Legislative Activity

The **Making America's Food Safer Act** strengthens national food safety by expanding the FDA’s third-party certification program and streamlining the destruction of high-risk, refused food imports. Additionally, the bill enhances public health coordination by authorizing the FDA to share critical, non-public food safety data with state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities. These measures collectively improve oversight and response capabilities across the food supply chain.

The Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026 prohibits federal officials from including third-party payments in government settlement agreements, unless those payments directly provide restitution for actual harm or compensate for services rendered. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the Congressional Budget Office and requires Inspector General audits to ensure agency compliance. These measures aim to increase transparency and prevent the redirection of settlement funds to non-governmental entities.

This bill establishes a distinct regulatory framework for homeopathic drug products under federal law, recognizing their unique preparation methods and history of use. It exempts these products from standard new drug approval while mandating specific safety, manufacturing, and labeling rules tailored to their nature. The legislation also creates an advisory committee to guide the Secretary of Health and Human Services on regulating these products.

This bill fundamentally restructures U.S. immigration by replacing family-chain and diversity visa systems with a strict, merit-based approach requiring proof of national benefit for entry. It drastically reduces family-based immigration, eliminates the Diversity Visa Lottery, tightens employment visas, and raises the bar for citizenship and asylum. Furthermore, it mandates E-Verify for all employers and strengthens public charge rules to reduce immigrant reliance on public benefits.

The FAFSA Verification Efficiency Act aims to streamline the federal student aid verification process, significantly reducing the documentation burden on students. This bill prohibits duplicate verification for Pell Grant recipients and limits the Department of Education from requesting information already available through other federal systems. Ultimately, the goal is to make accessing financial aid faster and simpler for students while maintaining necessary oversight.

The Student Athlete Act of 2026 establishes federal standards for collegiate athletics, including a fixed five-year eligibility window and new regulations for the national transfer portal. The bill mandates that student athletes face a one-year waiting period after subsequent transfers while ensuring their financial aid commitments are protected. Additionally, this legislation preempts conflicting state laws to create a uniform regulatory framework for the NCAA and member institutions.

The ASSIST Act of 2025 clarifies that medically necessary automobile adaptations for veterans, such as ramps and specialized seating, must be included in the Department of Veterans Affairs' definition of medical services. This ensures veterans receive necessary support for safe transportation related to service-connected disabilities. Additionally, the bill extends the expiration date for certain limits on veteran pension payments from late 2031 to September 30, 2032.

The USDA Loan Modernization Act updates eligibility requirements for farm real estate, operating, and emergency loans to better accommodate modern business structures. The bill clarifies ownership percentage thresholds and establishes new criteria for qualified operators and complex business entities to access essential agricultural financing.

This resolution commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Alabama Highway Patrol, recognizing its establishment in 1935 as the state's first statewide law enforcement agency. It honors the agency's history, evolution, and dedication to public safety under the motto "Country, Service, Protection." The resolution extends gratitude to all past and present State troopers for their tireless service to Alabama.

The UBER Act establishes new minimum standards for drivers working for ride-share and mobility companies under contract with federal executive agencies. These requirements mandate that drivers be at least 21 years old, pass a road test, and demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to communicate and understand traffic signs. Companies must certify compliance or face a five-year debarment from federal contracts.

The Protection on the Picket Line Act amends the National Labor Relations Act to establish clear standards for when employer discipline against employees for on-the-picket-line conduct constitutes an unfair labor practice. This bill requires the General Counsel to prove the employer acted with hostility toward protected activity and could not have taken the same disciplinary action regardless of that activity. Essentially, it sets a high bar for employers to discipline workers engaged in protected union activities.

This bill modifies the boundaries of the Talladega National Forest to include specific additional lands as shown on a designated map. It grants the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to acquire this newly included private land through purchase, donation, or exchange. Any acquired property must adhere to existing National Forest System management standards and be acquired only from willing sellers.

The No Shari’a Act is designed to ensure that U.S. courts and arbitrators exclusively apply federal and state laws, explicitly prohibiting the enforcement of Sharia law or any other foreign legal code. This legislation aims to safeguard fundamental constitutional rights—such as due process and equal protection—from being undermined by foreign legal principles in areas like contracts and family law. The Attorney General is tasked with creating regulations and training to ensure consistent application of this standard across all U.S. judicial proceedings.

This Act denies U.S. immigration benefits and entry to any non-citizen who advocates for implementing Sharia law in a way that violates constitutional or federal rights. Individuals already in the U.S. who violate this provision face visa revocation and mandatory removal. Decisions made regarding removal under this Act are explicitly barred from judicial review.

This Act establishes a three-year pilot program to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) or PTSD, funded exclusively through donations. It also mandates an updated report from the Comptroller General assessing recent clinical trials on HBOT for TBI and PTSD. Finally, the bill extends the expiration date for certain existing limits on veteran pension payments.

The Student Visa Integrity Act of 2025 aims to strengthen oversight and security within U.S. student and exchange visitor programs. This bill increases criminal penalties for visa-related fraud, mandates official accreditation for institutions hosting international students, and tightens reporting requirements for schools via the SEVIS system. Furthermore, it imposes new vetting standards for school officials and restricts study in sensitive fields for nationals of certain adversarial countries.

The Veterans Homecare Choice Act of 2025 amends the Veterans Community Care Program to include nurse registries as recognized entities. This inclusion allows veterans to receive home healthcare services from registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, home health aides, companions, or homemakers working through these registries. Nurse registries are defined as entities that secure contracts for healthcare professionals, provided they meet state licensing requirements.

This resolution commemorates the 65th anniversary of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and recognizes its vital role in American space exploration. It highlights MSFC's historical achievements, including the development of the Saturn V rocket. Furthermore, the resolution commends the Center's current leadership in developing the Space Launch System (SLS) as the backbone of the Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars. This action formally honors the dedication and expertise of the MSFC workforce.

The Mid-South Oilseed Double Cropping Study Act of 2025 directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to study the feasibility of including specific, cold-weather oilseed crops in existing double and rotational cropping insurance policies. This research must analyze the impact on insurance availability and costs while considering benefits like soil health and farm profitability. The findings and recommendations are due to Congress within 13 months of enactment.

The Farm Board Act of 2025 updates the composition of the Federal Crop Insurance Board of Directors. This legislation modifies the representation requirements for agricultural producers on the Board. Specifically, it mandates the inclusion of a member actively involved in both livestock and crop production starting in 2027.