Legislative Activity

The "Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act" amends Title 36 of the United States Code to define "female" and "male" based on reproductive systems. It stipulates that individuals whose sex is male are prohibited from participating in amateur athletic competitions designated for females.

The Medal of Sacrifice Act establishes a new national award, the Medal of Sacrifice, to honor law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. This act creates a Presidential Commission to administer the award, advise on its design, and make final eligibility determinations, especially in cases involving prior findings of wrongdoing. The medal itself is a distinct silver and gold vermeil design featuring patriotic and heraldic elements.

The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act aims to enhance professional boxer safety and provide them with greater operational choice. It establishes an alternative compliance system for "Unified Boxing Organizations" (UBOs) that must meet stringent medical testing, emergency service, and anti-doping requirements for their boxers. Additionally, the Act upgrades general safety standards, mandates minimum insurance coverage, and sets a minimum per-round payment for all professional boxers.

This bill, the Hemp Planting Predictability Act, seeks to amend the Agriculture Appropriations Act of 2026. Specifically, it delays the implementation of recent amendments affecting hemp production under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The delay for these changes is extended from one year to three years.

The Credit Card Competition Act of 2026 aims to increase competition in credit card processing by requiring large issuers and networks to allow merchants to choose which network processes their transactions. This legislation mandates new Federal Reserve Board regulations that prohibit restrictions preventing merchants from selecting an eligible processing network. The rules specifically target large card issuers and networks, while exempting certain three-party payment systems.

The Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026 establishes a special pay system to increase the base pay for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officers by 35 percent. This legislation also provides a similar 35 percent wage increase for certain hourly BOP employees involved in inmate custody. The new pay authority is set to expire after five years, unless the Department of Justice Inspector General reports measurable progress in reducing the use of non-custodial staff for officer duties and excessive overtime.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 targets the increasing threat posed by organized theft groups impacting retail and the national supply chain. This bill strengthens federal law by expanding money laundering statutes and lowering thresholds for property crimes related to theft. Crucially, it establishes a new federal coordination center within Homeland Security Investigations to align efforts across all levels of law enforcement and the private sector to combat these cross-jurisdictional crimes.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

The FULL HOUSE Act aims to reinstate a specific rule for deducting gambling losses under the Internal Revenue Code. This change limits the deduction of wagering losses to the exact amount of a taxpayer's gambling winnings, preventing deductions for net losses. This provision is set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The COURSE Credit Act mandates that the Department of Education collect and report data on how colleges award credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams on the College Scorecard website. Furthermore, the bill requires participating colleges and universities to publicly post detailed information about their specific AP and IB credit policies on their websites. This aims to increase transparency regarding how these standardized exam scores translate into college credit.

The Porch Pirates Act of 2025 establishes new federal criminal penalties for stealing or interfering with packages delivered by private or commercial carriers across state lines. This legislation asserts Congress's authority to extend protections against package theft to items shipped via services like FedEx or UPS, mirroring existing protections for the U.S. Postal Service. The bill specifically targets the theft of delivered packages before the recipient takes physical possession.

This act requires the President to certify that proposed offshore wind projects in the North Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic will not interfere with military readiness, radar, or sonar systems. If certification is impossible, the President must halt threatening projects. Furthermore, the DOD Inspector General must conduct a comprehensive study and report on the impact of these projects on military operations and existing review processes.

The "Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act" prevents payment card networks from assigning a unique merchant category code to firearm retailers. The Attorney General is responsible for enforcing the Act, investigating complaints, and reporting to Congress. This law overrides state and local laws regarding merchant category codes for firearm retailers and does not establish a private right of action.

The NFIP Extension Act of 2026 officially extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This legislation ensures the NFIP continues to operate by pushing its expiration date from September 30, 2023, to September 30, 2026. The bill also includes a provision to ensure this extension takes effect even if enacted after September 30, 2025.

The Farmers to Families Act establishes a grant program to increase the purchase of local agricultural products by recipients of federal nutrition assistance programs like WIC. It expands where WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits can be used to include local food sources and requires the USDA to facilitate EBT access for these purchases. The Act also creates a Technical Assistance Center to help farmers and markets comply with new regulations and accept federal nutrition benefits.

This bill officially renames Newark Penn Station in Newark, New Jersey, to the "Donald M. Payne, Jr. Transit Center at Newark Penn Station." It mandates that all future federal references to the station must use this new designation.

The ESTUARIES Act amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to officially add the Mississippi Sound to the National Estuary Program and extends the program's funding authorization through fiscal year 2031. However, the bill places specific restrictions on the EPA Administrator regarding the use of funds to implement this addition during fiscal years 2025 and 2026. This ensures that the expansion of the program is contingent upon specific funding levels in the near term.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The EAT Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act establishes a new federal grant program to help states purchase nutritious, culturally relevant foods directly from eligible small businesses. These foods will then be distributed to people in need through local food banks and pantries. The legislation aims to improve food access, strengthen local supply chains, and create economic opportunities for underserved farmers and producers. It also mandates the USDA to create an internal working group to align all departmental procurement with these goals.

The Bus Operator Safety and Security Act mandates that new fixed-route buses purchased with federal funds, meeting specific size and lifespan criteria, must be equipped with a protective barrier around the operator's workstation. This barrier must fully enclose the area without obstructing the driver's line of sight. This requirement can be waived if the relevant labor union agrees to the waiver for the specific bus purchase.