Legislative Activity

The GusNIP Expansion Act of 2026 amends the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) to improve financing for nutrition incentive projects and expand the Produce Prescription Program. It establishes new cooperative agreements to scale existing statewide incentive programs while restructuring the produce prescription grants into pilot and expansion tracks. The bill also extends and modifies the program's authorized funding through 2032.

The No Funds for Forced Labor Act aims to prevent U.S. support for international financial institution loans that fund projects involving forced labor, particularly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It directs the Treasury Secretary to use U.S. influence to oppose such loans and requires annual reporting on these efforts. Congress asserts that international financial institutions should not fund entities credibly accused of using forced labor.

This bill, the Financial Stability Oversight Council Improvement Act of 2025, establishes new procedural hurdles for the FSOC before it can designate a nonbank financial company for stricter Federal Reserve supervision. The Council must first make an initial determination, in consultation with the company and its regulator, that other actions are insufficient to address the risk. This ensures that designation is a measure of last resort against threats to U.S. financial stability.

The HARM Act 2.0 addresses the continued threat posed by successor entities to the Wagner Group, which Congress finds are now integrated into the Russian Ministry of Defense. This bill mandates the Secretary of State to report on these successor groups, including the Africa Corps, and individuals who direct them. Ultimately, the legislation establishes a process for the executive branch to designate these entities as terrorist organizations and apply appropriate U.S. sanctions.

This resolution officially recognizes January 2026 as National Mentoring Month to honor the dedicated staff and volunteers in mentoring programs. It highlights the significant benefits of mentoring, such as boosting educational achievement and reducing juvenile delinquency. The bill encourages the growth of quality mentoring programs nationwide to ensure more young people have supportive adult connections.

The Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act aims to permanently expand and simplify Medicare coverage for telehealth services. This bill removes geographic restrictions for patients receiving virtual care and enhances flexibilities for critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, and FQHCs. Furthermore, it permanently allows certain essential services, like behavioral health, to be delivered via audio-only technology.

The Foster Care Stabilization Act of 2026 establishes a three-year demonstration grant program to provide emergency relief and improve pre-placement services for youth awaiting foster care placement. Up to three agencies can receive grants of up to $1 million each to offer direct support, such as essential necessities and crisis assistance. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will oversee the program and report findings to Congress.

The Financial Reporting Threshold Modernization Act increases the dollar thresholds for mandatory currency transaction and suspicious activity reports to reduce administrative burdens on financial institutions. The bill also mandates periodic inflation adjustments for these thresholds and requires the Treasury Department to review and modernize reporting forms to improve efficiency. Additionally, it extends the requirement for the FinCEN Director to provide annual testimony before Congress.

This act expands the investigative authority of the U.S. Secret Service to specifically target unlicensed money transmitting businesses and money laundering related to cybercrime. It also modifies the term length for the Director of FinCEN and mandates a GAO report on law enforcement's ability to deter money laundering in cyber activities. Overall, the bill strengthens federal efforts to combat financial crimes facilitated by technology.

The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act ensures that service-connected disability compensation received by veterans is excluded when calculating income for eligibility in certain federal housing programs. This change aims to increase access to affordable housing for disabled veterans. The bill also mandates a report to Congress reviewing how HUD currently treats this compensation across its programs.

The Agriculture and National Security Act of 2026 formally recognizes food and agriculture as critical to national security. This bill establishes a Senior Advisor for National Security within the USDA to prioritize national security concerns alongside homeland security. It also mandates regular reporting to Congress on identified vulnerabilities, such as foreign influence and data control, and authorizes personnel exchanges with key defense and intelligence agencies.

The Expanding AI Voices Act establishes a new competitive grant program administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This program aims to significantly broaden participation and capacity in U.S. artificial intelligence research, education, and workforce development. Awards will prioritize institutions that have historically received less federal AI research funding, including HBCUs, MSIs, and Tribal Colleges. Funds must support activities like program expansion, faculty development, access to research resources, and integrating ethical practices into AI training.

The PORCUPINE Act amends the Arms Export Control Act to formally include Taiwan in existing certification and reporting requirements. It also mandates a feasibility study for expediting the licensing process for allied nations transferring U.S.-origin military equipment to Taiwan. The legislation is intended to enhance security cooperation while affirming that it does not alter existing U.S. policy as defined by the Taiwan Relations Act.

The Veterans’ Bill of Rights Act of 2026 formally codifies the fundamental rights of veterans to receive respectful, transparent, and timely access to VA health care and benefits. This legislation mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs integrate these rights into all policies, training, and communications to ensure consistent accountability. By establishing these clear standards, the Act reinforces the nation’s commitment to supporting those who have served.

The Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress and their immediate families from purchasing new securities issued by publicly traded companies. It requires advance public disclosure for any sale of existing covered investments, with a mandatory 7-to-14-day notice period before the transaction. Violations result in significant financial penalties, including disgorgement of any net gains, payable by the Member personally.

This resolution expresses strong support for the Iranian people protesting for freedom, democracy, and basic human rights against the repressive Islamic Republic. It condemns the regime's brutal crackdown on demonstrators and demands an end to violence and the release of political prisoners. Furthermore, it urges the U.S. government to work with allies to deter further lethal violence against protesters.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 targets the increasing threat posed by organized theft groups impacting retail and the national supply chain. This bill strengthens federal law by expanding money laundering statutes and lowering thresholds for property crimes related to theft. Crucially, it establishes a new federal coordination center within Homeland Security Investigations to align efforts across all levels of law enforcement and the private sector to combat these cross-jurisdictional crimes.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

The Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices (STAND) Act mandates an annual preventative health evaluation for veterans with spinal cord injuries or disorders. This comprehensive assessment will cover risks, pain management, nutrition, and the need for advanced assistive technologies, including neuromodulation devices. The VA is required to consult with specialists and manufacturers when developing implementation guidelines. Furthermore, the Secretary must report biennially to Congress on the utilization and outcomes of these evaluations and assistive technologies.

The AI OVERWATCH Act establishes strict new licensing requirements for exporting advanced integrated circuits to designated countries of concern, including China and Russia. This legislation mandates detailed national security certifications to Congress before any license can be approved for these high-performance technologies. Furthermore, the bill creates an exemption process for trusted U.S. companies while terminating existing licenses for these sensitive exports.