Legislative Activity

The RESCUE Act of 2026 updates Medicare payment rates for ground and air ambulance services to better reflect the actual costs of providing emergency care. The bill mandates regular rate adjustments based on current operational data, expands cost-reporting requirements for air ambulance providers, and establishes a stakeholder commission to ensure the long-term adequacy of ambulance service reimbursement.

The Deputy Darren Almendarez Act establishes a new federal crime for the illegal trafficking of catalytic converters. This legislation imposes significant fines and prison sentences for the unauthorized possession or sale of these devices, while providing clear exemptions for legitimate automotive repair, recycling, and manufacturing businesses.

The Title IX Clarification Act of 2026 amends Title IX to explicitly define "sex," "female," and "male" based on an individual's biologically determined sex and reproductive system. This legislation clarifies the scope of sex-based protections under federal education law. The changes take effect immediately upon enactment.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The English Language Proficiency Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to mandate that all naturalization applicants demonstrate proficiency in the English language and knowledge of U.S. history and government. This bill eliminates existing exemptions previously granted to elderly applicants and individuals with physical or developmental disabilities. Consequently, all applicants for U.S. citizenship would be required to meet these standards without exception.

This bill, titled the "National Fossil Act," officially designates the American mastodon as the national fossil mammal and the *Tyrannosaurus rex* as the national fossil dinosaur of the United States. It amends federal law to formally recognize these two prehistoric species.

The Patients First Act of 2026 is comprehensive legislation designed to stabilize Medicare physician payments, improve patient access to primary care, and transition the current quality reporting system to a more clinician-led framework. By modernizing reimbursement formulas, reducing financial volatility for providers, and increasing transparency in value-based care models, the bill aims to ensure a more sustainable and predictable healthcare environment. These reforms seek to lower out-of-pocket costs for patients while supporting the long-term viability of medical practices.

The Reshoring American Manufacturing Act of 2026 (RAM Act) directs the Small Business Administration to establish a dedicated online resource hub for small businesses looking to relocate manufacturing operations to the United States. This initiative aims to streamline the onshoring process by providing centralized access to expert guidance, partner organizations, and essential support tools.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Integrity Act amends the organization’s federal charter to formally define membership eligibility. The bill restricts membership to adult human females, establishing a biological definition for the term "female" based on reproductive system development.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and processors from assigning specific merchant category codes to firearms retailers. This legislation aims to protect consumer privacy by preventing the tracking of firearm and ammunition purchases through specialized financial classification. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing these provisions and reporting annually on compliance.

The Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025 aims to protect students' rights to join single-sex social organizations at colleges receiving federal funding. This bill prevents institutions from taking adverse action against students or groups solely because of sex-based membership policies. It ensures these organizations are treated fairly compared to other campus groups regarding participation and privileges. Ultimately, the Act safeguards a student's freedom to choose their associations, including single-sex clubs.

The GRACE for Military Survivors Act extends the window for military survivors to contribute death benefits to a Roth IRA or Coverdell education savings account from one year to three years. This change applies to benefits received on or after the date of enactment, and retroactively covers benefits received since October 7, 2001. This provides survivors with more time to utilize these tax-advantaged savings options.

The Small Business and Consumer Credit Act of 2026 provides financial relief to specific banking institutions by allowing them to extend the carryback and carryforward periods for net operating losses. This measure enables eligible banks to better manage their taxable income by applying losses against profits from different tax years. These provisions apply to losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.

This Act establishes the **Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area** in Texas as a unit of the National Park System to conserve natural and cultural resources while expanding public recreation and strengthening the local economy. The management framework emphasizes a **voluntary partnership** between federal, state, and local entities, including private landowners. A key requirement is the development of an **Integrated Resource Management Plan** to guide all activities, with strict prohibitions against using eminent domain for land acquisition. The designation explicitly **saves existing state/local jurisdiction** and protects current private property uses, including infrastructure and resource extraction rights.

The "No Safe Haven for Terrorist Families Act" amends immigration law to bar entry to and mandate the deportation of specified close family members of foreign threat actors, including designated terrorists and senior officials from adversarial nations. This measure expands inadmissibility grounds to address national security risks posed by relatives of individuals involved in terrorism, state sponsorship of terrorism, or significant corruption. The Act requires mandatory visa revocation and prioritizes the removal of these inadmissible individuals, eliminating most forms of discretionary relief.

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting January 1, 2026. This coverage is specifically for testing or treatment related to COVID-19, the flu, RSV, strep throat, or during a declared public health emergency. The bill outlines payment structures, generally covering 80% of the cost, and prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.

The Dietary Supplements Access Act allows individuals to use pre-tax dollars from Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), FSAs, and HRAs to purchase qualifying dietary supplements. This provision is subject to an annual limit of \$500 per taxable year for these expenses. The Act specifically excludes products commonly understood to be energy drinks, soft drinks, or sodas.

The CAL Repayment Act mandates that states immediately use specific federal funds received to repay any outstanding unemployment insurance (UI) advances within five business days. This requirement takes precedence over all other uses for those funds. States that fail to comply face a penalty equal to the amount improperly spent.