Legislative Activity

The Offshore Leasing Standards and Accountability Act of 2026 establishes rigorous "fitness to operate" standards for offshore oil and gas companies seeking or holding leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. This bill mandates that operators must prove financial stability, strong environmental and safety compliance history, and sufficient funding to cover all future decommissioning liabilities. Furthermore, it requires leaseholders to pre-fund their decommissioning obligations through interest-bearing escrow accounts managed by the Secretary of the Interior. The Act also limits the duration for which oil wells can be temporarily abandoned.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the volunteers and communities that supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The Canteen was a massive, entirely volunteer-run operation that fed approximately six million service members traveling across the country. The original gold medal will be permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. The bill also allows the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the medal.

The Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2026 affirms the fundamental right of individuals to travel across state lines to receive reproductive health care that is legal in the destination state. This bill prohibits any government or person from restricting, sanctioning, or discriminating against individuals who travel for such care or those who assist them. It preempts conflicting state laws and establishes robust federal enforcement mechanisms, including civil actions for individuals and the Attorney General, while removing common immunity defenses for violators.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 5, 2026, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and the entire month of June 2026 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." The bill aims to raise awareness about the impact of gun violence in the United States. It encourages the public to wear orange on the designated day to honor victims and promote community safety discussions.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 2026 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2026, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. The designation aims to increase public understanding, reduce the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress (PTS), and encourage timely treatment for affected veterans and service members. It recognizes the high risk of PTS among those who have served in recent conflicts and supports efforts to ensure those with this treatable injury receive proper care.

This bill establishes a new framework to provide direct emergency assistance payments to specialty crop growers, such as fruit and vegetable producers, harmed by natural disasters. Payments will be calculated based on historical sales and a factor set by the Secretary of Agriculture, taking into account the unique costs of specialty crops. The legislation sets specific payment limits, with higher caps available for producers who derive most of their income from farming.

This concurrent resolution marks the nation's 250th anniversary as a crucial moment to reaffirm the commitment to saving lives and reducing gun violence. It recognizes the severity of the gun violence crisis and honors those affected by it. The resolution calls on Congress to prioritize evidence-informed strategies, support community intervention efforts, and ensure robust funding for victim services as a national priority for the country's future.

This resolution honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for Michigan. It recognizes his decades in Congress, highlighting key legislative achievements such as co-sponsoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and leading significant banking reforms. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow and adjourns in his memory.

This bill amends federal law to grant the Capitol Police Board the authority to set the mandatory retirement age for Capitol Police members. Instead of a fixed age of 60, the Board can now establish a flexible retirement age between 57 and 62 years old.

This bill establishes the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act to address the critical need for mental health support in schools. It provides federal grants to states to award subgrants to local educational agencies for recruiting, retaining, and hiring school-based mental health services providers in high-need schools. The goal is to help schools work toward recommended student-to-provider ratios for counselors, psychologists, and social workers.

The SAFE for Survivors Act of 2026 comprehensively supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence by establishing job-protected safe leave, prohibiting employment discrimination, and ensuring access to unemployment benefits and insurance protections. The bill reauthorizes critical grant funding for workplace response resources and mandates reasonable accommodations to help survivors maintain employment and stability while recovering. These provisions aim to reduce the economic pressures that often trap victims in dangerous situations by strengthening their safety net across employment, benefits, and insurance sectors.

The Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2026 establishes a comprehensive demonstration program to prevent, monitor, control, and eradicate the invasive golden mussel. This act authorizes funding for research, the development of control technologies, and a competitive grant program to support these efforts. The program will initially focus on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and aims to provide guidelines and technical assistance nationwide for mussel control and eradication.

The Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act bans the imposition and carrying out of the death penalty for any federal crime after the date of enactment. This legislation mandates that all individuals currently under a federal death sentence must be resentenced.

The All Students Count Act of 2026 mandates that states disaggregate student performance data for Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander subgroups. This change amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to reflect the diverse educational needs within these populations. The goal is to provide detailed, actionable data to better identify and support specific student groups often misrepresented as homogeneous.

This bill, TREY's Law, declares that nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements are void and unenforceable if they prevent the disclosure of sexual abuse against a minor. The legislation aims to protect survivors' rights to report crimes and cooperate with authorities by overriding any state or private contract that suppresses information about child sexual abuse. This law applies retroactively to all existing and future agreements.

The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026 overhauls federal student loan programs to eliminate debt for educators serving in high-need schools and early childhood education settings. After five years of qualifying service, educators can receive 100% forgiveness on remaining federal student loans. The bill also provides monthly loan assistance while educators are actively serving, treating these payments as qualifying service toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This legislation aims to stabilize the educator workforce by significantly reducing the financial burden of student debt.

The Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026 significantly updates federal overtime exemptions for executive, administrative, and professional employees. It establishes a phased-in increase to the minimum salary threshold required for these "white-collar" roles to be exempt from overtime pay, eventually tying the threshold to national earnings data. Furthermore, the bill tightens the duties test by lowering the allowed percentage of time spent on non-exempt work from 40% to 20%.

The Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act aims to eliminate barriers to sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. It establishes grant programs to train the healthcare workforce, expand the number of providers with disabilities, and fund accessible health education. The bill also creates a National Technical Assistance Center and mandates a study to identify effective care models and coordination gaps.

The Scientific Integrity Act aims to safeguard the role of science in federal policymaking by requiring agencies that fund or conduct research to adopt and enforce strict scientific integrity policies. These policies must prohibit political interference, data suppression, and retaliation against scientists. The legislation establishes Scientific Integrity Officers within agencies and mandates regular training and public reporting on policy implementation to ensure public trust in government science.

The Strength in Diversity Act of 2026 establishes a competitive grant program to support schools in developing and implementing strategies that increase racial and socioeconomic diversity. This funding aims to reduce racial isolation and concentrated poverty in public elementary, secondary, and early childhood education programs. Grantees must report on measurable improvements in student outcomes and progress toward increasing school diversity.