Legislative Activity

The SAFE CATTLE Act mandates federal agencies to formally cooperate on preventing, controlling, and eradicating the New World screwworm parasite on federal lands. This requires the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to establish joint surveillance, response, and eradication protocols. The agencies must also report annually to Congress on their coordination efforts and progress until the parasite is contained outside the U.S.

The TEMP Act mandates the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research and develop a new, nationwide index-based insurance policy to protect crops against losses caused by frost or severe cold weather. This research must evaluate the effectiveness of index-based risk management for catastrophic weather events. A report detailing the findings and recommendations is required one year after enactment.

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 Act mandates the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Puerto Rico's water and wastewater infrastructure needs. The resulting report to Congress will detail current vulnerabilities, ongoing project status, and provide recommendations for modernization and improved federal-local coordination to enhance resilience.

The Save for Success Act amends the tax code to allow tax-free distributions from 529 college savings plans for qualified housing expenses. These expenses are defined as costs associated with purchasing a principal residence for a designated beneficiary who qualifies as a first-time homebuyer. This provision aims to help beneficiaries utilize their education savings for essential homeownership costs.

This bill immediately halts all hiring and transfers of personnel to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) using federal funds. The hiring freeze will remain in effect until Congress passes and enacts a new law specifically designed to supersede this provision.

The Drain ICE Act of 2026 aims to fundamentally reform immigration enforcement by repealing specific sections of a prior law (Public Law 11921) and rescinding associated funding. This legislation is introduced in response to Congressional findings detailing concerns over mass deportation policies, inhumane detention conditions, and the detention of non-criminal individuals under the Trump Administration. The bill seeks to end practices deemed contrary to constitutional protections and human rights in immigration enforcement.

The Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in ICE and CBP Custody Act establishes minimum standards for health screening, nutrition, sanitation, and shelter for individuals detained by ICE and CBP. This bill mandates specific protocols for medical care, facility conditions, and personnel training to ensure humane treatment. It also requires regular inspections and public reporting on compliance and sexual abuse complaints.

The Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025 modernizes GI Bill benefits and support for service members and veterans. This bill revises the repayment timing for service members who contribute to their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and expands eligibility for independent study programs. It also provides service members with new options when called to active duty during their education and updates compliance survey procedures for educational institutions.

The True Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees and certain contract employees receive their full pay and benefits during any government shutdown in fiscal year 2026. It also mandates retroactive contract price adjustments to compensate contractors for costs incurred during previous shutdowns. Furthermore, the bill prohibits federal agencies from implementing workforce reductions or placing employees on extended administrative leave during funding lapses.

This resolution seeks to disapprove the Department of Veterans Affairs' final rule concerning "Reproductive Health Services" issued in September 2024. If enacted, this disapproval, made under the Congressional Review Act, would prevent the VA rule from taking legal effect.

The Financial Reporting Threshold Modernization Act increases the dollar thresholds for mandatory currency transaction and suspicious activity reports to reduce administrative burdens on financial institutions. The bill also mandates periodic inflation adjustments for these thresholds and requires the Treasury Department to review and modernize reporting forms to improve efficiency. Additionally, it extends the requirement for the FinCEN Director to provide annual testimony before Congress.

The Quick Recognition Act (QR Act) mandates that all ICE and CBP enforcement officers wear a visible, scannable QR code on their uniforms. Scanning the code links to a public DHS website displaying the officer's name, badge number, and employment status. This system is designed to enhance accountability by providing a clear mechanism for the public to submit complaints about officer conduct.

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.

This bill establishes the Historic Infrastructure Management and Jobs Training Act to create a competitive grant program supporting workforce training and apprenticeships in skilled trades for historic preservation. The program, administered by the Secretary of the Interior, will fund projects that teach specialized skills needed to preserve historic properties and cultural resources. Priority will be given to projects serving areas with high unemployment or limited existing preservation expertise.

This bill establishes the Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025, prioritizing candidates with significant legal experience for appointments to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Specifically, it requires the Board Chairman to give priority to individuals with three or more years of professional legal experience related to laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026 amends the Lacey Act to create new exemptions and a registration pathway for certain entities possessing previously prohibited wildlife species. This legislation specifically exempts Class B licensed exhibitors and allows current owners to register existing animals under strict conditions, such as ceasing all public contact and breeding. Furthermore, the bill removes the snow leopard and clouded leopard from the list of prohibited wildlife species.

The Shutdown Fairness Act automatically appropriates necessary funds to ensure federal employees and essential contractors receive their regular pay during a government shutdown. This legislation mandates timely payment for covered personnel, regardless of whether they were deemed "excepted" or furloughed. The funds are charged against the agency's subsequent regular appropriations once they are enacted.

This bill establishes a statutory definition for an "essential health system" based on the volume of care provided to low-income and Medicaid patients. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate qualifying hospitals for a five-year period. Furthermore, the bill mandates MACPAC to create an annual index ranking all relevant hospitals based on these financial criteria and to review payment policies supporting these essential systems.

The Ensuring Consistency in Nutrition Labels Act establishes stricter standards for food labeling accuracy. It deems a food product "misbranded" if its actual nutrient content exceeds the labeled value by more than 5 percent for certain required nutrients. This legislation mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update relevant regulations within 60 days of enactment.