Legislative Activity

This Act establishes a new tax exclusion for "post-graduation scholarship grants" used to repay student loans. These grants must be provided by specific charitable organizations to individuals who agree to live and work in designated underserved communities. The legislation ensures these loan repayments are not counted as taxable income for the recipient, similar to traditional scholarships.

This bill establishes the National Council on African American History and Culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council will consist of 12 presidentially appointed members tasked with advising on national policy related to preserving and celebrating African American history and culture. Its duties include monitoring relevant efforts, evaluating NEH programs, and submitting annual reports. The Council is set to terminate ten years after the law's enactment.

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.

This resolution of inquiry demands the President provide the House of Representatives with specific documents related to the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) access to and use of Social Security Administration data, including NUMIDENT. The request focuses on communications concerning the sharing of personally identifiable information with external groups, the Department of Homeland Security, and any potential violations of court orders. The House requires these materials within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.

This bill provides the funding and establishes the operational rules for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year 2026 across all major components, including intelligence, security operations, emergency management, and research. It allocates billions for agencies like TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, and CISA while imposing strict new requirements for congressional oversight, spending transparency, and management of federal grants. The legislation also includes specific policy directives, such as mandating security screening for senior officials and restricting certain intelligence and contracting activities.

The Firearm Safety Act of 2025 removes the existing exclusion for firearms under the Consumer Product Safety Act. This action subjects firearms to regulation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as consumer products.

The Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act of 2026 establishes a grant program to enhance access to evidence-based trauma support and mental health services for students and school staff. This funding aims to foster stronger connections between schools and community mental health systems through collaboration, professional development, and direct student services. The bill authorizes $50 million annually from FY 2027 through 2031 to support these critical initiatives.

This bill officially recognizes the deep cultural and historical significance of Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, acknowledging it as the oldest official home of Carnival in the United States, celebrated since 1703. It designates Mardi Gras as a day of special significance to honor this long-standing tradition rooted in the city's history.

This act establishes the "$2.50 for America's 250th Act" to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It authorizes the Treasury to mint and issue special commemorative gold, silver, and clad $2.50 coins featuring designs from the 1926 Sesquicentennial coin. Additionally, the bill mandates a study on the feasibility of minting and issuing a $2.50 coin for wide circulation.

The Disaster Zone Energy Affordability and Investment Act allows businesses in federally or state-declared disaster areas to transfer certain unused general business tax credits from prior years. This provision is designed to help affected taxpayers by converting these credits into usable funds based on their eligible operating expenditures within the disaster zone. The credits apply to investments made following disasters declared after December 31, 2023.

This bill recognizes the historic 1960 Greensboro Four sit-in, honoring the students whose peaceful protest launched a nationwide movement against segregation. It designates February 1, 2026, as the 66th anniversary, coinciding with the start of Black History Month. Furthermore, the bill encourages states to include the Greensboro Four's contributions in educational curricula.

This resolution supports the goals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by recognizing the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black Americans. It encourages testing, commends organizations providing culturally competent care, and supports the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to reduce disparities. The bill also calls for prioritizing funding for minority-led agencies and addressing systemic barriers to care.

The Growing Reputable Academic Departments (GRAD) Act expands eligibility for existing federal grant programs benefiting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). This expansion specifically targets institutions offering qualified master's degree programs. The bill also updates the formula for distributing leftover funds within these grant programs.

The PrEP Assistance Program Act establishes federal grant funding to support organizations providing HIV prevention medication (PrEP) and related services. It also creates a reimbursement program to ensure uninsured individuals can receive these essential HIV prevention items and services at no cost through a "PrEP Pass" card. The legislation aims to expand access to PrEP by supporting community programs and eliminating financial barriers for the uninsured.

The PASTEUR Act of 2026 aims to combat antimicrobial resistance by creating a subscription-style contract program to incentivize the research and development of new, life-saving antibiotics. This program will provide substantial annual payments to drug sponsors for ensuring the availability and appropriate use of eligible antimicrobials targeting urgent threats. The bill also establishes grants to promote stewardship programs in healthcare facilities and enhance national surveillance of resistance data.

This bill, the Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-Scene and Support Act, amends Medicare rules to ensure payment for certain ambulance services even when the patient is not transported. Beginning in 2026, Medicare will cover these on-scene or support services provided by qualified suppliers at a rate comparable to standard transport reimbursement.

The Prison Libraries Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program, administered by the Attorney General, to fund essential library services for incarcerated individuals. These grants aim to reduce recidivism and boost reintegration efforts by supporting education, job training, and access to modern library materials. States and territories can apply for these renewable, multi-year grants, which must be used strictly for library-related activities and cannot charge inmates for access to resources.

This resolution asserts that advancing the rights of women and girls in Haiti is crucial for the nation's stability and successful transition from crisis. It condemns the widespread gender-based violence and the exclusion of women from leadership roles in the transitional government. The bill calls for urgent measures to center women's needs, ensure their representation in government, and prioritize funding for survivor services and accountability for violence.

The Mental Health and MAMA Act of 2026 aims to improve access to care for new and expecting mothers. This legislation prohibits certain health plans from charging out-of-pocket costs for in-network mental health and substance use disorder services for pregnant and postpartum individuals. Furthermore, it updates continuity of care protections to explicitly cover postpartum individuals receiving ongoing mental health or substance use disorder treatment. These provisions will also apply to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

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.