Legislative Activity

The State of Men's Health Act addresses the growing national health crisis among men, marked by shorter lifespans and higher mortality rates from leading causes of death. This legislation mandates a comprehensive study by the GAO to identify health disparities and recommend improvements. Furthermore, it establishes a dedicated Office of Men's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate and promote programs focused on men's health education, screening, and research.

The Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act aims to promote de-escalation by exempting specific, clearly defined less-than-lethal projectile devices from federal firearm restrictions and excise taxes. This legislation provides a formal process for determining which devices qualify for these exemptions under both federal law and the National Firearms Act. The bill also modernizes tax regulations by exempting qualifying less-than-lethal devices and their ammunition from federal excise taxes.

The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026 enhances support for veterans and their families by increasing disability and dependency compensation and expanding VA home loan eligibility for National Guard and Reserve members. The bill also adjusts VA home loan fee structures and extends key pension payment limits through 2036.

This bill establishes the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative to accelerate joint research, development, and integration of critical defense technologies. The initiative focuses on key areas like AI, missile defense, and counter-drone systems to enhance the security and technological edge of both nations. It mandates regular reporting to Congress on progress and authorizes funding for fiscal years 2027 through 2029.

The Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act aims to combat "chameleon carriers" who evade safety regulations and enforcement actions. It mandates a GAO study on the prevalence and impact of these carriers and requires the FMCSA to develop an advanced automated tool to detect them during the DOT registration process. The bill ensures human oversight remains in final registration decisions and establishes reporting requirements on the tool's effectiveness.

The Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct Act (SCAM Act) holds online platforms accountable for displaying fraudulent or deceptive paid advertisements. It mandates that platforms implement strict advertiser verification procedures and actively detect and remove scam ads. This legislation establishes a private right of action for injured consumers and clarifies that existing Section 230 immunity does not apply to violations of this Act.

The Air Quality Act establishes a sweeping federal prohibition on weather modification, geoengineering, and stratospheric aerosol injection, with limited exceptions for laboratory research and fire suppression. This legislation imposes significant civil and criminal penalties for unauthorized activities that affect interstate commerce or occur within U.S. jurisdictions. Furthermore, the Act mandates public reporting systems managed by the FAA and EPA to track aircraft and investigate suspected violations. Finally, it repeals all existing federal authorities that currently authorize weather modification activities.

The No Flight, No Fight Act of 2026 restricts the air transportation of adult roosters to enhance aviation safety and combat illegal activities like cockfighting. The bill prohibits air carriers from knowingly transporting adult roosters as cargo, with an exemption for shipments related to certified commercial farms for legitimate agricultural purposes. Enforcement authority rests with the Secretary of Transportation, and violations are subject to civil penalties.

This Act establishes specific definitions for "female," "male," and "sex" based on biological reproductive systems for amateur athletics. It mandates that organizations recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee must prohibit individuals identified as male from competing in competitions designated for females. This aims to protect competitive opportunities specifically for biological females in amateur sports.

The Medal of Sacrifice Act establishes a new Presidential award, the Medal of Sacrifice, to honor law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. The bill mandates the creation of a Commission to advise on the medal's design, presentation, and eligibility criteria. This Commission will also make final determinations regarding eligibility in cases involving alleged wrongdoing by the fallen officer or responder.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act) mandates that individuals must provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It also establishes a federal requirement for voters to present a photo ID indicating U.S. citizenship when casting a ballot in federal elections. The bill outlines specific acceptable forms of proof and requires states to implement verification programs to ensure only citizens are registered and voting.

The Gerald's Law Act expands eligibility for a veteran's burial allowance. It now covers survivors whose veteran died at home while receiving VA hospice care, provided that care immediately followed a stay in a VA hospital or nursing home. This change ensures benefits for veterans transitioning from facility care to end-of-life care at home.

The Stop SCAMS Act establishes a comprehensive, government-wide strategy to combat fraud and manipulation. It mandates key agencies like the FBI, CFPB, and FTC to standardize scam definitions, improve data collection, and report annually on scam complaints and financial losses. This legislation aims to better track the scope of scams and measure the effectiveness of federal anti-fraud training efforts.

The Home Savings Act allows individuals to withdraw funds from certain retirement plans tax-free to use for a down payment or closing costs on a principal residence. This exclusion applies to distributions made between 2026 and 2030 for the account owner or an eligible relative. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to facilitate first-time home buying using existing retirement savings.

The PATH to Education Act establishes a new federal grant program to improve public transit access for students attending community colleges, technical schools, and Head Start programs. These grants will fund projects like adding new routes or increasing service frequency to better connect students with their educational institutions. Priority will be given to partnerships serving institutions with a high percentage of Pell Grant recipients.

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 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 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, 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.

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.