Legislative Activity

The Federal Naming Standards Act prohibits federal buildings, facilities, and programs from being named after elected officials or political appointees until at least 10 years after they leave office. This legislation aims to prevent the politicization of public property by establishing strict waiting periods and oversight by agency inspectors general. It includes specific exemptions for deceased individuals and historical or educational contexts.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 16 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Drive in Willingboro, New Jersey, as the "James A. Cotten Post Office." This action ensures the facility will be formally known by this name in all federal records and documents.

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 AADAPT Act expands access to specialized dementia care by authorizing grants for public and nonprofit health centers to integrate these services into their programs. Additionally, the bill extends federal funding authorization through 2031 to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of these critical health outcomes.

The Interagency Council on Affordable Housing Act of 2026 establishes a new independent federal agency tasked with coordinating a national strategy to increase the supply of affordable housing and improve rental market fairness. The Council will unite various federal departments to streamline housing programs, provide technical assistance to state and local governments, and ensure better access to housing resources for low-income populations. Through research, reporting, and interagency collaboration, the Council aims to foster a unified national approach to addressing homelessness and housing affordability.

This bill officially designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Newton, New Jersey, as the "Anthony 'Tony' J. Gallopo VA Clinic." All official federal documents and records will be updated to reflect this new name.

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.

This resolution designates July 10th as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day to honor the essential, high-risk work performed by these skilled professionals. It pays tribute to the lineworkers who provide critical service during emergencies and recognizes those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to significantly strengthen federal student aid by doubling the maximum Pell Grant award and funding it through mandatory appropriations. This bill also expands eligibility to include Dreamer students, restores Pell Grant eligibility for students with certain scholarships, and reforms Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) rules to make regaining aid easier after academic setbacks. These changes are designed to stabilize and expand access to postsecondary education for millions of students.

This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of women enrolling in U.S. military service academies, recognizing their significant growth and distinguished achievements since 1976. It honors the thousands of women graduates who have served with distinction across all branches of the armed forces and in national service. The bill also expresses support for designating a "50 Years of Women at the Service Academies Day."

The Prior Authorization Accountability Act mandates that group health plans and insurance issuers publicly report detailed data on their prior authorization approval and denial rates, including appeal outcomes and processing times. This transparency requirement aims to give consumers and regulators a clearer view of how prior authorization decisions are made. Furthermore, the bill enhances plan comparisons on health insurance Exchanges by requiring the inclusion of historical prescription drug cost and coverage data for previously offered plans.

The Better Care, Better Cost Act mandates that states must use performance data when automatically enrolling individuals into Medicaid managed care plans, replacing simple equitable distribution. States are required to develop a system to score managed care entities based on cost, outcomes, and satisfaction measures. This aims to ensure individuals are placed into higher-performing plans by default, with results reported annually starting in 2028.

The Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act of 2026 aims to redirect funding by eliminating federal tax incentives for private school scholarships. Specifically, it repeals the tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations and removes the income exclusion for certain scholarship amounts received. These changes are set to take effect starting in 2027.

The Student Loan Refinancing Act of 2026 establishes a new federal program allowing borrowers to refinance eligible federal student loans to current interest rates while keeping original loan terms. This act ensures borrowers who refinance do not lose credit toward existing income-driven repayment or Public Service Loan Forgiveness progress. The Secretary of Education is mandated to launch this refinancing program within 30 days of the bill's enactment.

The "Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2025" aims to combat trade-related crimes by establishing a specialized task force within the Department of Justice, enhancing the investigation and prosecution of illegal activities related to imports and exports. It mandates the Attorney General to develop partnerships, provide training, and submit annual reports to Congress on the progress and financial needs in addressing these crimes. The act allocates \$20 million for fiscal year 2026 to support these efforts, with a focus on bolstering the Criminal Division's capacity to prosecute trade-related offenses.

The COOL Online Act mandates that internet sellers conspicuously disclose a product's country of origin and the seller's principal place of business for certain goods sold online. This requirement excludes agricultural products, most food and drugs, used items, and sales by very small sellers. Enforcement falls under the Federal Trade Commission, with implementation guided by an interagency agreement.

This act simplifies annual reporting for employee benefit plans by modernizing the Form 5500 filing process. It extends the filing deadline and allows for the use of electronic signatures on required reports. These changes aim to streamline compliance for plan administrators.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue commemorative gold and silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and survivors, with designs selected in consultation with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges from the sale of these coins will be paid directly to the Memorial and Museum to support its operations and maintenance.

This bill, the Mullica River Watershed Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2026, directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the Mullica River, Wading River, Batsto River, and their tributaries in New Jersey for potential inclusion under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Secretary must complete this study and submit a report to Congress within three years of receiving funding. This legislation initiates the formal review process to determine if these waters possess outstanding natural, cultural, or recreational values warranting federal protection.

This resolution calls for a fundamental shift in U.S. trade policy to prioritize American workers, family farmers, and domestic production over corporate interests. It asserts that decades of corporate-centered trade have harmed communities and calls for a new framework built on strong labor, environmental, and domestic manufacturing standards. The bill demands that future trade policy actively support fair wages, strengthen "Buy America" requirements, and penalize offshoring.