Legislative Activity

The Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a comprehensive workforce strategy to address cybersecurity staffing shortages in rural healthcare facilities. The bill also mandates the creation and promotion of free, accessible cybersecurity training materials to help rural hospital staff implement essential digital security practices. These initiatives aim to strengthen the cyber resilience of rural health systems through interagency collaboration and education without requiring additional federal appropriations.

This resolution expresses the support of the House of Representatives for Charleston, South Carolina, to host the 2027 annual session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly. It highlights the city’s world-class infrastructure and honors the legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Olin Graham by advocating for the event to proceed as originally planned.

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 National Security Interstate Pipeline Act establishes an expedited federal approval process for oil and natural gas pipelines designated by the President as essential to national security. The bill streamlines permitting by granting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission exclusive authority, imposing strict deadlines for agency reviews, and preempting state and local regulations. Additionally, it authorizes the use of eminent domain for project development and allows the President to waive certain environmental laws to prevent project delays.

The High-Capacity Grid Act mandates that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) establish a "best-available transmission conductor" standard based on capacity, efficiency, and sag mitigation. This legislation requires FERC to presume that using these advanced conductors in covered transmission projects is prudent and cost-justified. Conversely, using anything less than the best-available conductor will be presumed imprudent in rate cases.

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 act, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, prohibits the Secretary of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed rule regarding heat injury and illness prevention published in August 2024. This restriction extends to any future standard substantially similar to the one proposed.

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 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 Chloe Cole Act of 2026 establishes a federal private right of action allowing individuals to sue healthcare professionals and institutions for damages related to gender-transition medical interventions performed on them as minors. The bill permits lawsuits regardless of when the intervention occurred and sets a statute of limitations extending 25 years past the individual's 18th birthday. Additionally, it mandates strict liability for such interventions performed after the Act's enactment.

The Advancing Water Research and Collaboration (AWRC) Act of 2025 authorizes $16 million annually from 2026 through 2029 to support regional and interstate water research institutes. The bill expands the definition of "private industry" to include the artificial intelligence sector, fostering new technological partnerships. Additionally, it establishes a competitive grant program to address critical, multi-state water management challenges.

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.

This bill authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the collective heroism of the individuals who defended Bataan, Corregidor, and other locations in the Pacific theater during World War II. The medal honors the extraordinary sacrifice of U.S. service members and Filipino forces who fought and endured imprisonment by Imperial Japan. Following the presentation, the medal will be permanently displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The legislation also allows for the production and sale of bronze duplicate medals.

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 Budgeting for a Better America Act fundamentally reforms the federal budget process by shifting to a two-year (biennial) cycle to promote stability and long-term planning. It also establishes a bipartisan commission tasked with developing a deficit-reduction plan that Congress must consider under fast-track procedures. Finally, the bill mandates greater transparency through required long-term financial reports and expanded participation in budget oversight.

The Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act (DLARA) aims to increase transparency and oversight of Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan programs. It mandates expanded monthly reporting on loan funding levels, requires detailed breakdowns in future Presidential budget requests, and imposes new notification requirements when disaster loan funds become critically low. Additionally, the bill directs the GAO to report on loan disbursement rates and the financial impact of recent program changes.

The Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act significantly expands legal immunity for firearm manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations by redefining terms within existing federal law. It mandates the immediate dismissal of pending lawsuits against these entities and establishes strict new standards for any exceptions that might apply. Furthermore, the bill preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability based on the criminal misuse of qualified products.

The HAILEY Act of 2026 establishes new minimum standards for issuing AMBER Alerts through the national network. Specifically, it mandates that an alert can only be issued for an individual under the age of 18. Furthermore, the bill requires law enforcement to reasonably believe the missing person meets the criteria of a high-risk missing person before an alert is disseminated.

This bill strengthens U.S. access to critical minerals by authorizing international partnerships and agreements to build secure, transparent supply chains with allies. It establishes Energy Security Compacts to diversify energy and mineral sources while protecting American jobs and the environment. Finally, the legislation creates new leadership roles and exchange programs at the State Department to build a skilled domestic mining workforce and counter foreign leverage over essential resources.

This resolution expresses support for designating a week as "Our Roads, Our Safety Week" to promote safer interactions between all road users and large commercial vehicles. It recognizes the essential role of trucks and buses in the economy while emphasizing that road safety is a shared responsibility. The bill encourages continued education and outreach to reduce preventable crashes involving commercial motor vehicles.