Legislative Activity

The Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to better support kinship families—children raised by relatives or close family friends. The bill prioritizes kinship placements within the child welfare system, mandates improved resources and training for kinship caregivers, and ensures these families are better represented in national and state-level prevention programs.

The Surviving Widow(er) Income Fair Treatment (SWIFT) Act of 2026 aims to strengthen financial security for surviving spouses by expanding eligibility for disability-based benefits and increasing the age limit for child-in-care benefits to 18. The bill also introduces new delayed retirement credits for survivors and updates benefit calculation rules to ensure fairer compensation for those who wait to claim. Additionally, it mandates improved outreach and educational resources to ensure survivors are fully informed of their benefit options.

The Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026 establishes standard time as the permanent default across the United States. Additionally, the bill provides states with the flexibility to adopt daylight saving time year-round through state legislation.

This bill, the Health and Location Data Protection Act of 2026, prohibits data brokers from selling or transferring sensitive health and location data about individuals. It grants enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), state attorneys general, and private citizens. The FTC is tasked with issuing necessary regulations to implement these protections.

The Pedestrian Protection Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish new and updated federal safety standards for motor vehicles focused on reducing injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. This includes mandating specific design standards for vehicle components like hoods and bumpers, as well as setting minimum visibility requirements. Furthermore, the bill requires the publication of comparative safety ratings to inform consumers about how well vehicles protect vulnerable road users and how well drivers can see them.

The Postal Data Privacy Act of 2026 significantly restricts the government's ability to use mail covers. This act mandates that federal entities must obtain a court order based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity before accessing mail information. Furthermore, it establishes clear requirements for preserving mail records once a legal process is initiated.

The Right to Representation Act mandates that states guarantee independent legal representation for both parents/guardians and children involved in child protection proceedings to ensure fair legal counsel. This requirement is tied to a state's eligibility for federal foster care and permanency payments. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report biennially to Congress on the implementation of these new standards.

The Corporate Prosecution Reform Act strengthens oversight of corporate criminal activity by establishing stricter judicial standards for deferred prosecution agreements and mandating greater transparency in how the Department of Justice handles these cases. The bill creates a dedicated Office of Corporate Enforcement to monitor compliance and requires the public disclosure of all corporate settlement agreements. Additionally, it prohibits the use of non-prosecution agreements that rely solely on monetary payments, ensuring that corporate penalties prioritize accountability, victim compensation, and the deterrence of future offenses.

This act removes federal immunity for immigration law enforcement officers when their actions result in the death or serious bodily injury of another person. It allows state authorities to pursue criminal charges against federal officers for these specific severe violations of state law.

The Department of Justice Integrity Act of 2026 establishes a one-year post-employment restriction for former federal prosecutors. This ban prevents former attorneys who substantially participated in a federal prosecution or deferred prosecution agreement against a specific business entity from representing or assisting that same entity in related matters after leaving government service. This measure aims to enhance integrity by limiting the revolving door between federal prosecution and private representation of former targets.

The Competitive Prices Act aims to strengthen antitrust enforcement by establishing new, lower pleading standards for conspiracy cases. It allows plaintiffs to state a valid claim by alleging parallel conduct alongside at least two "plus factors," which are specific indicators of collusion. This legislation clarifies what evidence is necessary to survive motions to dismiss and summary judgment in antitrust litigation.

The "No Free Passes for Cronies Act" amends federal rules to require judicial approval for the government to drop criminal charges before a trial begins. This ensures that dismissals of indictments, informations, or complaints serve the interests of justice. Once a trial is underway, the prosecution cannot be dropped over the defendant's objection.

The Patient Safety and Whistleblower Protections Act prohibits healthcare facilities from retaliating against practitioners who report concerns about patient health and safety. This legislation protects licensed healthcare providers across various settings who communicate issues regarding quality of care, staffing, or necessary supplies. The Act establishes significant penalties for facilities found guilty of retaliation and mandates anonymous reporting mechanisms for Medicare providers.

The Congressional Accountability Act Enhancement Act increases accountability by requiring Members of Congress and employing offices to personally reimburse the U.S. Treasury for settlements and awards related to employment discrimination. The bill also streamlines the claims process by allowing individuals to amend legally insufficient filings and expands the support services available to employees through the Office of Employee Advocacy.

The Take Back Our Hospitals Act of 2026 prohibits Medicare payments to hospitals and skilled nursing facilities owned or controlled by private equity funds or real estate investment trusts. This legislation aims to reduce the influence of investment firms in healthcare by mandating divestiture or loss of federal funding. Existing facilities are granted a three-year transition period to comply with these new ownership restrictions.

This resolution officially recognizes January 2026 as National Mentoring Month to honor the dedicated staff and volunteers in mentoring programs. It highlights the significant benefits of mentoring, such as boosting educational achievement and reducing juvenile delinquency. The bill encourages the growth of quality mentoring programs nationwide to ensure more young people have supportive adult connections.

This proposed constitutional amendment grants Congress and the states the authority to establish reasonable limits on campaign spending by candidates and outside groups to ensure fair elections. It allows for different spending regulations for individuals versus corporations or other entities. Crucially, this new power cannot be used to restrict the freedom of the press.

The Foster Youth Mentoring Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to fund community-based organizations that provide structured, long-term mentoring for children and young adults who are currently or formerly in foster care. These grants aim to expand high-quality mentoring relationships, requiring rigorous mentor training, thorough background screening, and significant input from youth with lived experience. The goal is to improve outcomes for foster youth in areas like education, mental health, and successful transition to adulthood.

The Corporate Crime Database Act of 2025 establishes a new, public, and searchable national database managed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics to track federal enforcement actions against corporate offenses. This database will require federal agencies to report detailed information on violations, enforcement outcomes, and involved entities. The Act mandates annual public reporting and analysis of the data to Congress, including estimates of victim harm and recommendations for future crime prevention.

The Stopping the Fraudulent Sales of Firearms Act makes it illegal to import, manufacture, or sell firearms or ammunition using false claims or representations. This prohibition also covers using interstate or international communications to promote such fraudulent activities. The bill updates existing federal law to ensure penalties apply to these newly defined fraudulent dealings.