Legislative Activity

The Safe Skies Act of 2026 mandates the Department of Transportation to immediately apply the existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) duty and rest requirements for passenger flightcrews to all-cargo operations. This change aims to standardize safety protocols across both sectors. The required modification must be enacted within 30 days of the law's passage.

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.

The After Hours Child Care Act establishes a new Child Care and Development Innovation Fund to improve access to care for parents working nontraditional hours. This fund supports a competitive pilot grant program managed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Grants will help eligible entities expand capacity, contract services, or establish new programs specifically serving families with irregular work schedules. The goal is to help these parents maintain employment and advance their careers.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 10 East Main Street in Mahaffey, Pennsylvania. The facility will now be known as the "Robert Allen Bishop, Sr. Post Office Building." This designation will apply to all future official federal references to the building.

This act establishes the "$2.50 for America's 250th Act" to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It authorizes the Treasury to mint and issue special commemorative gold, silver, and clad $2.50 coins featuring designs from the 1926 Sesquicentennial coin. Additionally, the bill mandates a study on the feasibility of minting and issuing a $2.50 coin for wide circulation.

The BASICS Act (Bridges And Safety Infrastructure for Community Success Act) reforms federal transportation funding to prioritize local decision-making and infrastructure maintenance. The bill establishes a new $5.5 billion annual program for bridge repairs and replacements, while increasing support for regional and metropolitan transportation planning. Additionally, it mandates greater local consultation for project selection and streamlines the process for regional organizations to receive and manage federal transportation funds directly.

The Make Elections Great Again Act establishes new federal standards for voter identification, citizenship verification for registration, and statewide voter list maintenance for federal elections. It also standardizes election administration by mandating paper ballots, banning ranked-choice voting, and implementing strict new rules for requesting and returning mail-in ballots. The bill aims to increase election integrity through enhanced documentation and procedural uniformity across states.

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study the feasibility of automatically certifying children in military families for free or reduced-price school meals. The study must propose a system that uses existing military data to streamline eligibility for these essential nutrition programs. Additionally, the Act modifies existing law regarding how housing allowances are treated in income calculations for school meal eligibility.

The Make American Housing Affordable (MAHA) Act of 2026 introduces a new, partially refundable $5,000 Housing Affordability Tax Credit for eligible first-time homebuyers. This credit is designed to assist individuals purchasing a principal residence. The benefit is subject to an income-based phaseout, fully disappearing for individuals with a modified adjusted gross income of $300,000 or more.

The Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act supports key Eastern Mediterranean nations—Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel—as strategic partners for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The bill directs the U.S. to prioritize diplomatic engagement, energy security, and defense cooperation in the region. It also mandates several reports to Congress detailing implementation, multilateral initiatives, and potential expansions of successful U.S.-Israel partnership models to other regional allies.

The Veterans Scam And Fraud Evasion Act of 2025, or VSAFE Act, establishes a dedicated Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This officer will centralize the VA's efforts to prevent, report, and respond to fraud and scams targeting veterans. The role includes developing guidance, promoting reporting resources, and coordinating with other federal agencies to better protect veterans and their families.

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 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 Afterschool ACCESS Act creates a new federal tax deduction for property owners who donate the free use of their property or vehicles to qualified community learning centers. This deduction specifically covers the use of real property for educational purposes or vehicles used for student transportation. The goal is to encourage support for afterschool programs by providing a financial incentive for property donations.

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 American Dream Act establishes a temporary federal income tax exclusion for capital gains realized by individuals aged 65 or older when they sell their real property to a first-time homebuyer. This incentive is designed to encourage seniors to sell their homes to new buyers, provided the sale price does not exceed $500,000 and certain residency requirements are met. This exclusion is effective for sales occurring between 2027 and 2031.

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.

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 Justice for Exploited Children Act significantly strengthens penalties for child labor violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This legislation introduces harsher criminal penalties, including substantial fines and imprisonment, for willful or repeated offenses. It also dramatically increases the civil monetary penalties for all child labor violations, especially those resulting in serious injury or death to a minor employee.