Legislative Activity

The Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026 significantly updates overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It establishes a phased-in, rising minimum salary threshold for executive, administrative, and professional employees to qualify for overtime exemption, eventually tying it to national earnings data. Additionally, the bill tightens the "duties test," reducing the amount of non-exempt work an employee can perform while remaining exempt from overtime pay. These changes aim to restore overtime eligibility to more salaried workers.

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 Moms Matter Act establishes two grant programs to improve maternal mental health. The first program funds initiatives to expand mental health and substance use disorder services for pregnant and postpartum individuals, prioritizing high-risk populations. The second program provides grants to grow and diversify the workforce of mental and behavioral health providers specializing in maternal health.

The **Protecting Our Democracy Act** imposes sweeping reforms across the executive branch to strengthen accountability and restore checks and balances. It restricts presidential pardon power, closes loopholes to ensure no President is above the law, and enforces constitutional emoluments clauses to prevent self-enrichment. Furthermore, the Act enhances congressional oversight by strengthening subpoena enforcement, increasing transparency around White House visitors and tax returns, and protecting federal whistleblowers from retaliation.

The Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes during public health emergencies. It authorizes significant funding for enhanced data collection, surveillance, and research across various CDC programs. Furthermore, the bill mandates public data disclosure, requires public health communication campaigns, and establishes a task force to develop federal recommendations for ensuring safe, respectful, and equitable maternity care during crises.

The HUD Data Privacy Act of 2026 establishes strict limits on how the Department of Housing and Urban Development can share personal information collected from housing assistance recipients. Information may only be shared with other entities for the specific purposes of benefit qualification verification and benefit determination. This Act explicitly prohibits the use of shared data for civil immigration enforcement purposes.

The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 establishes permanent, universal free breakfast and lunch programs for all enrolled students at participating schools, eliminating income tests and meal debt collection. The bill significantly updates federal funding mechanisms by replacing reliance on free and reduced-price lunch data with new measures for identifying economically disadvantaged students across various education and social programs. Furthermore, it expands access to summer and afterschool meals while making technical amendments across several federal education and nutrition laws.

The Let Kids Play Act prohibits "vulture investors"—private equity firms with harmful track records—from investing in youth sports entities. It bans covered firms from using specific predatory business tactics, such as imposing junk fees or restricting competition, when involved in youth sports. The bill mandates that designated vulture investors must fully divest from these entities within two years. Enforcement is granted to the FTC and the Department of Justice, and the Act also allows private lawsuits for damages.

This resolution condemns the devastating attacks on civilians in the Sudanese civil war and calls for an immediate end to external support fueling the conflict. It urges all parties to cease hostilities and demands robust international efforts to negotiate a settlement leading to civilian-led democratic governance. The bill emphasizes the urgent need to address the massive humanitarian crisis and hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable.

The Trade Responsibly for Environmental Emissions (TREE) Act prohibits the import and sale of "deforestation goods"—commodities linked to deforestation or forest degradation after December 31, 2020—starting in 2029. Importers must submit detailed due diligence statements to Customs and Border Protection, with violations resulting in significant civil penalties, including fines up to 4% of U.S. revenue and potential import bans. The bill also mandates a risk-based country categorization system to guide increased border inspections.

This resolution establishes a "renewed mandate for human rights," recognizing the interconnected nature of global oppression and affirming the dignity of the global majority. It outlines a comprehensive vision, grounded in principles like intersectionality, that rejects systems such as racism, colonialism, and patriarchy. The bill details specific rights—including movement, housing, safety, and peace—and calls for sweeping policy changes in U.S. immigration, foreign policy, and domestic justice systems to align with these human rights principles.

This bill, the Assault Weapon Financing Accountability Act, prohibits the use of "Buy Now, Pay Later" loans for the purchase of semiautomatic assault weapons. It makes it illegal for lenders to issue these loans and for gun dealers to knowingly accept them for these specific firearm sales. Violations carry a significant civil penalty of $100,000 per offense.

This resolution officially recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Cinco de Mayo, commemorating the 1862 Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla. It highlights the holiday as a symbol of self-determination, unity, and the strong ties between the U.S. and Mexico. The bill encourages the American public to observe this important day with appropriate activities.

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act aims to establish comprehensive standards for the care, health services, and housing of pregnant individuals in federal custody, including those held by the Bureau of Prisons, CBP, ICE, and ORR. The bill mandates extensive data collection on the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women and strictly prohibits the use of restraints and restrictive housing during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery, with very limited exceptions. Furthermore, it requires federal agencies to provide essential services like family unity programs, specialized medical care, and comprehensive education for pregnant and postpartum individuals.

The Blood Pressure MATTERS Act mandates that health insurance plans, including Medicaid and CHIP, must cover self-measured blood pressure monitoring devices for pregnant and postpartum individuals without any out-of-pocket costs. This ensures access to vital monitoring tools for up to 12 months postpartum to help safeguard against eclampsia risk. The law requires devices to meet specific FDA and AMA validation standards.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 4 through May 8, 2026, as Teacher Appreciation Week. It recognizes the vital role of public school teachers and highlights their key priorities, including support for existing federal protections and funding. Furthermore, the bill encourages leaders to engage directly with teachers to ensure their expertise informs education policy.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives commending public servants for their dedication to defending the Constitution and delivering essential services to the American people. It specifically designates the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as Public Service Recognition Week. The bill honors the millions of federal, state, and local employees and uniformed service members who support the economy and democratic foundations of the nation.

The Language Access Board Act of 2026 establishes a framework to ensure individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) can meaningfully access federal programs and services. It creates a 32-member Language Access Board responsible for setting and enforcing language access standards across federal agencies. The Act mandates that federal agencies make public-facing materials accessible to LEP individuals, comparable to those provided to English speakers. Finally, the Board is empowered to investigate violations, develop corrective action plans, and report on compliance to Congress.

This bill expresses support for designating a week as "National American Birding Week" to recognize the importance of bird migration and the economic impact of birding. It highlights the threats facing migratory bird populations and applauds efforts promoting both conservation and economic development through birdwatching. The resolution encourages public participation in birding events to support these conservation goals.

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.