Legislative Activity

The Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 strengthens the national aging network by expanding access to mental health, nutrition, and caregiver support services while increasing transparency and accountability. The bill promotes independence for older adults through enhanced preventive health programs, improved housing accessibility, and modernized employment training. Additionally, it bolsters protections against elder abuse and ensures more culturally responsive care for Native American elders through 2030.

The Health and Location Data Protection Act of 2026 prohibits data brokers from selling or transferring sensitive health and location information. This legislation empowers the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and private individuals to enforce these protections through civil lawsuits and significant financial penalties. By restricting the trade of this personal data, the bill aims to enhance individual privacy and security.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Olin Graham, recognizing his decades of dedicated military service and his impactful career in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. It pays tribute to his commitment to national security, the rule of law, and the people of South Carolina. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow for his passing and extends its deepest condolences to his family.

This joint resolution disapproves a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule that would have implemented prior authorization for certain Medicare services under the WISeR model. The rule aimed to reduce wasteful spending by requiring pre-approval for specific procedures. Due to this congressional disapproval, the CMS rule will not take effect.

The BUFFER Act expands eligibility for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) by allowing landowners to enroll environmentally sensitive land that is subject to state, local, or tribal conservation requirements. By streamlining these criteria and removing certain administrative hurdles, the bill aims to increase participation in federal land conservation efforts.

The Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act 2.0 of 2026 expands access to methadone treatment by allowing qualified addiction specialists to prescribe the medication for pharmacy dispensing. This legislation creates a new, flexible pathway for patients to receive treatment, including via telemedicine, while providing states with the authority to opt out of the program. The bill aims to improve patient care by integrating methadone treatment into standard clinical and pharmacy settings.

The Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act strengthens protections for workers by mandating transparent pay disclosures, ensuring timely final paychecks, and increasing penalties for wage violations. The bill extends the statute of limitations for filing claims, bans forced arbitration, and establishes a grant program to support community-based efforts in preventing wage theft. These measures aim to hold employers accountable and provide workers with more robust legal tools to recover unpaid wages.

The Milk From Family Dairies Act of 2026 establishes a national Dairy Market Stabilization Program to manage milk production through supply limits, floor prices, and fees for overproduction. The bill aims to support small-scale producers by implementing stricter dairy import controls, monitoring market consolidation, and funding regional infrastructure and training initiatives. These measures are designed to align domestic supply with demand while strengthening the economic viability of independent dairy farms.

The Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to provide financial assistance for travel and practical support to individuals seeking abortion services. By authorizing $350 million annually, the bill helps community-based organizations cover costs such as transportation, lodging, childcare, and doula services for those traveling to access care. Additionally, the legislation includes protections to ensure these funds can be utilized regardless of restrictive state laws.

This resolution honors the 27th anniversary of the landmark *Olmstead v. L.C.* Supreme Court decision, which affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate. It strongly condemns a recent Department of Justice opinion that rejects this fundamental community integration mandate. The resolution calls for the immediate rescission of that flawed opinion and urges Congress to increase funding for home- and community-based services.

This resolution officially recognizes June 2026 as LGBTQ Pride Month to celebrate the history, contributions, and ongoing fight for equality of the LGBTQ community. It acknowledges the systemic discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ individuals both domestically and globally. The resolution supports equal rights and treatment for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, encouraging education and celebration of the community's resilience.

This joint resolution seeks to exercise congressional disapproval of the Department of Health and Human Services' rule titled "Restoring Flexibility in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)." By nullifying this rule, the resolution prevents the proposed relaxation of federal child care subsidy requirements from taking effect.

The Small Farm Conservation Act establishes a dedicated Small Farm EQIP subprogram to provide enhanced financial and technical conservation assistance to small-scale agricultural producers. This subprogram mandates minimum payments, offers increased incentives for soil health management on smaller farms, and reserves significant funding for tailored support. It aims to streamline the application process and ensure equitable access for historically underserved groups, including beginning and limited-resource farmers.

The "No Robot Bosses Act" establishes federal protections for workers and job applicants against the unchecked use of automated decision systems in the workplace. The bill mandates transparency, requires rigorous pre-deployment evaluations and annual impact assessments, and grants individuals the right to opt for human oversight in management and hiring decisions. Additionally, it creates a new Fairness and Transparency Office within the Department of Labor to oversee compliance, enforce worker rights, and prohibit forced arbitration for claims related to automated management.

The Stop Spying Bosses Act establishes comprehensive protections against invasive workplace surveillance by restricting the collection, sale, and use of employee data. The bill mandates transparency regarding data practices, grants workers the right to access and correct their information, and prohibits the use of data for anti-union or discriminatory purposes. Additionally, it creates a new division within the Department of Labor to enforce these standards and provides workers with legal recourse against retaliatory or unauthorized data practices.

The Air Carrier Access Amendments Act seeks to modernize disability protections in air travel by strengthening enforcement against discrimination and holding airlines accountable for damaged assistive devices or inadequate passenger assistance. The bill establishes mandatory civil penalties for specific violations and grants individuals the right to sue airlines directly in federal court. These measures aim to ensure equitable access to air transportation and provide meaningful legal remedies for passengers with disabilities.

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 Children Harmed In Life-threatening or Dangerous Labor (CHILD) Labor Act strengthens federal protections against child labor by expanding the definition of hazardous work and increasing corporate accountability across supply chains. The bill imposes significantly tougher financial and criminal penalties for violations, grants the Department of Labor enhanced enforcement tools, and mandates stricter child labor standards for federal contractors. Additionally, it requires annual reporting on workplace injuries to ensure greater transparency and safety for young workers.

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.

The Land of the Free Act of 2026 proposes to amend immigration law by eliminating the provision that makes non-citizens deportable for engaging in activities aimed at overthrowing the U.S. government through force or violence. This bill specifically repeals the section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that lists this as a ground for removal.