Legislative Activity

This bill officially designates May 2026 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It calls for nationwide recognition and celebration of the significant contributions, achievements, and history of these communities to the United States. The measure emphasizes that these communities enhance the nation's diversity and strength.

The Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025 affirms the critical importance of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to U.S. national security amidst Russian aggression. This bill mandates that the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense deliver a comprehensive report to Congress detailing emerging military, cyber, and political threats to the Baltic states. The report must also recommend specific actions to enhance U.S. and NATO defense cooperation and bolster Baltic resilience.

The Export Controls Enforcement Act addresses the critical shortage of overseas personnel responsible for verifying that controlled U.S. exports are used as intended. This bill establishes a new, five-year Export Control Officer Program to significantly increase the number of officers stationed abroad. These officers will conduct essential end-use checks, advise foreign partners, and help prevent the diversion of sensitive American technology.

The Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act of 2025 (FISH Act of 2025) establishes a public "black list" of foreign vessels involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing or forced labor, banning them from U.S. ports and commerce. The bill mandates increased interagency cooperation to combat IUU fishing, including developing strategies to optimize data sharing and prevent seafood caught illegally or with forced labor from entering U.S. markets. Furthermore, it authorizes the Treasury Secretary to impose sanctions on entities engaged in these illicit activities and encourages international agreements to strengthen global enforcement.

This act establishes the Territorial Small Business Development Act of 2026 to create a new Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance program specifically for businesses owned and controlled by residents of Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The program will mirror the support provided under the existing 8(a) program, but without imposing net worth requirements for applicants. To qualify, owners must demonstrate a 10-year residency in one of these territories, and the business must be principally located there.

This resolution condemns the People's Republic of China's coercive military and economic actions against Japan following statements regarding Taiwan. It reaffirms the strong U.S.-Japan alliance and commitment to regional stability. Furthermore, the bill calls on the PRC to cease its pressure tactics and urges the U.S. to work with allies to counter such coercion in the Indo-Pacific.

The Rejecting the Erasure of Afghan Women and Girls Act mandates that the Secretary of State submit a formal report detailing the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls since August 2021. This report must assess whether these actions constitute crimes against humanity, torture, or gross human rights violations.

This act officially establishes the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and designates its location on the National Mall, requiring the transfer of land jurisdiction to the Smithsonian Institution. The museum is mandated to preserve and present the history and achievements of biological women in the United States. Furthermore, the legislation requires that exhibits and programs reflect diverse political viewpoints and authentic experiences of women, as guided by a broad array of knowledgeable sources.

This bill reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, updating its governing structure and expanding the scope of its oceanographic research and data-sharing capabilities. It also mandates improved collaboration between regional and federal observing systems to enhance data integration. Additionally, the legislation authorizes $47.5 million in annual funding for these initiatives from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 strengthens U.S. policy by imposing mandatory sanctions on foreign persons and financial institutions that support Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, drone, and terrorist activities. The bill specifically targets Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors to cut off funding for these malign programs. Additionally, it expands the State Department’s "Rewards for Justice" program to incentivize the reporting of individuals who evade these sanctions.

The Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act requires public colleges and universities receiving federal funding to offer in-state tuition rates to eligible U.S. nationals residing in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This legislation aims to increase educational affordability and accessibility for students from these U.S. territories.

This act reauthorizes the Young Fishermen's Development Act through fiscal year 2031. It is named in honor of Captain Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo.

The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026 enhances support for veterans and their families by increasing disability and dependency compensation and expanding VA home loan eligibility for National Guard and Reserve members. The bill also adjusts VA home loan fee structures and extends key pension payment limits through 2036.

The Standards for Understanding Source and Habitat Identification Act, or SUSHI Act, mandates the creation of a standardized, science-based chemical testing method to definitively identify the country of origin for seafood. This new methodology, developed collaboratively by key federal agencies, aims to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices. The resulting standard must be practical for field use and applicable to both raw and prepared seafood products.

This bill, the "Passports for Purple Hearts and Medals of Honor Act," exempts recipients of the Purple Heart and Medal of Honor from paying standard U.S. passport fees. It directs the State Department to coordinate with the Department of Defense to establish verification procedures for these eligible applicants.

The Whale CHARTS Act of 2026 expands federal efforts to protect migratory whales and other large cetaceans. This legislation mandates the creation of high-accuracy distribution maps for whale habitats and funds research into understudied species. It also establishes a competitive grant program to develop and deploy technologies that reduce harmful interactions between whales and ocean users, such as vessel strikes.

The Territorial SBA Loan Guaranty Adjustment Act of 2026 increases the Small Business Administration's loan guarantee percentage for businesses operating in covered territories. This act establishes a 90 percent government guarantee for eligible 7(a) program loans made to these businesses. Certain specific provisions and pilot programs within the 7(a) program are excluded from this higher guarantee level.

The Equality in the Halls of Congress Act allows the five U.S. territories and commonwealths—American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—to each contribute one statue to the National Statuary Hall Collection. This legislation ensures these jurisdictions are represented alongside the 50 states in the collection. The Architect of the Capitol is tasked with implementing the necessary steps to acquire and place these statues.

This bill aims to secure critical mineral and energy supply chains by establishing international partnerships and diplomatic frameworks to reduce reliance on strategic competitors. It authorizes new programs for joint investment with allies and creates dedicated offices within the State and Energy Departments to coordinate these efforts. Furthermore, the legislation establishes fellowship programs to build a skilled American workforce in the international mining sector.

The AI OVERWATCH Act establishes strict new licensing requirements for exporting advanced integrated circuits to designated countries of concern, including China and Russia. This legislation mandates detailed national security certifications to Congress before any license can be approved for these high-performance technologies. Furthermore, the bill creates an exemption process for trusted U.S. companies while terminating existing licenses for these sensitive exports.