Legislative Activity

The Energy Bills Relief Act is a comprehensive bill designed to lower energy costs for American families, accelerate the deployment of low-cost, clean energy, and modernize the nation's electricity grid. It achieves this by reversing harmful policies against renewables, expanding energy assistance programs, streamlining grid connection processes, and increasing transparency in utility regulation. Ultimately, the legislation aims to create a more reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy system while ensuring communities have a stronger voice in energy development.

The Feeding Families Not Fear Act of 2026 establishes a nutrition assistance program for lawfully present noncitizens who are currently ineligible for SNAP benefits due to their immigration status. This initiative provides eligible individuals with monthly food assistance via EBT cards, mirroring the benefits and standards of the regular SNAP program. The bill authorizes $3 billion in annual funding through 2029 to ensure food security for these households.

The MAWS Act of 2026 establishes a two-year pilot program to incentivize the removal of invasive blue catfish from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. By providing funding to pet food and animal feed manufacturers, the program encourages the purchase of blue catfish from local watermen at set prices. Additionally, the act mandates improved data collection and reporting to better track the species' abundance and assess the program's environmental and economic impact.

The DIGITAL Applications Act mandates that the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture establish online portals to streamline the submission and processing of applications for communications infrastructure on federal lands. By digitizing the Form 299 process, this legislation aims to accelerate the deployment of communications facilities on public and National Forest System lands.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 strengthens U.S. policy by imposing mandatory sanctions on foreign persons and financial institutions that support Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, drone, and terrorist activities. The bill specifically targets Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors to cut off funding for these malign programs. Additionally, it expands the State Department’s "Rewards for Justice" program to incentivize the reporting of individuals who evade these sanctions.

This resolution formally honors the life and enduring legacy of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Louis Burns Jackson, Sr. It recognizes his significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, including his work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his founding of Operation PUSH. The bill specifically urges the President to order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in his memory.

The PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026 mandates comprehensive, cost-free insurance coverage for HIV prevention services (PrEP and PEP) across private health plans, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and veteran health programs. The bill prohibits insurers from denying coverage or increasing premiums based on the use of HIV prevention medication and establishes robust patient confidentiality protections. Additionally, it authorizes national public health education campaigns and provides grant funding to expand access to prevention services for uninsured and underinsured populations.

The Maryland Whole Watershed Program Federal Partnership Act authorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to serve as an advisory member of the Maryland Whole Watershed Program’s State Management Team. This partnership facilitates enhanced coordination between federal, state, and local entities to provide essential technical and financial support for restoration projects throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2026 aims to increase transparency and security in U.S. elections. It closes loopholes to ban foreign national spending in elections, mandates disclosure for "dark money" political spending, and requires clear funding disclosures on political ads. The bill also centralizes legal challenges to campaign finance laws in Washington, D.C., for faster resolution.

This resolution honors the life, leadership, and enduring legacy of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. It recognizes his pivotal role as a civil rights leader, his groundbreaking political campaigns, and his global advocacy for human rights and equality. The measure encourages all Americans to continue his work by moving forward with hope rather than fear and division.

The Direct File Act of 2026 establishes a permanent, free, government-owned online tax filing system within the IRS, ensuring taxpayers have a simplified and accessible way to file their returns. The bill prohibits the Treasury from entering into agreements that restrict the government's ability to provide these services and mandates the integration of state tax filing options. Additionally, it streamlines the tax process by setting new filing deadlines for employer information returns to improve efficiency for all taxpayers.

This resolution officially recognizes Black History Month and adopts "A Century of Black History Commemorations" as the theme for 2026. It honors the contributions of Black Americans by establishing categories for "Unsung Souls" and "Righteous Intercessors." Ultimately, the bill affirms that Black history commemorations are essential for a complete national narrative and inspiring future progress toward liberty and justice for all.

The Tariff Free Farming Act aims to stabilize farming costs by capping tariffs on essential agricultural inputs imported from countries with normal trade relations. This legislation locks in the tariff rates for critical items like seed, fertilizer, fuel, and machinery at the levels in effect on January 19, 2025. This prevents the government from imposing higher duties on these necessary supplies, regardless of other legal authorities.

The Full-Body Restraint Prohibition Act bans the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from purchasing or using any four-point or five-point restraints that completely immobilize a person. The legislation mandates strict reporting requirements to Congress detailing compliance and any prohibited restraint usage. Violations by DHS personnel can result in termination.

The Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 aims to support the Iranian people by expanding access to uncensored internet and communication technologies. The bill strengthens U.S. policy against regime repression by mandating investigations into human rights abuses and establishing a new Treasury initiative to combat corruption and money laundering by Iranian officials. Additionally, it enhances congressional oversight of sanctions and promotes independent media to counter state-sponsored censorship.

The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2026 establishes a federal process for issuing Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) that temporarily prohibit individuals deemed a danger from possessing firearms. The bill allows family members or law enforcement to petition federal courts for temporary or long-term orders based on evidence of imminent risk of harm. Furthermore, it creates a federal grant program to incentivize and support states and tribes in implementing their own qualifying ERPO laws. Finally, it mandates that individuals subject to these federal orders surrender their firearms and ensures these orders are recognized across state lines.

The Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2026 addresses the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by eliminating a specific work requirement exemption and related state funding provisions. Congress finds that existing SNAP work requirements are ineffective at reducing poverty and create significant barriers to food assistance, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. This legislation aims to streamline access to benefits by removing these administrative hurdles.

This bill establishes the National Council on African American History and Culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council will consist of 12 presidentially appointed members tasked with advising on national policy related to preserving and celebrating African American history and culture. Its duties include monitoring relevant efforts, evaluating NEH programs, and submitting annual reports. The Council is set to terminate ten years after the law's enactment.

The Healthy Families Act establishes a national standard requiring most employers to provide employees with earned paid sick leave. Employees will accrue a minimum of one hour of paid time for every 30 hours worked, usable for personal or family health needs, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The Act prohibits employer retaliation for using this leave and ensures existing, more generous leave policies are not diminished.

This bill provides the funding and establishes the operational rules for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year 2026 across all major components, including intelligence, security operations, emergency management, and research. It allocates billions for agencies like TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, and CISA while imposing strict new requirements for congressional oversight, spending transparency, and management of federal grants. The legislation also includes specific policy directives, such as mandating security screening for senior officials and restricting certain intelligence and contracting activities.