Legislative Activity

The True Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees and certain contract employees receive their full pay and benefits during any government shutdown in fiscal year 2026. It also mandates retroactive contract price adjustments to compensate contractors for costs incurred during previous shutdowns. Furthermore, the bill prohibits federal agencies from implementing workforce reductions or placing employees on extended administrative leave during funding lapses.

The ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act establishes a civil remedy allowing individuals to sue the U.S. government for constitutional rights violations committed by ICE or CBP officers. This bill holds the government financially liable for unlawful enforcement actions, even if they contradict official policy. It specifically waives sovereign immunity for these claims and permits plaintiffs to seek punitive damages.

This bill, the Prohibit Partisan Park Passes Act, amends existing law to restrict the imagery allowed on the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Specifically, it prohibits the use of images of any living current or former elected official or living political figure on the pass.

The Prison Libraries Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program, administered by the Attorney General, to fund essential library services for incarcerated individuals. These grants aim to reduce recidivism and boost reintegration efforts by supporting education, job training, and access to modern library materials. States and territories can apply for these renewable, multi-year grants, which must be used strictly for library-related activities and cannot charge inmates for access to resources.

This resolution seeks to disapprove the Department of Veterans Affairs' final rule concerning "Reproductive Health Services" issued in September 2024. If enacted, this disapproval, made under the Congressional Review Act, would prevent the VA rule from taking legal effect.

This bill mandates the President to withdraw all United States Armed Forces from Venezuela. This action is required unless Congress has formally declared war or passed specific legislation authorizing the use of military force in that country.

This act establishes the School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Camera Act to enhance student safety around school buses. It mandates a federal study on the benefits and best practices for using stop-arm safety cameras, including data privacy. Furthermore, the bill creates a grant program to help state educational agencies purchase and install this camera technology on school buses.

The Farm and Family Relief Act provides targeted economic assistance to various agricultural sectors, including producers of eligible commodities, sugar beets, and specialty crops, while also delaying scheduled cost-sharing changes for SNAP benefits. Additionally, the bill establishes new programs to support timber businesses through financial assistance and creates an Office of Technology Transfer within the U.S. Forest Service to commercialize research. Finally, it terminates several specific Executive orders imposing tariffs.

The Quick Recognition Act (QR Act) mandates that all ICE and CBP enforcement officers wear a visible, scannable QR code on their uniforms. Scanning the code links to a public DHS website displaying the officer's name, badge number, and employment status. This system is designed to enhance accountability by providing a clear mechanism for the public to submit complaints about officer conduct.

This resolution asserts that advancing the rights of women and girls in Haiti is crucial for the nation's stability and successful transition from crisis. It condemns the widespread gender-based violence and the exclusion of women from leadership roles in the transitional government. The bill calls for urgent measures to center women's needs, ensure their representation in government, and prioritize funding for survivor services and accountability for violence.

The Mental Health and MAMA Act of 2026 aims to improve access to care for new and expecting mothers. This legislation prohibits certain health plans from charging out-of-pocket costs for in-network mental health and substance use disorder services for pregnant and postpartum individuals. Furthermore, it updates continuity of care protections to explicitly cover postpartum individuals receiving ongoing mental health or substance use disorder treatment. These provisions will also apply to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The Language Access for All Act of 2026 mandates that federal agencies provide meaningful access to programs and services for individuals with limited English proficiency. The bill requires agencies to implement comprehensive language access plans, establish technical standards for translation and interpretation, and appoint dedicated coordinators to ensure compliance. Additionally, it creates a public complaint system and sets strict guidelines for the use of AI in language services to ensure accuracy and accountability.

The Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026 establishes a federal program to address the shortage of general surgeons in underserved communities. This program offers loan repayment assistance of up to $200,000 over four years for eligible surgeons who commit to working in designated shortage areas. Additionally, the bill mandates a comprehensive study to develop a standardized methodology for accurately identifying and designating general surgery shortage areas across the nation.

The Follow the Science Act aims to insulate the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from political influence by prohibiting most political appointees from working on or managing NIH programs. This legislation specifically bars political employees from participating in the review, selection, or awarding of NIH grants and contracts. Furthermore, it restricts the NIH Director from canceling or delaying existing funding agreements unless specific findings of mismanagement or fraud are documented and reported to Congress.

This bill, the "No Private Bounty Hunters for Immigration Enforcement Act," prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using private contractors for activities like skip tracing, surveillance, or location verification in civil immigration enforcement. It mandates the termination or amendment of all existing contracts that involve these practices. Furthermore, the legislation generally bans paying private entities on a per-person or bonus basis for locating individuals subject to civil immigration detainers.

The Expanding AI Voices Act establishes a new competitive grant program administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This program aims to significantly broaden participation and capacity in U.S. artificial intelligence research, education, and workforce development. Awards will prioritize institutions that have historically received less federal AI research funding, including HBCUs, MSIs, and Tribal Colleges. Funds must support activities like program expansion, faculty development, access to research resources, and integrating ethical practices into AI training.

The Roadside Pollinator Program Amendments Act updates the existing grant program that supports pollinator-friendly practices along roadsides and highway rights-of-way. This bill expands eligibility for grants to include certain nonprofits and Indian Tribes, while also increasing the maximum grant award amount. Furthermore, it boosts the program's authorized funding levels through fiscal year 2031.

The Stop Wall Street Landlords Act of 2026 aims to curb large corporate ownership of single-family homes. It disallows key tax deductions, such as mortgage interest and depreciation, for investors holding over $100 million in assets who own these properties. The bill also imposes a full excise tax on the sale of these homes by such investors. Finally, it prohibits Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae from financing mortgages held by these specified large investors.

The Eliminating Bias in Algorithmic Systems Act of 2026 mandates that federal agencies address bias and discrimination in automated systems that materially affect individuals based on protected characteristics. This requires covered agencies to establish specialized civil rights offices focused on algorithmic harms. These offices must submit biennial reports to Congress detailing risks, mitigation efforts, stakeholder engagement, and legislative recommendations regarding biased algorithms.

The DHS Use of Force Oversight Act establishes a comprehensive, department-wide policy for the use of force by all DHS law enforcement personnel. This policy mandates de-escalation as the preferred approach, prohibits chokeholds, and requires extensive training. Furthermore, the bill mandates regular public reporting of use-of-force data and requires timely briefings to Congress following serious incidents.