Legislative Activity

The Homegrown Defense Act of 2026 strengthens oversight of the Department of Defense's adherence to domestic food supply chain requirements. This act mandates regular audits by the DoD Inspector General focusing on the procurement of specific items. The results of these audits will be reported directly to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

This bill amends the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to establish a new Seasonal and Perishable Crop Loss Program. Starting in 2027, this program will provide crop loss payments to producers of seasonal and perishable crops when import surges cause market prices to drop below a set reference price. Payments will be based on the difference between the effective price and the reference price, multiplied by recent production averages.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to mandate that both Medicare and Medicaid programs cover specific food and nutrition services. It adds these services as a covered benefit under Medicare Part B and as a mandatory benefit for state Medicaid programs. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will determine the precise requirements for these covered services.

The Earn it First Act of 2026 prohibits the sitting President and their administration from naming any federally administered or funded public facility after themselves while in office. This measure aims to prevent the naming of public assets after the President during their active term.

The National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2026 establishes federal grant programs to support states in implementing Food as Medicine initiatives that address nutrition-related health conditions. This legislation directs the Department of Health and Human Services to fund state efforts to provide medically supportive, locally-sourced food interventions to eligible individuals. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture will provide technical assistance to help farmers supply these nutritious products to local healthcare networks. The Act aims to improve health outcomes by connecting healthcare, nutrition security, and sustainable agriculture.

The Rural Area Population Act establishes a single, uniform definition for "rural area" across key USDA development programs. It grants the Secretary of Agriculture new authority to designate certain areas with persistent poverty or infrastructure gaps as rural, even if they are near urban centers. This legislation also creates a specific pathway for designating high-need farmworker settlements and pockets as rural. All changes will take effect 180 days after enactment, protecting existing rural designations until after the 2030 census.

This bill supports the designation of the fourth annual "National Community Health Worker Awareness Week" in August 2026. It recognizes Community Health Workers (CHWs) as vital frontline professionals who connect communities to essential health and social services. The resolution encourages collaboration to raise awareness of the significant contributions CHWs make in improving health outcomes nationwide.

This bill amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act to include "dates for processing" under the scope of existing federal import regulations. By removing previous exemptions, this change ensures that imported dates intended for processing are subject to the same marketing order requirements as other regulated commodities.

The Helping Educators Respond to Overdoses (HERO) Act establishes a federal grant program to help schools purchase opioid overdose reversal drugs and develop comprehensive emergency response plans. Additionally, the bill mandates that educational institutions receiving federal funds report the distribution of these life-saving medications to designated national health and safety databases.

The "Vote Without Fear Act" establishes a federal crime prohibiting the unauthorized possession of firearms at or within 100 yards of federal election sites. The bill includes specific exceptions for law enforcement, authorized security personnel, and private property owners, while imposing enhanced penalties for those who bring firearms to these locations with criminal intent.

The Critical Minerals and Manufacturing Support Act 2.0 (CMMSA 2.0) modifies the advanced manufacturing production tax credit for battery components, significantly increasing the credit for electrode active materials. It also introduces new restrictions on using critical minerals sourced from "prohibited foreign entities" after 2026. Furthermore, the bill expands the definition of electrode active materials and extends the phase-out timeline for the associated tax credit until after 2041.

The Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in ICE and CBP Custody Act establishes minimum standards for health screening, nutrition, sanitation, and shelter for individuals detained by ICE and CBP. This bill mandates specific protocols for medical care, facility conditions, and personnel training to ensure humane treatment. It also requires regular inspections and public reporting on compliance and sexual abuse complaints.

The Health Care for Homeless Veterans Act permanently authorizes and expands eligibility for the existing Health Care for Homeless Veterans program. This legislation ensures continuous access to vital health services for a broader range of eligible homeless veterans. It also makes the related program offering additional services for homeless veterans permanent.

This bill supports designating the second Saturday of January as "National Desert Day" and establishes the Desert Conservation and Restoration Act. The Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to designate and manage conservation areas in major U.S. deserts with specific restoration and protection plans. It also authorizes significant funding over ten years to support these critical desert ecosystem efforts.

This bill, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, updates how Medicare physician payments are adjusted annually starting in 2026. It mandates that the annual update to the Medicare physician fee schedule conversion factor will be directly tied to the estimated percentage increase in the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). This change ensures physician payment updates reflect economic changes measured by the MEI for 2026 and beyond.

The Tribal Internet Expansion Act of 2025 amends the Communications Act to explicitly include "Indian country and areas with high populations of Indian people" as eligible areas for universal service support. This expansion aims to increase federal funding and resources dedicated to improving broadband and telecommunications access in these underserved communities.

The Children's Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety (CARE Act of 2025) aims to strengthen protections for children working in agriculture by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act. This bill revises child labor definitions, increases civil and criminal penalties for violations, and mandates stricter reporting of work-related injuries or deaths involving young farmworkers. Furthermore, it prohibits employing anyone under 18 as a pesticide handler.

The HEATS Act ensures that the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) continues to provide essential assistance payments even during a federal government shutdown. This legislation automatically draws necessary funds from the Treasury to cover LIHEAP obligations if discretionary funding lapses. The goal is to prevent interruptions in energy assistance for vulnerable households during periods of government funding uncertainty.

The Tribal Housing Continuity Act of 2025 ensures continued funding for critical housing programs serving tribal nations during lapses in discretionary appropriations. This Act appropriates \$1.6 billion to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to cover necessary salaries and expenses under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996. These funds allow HUD to process essential administrative actions and funding opportunities, maintaining support for tribal housing projects.

This resolution expresses support for designating October 1st as "National Latino and Latina Physician Day." It aims to recognize the vital contributions of Latino and Latina physicians to the U.S. healthcare system. Furthermore, the bill highlights the critical need to increase the number of Latino and Latina doctors to better serve the nation's growing diverse population.