Legislative Activity

This bill, the "Preventing Payouts for Insurrectionists Act," amends federal law to prohibit individuals convicted of specific felonies or misdemeanors related to the January 6th Capitol attack or election interference from receiving monetary claims against the U.S. government. It also mandates the recoupment of any such payments already made to these individuals since January 20, 2025. State Attorneys General are authorized to bring civil actions to enforce this repayment.

The Offshore Leasing Standards and Accountability Act of 2026 establishes rigorous "fitness to operate" standards for offshore oil and gas companies seeking or holding leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. This bill mandates that operators must prove financial stability, strong environmental and safety compliance history, and sufficient funding to cover all future decommissioning liabilities. Furthermore, it requires leaseholders to pre-fund their decommissioning obligations through interest-bearing escrow accounts managed by the Secretary of the Interior. The Act also limits the duration for which oil wells can be temporarily abandoned.

This bill establishes the "Economic Relief for Specialty Crops Act" to provide financial support to specialty crop producers. It appropriates \$5 billion for fiscal year 2027 to make direct payments to these farmers through existing or similar USDA programs. The distribution of funds will adhere to established federal guidelines for specialty crop assistance.

This bill establishes a new competitive grant program to fund research and development in agricultural automation and mechanization specifically for specialty crops. The goal is to create and improve technologies that reduce manual labor, enhance worker safety, and increase efficiency for growers. Priority will be given to projects that also include training for farmworkers to operate these new technologies.

This act aims to strengthen defenses against agricultural threats by directing more resources toward states highly vulnerable to plant pests and diseases. It establishes a permanent annual funding level of $150 million for key management programs starting in fiscal year 2027. Additionally, the bill increases the spending cap for disaster prevention activities from $5 million to $12 million.

This bill establishes a Specialty Crop Advisory Committee to improve federal crop insurance options for specialty crops. The Committee will advise the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation on policy development, risk management, and educational programs. It also revises the role of the Specialty Crops Coordinator to better serve the needs of specialty crop producers.

This bill establishes a new framework to provide direct emergency assistance payments to specialty crop growers, such as fruit and vegetable producers, harmed by natural disasters. Payments will be calculated based on historical sales and a factor set by the Secretary of Agriculture, taking into account the unique costs of specialty crops. The legislation sets specific payment limits, with higher caps available for producers who derive most of their income from farming.

The Expanding Market Access Act aims to boost U.S. agricultural exports by establishing technical assistance to improve foreign market infrastructure. It also mandates a biennial report detailing foreign barriers to U.S. specialty crop competitiveness. Furthermore, the bill increases and extends funding levels for key agricultural trade promotion programs through fiscal year 2031.

The "No Payouts for Political Insiders Act" restricts who can receive payments from the Anti-Weaponization Fund, specifically prohibiting payments related to the *Trump v. Internal Revenue Service* settlement to high-level political officials and their associates. The bill also mandates public disclosure of payment details, including the recipient and amount, at least 180 days before any such payment is made. These restrictions apply to pending cases and future causes of action arising after January 20, 2025.

The Drain the Slush Fund Act prohibits the federal government from using the Judgment Fund to pay any monetary award or settlement resulting from a lawsuit filed by the President or Vice President against the United States. This change ensures that the President or Vice President cannot benefit from this permanent fund if they sue the government. The restriction applies to current and future claims arising after January 20, 2025.

The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act of 2026 establishes a pilot program to award competitive grants to school food authorities promoting the preparation of meals using unprocessed or minimally processed ingredients. These grants prioritize high-need districts and support training, equipment upgrades, and employee compensation necessary for scratch cooking. Grantees must report on their increased use of whole ingredients and scratch-prepared menu items following the grant period.

The Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2026 establishes a comprehensive demonstration program to prevent, monitor, control, and eradicate the invasive golden mussel. This act authorizes funding for research, the development of control technologies, and a competitive grant program to support these efforts. The program will initially focus on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and aims to provide guidelines and technical assistance nationwide for mussel control and eradication.

The PETSAFE Act aims to improve emergency preparedness for companion animals by increasing the federal cost share for related activities to 90%. This legislation ensures that state and local disaster plans specifically account for the needs of animal shelters. The bill allows grant funding to be used for essential pet supplies, veterinary care, and emergency sheltering equipment.

The Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act of 2026 establishes a new federal framework to manage the rapid interconnection of large energy users, like data centers, to the interstate transmission grid. It mandates that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) create formal interconnection procedures requiring these large loads to fully cover the costs of necessary grid upgrades. Furthermore, the bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to collect data and establish an AI testbed to study and mitigate the impact of growing energy demand on grid reliability and consumer electricity costs.

The LINK Act mandates that the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior coordinate to ensure their information technology and cybersecurity systems can securely share critical data. This interoperability is specifically aimed at improving federal land management, especially wildfire response, disaster preparedness, and related business functions. The Secretaries must develop and implement a joint plan to achieve this sharing, while protecting sensitive Tribal data and ensuring mission safety.

This resolution formally commends and congratulates the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins women's basketball team for winning the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship. It honors the team's historic victory, recognizing their dedication, coaching staff, and the six graduating seniors who led the effort. The resolution also directs that official copies be sent to key university officials.

The LIFT AI Act aims to prepare K-12 educators and students for an AI-literate future by promoting AI literacy and proficiency in education. It authorizes the National Science Foundation to award competitive grants for developing K-12 curricula, teacher training, and evaluation tools focused on essential AI competencies. This initiative seeks to ensure young people can effectively use, interpret, and mitigate risks associated with artificial intelligence.

This bill mandates a comprehensive report from the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence detailing the use of artificial intelligence systems accessing unminimized information collected under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The report must cover the AI system's function, training data, human review processes, and access levels. Furthermore, it requires joint consultation and notification to congressional and judicial bodies before any new AI system is granted such access in the future.

The Pets Belong with Families Act prohibits public housing agencies from banning pets based on breed, size, or weight. This legislation allows agencies to implement reasonable pet deposits, capped at 10% of monthly rent and spread over three months. While agencies can still limit the number of pets or prohibit specific dangerous animals, this bill aims to keep pets with their families in public housing.

The Prison Libraries Act of 2026 establishes a grant program administered by the Attorney General to fund library services within correctional facilities. This initiative aims to support incarcerated individuals' reintegration, reduce recidivism, and expand educational opportunities. Grants will support modern library resources, qualified staffing, and diverse programming, while prohibiting fees for core library services.