Legislative Activity

The H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act exempts healthcare workers from a $100,000 entry fee requirement currently imposed on certain H-1B nonimmigrant visa petitions. This legislation aims to remove financial barriers for medical professionals, ensuring they are not subject to fees exceeding standard immigration costs.

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 Bioindustrial Scale-Up for Supply Chains and Energy Resiliency Act of 2026 aims to strengthen U.S. biotechnology by establishing a network of open-access, federally supported manufacturing facilities. These centers will help companies bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial-scale production, addressing critical infrastructure shortages. By fostering innovation in bioindustrial manufacturing, the bill seeks to secure domestic supply chains, promote energy resiliency, and accelerate the market readiness of new biobased products.

The Care Over Profits Act of 2026 mandates that health insurers in the individual and small group markets spend at least 85% of premium revenue on direct patient care and quality improvements. Additionally, the bill establishes strict civil and criminal penalties for insurance agents and brokers who provide false or fraudulent information on health insurance exchange applications.

The Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2026 amends the Fair Housing Act to establish survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe forms of trafficking as a protected class. This makes it illegal to discriminate against these individuals in housing transactions, including rentals, sales, and financing. The bill aims to ensure survivors can secure and maintain safe housing free from further victimization.

This resolution formally honors the life and enduring legacy of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Louis Burns Jackson, Sr. It recognizes his significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, including his work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his founding of Operation PUSH. The bill specifically urges the President to order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in his memory.

The Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026 mandates a transition to secure, chip-enabled EBT cards to better protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from fraud and skimming. The bill requires states to implement modernized digital account management tools, establishes new federal cybersecurity standards for online transactions, and prohibits fees for replacing compromised or malfunctioning cards. Additionally, it provides funding to help retailers upgrade to secure payment terminals and requires regular reporting to Congress on program security and benefit theft trends.

The ASCEND Act establishes a permanent NASA program to purchase and distribute commercial Earth observation data for scientific, operational, and educational needs. This initiative aims to supplement existing government data by acquiring cost-effective commercial imagery, prioritizing U.S. vendors. The bill ensures purchased data can be widely published for scientific purposes and requires regular reporting on program agreements and data usage.

The Rural Development Modernization Act standardizes the definition of a "rural community" across key USDA programs, setting a uniform population threshold of 25,000 inhabitants. This legislation also mandates the exclusion of incarcerated and military base populations when calculating eligibility for these programs. Furthermore, it expands eligibility for federal rural development and water supply programs to include U.S. territories and clarifies definitions for various housing and energy initiatives. The bill also establishes an annual process for reassessing and potentially adjusting the rural population threshold.

The RISE Reauthorization Act of 2026 reauthorizes and expands the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant program through 2030, dedicating $50 million annually. This legislation refocuses the grants on creating high-wage jobs and new businesses in rural areas, with a specific emphasis on supporting smaller communities. It updates authorized activities to provide broader technical assistance and workforce training for rural businesses.

The Healthy Families Act establishes a national standard requiring most employers to provide employees with earned paid sick leave. Employees will accrue a minimum of one hour of paid time for every 30 hours worked, usable for personal or family health needs, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The Act prohibits employer retaliation for using this leave and ensures existing, more generous leave policies are not diminished.

The Airborne Act of 2026 establishes a new business tax credit to incentivize improvements in indoor air quality for commercial, public, and nonprofit buildings. This credit covers costs for air quality assessments, air cleaning system upgrades, and HVAC upgrades, with significantly increased amounts available for projects meeting prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards. The Act also creates a voluntary indoor air quality certification program managed by the Department of Energy and the EPA.

The Community Health Center Drug Pricing Protection Act ensures that Federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) receive the full 340B discounted price for drugs at the point of purchase. This legislation prohibits manufacturers from requiring FQHCs to pay more than the established ceiling price upfront, regardless of any later rebates or reimbursements. The goal is to guarantee immediate, upfront savings for these vital health centers.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility in Martville, New York, located at 15422 NY 104. The building will now be known as the "Sergeant Staret J. Engleston Memorial Post Office Building." This designation must be used in all future official federal references to the facility.

The Feed Our Veterans Act permanently exempts all veterans from the work requirements associated with receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This legislation ensures that veterans have consistent access to food assistance without meeting specific employment criteria.

This bill amends the National Quantum Initiative Act to mandate a biennial report on the progress of the Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science. The report must detail the implementation status of the national quantum workforce strategic plan. It will also cover any challenges encountered and necessary updates to the plan.

The Farm and Family Relief Act provides targeted economic assistance to various agricultural sectors, including producers of eligible commodities, sugar beets, and specialty crops, while also delaying scheduled cost-sharing changes for SNAP benefits. Additionally, the bill establishes new programs to support timber businesses through financial assistance and creates an Office of Technology Transfer within the U.S. Forest Service to commercialize research. Finally, it terminates several specific Executive orders imposing tariffs.

The Buying American Cotton Act of 2026 establishes the Domestic Cotton Consumption Credit to incentivize the use of U.S.-grown cotton in products sold domestically. This new business tax credit is calculated based on the volume of U.S. cotton used, the market price, and where the product was processed. The bill mandates digital tracing to verify the supply chain and offers significantly increased credit multipliers for products containing U.S.-made cotton yarn or fabric.

The Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress and their immediate families from purchasing new securities issued by publicly traded companies. It requires advance public disclosure for any sale of existing covered investments, with a mandatory 7-to-14-day notice period before the transaction. Violations result in significant financial penalties, including disgorgement of any net gains, payable by the Member personally.

This resolution initiates impeachment proceedings against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem for high crimes and misdemeanors. The articles of impeachment charge her with willfully refusing to comply with Congressional oversight laws and violating the Impoundment Control Act by improperly withholding funds. Further articles allege she directed widespread misconduct by ICE agents that violated federal law and constitutional rights, and misused taxpayer funds for personal gain through improper contracting.