Legislative Activity

The **SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026** strengthens protections for veterans by reinstating and expanding penalties against unaccredited representatives who charge unauthorized fees for VA benefit claims assistance. The bill mandates increased transparency by requiring the VA to maintain searchable lists of accredited representatives and improve public warnings about predatory practices on all VA websites. Furthermore, it requires new data collection on paid assistance and establishes a high-availability accreditation system for recognized agents and attorneys.

The Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve multi-State commercial truck driving apprenticeship programs for VA educational benefits. This streamlines the process, allowing veterans to access training across state lines without requiring a single state to serve as the sole approving agency. The goal is to expand educational opportunities for veterans entering the trucking industry.

The U.S.-Greece Defense Cooperation Advancement Act establishes a dedicated International Military Education and Training (IMET) program to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations. This initiative aims to enhance military interoperability, professional development, and cooperation through authorized funding of $1.8 million annually from 2027 to 2031.

This bill reauthorizes and improves the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program. It secures \$250 million annually from the Highway Trust Fund for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support active transportation projects. The funding is dedicated specifically for this program and must be administered under existing federal highway funding rules.

The Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026 mandates new safety and employment requirements for freight trains crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. This bill requires all cross-border freight trains to stop at the border for crew interchange and safety testing. Furthermore, it stipulates that only U.S. nationals or lawfully authorized resident aliens whose primary reporting point is in the U.S. may operate the train after the interchange.

The Rural Child Care Access Act aims to improve access to child care in rural communities through federal support. It establishes competitive grant programs, managed by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, to fund infrastructure improvements for local child care facilities. These grants will help modify, upgrade, or construct facilities, as well as support provider training and recruitment in areas with fewer than 50,000 residents. The bill also mandates regular reporting and studies on the construction and renovation needs of child care facilities nationwide.

The Securing the Rights our Veterans Earned Act (SERVE Act) extends eligibility for key Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits to former service members who were discharged based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This includes access to hospital care, mental health services, national cemetery burial, Post-9/11 GI Bill education assistance, and housing loans. The bill also mandates the VA Secretary to conduct outreach regarding these newly available benefits.

The CLEAN Act establishes new requirements for legislative transparency and ethical conduct by making key provisions of House Resolution 895 permanent law. This legislation modifies the operation of the Office of Congressional Ethics, including setting term limits for board members and ensuring timely vacancy appointments. Furthermore, it guarantees constitutional protections and the right to counsel for individuals undergoing ethics reviews.

This bill amends federal highway law to establish a guaranteed minimum set-aside amount for state highway apportionments. Specifically, it requires that at least 0.5 percent of the total apportionment be reserved for these guaranteed amounts. This ensures a baseline level of funding for states under the existing highway apportionment formula.

The Lower Grocery Prices Act prohibits businesses from using surveillance data and automated systems to set individualized, discriminatory prices for food and groceries. The bill ensures fair pricing practices by requiring transparency in automated systems and providing consumers and state officials with the authority to enforce these protections.

The Protein for Every Plate Act of 2026 mandates an additional $200 million in annual funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to increase the purchase of animal protein. This legislation amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to ensure greater access to high-quality protein sources within federal nutrition programs.

The Veterans Benefits Information Protection Act amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the use of automated telephone equipment to place repeated, interactive calls to federal departments or agencies. This legislation aims to prevent unauthorized entities from using automated systems to contact federal agencies on behalf of others.

The Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026 establishes a temporary federal gas tax holiday, suspending the federal excise tax on gasoline until September 30, 2026. To maintain trust fund solvency, the Treasury will transfer general funds to the Highway Trust Fund and the LUST Trust Fund to cover lost revenue. The bill mandates that consumers immediately receive the benefit of this tax cut, with penalties for producers or dealers who fail to pass the savings along.

The Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2026 aims to increase transparency and security in U.S. elections. It closes loopholes to ban foreign national spending in elections, mandates disclosure for "dark money" political spending, and requires clear funding disclosures on political ads. The bill also centralizes legal challenges to campaign finance laws in Washington, D.C., for faster resolution.

The Respect for Local Communities Act mandates that the Department of Homeland Security provide advance notice and conduct public hearings before establishing or modifying ICE processing and detention facilities. The bill requires federal agencies to complete comprehensive impact assessments and secure formal, written agreements from state and local officials prior to project approval. This ensures greater transparency and local oversight regarding the economic and social impacts of new immigration detention sites.

The Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act aims to permanently expand and simplify Medicare coverage for telehealth services. This bill removes geographic restrictions for patients receiving virtual care and enhances flexibilities for critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, and FQHCs. Furthermore, it permanently allows certain essential services, like behavioral health, to be delivered via audio-only technology.

This bill, the PUBLIC SAFETY Act, redirects $2 billion from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to significantly boost the COPS Hiring Program to support local law enforcement. It also allocates an additional $45 billion to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program for local criminal justice initiatives. The legislation aims to increase federal funding available directly to local police departments for hiring and operations.

The Heroes Home Energy Savings Act establishes dedicated funding to enhance and innovate the existing Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) through 2030. This legislation specifically sets aside resources to improve energy efficiency for all households served by WAP, with dedicated funds for active duty and reserve military families. The bill authorizes appropriations to support these critical energy-saving initiatives over the next several years.

This bill amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the transmission facilitation program. It extends the program's authorization period, shifting the funding window from 2022–2026 to 2026–2031.

This bill establishes the **Energy Burden Tax Credit Act** to provide financial relief to individuals facing high home energy costs. The credit covers 75% of a taxpayer's annual fuel or electricity expenses that exceed 3% of their modified adjusted gross income, up to a maximum of \$1,500. This temporary credit is available for tax years beginning after 2024 and before 2028, and is limited to taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes of \$75,000 or less.