Legislative Activity

The Farmers Lifeline to Overcoming Disasters (FLOOD) Act strengthens federal support for agricultural recovery by integrating emergency watershed protection measures into the Food Security Act. This legislation ensures farmers have more robust resources to address and recover from environmental disasters.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.

This bill designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in San Jose, California, as the "Corporal Patrick D. Tillman VA Clinic." This renaming honors the legacy of Pat Tillman, a San Jose native and former NFL player who left his professional career to serve as an Army Ranger and made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

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.

This resolution recognizes the critical role pollinators play in U.S. agriculture and ecosystem health, noting their contribution of over $18 billion annually to crop production. It highlights the severe decline of many native pollinator species, such as the Western monarch butterfly. The House of Representatives officially expresses support for National Pollinator Week to encourage conservation and public education efforts.

This Act establishes the United States-Abraham Accords Defense Cooperation Initiative to enhance military collaboration between the U.S. and Abraham Accords nations. The initiative focuses on deterring Iranian aggression and improving regional defense capabilities, such as air defense and intelligence sharing. The Secretary of Defense is required to develop a strategy and report funding needs to Congress.

This bill mandates the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the Lower Presidio Historic Park in Monterey, California. The study will evaluate the site's national significance and determine its suitability for designation as a unit of the National Park System. The final report, due within three years, must include recommendations for the preservation and interpretation of this historically rich location.

The Better Energy Storage and Safety Act amends existing law to significantly expand federal focus on energy storage safety, testing, and research. It broadens program objectives to cover system modules, residential deployment, and the development of failure prevention tools. The bill mandates rigorous, standardized testing across various failure conditions and increases funding and demonstration projects specifically targeting enhanced safety protocols.

This bill establishes two new federal tax credits to incentivize the development and rehabilitation of rental housing for middle-income workers. The Workforce Housing Tax Credit targets those earning between 60% and 120% of the area median income, while the Middle-Income Housing Credit focuses on units for those at 100% of the area median income or less. These credits aim to address the housing gap for essential workers who often cannot afford market-rate rents or qualify for existing low-income housing programs.

The SEED Act (Supporting Early-childhood Educators Deductions Act) expands the existing federal educator expense deduction to include early childhood educators. This legislation allows childcare providers and preschool teachers to claim tax deductions for out-of-pocket classroom expenses, mirroring the benefit currently available to K-12 teachers. The change is set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This bill nullifies Presidential Proclamation 11012, effectively repealing the temporary import surcharge imposed on February 20, 2026. It prohibits the implementation or enforcement of similar future surcharges and mandates a full refund of all tariffs collected under the proclamation.

The Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2026 modifies how interest is calculated for distributions of antidumping and countervailing duties, setting the relevant date back to October 1, 2000. The bill establishes a special, one-time distribution of previously earned interest to eligible parties who have received prior duty offset payments. This aims to provide restitution by distributing accumulated interest in two phases following enactment.

The Opportunities in Organic Act renames and significantly expands the existing organic certification cost-share program. This new program will provide financial assistance for organic certification costs, while also offering crucial support and technical assistance for farmers transitioning to organic management. The bill directs funding to eligible nonprofits to build capacity, offer direct producer support during transition, and strengthen the organic supply chain. Finally, it mandates increased reporting to Congress on program outcomes and barriers faced by participants.

The Military Occupancy Living Defense (MOLD) Act establishes mandatory minimum health and safety standards for privatized military housing to combat hazardous conditions like mold. It institutes rigorous independent inspection protocols, requires standardized reporting on housing quality, and holds contractors financially accountable for remediation and tenant relocation costs. This legislation aims to improve habitability, protect service members' health, and enhance military readiness.

The Roadside Pollinator Program Amendments Act updates the existing grant program that supports pollinator-friendly practices along roadsides and highway rights-of-way. This bill expands eligibility for grants to include certain nonprofits and Indian Tribes, while also increasing the maximum grant award amount. Furthermore, it boosts the program's authorized funding levels through fiscal year 2031.

The ACE Agriculture Act permanently reauthorizes and expands the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) within the USDA. This legislation refocuses AGARDA's mission on high-risk research addressing long-term challenges like export competitiveness, sustainability, and climate resilience. It also authorizes $100 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to support these advanced agricultural research goals.

The MAIL Theft Act of 2025 mandates that federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and Homeland Security, develop and report on a coordinated strategy to combat organized postal crime networks. This legislation aims to improve information sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement regarding mail theft operations. It also requires an independent review of coordination efforts between the private sector and law enforcement.

The Restoring American Mineral Security Act of 2025 aims to secure the U.S. supply of critical minerals by establishing a **Critical Minerals Security Alliance** with trusted international partners to counter market dominance by foreign adversaries. The bill authorizes the creation of a **trust fund**, financed by duties on imports from countries of concern, to support domestic mining, processing, and manufacturing projects. It also increases U.S. tariffs on certain critical minerals and derivative products sourced from designated "foreign countries of concern."

The Helping Improve Recruitment and Retention Efforts for Prosecutors Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments in hiring, retaining, and training prosecutors and support staff. Administered by the Attorney General, the program will award competitive grants, prioritizing offices in underserved or budget-impacted areas. This initiative is authorized with $10 million annually from 2026 through 2030, requiring a 25% non-federal match unless waived.

This bill establishes a pilot program for the Secretary of Defense to test providing monthly food coupons to junior enlisted service members for use at commissaries. The program aims to assess the effectiveness of this benefit in improving access to affordable, healthy food, especially for those in unaccompanied housing. The results will be reported to Congress after the program concludes within one year.