Legislative Activity

This resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to promoting the safety and well-being of refugees globally and domestically. It highlights the severe worldwide displacement crisis and criticizes the current suspension and low caps of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The bill calls for the full restoration of asylum protections and refugee resettlement to uphold U.S. legal obligations and humanitarian leadership.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) until early 2029. TPS provides individuals from designated countries with the ability to temporarily live and work in the U.S. due to unsafe conditions in their home nation.

The Saving the OOI Act of 2026 prohibits the National Science Foundation (NSF) from scaling back or decommissioning critical Ocean Observatories Initiative instruments. This measure ensures the continued operation of these vital coastal and deep-sea monitoring assets until the NSF completes a comprehensive review with community input. The bill mandates the full maintenance of the initiative throughout the review period.

This bill proposes to abolish the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which was established by the Attorney General in connection with the *Trump v. Internal Revenue Service* case. Additionally, it nullifies the Attorney General's related order concerning the release of certain claims, rendering it legally void.

The Stock Buyback Accountability Act of 2026 significantly increases the excise tax on corporate stock repurchases from 1% to 4%. It also tightens the rules for calculating this tax by preventing corporations from offsetting the tax liability with the value of stock issued to highly compensated executives and certain top earners. This legislation aims to discourage excessive stock buybacks by increasing the cost and limiting available deductions.

The **Make More in America Act of 2026** fundamentally expands the mission of the Export-Import Bank to actively finance the domestic development, commercialization, and production of critical technologies, aiming to counter foreign competition, particularly from China. It establishes the new "Make More in America Program" to support U.S. manufacturing projects in strategic industries, requiring job creation commitments and prevailing wage standards. Furthermore, the bill creates an Investment Committee to develop a 10-year national investment roadmap and enhances interagency coordination to align federal resources supporting domestic industrial growth.

The Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act aims to repeal several restrictions, known as the Tiahrt Amendments, that limit law enforcement's ability to use firearm trace data. This legislation restores the authority of the ATF to access, share, and utilize its own gun trace databases and allows for the retention of NICS background check records. Ultimately, the bill seeks to provide vital information to combat illegal gun trafficking and enhance public safety.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment collectively. This recognition honors the regiment's crucial and heroic service during the Revolutionary War, notably as one of the first integrated military units in American history. The original medal will be displayed at the Rhode Island State Library, and bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs.

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.

The Responsible Artificial Intelligence Defense Act of 2026 establishes a comprehensive framework within the Department of Defense for developing and using autonomous weapon systems and AI capabilities. It mandates maximizing the use of AI while ensuring continuous, rigorous human oversight to comply with the laws of war and safety standards. The bill institutes a risk-based review system for all new systems before prototyping and fielding, and it explicitly prohibits using autonomy for initiating nuclear launches or certain domestic surveillance activities. Finally, it requires extensive testing, evaluation, and annual reporting to Congress on the implementation of these safeguards.

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 Protecting American Consumers Act establishes a new, guaranteed minimum annual funding level for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This bill sets the compulsory funding floor at 12% of the Federal Reserve System's 2009 operating expenses, replacing the CFPB's previous funding structure.

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 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.

This Act significantly increases the excise tax on stock buybacks for large oil and gas companies from 1% to 25%. This higher tax applies specifically to corporations meeting a $1 billion average annual gross receipts threshold and primarily engaged in the oil or gas business. The 25% rate remains in effect until the national average weekly retail price of regular gasoline drops below a specified trigger point for five consecutive weeks.

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.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late former United States Senator John Seymour of California. It recognizes his extensive public service, highlighting his career in business, local government, and his tenure in the U.S. Senate. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow and directs that official copies of this resolution be delivered to his family.

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%.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 10 through May 16, 2026, as "National Police Week." It serves to recognize and honor the service, sacrifice, and valor of law enforcement officers across the United States. The measure encourages the public to observe this week by honoring law enforcement personnel and promoting awareness of their essential mission.

This Senate resolution expresses the sense that access to mifepristone should be based on over 25 years of proven safety and effectiveness supported by peer-reviewed science. It calls for equitable and transparent laws and policies governing access to this time-sensitive medication abortion care. The resolution affirms the FDA's authority to regulate the drug based on the best available evidence, free from political interference.