Legislative Activity

The Youth Poisoning Protection Act bans the sale of consumer products containing 10% or more sodium nitrite by weight to prevent accidental or intentional poisoning. This legislation classifies such high-concentration products as banned hazardous substances under the Consumer Product Safety Act. The ban includes specific exemptions for industrial use, as well as regulated food, drug, and cosmetic products.

The End H–1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. visa system, including a three-year suspension of new H-1B visas and the elimination of work authorizations for foreign students. The bill introduces strict reforms such as a $200,000 wage floor, a $100,000 labor import fee, and the removal of derivative visa status for family members. Additionally, it prohibits federal agencies from hiring nonimmigrant visa holders and significantly restricts the ability of temporary visa holders to change or adjust their immigration status while in the country.

The **Patients Deserve Price Tags Act** aims to increase healthcare affordability by mandating comprehensive price transparency across hospitals, laboratories, imaging centers, and ambulatory surgical centers. The bill requires these providers and health insurance plans to publicly disclose negotiated rates, cash prices, and standard charges in standardized, machine-readable formats. Additionally, it empowers patients with real-time cost-estimation tools and requires providers to issue detailed, itemized bills before initiating any collection actions.

The Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act aims to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the FAA's aircraft certification process. It mandates the FAA to publish plans, establish standard expected timelines for certification milestones, and set clear criteria for issue papers. Furthermore, the bill updates guidance on delegating certification work and affirms Congress's support for U.S. leadership in aviation innovation.

This resolution expresses the Senate's formal opposition to any presidential pardon, commutation, or clemency for Samuel Bankman-Fried following his conviction for massive financial fraud. It affirms that his 25-year prison sentence is a necessary measure of justice for his crimes and underscores the Senate's commitment to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of the U.S. financial system.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Olin Graham, recognizing his decades of dedicated military service and his impactful career in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. It pays tribute to his commitment to national security, the rule of law, and the people of South Carolina. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow for his passing and extends its deepest condolences to his family.

The **Protecting American Taxpayers Act** is a comprehensive legislative package designed to combat fraud, reduce government waste, and ensure the integrity of federal spending programs. The bill implements stricter oversight for child care and health care payments, permanently bars those convicted of pandemic-related fraud from future Small Business Administration assistance, and rescinds unspent COVID-19 relief funds to reduce the national deficit. Additionally, it enhances whistleblower protections for government contractors, strengthens data-sharing to intercept improper payments, and establishes new safeguards against foreign influence and deep fake scams.

This bill strengthens the oversight and administration of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership by mandating stricter performance evaluations and financial monitoring. It establishes clear, non-discretionary procedures for placing underperforming centers on probation and requires the rapid selection of new operators if deficiencies are not corrected. These measures ensure greater accountability and fiscal responsibility across the program.

The **American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026** aims to accelerate energy and infrastructure development by streamlining federal permitting processes. The bill establishes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the lead agency for natural gas pipeline reviews, sets strict timelines for interagency coordination, and limits the scope of environmental reviews under NEPA. Additionally, it reforms water quality certification requirements and restricts judicial review to prevent project delays, fostering a more predictable regulatory environment for energy and mining projects.

This Act modernizes the process for federally insured credit unions to switch to private deposit insurance. It removes the requirement for a minimum 20% membership turnout for the conversion vote to pass. Additionally, it standardizes the advance notice period for such a vote to a minimum of 90 days.

The America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes and modifies the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through fiscal year 2033, increasing its authorized funding to \$2.0 billion. This legislation broadens eligible lands for maintenance projects and prioritizes those receiving significant private donations. It also enhances transparency by requiring multi-year project lists and actively encouraging public contributions to address deferred maintenance across federal lands.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 201 East Grant Avenue in Georgetown, Ohio. The building will now be known as the "Ulysses S. Grant Post Office Building." This designation standardizes its name across all federal records and documents.

The Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 mandates the public reporting of "other transaction agreements" (OTAs) on USASpending.gov to increase transparency in federal spending. It requires the automatic transmission of OTA data to the public website within three years, alongside annual reports detailing any unreported spending. The bill also refines existing transparency laws by updating data quality requirements and establishing a clearer, regularly updated list of agencies responsible for reporting spending data.

The SAFE for Kids Act of 2026 requires commercial entities that primarily distribute sexual material harmful to minors to implement age verification systems to block access by minors. These entities must use digital identification or a commercial age verification system, and cannot retain any collected data. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice are tasked with civil and criminal enforcement, respectively, and individuals are granted the right to file private lawsuits.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the volunteers and communities that supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The Canteen was a massive, entirely volunteer-run operation that fed approximately six million service members traveling across the country. The original gold medal will be permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. The bill also allows the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the medal.

This resolution honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for Michigan. It recognizes his decades in Congress, highlighting key legislative achievements such as co-sponsoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and leading significant banking reforms. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow and adjourns in his memory.

This act modifies percentage depletion rules for small oil and gas producers, specifically for marginal properties. It introduces a new calculation for the depletion rate, removes existing taxable income limits, and doubles the daily oil production eligible for the deduction. These changes are designed to support small producers and rural jobs, taking effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late former United States Senator John Seymour of California. It recognizes his extensive public service, highlighting his career in business, local government, and his tenure in the U.S. Senate. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow and directs that official copies of this resolution be delivered to his family.

The Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act of 2026 officially designates the Great Lakes Commission as a recognized Regional Great Lakes Partnership. This designation amends existing federal law to formally include the Commission, which represents the eight Great Lakes states.

This bill mandates that the United States Postal Service assign a single, unique ZIP Code to each of 75 specified communities. The USPS must complete this designation process within one year of the bill's enactment.