Legislative Activity

The POLAR Act establishes a dedicated Directorate for Polar Programs within the National Science Foundation to advance scientific research, workforce development, and infrastructure in the Arctic and Antarctic. This legislation centralizes the management of U.S. polar operations, ensuring a strategic, coordinated approach to logistical support, safety, and international collaboration. By prioritizing key research areas and fostering partnerships with indigenous communities and federal agencies, the Act aims to strengthen the United States' influential presence and scientific capabilities in both polar regions.

The Bycatch Reduction Act aims to protect marine ecosystems and critical fish populations in the North Pacific by mandating stricter gear performance standards to minimize seafloor damage and incidental bycatch. The legislation increases transparency and public participation in fishery management, promotes the use of innovative monitoring technologies, and establishes dedicated funding for cleaner fishing gear. Additionally, the bill prohibits the import of unsustainably harvested foreign seafood and prioritizes scientific research to better inform conservation efforts.

The Remote Waste Storage Act amends existing law to provide an exception for hazardous waste generators in remote areas lacking year-round road access. This allows these generators to store waste on-site for up to two years, provided they adhere to all other applicable regulations.

This Act directs the development of a comprehensive strategy to revitalize and modernize the Army National Guard's presence in remote and isolated areas of Alaska. The plan must optimize readiness through infrastructure upgrades, enhanced training for extreme cold-weather operations, and targeted recruitment strategies for rural communities. It also mandates a blueprint for modernizing dual-use facilities to ensure operational resilience and explore public-private partnerships.

This resolution officially designates May 1, 2026, as "United States Foreign Service Day." It recognizes the dedicated service and sacrifices of all current and former members of the U.S. Foreign Service. The day honors those who have given their lives in the line of duty while advancing American interests abroad.

This Act redefines exemptions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to clarify the rights of Alaska Natives to take marine mammals for subsistence and to create and sell authentic handicrafts made from marine mammal ivory and other materials. It establishes clear definitions for "authentic Alaska Native article of handicrafts and clothing" to ensure legitimacy in commerce. Furthermore, the bill prohibits states from banning the sale or transfer of these authentic Native handicrafts incorporating marine mammal parts.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 2026 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2026, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. The designation aims to increase public understanding, reduce the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress (PTS), and encourage timely treatment for affected veterans and service members. It recognizes the high risk of PTS among those who have served in recent conflicts and supports efforts to ensure those with this treatable injury receive proper care.

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2026 establishes a 20-year demonstration project to modify Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for blind individuals. This project removes the consideration of substantial gainful activity when determining disability eligibility for participants. Instead, benefits will be reduced based on earned income above a specific threshold, allowing blind Americans to work without immediately losing their SSDI entitlement.

The Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2026 extends the authorization for critical sport fish conservation and restoration programs through 2031. This legislation maintains essential funding for state-level projects while updating the allocation formulas for multistate conservation grants and the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund.

The TIME for Overdose Justice Act eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecuting drug offenses that result in death or serious bodily injury. By removing these time constraints, the bill ensures that law enforcement can pursue justice for victims and their families regardless of when the violation occurred.

The Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests (FISH) Act of 2025 strengthens U.S. efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and associated human rights abuses. The bill mandates the creation of a public list of vessels and owners engaged in illicit fishing, imposes visa sanctions on identified offenders, and enhances international enforcement and data-sharing capabilities. Additionally, it authorizes funding for fisheries management and research to ensure the sustainability of global fish stocks.

This bill establishes the LINC VA Act to create a pilot program for a community integration platform connecting veterans with local support services like housing, healthcare, and job training. The platform will coordinate services, track referrals, and collect standardized data on veterans' social needs. The program will be evaluated to assess its impact on veterans' health outcomes and access to necessary resources.

The Sanctions Targeting Aggressors of Neighboring Democracies with Taiwan Act of 2026 establishes a framework for immediate, severe economic sanctions against China should it engage in hostile actions against Taiwan. The legislation mandates broad financial restrictions, investment bans, and significant tariffs on Chinese entities and their supporters to deter military or cyber aggression. It also provides the U.S. government with tools to penalize foreign actors while maintaining limited flexibility for national security interests.

This resolution officially designates February 16, 2026, as "National Elizabeth Peratrovich Day." It honors the Tlingit civil rights leader whose advocacy led to the passage of the nation's first anti-discrimination law in 1945. The day calls upon the public to remember her work and continue the pursuit of equality for Alaska Natives and Native Americans.

The RURAL Rate Act establishes a minimum payment floor for certain medical services provided in Alaska, effective January 1, 2026. This bill mandates that the practice expense and work geographic payment indices for these services in Alaska be increased to a minimum value of 1.67 if they would otherwise fall below that threshold.

The Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act restructures and updates the existing Marine Debris Act to enhance NOAA's ability to fund marine debris projects. This legislation also modifies the structure and expands the scope of the Marine Debris Foundation, explicitly including outreach and funding opportunities for Indian Tribes. Finally, the Act reauthorizes the marine debris program through fiscal year 2029 and standardizes key definitions within the law.

The Bycatch Reduction and Research Act of 2025 aims to significantly reduce the unintended capture of non-target species in federal fisheries. It mandates extensive new research on Alaska salmon life history and ecosystem factors affecting marine species. The bill also establishes partnerships to build a flume tank for gear testing and creates new funding mechanisms to assist the fishing industry in adopting bycatch-reducing technology. Finally, it streamlines processes for electronic monitoring and reporting to improve data integration for management.

The Advancing Digital Support for Mental Health Services Act requires large digital advertising platforms to report annually to the FTC on their public service advertisements promoting mental and behavioral health resources. These reports will detail the volume and value of such ads, including those focused on local or free resources. The FTC will then summarize this data for Congress, with all reporting requirements expiring five years after enactment.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove the Bureau of Land Management's rule regarding the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision. If enacted, this action would nullify the submitted rule, preventing it from taking effect.

This resolution expresses the Senate's opposition to the Chinese Communist Party's historical revisionism regarding Allied victory in World War II. It commemorates the vital contributions of the Republic of China to the Allied victory and acknowledges Japan's postwar role in promoting peace and stability in Asia. The bill urges the U.S. government to counter CCP propaganda and ensure accurate teaching of history concerning U.S. allies.