Legislative Activity

The Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026 establishes a special pay system to increase the base pay for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officers by 35 percent. This legislation also provides a similar 35 percent wage increase for certain hourly BOP employees involved in inmate custody. The new pay authority is set to expire after five years, unless the Department of Justice Inspector General reports measurable progress in reducing the use of non-custodial staff for officer duties and excessive overtime.

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 Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act of 2026 strengthens federal requirements for colleges and universities to implement evidence-based programs addressing student alcohol and substance misuse. It expands grant opportunities to support recovery services, mental health integration, and overdose prevention on campus. Institutions participating in federal aid programs must certify they have an active prevention program compliant with these new standards.

The **No Funds for NATO Invasion Act** prohibits the use of any federal funds for an invasion of any territory belonging to a member nation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Furthermore, the bill bars U.S. officials from taking any action to execute such an invasion.

The Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026 prohibits federal officials and employees from trading in prediction market contracts while possessing material, nonpublic government information. This ban specifically targets transactions related to government policy, actions, or political outcomes. The goal is to prevent insider trading within these emerging financial markets by those with privileged access to government knowledge.

This resolution commemorates the 15th anniversary of the tragic January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, honoring the six lives lost and the thirteen injured. It specifically commends the courage and ongoing advocacy of gun violence survivor and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. The resolution also recognizes the resilience of the community and reaffirms a commitment to ending political violence.

The Duty Status Reform Act aims to modernize and streamline the process for determining and managing duty status for federal employees. This legislation seeks to clarify existing regulations and ensure fair and consistent application of duty status rules across government agencies.

The Porch Pirates Act of 2025 establishes new federal criminal penalties for stealing or interfering with packages delivered by private or commercial carriers across state lines. This legislation asserts Congress's authority to extend protections against package theft to items shipped via services like FedEx or UPS, mirroring existing protections for the U.S. Postal Service. The bill specifically targets the theft of delivered packages before the recipient takes physical possession.

The Veteran Suicide Prevention Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a comprehensive review of veteran suicides over the preceding five years, focusing on prescription practices. This review will analyze medication use, diagnoses, and demographic data for veterans who died by suicide while receiving VA care. The VA must then submit a detailed report of its findings and recommendations to Congress and the public.

The ARMENIA Security Partnership Act requires the Secretary of Defense to certify that Azerbaijan has taken specific steps toward peace and regional stability before continuing certain security waivers. If this certification cannot be made, the Act mandates a comprehensive review of Armenia’s defense needs and restricts the President’s authority to waive security assistance limitations. This legislation aims to bolster Armenia’s self-defense capabilities and deter regional aggression.

The Aviation Funding Solvency Act establishes a temporary mechanism to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can continue essential operations if Congress fails to pass regular appropriations. This allows the FAA Administrator to draw upon the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund to maintain operations at the previous year's funding rate. The temporary funding ceases once a new appropriation or continuing resolution is enacted. The bill also makes a technical amendment regarding non-premium war risk insurance.

This act prohibits the Department of Defense from using fiscal year 2026 funds to implement a hiring freeze, a reduction in force, or unjustified delays in filling vacant positions at public shipyards. The goal is to ensure stable staffing levels necessary for shipyard operations.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 protects the rights of residents in long-term care facilities to designate an essential caregiver who can provide support and companionship. This legislation ensures that these caregivers maintain in-person access to residents even during public health emergencies when general visitation is restricted. By establishing clear protocols and an appeals process, the bill aims to prevent the harmful effects of isolation and ensure residents continue to receive vital care and advocacy.

The ESTUARIES Act amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to officially add the Mississippi Sound to the National Estuary Program and extends the program's funding authorization through fiscal year 2031. However, the bill places specific restrictions on the EPA Administrator regarding the use of funds to implement this addition during fiscal years 2025 and 2026. This ensures that the expansion of the program is contingent upon specific funding levels in the near term.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act extends enhanced premium tax credits for Marketplace health insurance through 2026, while also establishing strict new penalties and verification processes to combat fraud by agents and brokers in health insurance exchanges. Furthermore, the bill imposes significant new transparency and accountability requirements on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) contracting with Medicare Part D plans. Finally, it extends the 2026 open enrollment period and creates a fast-track legislative process for future premium tax credit reform bills.

The Continuous Skilled Nursing Quality Improvement Act of 2025 aims to enhance the quality of complex, continuous nursing care provided through Medicaid. This bill redefines "private duty nursing services" as "continuous skilled nursing services" and mandates the development of national quality standards for these services. Furthermore, it requires the integration of these new standards and quality measures into existing home and community-based waiver services.

The HELP Copays Act requires that financial assistance provided by non-profit organizations and drug manufacturers must count toward a patient's deductible, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription drugs. This change ensures that patient assistance dollars directly reduce the amount a patient must pay before their coverage fully kicks in. The legislation specifically applies to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management. These provisions will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone Calls Act of 2025, or the DO NOT Call Act, establishes new criminal penalties for willful violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This legislation also significantly increases the civil fines associated with providing inaccurate caller ID information. These measures aim to deter illegal and unwanted telemarketing and robocalls.