Legislative Activity

This resolution commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). It honors the organization’s century-long commitment to environmental stewardship, professional development, and educational initiatives like the First Green program. Furthermore, it recognizes the GCSAA’s vital role in supporting the golf industry’s significant contributions to the U.S. economy and local communities.

The Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress and their immediate families from purchasing individual stocks and requires public notice before selling existing holdings to prevent conflicts of interest. Additionally, the bill establishes a national photo identification requirement for voting in federal elections, including specific provisions for in-person and mail-in ballots.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act authorizes $6 million in annual federal grants over seven years to support the National Law Enforcement Museum. This funding will enhance public education, community outreach, and critical officer safety and wellness programs. By fostering greater understanding between law enforcement and the public, the bill aims to support the profession and improve safety for officers nationwide.

The ABLE MATCH Act aims to reduce poverty among individuals with disabilities by incentivizing the use of tax-advantaged ABLE savings accounts. The bill establishes a federal matching program that provides refundable tax credits for contributions made by low-to-moderate-income account holders. Additionally, the legislation supports outreach efforts through state grants and improves demographic reporting to better track and encourage account participation.

The MARA Act of 2026 establishes a comprehensive federal framework to coordinate and regulate the sustainable development of offshore aquaculture in U.S. waters. The bill creates a dedicated office within NOAA to streamline permitting, mandate rigorous environmental best practices, and ensure meaningful input from coastal communities and Tribal governments. Additionally, it supports industry growth through technical assistance and marketing initiatives while commissioning independent scientific and regulatory studies to guide long-term policy.

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.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

This bill amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to expand background check requirements for individuals working with vulnerable populations. It specifically mandates checks for contractors and licensed or certified individuals working with organizations that contract with qualified entities. This broadens the scope beyond direct employees to include a wider range of personnel interacting with vulnerable groups.

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 Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and processors from assigning specific merchant category codes to firearms retailers. This legislation aims to protect consumer privacy by preventing the tracking of firearm and ammunition purchases through specialized financial classification. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing these provisions and reporting annually on compliance.

The Declaration of Independence Reaffirmation Act of 2026 commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence by formally reaffirming the Declaration of Independence as a foundational legal document of the United States. This Act underscores the nation's commitment to the principles of national sovereignty, natural rights, and government by consent. To preserve these values, the legislation officially incorporates the full text of the Declaration into federal law.

The National Fraud Enforcement Division Act of 2026 establishes a dedicated division within the Department of Justice to centralize and strengthen the federal government's response to sophisticated fraud. Led by a Senate-confirmed Assistant Attorney General, this division will oversee multi-jurisdictional investigations, coordinate national enforcement priorities, and propose systemic reforms to protect federal programs and U.S. citizens.

The SHARE Act of 2025 establishes new federal requirements for the FBI to share criminal history record information with states participating in professional licensing interstate compacts. This information sharing is strictly for the purpose of conducting background checks on applicants seeking to practice a profession in another compact state. States receiving this data are severely restricted on how they can use or further disseminate the detailed criminal history, generally only being permitted to report a binary "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" determination back to the compact's Commission.

The Combat Pay Protection Act mandates a one-time corrective increase and subsequent annual adjustments for certain special and incentive pays for members of the Armed Forces to keep pace with inflation and basic pay growth. These required increases will override any existing statutory caps that would otherwise limit the pay adjustments. Additionally, the bill clarifies and streamlines the authority for providing bonuses and special pays to members of the Reserve components.

The Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025 aims to protect students' rights to join single-sex social organizations at colleges receiving federal funding. This bill prevents institutions from taking adverse action against students or groups solely because of sex-based membership policies. It ensures these organizations are treated fairly compared to other campus groups regarding participation and privileges. Ultimately, the Act safeguards a student's freedom to choose their associations, including single-sex clubs.

The Main Street Competes Act expands federal economic policy to prioritize competitive markets and consumer choice through antitrust enforcement that protects small businesses. It mandates regular, detailed reporting from the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission on how their antitrust actions specifically impact small businesses. Finally, the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy will analyze this data and report recommendations to Congress on promoting competition.

The USDA Field Office Stability Act aims to prevent the closure or relocation of essential local USDA county and field offices, including those for the NRCS, FSA, and Rural Development. This bill ensures that critical agricultural services remain accessible to the public by maintaining current office locations and adequate staffing levels. Exceptions are made only for offices located very close to another office in the same state or for minor relocations within the same county.

The No Equipment Left Behind Act of 2026 aims to prevent U.S.-provided defense equipment from falling into the hands of hostile actors following force withdrawals, as seen in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill establishes strict new reporting, notification, and high-level approval requirements for the Department of Defense when disposing of accountable property during significant force repositioning overseas. It mandates comprehensive risk mitigation plans, detailed cost analyses, and senior leader sign-off for abandoning or destroying high-value equipment.

The No American Left Behind Act requires the Department of Defense to submit a comprehensive report assessing its support for recovering and repatriating U.S. nationals held hostage, detained, missing, or deceased abroad. This report must analyze current operational planning, identify resource or policy gaps, and evaluate the feasibility of establishing a formal "No American Left Behind" doctrine. The goal is to ensure a sustained commitment to bringing all Americans home, regardless of location or circumstance.

The Deport Alien Gang Members Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish new grounds for inadmissibility and deportability for noncitizens associated with criminal gangs. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to formally designate criminal organizations, mandates the detention of identified gang members, and restricts their eligibility for various forms of immigration relief.