Legislative Activity

This resolution designates August 7, 2026, as "National Lighthouse Day" to commemorate the 237th anniversary of the Lighthouse Act of 1789. It honors the historical significance of American lighthouses and the dedicated keepers who maintained them. Furthermore, the bill encourages public participation in maritime heritage celebrations and reaffirms a national commitment to the ongoing preservation of these iconic landmarks.

The Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act aims to enhance the safety and oversight of human cell and tissue products by establishing civil penalties for regulatory violations. The bill also mandates the creation of public awareness campaigns for medical professionals and requires the FDA to improve transparency, streamline regulatory processes, and provide educational resources for stakeholders.

The Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2026 aims to incentivize financial preparedness among first-time homebuyers. This act modifies mortgage insurance premium requirements by offering a 25 basis point reduction for those who complete approved housing counseling *before* applying for a mortgage or signing a sales agreement. This change replaces the previous cap on the discount.

The Tribal Conservation Priorities Inclusion Act amends existing USDA conservation programs to explicitly include Indian tribes and tribal lands when identifying priority resource concerns. This legislation ensures tribal governments are consulted and their lands are recognized within key conservation initiatives like EQIP and CSP. The Act strengthens tribal involvement in federal conservation planning and resource management.

This bill amends federal law to extend existing prohibitions on noncompliant motor vehicles to also cover noncompliant motor vehicle equipment. This ensures that equipment not meeting safety standards is subject to the same restrictions on manufacturing, selling, and importing. The legislation also allows for the introduction of certain noncompliant equipment in interstate commerce specifically for testing purposes.

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 significantly expands whistleblower protections for individuals working on federal contracts and grants across the Department of Defense, NASA, and other federal agencies. It broadens the definition of "protected individual" to cover more workers and entities, and strengthens protections against retaliation for reporting waste, fraud, or legal violations. Furthermore, the Act explicitly prohibits waiving these new rights through employment agreements, including mandatory arbitration clauses.

This resolution expresses the Senate's support for designating May 2026 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. It recognizes the contributions of motorcyclists and highlights the importance of road safety for all users. The bill encourages increased awareness of motorcycles on the road and promotes rider education and safety practices.

The Section 232 Public Transparency Act mandates the timely public release of non-classified and non-proprietary information from reports concerning import investigations that may threaten national security. This ensures greater transparency by requiring the Secretary to publish relevant report sections by a set deadline, either 270 days after the investigation starts or upon submission to the President.

The Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act of 2026 officially designates the Great Lakes Commission as a recognized Regional Great Lakes Partnership. This designation amends existing federal law to formally include the Commission, which represents the eight Great Lakes states.

The Animal Violence Exposes Real Threat of Future Violence Act of 2026 (AVERT Future Violence Act) mandates a federal study to investigate the link between animal cruelty and future violence against humans. It also authorizes a grant program to help eligible entities develop early intervention and rehabilitation resources for those who commit animal cruelty. The overall goal is to use findings from the study to create policies that prevent future violence.

This bill significantly expands whistleblower protections for individuals working on federal contracts and grants across the government, including those with the DoD and NASA. It broadens the definition of who is protected and what activities are covered, such as refusing illegal orders. Furthermore, the Act prohibits executive branch officials from requesting retaliation and ensures that these new protections cannot be waived by employment agreements.

The Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act strengthens safety protocols by mandating strict, short timelines for manufacturers to report potential ingredient contamination and confirmed positive test results for finished infant formula. It also requires the FDA to issue regular reports on supply chain resiliency and review manufacturer investigations following contamination incidents. This legislation aims to ensure quicker responses to safety threats and improve the overall stability of the infant formula market.

The Satellite Cybersecurity Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive federal review of cybersecurity support for commercial satellite systems, led by the Comptroller General. It requires the Department of Commerce to establish a public online clearinghouse for cybersecurity resources and consolidate voluntary industry recommendations. Furthermore, the Act compels the Department of Commerce to develop and submit a national cybersecurity strategy for these systems to Congress.

The NASA UAS Detection Act grants NASA the authority to detect, identify, monitor, and track drones posing a credible threat to its facilities or assets. This power allows NASA personnel to intercept communications controlling such drones, provided they coordinate closely with the FAA and adhere to strict privacy protections. The law mandates risk assessments for all NASA sites and requires regular reporting to Congress on the use of these detection capabilities, which will terminate in 2031.

The Fund CISA Personnel Act of 2026 ensures that Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) employees continue to receive their pay and benefits during any potential lapse in federal funding for fiscal year 2026. This measure provides a temporary, retroactive funding mechanism to maintain agency operations until a regular appropriations bill is enacted.

This resolution commends the historic accomplishments of both the United States Women's and Men's Ice Hockey Teams for winning gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. It specifically honors key players for their game-winning contributions and recognizes this as the first time both U.S. teams have achieved gold in the same Games. The resolution affirms that these victories will inspire future generations of athletes.

The Self-Initiation Trade Enforcement Act of 2026 establishes a dedicated task force within the Department of Commerce to proactively identify and investigate unfair foreign trade practices, such as illegal subsidies and dumping. By monitoring global trade data and prioritizing the needs of small and medium-sized U.S. businesses, the task force aims to protect domestic industries from harmful international competition.

The Lifelong Learning Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to increase funding reservations for incumbent worker training and transitional jobs programs. It also establishes new performance reporting requirements for incumbent worker training programs. Finally, the bill expands flexibility by allowing local workforce development boards to serve as one-stop operators under specific conflict of interest safeguards.

The Spotted Wing Abatement Trust Act of 2026, or SWAT Act, addresses the significant damage caused by the invasive spotted wing drosophila to U.S. fruit crops. This bill establishes a dedicated research and mitigation fund within the USDA, administered by APHIS. The fund is authorized to receive $6.5 million annually for five years to support efforts to reduce the pest's harmful effects.