Legislative Activity

The American Mariner Tax Fairness Act allows U.S. merchant mariners to treat income earned while working on qualifying U.S.-flagged vessels in foreign trade as foreign earned income. This change provides tax relief by extending specific foreign earned income exclusions to mariners who meet defined employment and vessel requirements.

The First-Time Homebuyer Affordability Act aims to increase housing accessibility by exempting qualified mortgage bonds from federal volume caps on private activity bonds. By removing these limitations, the bill allows states and local governments to issue more bonds to support affordable homeownership opportunities.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 imposes sweeping economic and financial sanctions on Russia to isolate its economy and disrupt its defense and energy sectors. The bill further mandates the extension of existing sanctions against Iran through 2031 to maintain ongoing diplomatic and economic pressure. Together, these measures aim to penalize foreign aggression and restrict access to U.S. capital and markets.

The Presidential Tax Accountability and Audit Integrity Act prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from entering into or recognizing any agreements that attempt to influence or settle federal tax matters for the President, their family, or related business entities while in office. The bill mandates public reporting of any such attempts and grants the IRS extended authority to assess taxes for these individuals. These measures ensure transparency and prevent the use of executive power to bypass standard tax enforcement procedures.

The Right to Worship Act protects the free exercise of religion by establishing civil penalties for knowingly disrupting or impeding access to scheduled religious services. The bill allows for both government enforcement and private lawsuits to address conduct that interferes with congregants within 100 feet of a house of worship. It balances these protections with existing free speech rights by focusing on the conduct and impact of the interference rather than the content of the speech.

The FASTER Act of 2026 expands food labeling requirements to include barley, rye, and oats as major food allergens, ensuring greater transparency for consumers. Additionally, the bill mandates a comprehensive federal report on Celiac disease to improve data collection, diagnostic testing, and the development of new treatments.

The Addictive Design Act of 2026 aims to protect youth mental health by banning AI chatbots from using features intentionally designed to create emotional dependency or addictive engagement. The bill establishes an interagency task force to study these risks, funds research and educational outreach, and mandates that AI companies provide data to researchers to support these safety efforts.

The Deputy Darren Almendarez Act establishes a new federal crime for the illegal trafficking of catalytic converters. This legislation imposes significant fines and prison sentences for the unauthorized possession or sale of these devices, while providing clear exemptions for legitimate automotive repair, recycling, and manufacturing businesses.

The Industrial Bank for American Manufacturing Act of 2026 establishes a $15 billion fund, financed by specific trade tariffs, to provide loans, grants, and equity investments to domestic manufacturers. This initiative aims to strengthen U.S. industrial capacity, secure critical supply chains, and promote emerging technologies. Recipients must adhere to strict labor standards, including prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, while prioritizing projects that boost efficiency and support economically distressed communities.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 114 John Street in New York, New York, as the "Jack Greenberg Post Office." All official federal records and documents will be updated to reflect this new name.

The Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends vital funding for ALS research and clinical trial programs through 2031. This legislation strengthens oversight by enhancing grant review processes, improving safety reporting requirements, and mandating a comprehensive five-year FDA action plan to accelerate the development of treatments for rare neurodegenerative diseases.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act authorizes $6 million in annual grants over seven years to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. These funds will support the National Law Enforcement Museum’s public education, community outreach, and officer safety and wellness programs. As a condition of the grant, the museum must provide free admission to law enforcement officers and their families, as well as dedicated free hours for the general public.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 80 Atlantic Avenue in Oceanside, New York, in honor of Detective Luis G. Alvarez. The designation will now be used in all official records and documents pertaining to that post office.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.

Tyler's Law mandates a comprehensive study by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the frequency, cost, and impact of fentanyl testing in hospital emergency departments during overdose cases. Following the study, the Secretary must issue guidance on whether routine fentanyl testing should become standard practice for overdose patients. This guidance will also address staff training regarding existing drug test panels and the long-term health implications of such testing.

The AADAPT Act expands access to specialized dementia care by authorizing grants for public and nonprofit health centers to integrate these services into their programs. Additionally, the bill extends federal funding authorization through 2031 to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of these critical health outcomes.

The Stop CHEATERS Act provides significant multi-year funding to the IRS to modernize its technology, improve taxpayer services, and strengthen tax enforcement. The bill specifically mandates that the agency prioritize auditing high-income individuals and large corporations to close the tax gap. Additionally, it requires regular reporting to Congress to ensure accountability and progress in these enforcement efforts.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 ensures that residents in long-term care facilities maintain access to designated essential caregivers, even when general visitation is suspended. The bill mandates that facilities allow residents to appoint up to two caregivers who can provide in-person support, provided they adhere to established safety protocols. It also prioritizes the investigation of access complaints and guarantees that these visitation rights cannot be waived during emergencies.

The Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act seeks to improve anesthesia coverage in small, rural hospitals by transitioning payment for these services from Medicare Part B to Part A. Under this bill, qualifying rural and critical access hospitals will be reimbursed on a reasonable cost basis, allowing them to better support anesthesiologists in low-volume settings. This change simplifies billing and helps ensure that rural patients maintain access to essential surgical care.