Legislative Activity

This resolution honors the lives and ultimate sacrifice of wildland firefighters Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, Sydney Watson, and Nicholas Dale, who lost their lives in the line of duty during the 2026 wildfire season. It expresses deep gratitude to all wildland firefighters, aviation crews, and support personnel for their courage and continued commitment to protecting American communities. Furthermore, it recognizes the ongoing need to support these frontline responders and invites the nation to honor their service and sacrifice.

The MATCH Act of 2026 aims to modernize workforce development by establishing state-level "talent marketplaces" that connect individuals with jobs and training through standardized digital records and credential registries. The bill creates a new grant program to help states improve their workforce data infrastructure and enhances the accessibility of training provider information. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to create a more transparent, interoperable, and data-driven labor market for job seekers and employers alike.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The Parents Opt-in Protection Act requires schools to obtain prior written consent before collecting specific survey or evaluation data from students. This legislation amends existing law to ensure that participation in certain student surveys is voluntary and requires explicit parental or student permission.

The Chloe Cole Act of 2026 establishes a federal private right of action allowing individuals to sue healthcare professionals and institutions for damages related to gender-transition medical interventions performed on them as minors. The bill permits lawsuits regardless of when the intervention occurred and sets a statute of limitations extending 25 years past the individual's 18th birthday. Additionally, it mandates strict liability for such interventions performed after the Act's enactment.

The General Aviation Protection (GAP) Act strengthens national security by implementing rigorous oversight of foreign investments in the U.S. general aviation sector. The bill mandates stricter CFIUS reviews for aviation-related transactions, establishes supply chain integrity audits, and restricts federal financial assistance to entities controlled by foreign adversaries. By tightening controls on dual-use technologies and foreign ownership, the Act aims to protect critical aerospace infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities from exploitation.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and processors from assigning specific merchant category codes to firearms retailers. This legislation aims to protect consumer privacy by preventing the tracking of firearm and ammunition purchases through specialized financial classification. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing these provisions and reporting annually on compliance.

The UNLOCK AUKUS Act streamlines the defense trade process by amending the Arms Export Control Act to remove specific regulatory hurdles. This legislation facilitates more efficient exports and transfers of defense articles and services among AUKUS partners, strengthening collaborative security efforts.

The Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025 aims to protect students' rights to join single-sex social organizations at colleges receiving federal funding. This bill prevents institutions from taking adverse action against students or groups solely because of sex-based membership policies. It ensures these organizations are treated fairly compared to other campus groups regarding participation and privileges. Ultimately, the Act safeguards a student's freedom to choose their associations, including single-sex clubs.

This bill, the Great American Outdoors Act 250, significantly reforms and renames the existing public lands restoration fund to the America’s Legacy Restoration Fund. It secures dedicated funding streams, primarily from energy revenues and new fees on foreign visitors, to address critical deferred maintenance across the National Park Service, Forest Service, and other public land agencies. The legislation establishes strict spending priorities for infrastructure repair while also creating pilot programs for enhancing outdoor recreation and sportsmen's access. Finally, it mandates increased transparency and accountability through standardized metrics and public reporting on all funded projects.

The Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act significantly expands legal immunity for firearm manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations by redefining terms within existing federal law. It mandates the immediate dismissal of pending lawsuits against these entities and establishes strict new standards for any exceptions that might apply. Furthermore, the bill preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability based on the criminal misuse of qualified products.

This bill strengthens U.S. access to critical minerals by authorizing international partnerships and agreements to build secure, transparent supply chains with allies. It establishes Energy Security Compacts to diversify energy and mineral sources while protecting American jobs and the environment. Finally, the legislation creates new leadership roles and exchange programs at the State Department to build a skilled domestic mining workforce and counter foreign leverage over essential resources.

This act officially establishes the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and designates its location on the National Mall, requiring the transfer of land jurisdiction to the Smithsonian Institution. The museum is mandated to preserve and present the history and achievements of biological women in the United States. Furthermore, the legislation requires that exhibits and programs reflect diverse political viewpoints and authentic experiences of women, as guided by a broad array of knowledgeable sources.

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting January 1, 2026. This coverage is specifically for testing or treatment related to COVID-19, the flu, RSV, strep throat, or during a declared public health emergency. The bill outlines payment structures, generally covering 80% of the cost, and prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.

The Gambling Disorder Health Study Act mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a comprehensive research program to better understand gambling disorder. This research will investigate the disorder's origins, long-term impacts, and the influence of modern gambling technologies like mobile sports betting. The bill also requires annual reports to Congress detailing findings and offering recommendations for public health actions and policy changes.

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 Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act aims to strengthen oversight of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program by applying federal improper payment review standards to state programs. It also restricts the use of federal TANF grants to families with incomes below twice the federal poverty level and establishes strict deadlines for states to obligate and spend these block grant funds. Furthermore, the bill prohibits states from using federal TANF dollars to replace existing state or local spending on eligible activities.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue commemorative gold and silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and survivors, with designs selected in consultation with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges from the sale of these coins will be paid directly to the Memorial and Museum to support its operations and maintenance.

This act strengthens national defense by expanding the Job Corps program to train disadvantaged youth and veterans for critical roles in the defense industrial base. It establishes a Defense Skilled Trades Pipeline Program to provide vocational training in areas like welding, machining, and cybersecurity. The legislation authorizes significant funding to develop these specialized programs in coordination with defense contractors and the Department of Defense.