Legislative Activity

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 Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 targets the increasing threat posed by organized theft groups impacting retail and the national supply chain. This bill strengthens federal law by expanding money laundering statutes and lowering thresholds for property crimes related to theft. Crucially, it establishes a new federal coordination center within Homeland Security Investigations to align efforts across all levels of law enforcement and the private sector to combat these cross-jurisdictional crimes.

This resolution commemorates the 15th anniversary of the January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, honoring the six victims who lost their lives and the thirteen injured. It recognizes the courage of survivors, including former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and acknowledges her national advocacy against gun violence. The bill reaffirms a commitment to civility, condemning political violence while celebrating the resilience of the Tucson community.

The Protecting Private Job Creators Act addresses the application of an SEC rule (Rule 15c2-11) originally designed for stock markets to the fixed-income (bond) markets. This bill formally creates an exception, ensuring that this specific SEC regulation does not apply to quotations for fixed-income securities. This action aims to protect the vital financing mechanisms used by businesses in the debt markets.

The Housing for the 21st Century Act is a comprehensive bill designed to significantly increase the supply of affordable housing by reforming restrictive zoning rules and streamlining federal construction approvals. It modernizes key federal programs, expands financing options for manufactured homes, and introduces new protections and support services for tenants and veterans. Overall, the legislation aims to reduce regulatory delays and lower construction costs to make housing more accessible nationwide.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The Incentivizing New Ventures and Economic Strength Through Capital Formation Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to make it easier for small businesses and startups to raise capital and access public markets. It achieves this by expanding investment opportunities, increasing crowdfunding limits, and streamlining SEC regulations for emerging companies. Additionally, the Act modernizes the definition of an accredited investor and establishes new protections and task forces focused on senior investors. Overall, the legislation seeks to stimulate economic growth by lowering barriers for entrepreneurs and increasing access to private and public investment pools.

The Endometriosis CARE Act aims to improve the understanding and management of endometriosis through increased research funding and data collection at the NIH. The bill also mandates studies to identify barriers to treatment access and requires the development of public education campaigns and provider information resources. Furthermore, it calls for a comprehensive study on disparities in endometriosis prevalence, detection, and treatment outcomes.

The Helping Improve Recruitment and Retention Efforts for Prosecutors Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments in hiring, retaining, and training prosecutors and support staff. Administered by the Attorney General, the program will award competitive grants, prioritizing offices in underserved or budget-impacted areas. This initiative is authorized with $10 million annually from 2026 through 2030, requiring a 25% non-federal match unless waived.

The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act raises the federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students. Effective July 1, 2026, the annual borrowing limit for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans will increase to \$50,000, and the aggregate limit will rise to \$200,000. This aims to provide greater financial support for advanced degree candidates.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of stable, family-like placements for children, especially for LGBTQ youth who are overrepresented in foster care. The bill mandates federal guidance, training, and data collection to improve safety and well-being outcomes for all children involved in the system.

The Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2025 incentivizes first-time homebuyers to complete financial literacy housing counseling programs. By completing the required counseling before applying for a loan or signing a sales agreement, eligible homebuyers will receive a 25 basis point discount on their mortgage insurance premium payments. This act aims to promote financial preparedness among new homeowners.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

This bill, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Peoples within the Department of State. It codifies U.S. policy to actively combat international criminalization, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide. The legislation also mandates enhanced reporting on these abuses in annual human rights reports and authorizes assistance to support related protection efforts abroad.

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 ensures that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) continue to operate without interruption in fiscal year 2026 if standard appropriations are delayed. If funding lapses, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to use funds from the Treasury to provide benefits and reimburse state agencies. This special funding remains in effect until full appropriations are enacted or until September 30, 2026.

This resolution designates October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to highlight the widespread and devastating impact of intimate partner violence across all demographics. It recognizes the urgent need to eliminate domestic violence and supports increased funding for intervention and prevention programs. The resolution underscores the severe physical, emotional, and economic toll this abuse takes on individuals, families, and communities.

The Births in Custody Reporting Act of 2025 mandates that states receiving federal funding must quarterly report detailed, anonymized data to the Attorney General regarding pregnant individuals and those who have given birth in state or local custody. This data includes pregnancy testing, prenatal care, birth outcomes, and the use of restraints during these periods. States failing to comply face potential reductions in federal funding, and the Attorney General must make all reports public and conduct a study on improving inmate care.

The Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2025 aims to increase federal reimbursement rates for school meals. Specifically, it provides an additional 45 cents per lunch and 28 cents per breakfast served by school food authorities starting November 1, 2025. These adjusted rates will be subject to future inflation adjustments.

The October 7 Remembrance Education Act mandates the creation of a high school curriculum focused on the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. This educational tool must detail the attacks, explore the history of antisemitism leading up to them, and address the spread of related antisemitic rhetoric in the U.S. afterward. The curriculum will be developed by the Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and must adhere to established definitions of antisemitism.