothermal resources. The legislation also authorizes new grant programs to accelerate the commercial readiness of these next-generation systems.

This resolution supports the designation of April 2026 as the "Month of the Military Child." It recognizes the more than 1.6 million children connected to the military across the United States. The bill encourages the public to observe this month with appropriate activities to honor the commitment, struggles, and support provided by military children.

This bill aims to combat domestic violence affecting pregnant and postpartum individuals by funding programs for screening, counseling, and support services. It also mandates a study on how various forms of violence impact maternal health risks, including suicide and homicide. Furthermore, the legislation establishes grants for innovative, culturally relevant approaches to improve maternal and child health outcomes for survivors. Finally, it requires the HHS Secretary to issue guidance on developing protocols for routine screening and establishing partnerships between healthcare providers and support organizations.

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act of 2026 amends existing law to formally recognize the installation of high-efficiency mechanical insulation as a required energy and water efficiency measure in all federal buildings. This ensures that federal energy evaluations specifically identify and prioritize the installation of mechanical insulation that meets or exceeds ASHRAE Standard 90.1 requirements.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 directs the FAA to establish a committee to review and recommend updates to policies regarding the medical certification of pilots and air traffic controllers with mental health conditions. The bill mandates regulatory updates to encourage aviation personnel to seek mental health care without fear of penalty. Furthermore, it allocates funding to enhance the FAA's capacity to process reviews and launches a public campaign to reduce mental health stigma within the industry.

The Expedited Disability Insurance Payments for Terminally Ill Individuals Act of 2026 establishes a phased payment schedule for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to provide faster financial support to those with a terminal diagnosis. By allowing eligible individuals to receive benefits during the standard waiting period, the bill aims to provide critical relief to those facing terminal illness. Additionally, the legislation mandates comprehensive reporting by the Social Security Administration and the GAO to ensure program integrity and evaluate its effectiveness.

The DOULA for VA Act of 2026 establishes a five-year pilot program to provide comprehensive doula support services to pregnant and postpartum veterans. By integrating these services into the VA’s Whole Health model, the program aims to improve maternal and mental health outcomes for the growing population of women veterans. The initiative will be implemented across diverse geographic regions to ensure equitable access to specialized maternity care.

The Resources to Prevent Youth Vaping Act increases and restructures FDA user fees for tobacco manufacturers to ensure all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, contribute to regulatory costs. The bill also mandates enhanced reporting on how these funds are utilized, specifically requiring the FDA to demonstrate how fee revenue supports public education campaigns aimed at preventing youth vaping.

The Preventing Youth Homelessness Demonstration Act of 2026 establishes federal grant programs to help communities identify, support, and provide services to youth and young adults aged 12 to 26 who are at risk of homelessness. By funding both local prevention strategies and capacity-building assessments, the Act aims to improve cross-system collaboration and deliver trauma-informed interventions. These initiatives prioritize the inclusion of youth with lived experience to ensure effective, data-driven solutions for preventing homelessness.

The Rural America Health Corps Act establishes a demonstration program to incentivize healthcare professionals to work in rural areas facing provider shortages. By offering up to $200,000 in student loan repayment in exchange for a five-year full-time service commitment, the bill aims to improve medical access in underserved communities.

The SECURE Grid Act strengthens national energy infrastructure by requiring states to incorporate local distribution systems into their energy security plans. The bill mandates that these plans address physical and cybersecurity threats, improves federal oversight, and expands the eligible uses of federal assistance for grid upgrades. Additionally, it tasks the GAO with evaluating the effectiveness of these state plans to ensure long-term grid resilience.

The Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests (FISH) Act of 2025 strengthens U.S. efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and associated human rights abuses. The bill mandates the creation of a public list of vessels and owners engaged in illicit fishing, imposes visa sanctions on identified offenders, and enhances international enforcement and data-sharing capabilities. Additionally, it authorizes funding for fisheries management and research to ensure the sustainability of global fish stocks.