Legislative Activity

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.

The Shutdown Fairness Act automatically appropriates necessary funds to ensure federal employees and essential contractors receive their regular pay during a government shutdown. This legislation mandates timely payment for covered personnel, regardless of whether they were deemed "excepted" or furloughed. The funds are charged against the agency's subsequent regular appropriations once they are enacted.

The Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress and their immediate families from purchasing new securities issued by publicly traded companies. It requires advance public disclosure for any sale of existing covered investments, with a mandatory 7-to-14-day notice period before the transaction. Violations result in significant financial penalties, including disgorgement of any net gains, payable by the Member personally.

The Evidence-Based Grantmaking Act requires federal agencies to prioritize and mandate the use of evidence-based practices when awarding and managing specific public and community service grants. This legislation mandates that agencies clearly define intended outcomes, prioritize applicants using proven methods, and conduct ongoing evaluations to ensure funds achieve their goals. The law also establishes a timeline for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and agencies to define "evidence-based" practices and report annually to Congress on implementation progress.

The Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026 establishes a special pay system to increase the base pay for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officers by 35 percent. This legislation also provides a similar 35 percent wage increase for certain hourly BOP employees involved in inmate custody. The new pay authority is set to expire after five years, unless the Department of Justice Inspector General reports measurable progress in reducing the use of non-custodial staff for officer duties and excessive overtime.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

The Upward Mobility Act of 2026 establishes a pilot program allowing up to five states to consolidate various federal anti-poverty funds into a single "Upward Mobility Grant." States will use this flexibility to redesign benefits and services aimed at reducing "benefit cliffs" and increasing employment and earnings for participants. The law mandates rigorous independent evaluations to measure success based on specific upward mobility benchmarks. This initiative seeks to streamline aid delivery while maintaining core protections for participants.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act officially removes the gray wolf from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife. This legislation mandates the reissuance of the November 3, 2020, final rule concerning the gray wolf's delisting within 60 days of enactment. Furthermore, the reissuance of this rule is explicitly barred from judicial review.

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 Protect Children’s Innocence Act establishes federal criminal penalties for performing genital or bodily mutilation or chemical castration on individuals under 18 years old. This law applies when the act involves interstate commerce or occurs in U.S. territories. It explicitly prohibits procedures intended to change a minor's body to correspond with a different sex, with narrow exceptions for specific medical necessities.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and financial processors from creating or requiring special merchant category codes specifically for firearm retailers. This legislation aims to prevent the singling out of businesses that sell firearms, ammunition, or related components through transaction coding. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcement and reporting annually to Congress on the law's implementation.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

This bill exempts specific, carefully defined less-than-lethal projectile devices and their ammunition from the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. It also removes these qualifying devices from regulation under the National Firearms Act. The legislation establishes clear criteria, including velocity limits and design restrictions, to ensure the exemption applies only to tools intended for de-escalation rather than lethal force. Manufacturers can request official classification for their products to confirm eligibility for these tax and regulatory benefits.

The Securing Americas Fuels (SAF) Act extends and significantly increases the clean fuel production tax credit specifically for sustainable aviation fuel. This legislation establishes higher credit rates per gallon based on carbon capture technology used in production. The bill also extends the applicability of this credit through 2033 for qualifying sustainable aviation fuels.

This resolution designates December 8, 2025, as "Jimmy Lai Day" to honor his advocacy for press freedom, religious freedom, and democracy in Hong Kong. It condemns the actions of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong authorities for suppressing fundamental freedoms and calls for the immediate release of Jimmy Lai and all unjustly imprisoned pro-democracy advocates.

The Energy Choice Act places federal restrictions on state and local governments, preventing them from enacting regulations that prohibit or limit energy service based on its type or source. This means local governments cannot ban or restrict access to energy services sold in interstate commerce. The legislation aims to ensure consistent access to various energy sources across jurisdictions.

The Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act establishes a high-level Task Force, chaired by the Secretary of State, to develop and execute a comprehensive U.S. strategy against transnational criminal organizations running massive online scams, often utilizing victims of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. This strategy must focus on disrupting these operations, sanctioning responsible parties, and providing support for rescued victims. The bill authorizes $30 million over two years to fund these efforts and requires annual reporting to Congress on progress and impact.

The Equal Representation Act of 2025 mandates the inclusion of a citizenship question on the decennial census starting in 2030. This legislation requires that the population counts used for apportioning seats in the House of Representatives and determining electoral votes exclude non-citizens. The bill ensures that representation is based solely on the count of U.S. citizens within each state.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

This bill, the Retirement Simplification and Clarity Act, amends tax code to allow participants aged 50 and older to roll over employer contributions from their 401(k) plan directly into an individual retirement annuity before retirement. It also updates the required written explanation provided to taxpayers regarding rollover rules to ensure it is concise and clearly outlines key tax implications and options. These provisions are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.