Legislative Activity

This resolution commemorates the 13 U.S. servicemembers killed during the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan. It formally condemns the Biden-Harris administration for its handling of the withdrawal, citing failures in planning, security, and accountability. The measure denounces the administration's decisions as a dereliction of duty that compromised national security and abandoned American allies.

The Border Patrol Overtime Parity Act removes the GS-12 grade restriction currently required for certain overtime pay eligibility. This legislation ensures that more Border Patrol agents qualify for overtime compensation regardless of their specific grade level.

The Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operational Test, Evaluation, and Training Corridor Act directs the Secretary of Defense to establish specialized corridors within U.S. airspace for testing and training on drone and counter-drone technologies. This initiative aims to accelerate the development, integration, and deployment of advanced autonomous systems, sensors, and weapon capabilities. By utilizing both new and existing facilities, the Act seeks to streamline the field-readiness of critical defense technologies in realistic operational environments.

The D.C. Taxing Authority Review Act requires explicit congressional approval for any District of Columbia legislation that imposes or increases taxes or fees, or relates to Title 47 of the D.C. Code. Under this bill, such acts will no longer take effect automatically after the standard review period but must instead be passed by a joint resolution of Congress. Additionally, the legislation establishes expedited, one-hour debate limits in the Senate for these specific approval resolutions.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act authorizes $6 million in annual grants over seven years to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. These funds will support the National Law Enforcement Museum’s public education, community outreach, and officer safety and wellness programs. As a condition of the grant, the museum must provide free admission to law enforcement officers and their families, as well as dedicated free hours for the general public.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 1225 Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The facility will now be known as the "Colonel Edward Shames Post Office Building." This designation will be used in all future federal references to the building.

This act, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, prohibits the Secretary of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed rule regarding heat injury and illness prevention published in August 2024. This restriction extends to any future standard substantially similar to the one proposed.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The Ratepayer Protection Act establishes a new federal standard requiring electric utilities to ensure large industrial customers (100 MW or more) fully cover the costs of necessary infrastructure upgrades. This mandates that large-load customers provide financial assurances before construction begins, protecting existing ratepayers from bearing the risk of future contract terminations. States must consider and adopt this standard within two years, unless they have already implemented similar requirements.

The TRUTH in Coverage Act of 2026 mandates that group health plans and insurance issuers covering "sex-rejecting procedures" must also provide comprehensive coverage for restorative care to address the resulting physical and psychological harms. The bill establishes strict standards to ensure that such restorative services are not subject to more restrictive financial requirements or treatment limitations than other standard medical and surgical benefits.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Advancing Water Research and Collaboration (AWRC) Act of 2025 updates the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to formally integrate the artificial intelligence industry into national water research efforts. The bill authorizes $16 million annually from 2026 through 2029 to support regional and interstate water research initiatives. Additionally, it restructures funding allocations to prioritize collaborative projects that address complex, multi-state water challenges.

The Chloe Cole Act of 2026 establishes a federal private right of action allowing individuals to sue healthcare professionals and institutions for damages related to gender-transition medical interventions performed on them as minors. The bill permits lawsuits regardless of when the intervention occurred and sets a statute of limitations extending 25 years past the individual's 18th birthday. Additionally, it mandates strict liability for such interventions performed after the Act's enactment.

The Safe Cloud Storage Act establishes federal standards for law enforcement agencies that use private vendors to store digital evidence of child pornography and child obscenity. The bill mandates rigorous cybersecurity and data handling requirements for these vendors while providing them with limited liability protections. Additionally, it sets clear protocols for evidence retention and oversight to ensure the secure management of sensitive investigative materials.

The Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Integrity Act amends the organization’s federal charter to formally define membership eligibility. The bill restricts membership to adult human females, establishing a biological definition for the term "female" based on reproductive system development.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and processors from assigning specific merchant category codes to firearms retailers. This legislation aims to protect consumer privacy by preventing the tracking of firearm and ammunition purchases through specialized financial classification. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing these provisions and reporting annually on compliance.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 10660 Page Avenue in Fairfax, Virginia, as the "Congressman Gerald E. Connolly Post Office Building." All official federal references to this location will be updated to reflect this new name.

The Federal Jobs for STARs Act of 2026 aims to expand federal employment opportunities for skilled workers without bachelor’s degrees by removing unnecessary educational requirements. The bill directs the Office of Personnel Management to prioritize skills-based hiring, create dedicated job search pathways, and study new training and educational support programs for these employees.

This bill authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the collective heroism of the individuals who defended Bataan, Corregidor, and other locations in the Pacific theater during World War II. The medal honors the extraordinary sacrifice of U.S. service members and Filipino forces who fought and endured imprisonment by Imperial Japan. Following the presentation, the medal will be permanently displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The legislation also allows for the production and sale of bronze duplicate medals.

The GRACE for Military Survivors Act extends the window for military survivors to contribute death benefits to a Roth IRA or Coverdell education savings account from one year to three years. This change applies to benefits received on or after the date of enactment, and retroactively covers benefits received since October 7, 2001. This provides survivors with more time to utilize these tax-advantaged savings options.