Legislative Activity

This bill, the "Child Care Modernization Act of 2026," reauthorizes and significantly updates the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. It aims to increase child care quality and access by updating eligibility definitions, strengthening state planning requirements, and establishing new grant programs for supply expansion and facility improvements. Key changes include mandating that payment rates cover the full cost of care and enhancing support for the child care workforce.

The Improving Travel for American Families Act directs the TSA to establish a two-year pilot program at select airports to create alternative security screening lanes for families traveling with children aged 12 and under. This initiative aims to ease the security process for American families during air travel. The TSA is granted flexibility to quickly implement these new screening approaches.

This bill establishes the requirement for the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit an annual report on the National Cemetery Administration to Congress. The report must detail burial statistics, cemetery operations, construction projects, and grant funding. The VA is also required to make this comprehensive report publicly available online.

This bill, the "Putting Patients First by Strengthening Provider Accountability in FECA Act," grants the Secretary of Labor the authority to suspend payments to medical providers convicted of fraud related to federal or state healthcare benefit programs. This measure aims to strengthen accountability within the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) medical benefits system.

The Valuing Employee Stock Today Act modernizes rules for Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) by allowing direct distribution of S corporation stock to employees. It also clarifies that Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are exempt from being included in the regular rate of pay calculation for overtime purposes. This legislation aims to encourage broader employee equity participation.

This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require airlines to include strollers in their contracts of carriage and apply a "handle with care" designation. The FAA must also establish a specific liability limit of \$2,175 for any damage caused to a stroller by an air carrier. These regulations must be finalized within 180 days of the law's enactment.

This act establishes grant programs to enhance suicide prevention efforts using data and technology. It directs HHS to fund agencies using data analysis for targeted outreach to at-risk individuals across the general population. Additionally, the VA must create a grant program for organizations to develop AI-driven predictive models to identify suicide risk factors among veterans.

This bill amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to establish a ten-year statute of limitations for both civil and criminal export control violations. This ensures that authorities have up to a decade from the date of an offense to initiate enforcement actions or file criminal charges.

The Workforce Recovery and Resilience Act establishes a federal program to provide temporary income support and retraining opportunities for workers impacted by public health emergencies. It offers weekly cash payments to eligible unemployed or underemployed individuals and subsidizes employers who maintain hours for their staff. Additionally, the Act expands federal grants to support employment and training activities related to substance use disorders in affected communities.

The Special Events Program Alignment Act of 2026 mandates the transfer of the Department of Homeland Security’s Special Events Program to the Office of Situational Awareness. This transition, required within 180 days of enactment, includes the relocation of all associated personnel, assets, records, and funding to streamline departmental oversight.

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and underscores the critical need for consistent, full funding. It highlights how government funding lapses jeopardize national security, disrupt essential operations, and negatively impact the personnel tasked with protecting the American people. Ultimately, the resolution calls for immediate action to ensure DHS maintains the resources necessary to defend against a heightened domestic threat environment.

The Neonatal Care Transparency Act of 2026 aims to ensure parents receive clear information regarding life-saving care for extremely premature infants. It mandates that hospitals and obstetric practitioners publicly disclose their specific policies on providing intensive care for very premature babies. Failure to comply with these transparency requirements will result in the loss of federal Medicaid and CHIP funding.

The FLEX Act amends federal charter school funding laws to increase required funding reservations and expand allowable uses for grants, including supporting program additions at high-quality schools. It also updates grant requirements, streamlines administrative burdens, and mandates the Secretary of Education to seek input from charter school operators before issuing new rules. These changes aim to enhance support for the development, expansion, and operation of charter schools nationwide.

This bill amends existing law to mandate that all federal contractors and their subcontractors must participate in the E-Verify program. This requirement ensures that every entity working on a U.S. government contract verifies the employment eligibility of its workforce through the E-Verify system.

The Holiday Bonus Tax Relief Act of 2025 excludes qualified holiday bonuses, up to \$2,500 per person annually, from federal income tax. This exclusion applies to bonuses paid in January, November, or December. The \$2,500 limit will be adjusted for inflation starting in 2027.

This Act establishes mandatory participation for all relevant Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Intelligence Community Civilian Joint Duty Program. This ensures DHS intelligence elements engage in rotational assignments within the broader intelligence community.

The Improving Veteran Access to Care Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit a comprehensive plan to Congress for improving health care appointment scheduling. This plan must detail necessary actions, resources, and timelines to enhance efficiency and patient experience. Key objectives include developing a system allowing both staff and patients to view available appointments and establishing a self-service platform for veterans to fully schedule, request referrals for, and manage their appointments online. The VA must fully implement this plan within a specified timeframe and report on its progress to Congress.

The Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 reaffirms the U.S. policy to strictly enforce existing sanctions against Iran due to its destabilizing activities, including weapons development and support for terrorism. This bill specifically removes the automatic expiration date ("sunset") from key provisions of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. By repealing the sunset clause, the Act ensures these critical sanctions remain permanently in effect.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the adoption tax credit to $25,000 and establishes a new tax credit for qualified in vitro fertilization (IVF) expenses. The increased adoption credit will be adjusted for inflation after 2025. The IVF expense credit covers medical care costs related to IVF.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to significantly increase the tax credits available for both families and employers related to dependent and child care expenses. Specifically, it doubles the maximum expense limits for the household and dependent care services credit claimed by individuals. Additionally, it raises the maximum credit amount available to employers for providing child care benefits from $\$150,000$ to $\$400,000$.