Legislative Activity

The Health Care for Energy Workers Act of 2025 expands medical benefit authorization under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. This legislation grants Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants the authority to prescribe and order necessary care, equipment, and supplies for eligible employees. This new authority is contingent upon compliance with state practice laws.

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.

The Support our Firefighters Act establishes paid rest and recuperation leave for federal wildland firefighters within the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. It also permanently waives overtime pay caps for these federal employees. Furthermore, the bill authorizes a limited transfer of funds between agency accounts to ensure continuity of base salary increases and associated premium pay for wildland firefighters.

The Right to Vote Act establishes the fundamental right of every citizen to vote in federal elections and prohibits governments from imposing undue burdens on this right. It sets strict standards for when a government action that diminishes or substantially impairs voting can be upheld, requiring it to be the least restrictive means of furthering an important governmental interest. The Act also authorizes private citizens to bring civil actions in federal court to challenge violations, with expedited proceedings and provisions for awarding attorney's fees.

This bill, the "No 911 Family Left Behind Act of 2026," amends existing law to provide an additional lump sum "catch-up" payment for certain eligible victims of state-sponsored terrorism who previously missed out on a payment. The legislation directs the Special Master to notify eligible claimants and authorize a specific payment amount based on their original judgment. Payments must be made quickly using necessary funds appropriated from the Treasury.

The Oversight of Temporary ICE Holding Cells Act establishes a strict limit on how long individuals can be held in temporary ICE holding rooms. This legislation prohibits detaining anyone in these secure areas for more than 12 hours. The goal is to ensure timely processing, transfer, or release from these initial confinement spaces.

This bill, the "Encouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Land Act," amends existing law to mandate six specific fee-free days annually for entry to federal recreational lands and waters. These free admission days are set to coincide with significant holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Veterans Day. The goal is to promote national pride and encourage public volunteerism by increasing access to these public lands.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to speed up the process of securing a first collective bargaining agreement after a union is certified. It establishes a mandatory timeline, including mediation and binding arbitration, if an agreement is not reached within 90 days of bargaining. This process is designed to prevent lengthy delays that currently weaken the union's position. The bill also requires a GAO report on current time-to-contract averages.

The VA Emergency Transportation Act expands VA reimbursement for veterans' emergency care by explicitly including emergency ambulance and air ambulance transportation as a covered service. This legislation renames the relevant section from "Emergency treatment" to "Emergency services" to reflect the broader scope. Crucially, it removes the previous restriction that limited reimbursement only to services provided outside of VA facilities.

The Disaster Ready Infrastructure Act of 2026 mandates that transportation planning organizations and states assess the vulnerability of their infrastructure to local natural disasters. This legislation requires identifying the most at-risk transportation facilities and prioritizing projects to ensure critical routes remain operational before, during, and after a disaster.

The Public Lands Integrity Act amends the Byrd Rule to classify any provision resulting in the sale, disposal, or transfer of federal lands as "extraneous." This change allows senators to challenge and potentially remove such land transfer provisions from budget reconciliation bills. The act aims to protect federal lands from being sold or transferred through the reconciliation process.

The Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act updates tax-exempt bond rules to support economic growth. It expands financing options and increases dollar limits for qualified small issue bonds used in manufacturing and production, including intangible property. Additionally, the bill significantly raises the financing limit for first-time farmers purchasing farmland and equipment. These provisions are subject to future inflation adjustments.

The Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act of 2026 authorizes $15 billion annually for ten years to support affordable housing infrastructure specifically in high-cost areas. The bill also mandates the Department of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a comprehensive assessment of how Area Median Income (AMI) is calculated and used in federal housing programs. This assessment aims to find ways to optimize AMI calculations to make housing more affordable for low-income families in urban areas.

This act officially establishes the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and designates its location on the National Mall, requiring the transfer of land jurisdiction to the Smithsonian Institution. The museum is mandated to preserve and present the history and achievements of biological women in the United States. Furthermore, the legislation requires that exhibits and programs reflect diverse political viewpoints and authentic experiences of women, as guided by a broad array of knowledgeable sources.

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2025 establishes a new EPA pilot grant program to improve recycling access, focusing specifically on underserved communities. These competitive grants will fund infrastructure projects, such as building transfer stations or expanding curbside service, using a "hub-and-spoke" model. Priority is given to projects located far from existing materials recovery facilities, with grants ranging from $\$500,000$ to $\$15$ million.

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting January 1, 2026. This coverage is specifically for testing or treatment related to COVID-19, the flu, RSV, strep throat, or during a declared public health emergency. The bill outlines payment structures, generally covering 80% of the cost, and prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.

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 Act prohibits the use of federal funds for specific settlement payments, including those related to the *Trump, et al. v. IRS, et al.* case. It places new restrictions on the Judgment Fund, barring payments to high-ranking officials, their relatives, and certain entities for specific types of claims. The bill also establishes strict reporting and notification requirements for large government compromise settlements.

The Fisher House Availability Act of 2026 expands access to temporary lodging at VA facilities, known as Fisher Houses, for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families who must travel significant distances for medical care. This legislation codifies the definition of a Fisher House and ensures lodging is provided on a space-available basis. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for certain pension payment limitations.

This Act establishes the **Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park** to commemorate the life and philanthropic legacy of Julius Rosenwald, particularly his partnership with Booker T. Washington to build over 5,000 schools for African American children in the segregated South. The bill designates specific sites for the park, including the former Sears complex in Chicago, and directs the National Park Service to establish a national network connecting remaining Rosenwald Schools across the country. This effort aims to preserve and interpret the profound impact these schools had on education and civil rights history.