Legislative Activity

This resolution supports the goals of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month by recognizing CTE's vital role in preparing students for high-demand, high-skill careers. It affirms that CTE is crucial for American economic competitiveness and encourages promotion of these educational pathways. The resolution celebrates the contributions of CTE programs across the nation.

This bill amends existing law to rename and strengthen the Institutes of Tropical and Pacific Islands Forestry. It mandates minimum staffing levels—50 personnel for the Puerto Rico institute and 30 for the Pacific Islands institute—and ensures both have adequate resources. The goal is to substantially advance the science, research, and knowledge exchange activities conducted by these vital forestry centers.

The Rural Health Care Facilities Revitalization Act establishes a new program allowing eligible rural health care facilities to access existing USDA rural development loans for vital financial relief and necessary facility improvements. This assistance can be used for debt refinancing, updating telehealth systems, and covering operating expenses, provided it preserves local access to care and improves the facility's financial standing. The bill also allows for waivers of certain requirements for facilities in areas facing persistent poverty or distress.

The First-Time Home Buyer Empowerment Act amends tax law to allow first-time homebuyers to take tax-free distributions from a 529 college savings plan for a home purchase. This special provision is subject to conditions, including a $35,000 lifetime limit per beneficiary. If the home is sold within five years, a recapture tax applies to recover the avoided income tax.

This bill amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to grant certain eligible states the option to receive their allocated federal funds as cash instead of commodities. States choosing this option can then directly purchase food commodities from the private commercial marketplace. This provides flexibility in how states procure food assistance resources.

The NEST Act establishes the Next-Generation Equity Savings Tool, creating a new tax-advantaged First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account. This account allows individuals to save for a down payment and closing costs with tax-deductible contributions and tax-free growth. Withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified home ownership expenses for a primary residence.

This act simplifies annual reporting for employee benefit plans by modernizing the Form 5500 filing process. It extends the filing deadline and allows for the use of electronic signatures on required reports. These changes aim to streamline compliance for plan administrators.

The Whale CHARTS Act of 2026 expands federal efforts to protect migratory whales and other large cetaceans. This legislation mandates the creation of high-accuracy distribution maps for whale habitats and funds research into understudied species. It also establishes a competitive grant program to develop and deploy technologies that reduce harmful interactions between whales and ocean users, such as vessel strikes.

The Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2026 establishes a commission to investigate the history and ongoing impacts of U.S. Indian boarding school policies. This legislation mandates the gathering of survivor testimony and the search for student burial sites across the country. It also creates advisory committees to ensure Native communities guide the process and clarifies existing laws to facilitate the repatriation and respectful reburial of cultural items. Ultimately, the Act aims to provide a formal record, promote healing, and recommend necessary policy changes to Congress.

The Military Occupancy Living Defense (MOLD) Act establishes mandatory minimum health and safety standards for privatized military housing to combat hazardous conditions like mold. It institutes rigorous independent inspection protocols, requires standardized reporting on housing quality, and holds contractors financially accountable for remediation and tenant relocation costs. This legislation aims to improve habitability, protect service members' health, and enhance military readiness.

The PORCUPINE Act amends the Arms Export Control Act to formally include Taiwan in existing certification and reporting requirements. It also mandates a feasibility study for expediting the licensing process for allied nations transferring U.S.-origin military equipment to Taiwan. The legislation is intended to enhance security cooperation while affirming that it does not alter existing U.S. policy as defined by the Taiwan Relations Act.

The Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention Act (RAYS Act) mandates that local school districts provide critical mental health and suicide prevention contact information on secondary student identification cards. This includes the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the Crisis Text Line. For districts not issuing physical IDs, this information must be prominently displayed on their websites and regularly used digital platforms.

The Fast Track To and Through College Act establishes a competitive grant program to help states accelerate student progress toward postsecondary degrees. This funding supports partnerships that align high school and college systems to expand access to dual enrollment and early graduation scholarships. The bill also allows high school students in these pathways to access Federal Pell Grants to cover associated costs.

Sara’s Law and the Preventing Unfair Sentencing Act of 2026 creates special sentencing considerations for young offenders who committed crimes while being victims of prior trafficking, abuse, or assault. This legislation grants courts the authority to sentence these "youthful victim offenders" below mandatory minimums and suspend portions of their sentences to account for past trauma. The law specifically targets individuals under 18 whose offense was committed against a recent abuser.

This bill establishes the **Energy Burden Tax Credit Act** to provide financial relief to individuals facing high home energy costs. The credit covers 75% of a taxpayer's annual fuel or electricity expenses that exceed 3% of their modified adjusted gross income, up to a maximum of \$1,500. This temporary credit is available for tax years beginning after 2024 and before 2028, and is limited to taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes of \$75,000 or less.

This bill amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the transmission facilitation program. It extends the program's authorization period, shifting the funding window from 2022–2026 to 2026–2031.

This bill officially designates January 9, 2026, as "National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day" to honor the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers nationwide. It also establishes National Police Week and National Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15th) to commemorate officers who have died in the line of duty. The legislation encourages the President to issue annual proclamations recognizing these days and calls for flags to be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day.

The Families First Housing Act of 2026 establishes an 180-day "first look" period for certain homebuyers and organizations to purchase government-owned single-family properties before they can be sold to institutional investors. This mandates that federal housing entities offer eligible properties at fair market value exclusively to qualified primary residents, nonprofits, or local governments during this initial period. The Act also requires public listing, reporting on sales, and imposes penalties for non-compliance.

The AI OVERWATCH Act establishes strict new licensing requirements for exporting advanced integrated circuits to designated countries of concern, including China and Russia. This legislation mandates detailed national security certifications to Congress before any license can be approved for these high-performance technologies. Furthermore, the bill creates an exemption process for trusted U.S. companies while terminating existing licenses for these sensitive exports.

The Transnational Fentanyl Prevention Act mandates the Director of the CIA to produce a comprehensive intelligence assessment of the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels. This report must detail their structure, smuggling operations, chemical sourcing, and methods for undermining counternarcotics efforts. The assessment will be delivered to key congressional committees within 90 days of enactment.