Legislative Activity

This act establishes the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Pilot Program within the State Department to create a surge workforce for supporting U.S. diplomatic operations during crises. The program will recruit retired Foreign Service members to provide temporary assistance during emergencies like conflicts or disasters. After three years, the Secretary of State will submit a final evaluation recommending whether to establish a permanent corps.

This bill, the "No Taxpayer Bailouts for Insurrectionists Act of 2026," places strict limitations on the federal government's ability to make large settlement payments to certain high-ranking officials and individuals connected to the January 6th events. It specifically prohibits any federal funds from being used in the *Trump v. Internal Revenue Service* settlement. Furthermore, any settlement over $50,000 with a "covered person" requires a detailed report to Congress 90 days in advance.

This bill designates and expands the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada to protect its significant resources. It withdraws federal land within the area from new mineral entry while authorizing specific rights-of-way for the Southern Nevada Water Authority's buried water pipeline infrastructure along the boundary. The legislation also requires the development of a comprehensive management plan for the newly defined conservation area.

This Act mandates a comprehensive study to examine the link between animal cruelty and future violence against humans. It also establishes a federal grant program to support eligible entities in detecting, intervening in, and preventing animal cruelty and related interpersonal violence. The overall goal is to develop evidence-based strategies to reduce future violent acts.

The PATH to the Foreign Service Act establishes a streamlined pathway for former USAID employees to join the State Department's Foreign Service. This legislation waives the Foreign Service Entrance Exam for eligible former USAID Foreign Service members and grants hiring preference points for all former USAID staff. It also ensures prior USAID service is recognized for seniority, retirement, and other career milestones.

This bill amends the House of Representatives' rules to prohibit Members, officers, and employees from participating in certain prediction markets involving excluded commodities. The legislation aims to prevent conflicts of interest by banning trades tied to the outcome of specific events. It also expresses the sense of the House that the executive and judicial branches should adopt similar restrictions.

This bill establishes the Commission on Americans Living Abroad to study the impact of federal laws and policies on U.S. citizens residing overseas. The Commission will investigate issues such as taxation, access to benefits, and voting rights. It is required to submit detailed findings and recommendations to Congress and the President within one year, followed by an update one year later.

This resolution commends the Holy See for its enduring diplomatic relationship with Taiwan and affirms Congress's strong support for its preservation. It highlights Taiwan's exemplary record on religious freedom compared to the People's Republic of China. The bill encourages further high-level engagement between the Vatican and Taiwan to strengthen their partnership.

The Higher Education Marijuana Research Act of 2026 aims to significantly expand federally sanctioned marijuana research at colleges and universities. It prioritizes research licenses for institutions of higher education and allows them to legally obtain marijuana from state or tribal sources for approved studies. Furthermore, the bill establishes grant programs through the NIH and USDA to fund medical and agricultural marijuana research, while protecting student and researcher participation from federal penalties.

The Modal Parity in Permitting Act updates federal law to provide transit and passenger rail agencies with clearer authority to acquire necessary real property interests for projects using federal funds. This legislation allows for the acquisition of property interests before environmental reviews are complete, provided no physical development occurs until those reviews are finalized. The bill aims to streamline the initial property acquisition phase for critical transportation infrastructure.

The Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026 establishes a new, separate personnel system within the Department of State to maintain a pool of trained civilian experts ready for immediate deployment. This Corps will be gradually built up to 1,000 members and can be called to active service during national emergencies or to augment diplomatic efforts abroad. The legislation details comprehensive rules for appointments, compensation, benefits, retirement, and service obligations, closely aligning the Corps' structure and protections with those of the Foreign Service and uniformed services.

The ACPAC Modernization Act updates the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee by formally including ticket agents as committee members. It also removes existing restrictions, allowing the committee to review and evaluate the practices of ticket agents to better protect air travelers.

The State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act establishes a formal framework to integrate disability rights into U.S. foreign policy and development efforts. The bill creates an Office of International Disability Rights, led by an Ambassador-at-Large, to coordinate global engagement and ensure U.S. diplomatic facilities and hiring practices are fully accessible. Additionally, it mandates comprehensive staff training and launches the Judy Heumann Fellowship program to build long-term expertise in disability advocacy within the Department of State.

The Thermal Runaway Reduction Act of 2026 aims to enhance the safety of transporting lithium-ion batteries. It mandates updated transportation testing standards and requires batteries shipped commercially to maintain a state of charge no higher than 30%. Furthermore, the Act establishes grant programs to fund research into thermal runaway suppression technologies and to equip fire departments with necessary suppression and response tools.

The FLARE Act enhances firefighter safety by expanding federal grant eligibility to include the procurement of specialized tools for suppressing lithium-ion battery fires. The bill establishes formal definitions for lithium-ion batteries and thermal runaway, ensuring fire departments have the necessary resources to address these increasingly common and dangerous incidents.

The Secure Tracks Act enhances rail safety by mandating more frequent visual and automated track inspections. The bill requires the immediate remediation of all identified safety defects and empowers qualified inspectors to oversee necessary repairs. Additionally, it restricts the Secretary of Transportation from granting safety waivers that would compromise the detection of track hazards.

The Fair Markets and Sports Integrity Act prohibits registered trading entities from dealing in contracts based on the outcomes of sporting events or casino-style games. This legislation amends the Commodity Exchange Act to prevent financial markets from facilitating transactions tied to sports outcomes or gambling activities.

This bill establishes the USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act to strengthen North American travel and tourism through a new grant program. It also directs the U.S. Trade Representative to advocate for a dedicated Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group under the USMCA framework. The goal is to boost competitiveness, support economic recovery, and foster long-term resilience across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

This resolution is an official inquiry demanding the President and Secretary of State provide the House of Representatives with specific documents regarding the Administration's stance on Greenland. It specifically seeks records concerning U.S. ownership plans, policy toward Danish sovereignty, and security assessments related to the U.S.-Denmark defense agreement. The bill also requires documentation of all related communications between U.S. officials and private citizens, Danish/Greenlandic authorities, or NATO allies.

This bill transfers approximately 3,156 acres of federal land to be held in trust for the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, expanding their reservation. The transfer is conditioned on the Tribe granting an easement for electric transmission facilities. The bill also permanently prohibits gaming on the transferred land.