Legislative Activity

The National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act grants the Secretary of the Interior the authority to extend certain existing National Park Service leases without adhering to standard regulatory procedures. This exception applies if the current lessee has held the lease for at least five years and is in good standing, and the extension is deemed beneficial for park management. The Act also mandates an update to the relevant federal regulations within 90 days.

The Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Veterans Act of 2026 mandates an independent, comprehensive evaluation of AI systems used by the Veterans Health Administration to ensure patient safety, clinical integrity, and data security. This legislation requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify and address risks in AI deployment, submit detailed corrective action plans to Congress, and undergo oversight by the Comptroller General. The act aims to ensure that AI tools are transparent, equitable, and effectively integrated into veteran healthcare.

The Tax Exempt Hospital Transparency Act mandates graduated, increased reporting requirements for tax-exempt hospitals based on their size and revenue. These new rules require hospitals to detail their community health needs assessments, financial assistance programs, and operational spending on their annual tax returns. Larger and high-revenue hospitals face additional stringent reporting on service line finances, advertising costs, and participation in the 340B drug discount program. The bill also requires a GAO study on compliance costs and potential tax revenue from these organizations.

This bill, the Veterans Care and Cost Coordination Act of 2026, directs the VA to establish an agreement with HHS to share health care data for veterans enrolled in both VA and Medicare programs. This coordination aims to prevent duplicate services and improper payments under the Veterans Community Care Program. The shared information will also be used by HHS to refine Medicare Advantage payment calculations.

The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2026 aims to improve the accuracy and predictability of Medicare physician payments. The bill reforms budget neutrality calculations, mandates periodic updates to practice expense cost data, and establishes a 2.5% cap on annual conversion factor fluctuations. These measures are designed to ensure more stable reimbursement rates for healthcare providers.

The POPCaP Authorization Act of 2026 establishes a new Precision Oncology Program for Prostate Cancer within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This program mandates the designation of at least 21 Centers of Excellence to provide advanced genetic sequencing and clinical trials for eligible veterans with prostate or genitourinary cancers. The Act also creates a Program Leadership team to coordinate research, maintain a national registry, and ensure standardized, cutting-edge care across the network.

This bill, the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2026, repeals the Retirement Earnings Test. This action eliminates the reduction of Social Security benefits for beneficiaries under full retirement age who continue to work and earn above a certain threshold. The law takes effect for taxable years ending after December 31, 2026.

The Every Dollar Counts Act of 2026 ensures that money spent out-of-pocket for prescription drugs counts toward an individual's health plan deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, even if insurance benefits are not used for the purchase. This aims to provide financial relief and transparency for consumers. The bill also makes corresponding adjustments to how drug prices are calculated for Medicaid purposes.

This resolution designates March as "Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month" to increase public understanding of these serious, often preventable medical conditions. By highlighting the significant health and economic impact of DVT and PE, the bill aims to promote life-saving awareness and support for those at risk.

The Buying American Cotton Act of 2026 establishes the Domestic Cotton Consumption Credit to incentivize the use of U.S.-grown cotton in products sold domestically. This new business tax credit is calculated based on the volume of U.S. cotton used, the market price, and where the product was processed. The bill mandates digital tracing to verify the supply chain and offers significantly increased credit multipliers for products containing U.S.-made cotton yarn or fabric.

This bill extends special duty-free trade benefits for Haiti under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act until December 31, 2028. It also restores preferential treatment for certain Caribbean goods that previously lost eligibility due to tariff schedule changes. Furthermore, the Act allows for the retroactive application of duty-free treatment for qualifying Haitian goods imported after September 30, 2025, pending importer requests.

This Act, the Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act, ensures that tax deadlines postponed due to a disaster also apply to the time limit for filing tax credit or refund claims. Furthermore, it requires the IRS to factor in these disaster-related postponement periods when calculating the deadline for issuing tax collection notices. This standardizes the treatment of deadlines following a declared disaster.

The MAP for Care Act expands Medicare coverage to pay providers specifically for time spent discussing and documenting a beneficiary's future medical care preferences. It establishes a voluntary national program to help Medicare beneficiaries create and securely store certified advance directives, such as living wills. The bill ensures these planning conversations are voluntary and prohibits discrimination based on participation. Finally, it directs the development of provider education and sets standards for accredited vendors managing these electronic directives.

This resolution asserts that compelled political litmus tests, such as mandatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements required by public institutions for hiring or admission, violate the First Amendment rights to academic freedom and free speech. It condemns public colleges and universities for conditioning employment or admission on adherence to specific ideological viewpoints. The resolution strongly discourages the practice of requiring applicants or faculty to pledge allegiance to any political ideology as a condition of advancement.

This bill mandates the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a single, uniform system for credentialing and privileging medical providers. The departments must first report on their existing systems and then jointly select one system to be implemented by January 1, 2028. This integration aims to streamline the process for medical providers serving both agencies.

The Campus Free Speech Restoration Act aims to strengthen First Amendment rights for students at colleges and universities receiving federal funding. It prohibits public institutions from imposing overly restrictive speech codes, "free speech zones," or biased reporting systems that limit lawful expressive activity in generally accessible outdoor areas. The bill establishes enforcement mechanisms, including private lawsuits and federal review processes that could lead to the loss of federal funding for non-compliant public and private institutions.

The VA Research Reform Act of 2025 aims to modernize and improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' research enterprise. This legislation establishes a centralized data system, standardizes research review processes, and mandates plans to translate findings into improved veteran care. It also directs the creation of regional research hubs and requires standardized performance metrics for all VA research activities.

This Act prohibits Medicare-approved medical residency programs from requiring participation in abortion-related training. Programs that offer abortion training must ensure it is strictly voluntary, allowing residents to opt-in without facing discrimination. This ensures medical residents are not compelled to participate in abortion procedures, assistance, or referrals against their conscience.

The Veterans Heroin Overdose Prevention Examination Act, or Veterans HOPE Act, mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a comprehensive review of veteran overdose deaths over the preceding five years. This review must analyze prescription history, medications present at death, and contributing factors, especially focusing on deaths involving non-prescription opioids like heroin and fentanyl. The findings, including recommendations for improving veteran safety, will be reported to Congress and made publicly available.

The Make America's Youth Healthy Again Act of 2025 establishes a new Presidents Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. This Council will advise the President on promoting physical activity and setting new national fitness goals for American youth. Its key responsibilities include recommending the return of the Presidential Fitness Award and developing strategies to combat childhood obesity. The Council is set to operate for two years unless the President extends its term.