Legislative Activity

The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2026 establishes a dedicated unit within the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute criminal trade activities, such as smuggling, duty evasion, and trade-based money laundering. This legislation aims to bolster enforcement capacity through increased staffing, interagency collaboration, and the development of multi-jurisdictional responses. Additionally, it mandates annual reporting to Congress to ensure transparency and accountability in the government's efforts to protect American industry and labor.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the Honorable Kay Granger, celebrating her nearly 28 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives. It recognizes her historic achievements as a trailblazer for women in public office, her dedicated advocacy for national defense, and her lasting contributions to the city of Fort Worth, Texas.

The Deputy Darren Almendarez Act establishes a new federal crime for the illegal trafficking of catalytic converters. This legislation imposes significant fines and prison sentences for the unauthorized possession or sale of these devices, while providing clear exemptions for legitimate automotive repair, recycling, and manufacturing businesses.

The Parents Opt-in Protection Act requires schools to obtain prior written consent before collecting specific survey or evaluation data from students. This legislation amends existing law to ensure that participation in certain student surveys is voluntary and requires explicit parental or student permission.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.

The Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to mandate the destruction of imported goods that pose a significant public health risk and have been refused admission into the U.S. This legislation removes the option for owners to export these hazardous items and requires them to cover all destruction costs. Owners are granted due process through formal notice and hearing procedures before any destruction order is finalized.

This bill amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to expand background check requirements for individuals working with vulnerable populations. It specifically mandates checks for contractors and licensed or certified individuals working with organizations that contract with qualified entities. This broadens the scope beyond direct employees to include a wider range of personnel interacting with vulnerable groups.

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.

This resolution honors the life and public service of the late Senator Lindsey Graham while formally condemning Omar Suleiman for his public remarks celebrating the Senator's death. Additionally, the bill acknowledges Suleiman’s 2019 invitation to serve as a Guest Chaplain in the U.S. House and reaffirms support for efforts to address the perceived dangers of Sharia Law to American constitutional principles.

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, the Great American Outdoors Act 250, significantly reforms and renames the existing public lands restoration fund to the America’s Legacy Restoration Fund. It secures dedicated funding streams, primarily from energy revenues and new fees on foreign visitors, to address critical deferred maintenance across the National Park Service, Forest Service, and other public land agencies. The legislation establishes strict spending priorities for infrastructure repair while also creating pilot programs for enhancing outdoor recreation and sportsmen's access. Finally, it mandates increased transparency and accountability through standardized metrics and public reporting on all funded projects.

This Act establishes the **Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area** in Texas as a unit of the National Park System to conserve natural and cultural resources while expanding public recreation and strengthening the local economy. The management framework emphasizes a **voluntary partnership** between federal, state, and local entities, including private landowners. A key requirement is the development of an **Integrated Resource Management Plan** to guide all activities, with strict prohibitions against using eminent domain for land acquisition. The designation explicitly **saves existing state/local jurisdiction** and protects current private property uses, including infrastructure and resource extraction rights.

The Deport Alien Gang Members Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish new grounds for inadmissibility and deportability for noncitizens associated with criminal gangs. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to formally designate criminal organizations, mandates the detention of identified gang members, and restricts their eligibility for various forms of immigration relief.

This bill establishes the **WATER for Farmers Act** to address chronic water delivery shortfalls from Mexico under the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty. It mandates the imposition of escalating trade duties on Mexican goods if shortfalls occur, with revenue funding direct compensation for harmed South Texas agricultural producers. The Act also requires enhanced data collection to ensure transparency and enforcement of treaty obligations.

The Medal of Sacrifice Act establishes a new national medal to honor law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. This legislation creates a Commission to advise on the medal's design, presentation, and final eligibility decisions, particularly when there are findings of wrongdoing. The medal itself will feature specific symbolic elements and will be awarded to eligible fallen heroes.

This bill officially designates the "America 250 flag" as a national symbol to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It authorizes this special flag, featuring the number 250 within the circle of stars, to be flown alongside the U.S. flag at government buildings worldwide during the Semiquincentennial celebration. The act recognizes the flag as a symbol of the nation's founding and commitment to liberty.

The Monitor Accountability Act establishes new federal rules to increase oversight and transparency for court-appointed monitors overseeing state or local governments. This legislation sets limits on monitor compensation, imposes a five-year term limit for service, and requires public comment before an appointment is finalized. Furthermore, the Act mandates annual public accounting of services and fees for all active monitorships.

The Cashless Bail Reporting Act mandates that states and local governments receiving specific federal grants must report annual data on their use of cashless bail systems. This data includes the number of individuals released, subsequent failures to appear, and new arrests while on pretrial release. Furthermore, the Act requires the Attorney General to annually publish a list of jurisdictions that permit pretrial release without cash bail for certain offenses threatening public safety.

The GUARD Act expands the use of federal grant funds to help state, local, and tribal law enforcement investigate elder financial fraud, "pig butchering" scams, and general financial fraud. This legislation allows agencies to hire specialized staff, receive advanced training on emerging technologies, and acquire necessary investigative tools. Furthermore, the Act mandates comprehensive federal reports to Congress detailing the scope of these scams and the effectiveness of current enforcement efforts.

The Patients Before Monopolies Act aims to break up conflicts of interest within the healthcare industry by prohibiting entities from simultaneously owning a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) or insurer alongside a pharmacy. This legislation mandates the divestiture of such integrated businesses to foster competition and reduce prescription drug costs. It grants the FTC and DOJ significant authority to enforce this structural separation and allows civil actions, including by private citizens, to ensure compliance.