Legislative Activity

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 Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act expands the advanced manufacturing production tax credit to include several new critical minerals, such as copper, silicon, and uranium. The bill also allows extraction costs for domestically sourced ore to qualify for the credit when refined into these minerals. Finally, it repeals the existing credit reduction previously applied to metallurgical coal.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 aims to combat sophisticated, cross-jurisdictional organized retail and supply chain theft. It achieves this by strengthening federal laws regarding money laundering and stolen property offenses, including lowering monetary thresholds for prosecution. Furthermore, the bill establishes a dedicated Center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate federal, state, and local enforcement efforts against these criminal organizations.

This resolution expresses strong support and appreciation for America's law enforcement professionals, recognizing their daily service and sacrifice. It honors officers who have been injured or killed in the line of duty and highlights recent crime reduction successes attributed to their efforts. The bill calls for increased support, including better equipment, training, mental health resources, and tougher penalties for assaulting officers, to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

The Guard the Skies Act authorizes the National Guard to protect critical facilities and assets from threats posed by unmanned aircraft (drones). This authority is established at the request of a state's governor and requires consultation with the Secretary of Defense. The bill outlines specific conditions under which National Guard members can be activated and take action against threatening drones.

The GUARD Act establishes federal guidelines for artificial intelligence chatbots, focusing on protecting minors. It mandates that companies implement reasonable age verification processes for all users and strictly prohibits minors from accessing "AI companions" designed for emotional interaction. The bill also creates criminal penalties for designing chatbots that solicit minors for explicit conduct or promote self-harm and violence, alongside imposing strict data security and disclosure requirements on covered entities.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 111 South Tremont Street in Tremonton, Utah, as the "Sorensen-Estrada Post Office." It further mandates that all future federal references to this location must use the new name.

The DATA Act of 2026 establishes a new type of utility called a Consumer-Regulated Electric Utility (CREU) designed to serve new, isolated electric loads independently of the existing grid. CREUs are fully exempt from regulation under the Federal Power Act, FERC, DOE, and PURPA, provided they remain physically islanded from the bulk-power system. This legislation also allows CREUs to utilize existing public rights-of-way under limited review criteria.

The Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act significantly narrows the federal beneficial ownership information reporting requirements. This legislation limits reporting obligations exclusively to foreign individuals and foreign-connected companies. Furthermore, it mandates the deletion of all previously collected data pertaining to domestic persons and entities.

The CREATES Act mandates that states establish and maintain centralized, publicly accessible online repositories detailing all professional and occupational credentials. This legislation also authorizes a federal grant program to assist states in cataloging, assessing, and mapping these credentials to career pathways. The goal is to provide individuals with transparent, comparable information to make informed decisions about education and careers.

The Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026 mandates significant safety upgrades across both civilian and military aviation to prevent midair collisions. It requires the FAA to implement advanced collision avoidance systems and new air traffic controller training, while also compelling the Department of Defense to equip most military helicopters with transponders for increased visibility. The bill establishes new transparency measures, including public tracking of safety rule implementation and enhanced reporting on near-miss incidents, particularly around major airports like Reagan National.

The HBCU Research Capacity Act aims to significantly increase federal research funding and infrastructure at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It mandates the creation of a centralized Federal Clearinghouse to connect HBCUs with grant opportunities and best practices. The bill also requires federal agencies to develop strategies and report annually on concrete actions taken to boost HBCU participation in research and development.

The GRACIE Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to assist states in implementing and maintaining systems to record and securely store all child welfare interviews. By providing funding for these technological upgrades, the bill aims to ensure greater accountability and transparency in child protective investigations. Participating states must adopt policies requiring the retention of these recordings for at least five years while maintaining strict privacy and access controls.

The Defending Women in the Workplace Act clarifies the interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It establishes that, for the purposes of federal anti-discrimination law, the terms "because of sex" or "on the basis of sex" do not include gender identity.

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an 18-month feasibility study on installing a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam. The proposed system aims to improve hydropower generation and mitigate the spread of invasive species. If deemed feasible and supported by project contractors, the Secretary is authorized to proceed with the compliance and construction process.

The Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026 prevents the IRS from considering an organization's beliefs on marriage, sexuality, or gender identity when determining its tax-exempt status. Additionally, the bill prohibits federal agencies from discriminating against religious employers who receive federal financial assistance and make hiring decisions based on their religious standards.

The TECH Act aims to expand educational equity by granting qualified technical schools the same access to federal grants as 2-year and 4-year colleges. By modernizing eligibility requirements, this legislation ensures that essential career and job training programs receive the support necessary to strengthen the national workforce.

The Federal Working Animal Protection Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make individuals who harm law enforcement animals inadmissible to the United States. Additionally, the bill establishes that such individuals are subject to deportation if they have been convicted of or admit to committing these offenses.

The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act prevents federal agencies from banning the use of lead ammunition and tackle on federal lands and waters open to hunting and fishing. Exceptions to this rule are only permitted if specific, site-based field data proves lead is causing a wildlife population decline and the action is approved by or consistent with state wildlife policies.

The Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act ensures that specialized local government entities, known as special districts, are explicitly recognized as eligible recipients for federal financial assistance. This legislation mandates the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue clear guidance on recognizing these districts for grants and loans. The goal is to standardize how federal agencies distribute financial aid to these essential local service providers.