Legislative Activity

This resolution recognizes the history, cultural identity, and significant contributions of the Chicano and Chicana community to the United States. It designates August as "Chicano/Chicana Heritage Month" to celebrate the community's profound impact on science, labor, education, and the arts. Furthermore, the bill highlights the ongoing struggle for civil rights and encourages nationwide observance to honor the Mexican-American experience.

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 expands and extends the federal program that provides compensation and medical benefits to individuals harmed by radiation exposure from atmospheric nuclear testing and Manhattan Project waste. This legislation broadens eligibility criteria, increases compensation amounts, and establishes a new process for designating additional classes of eligible individuals. Furthermore, it extends the program’s authorization through 2043 and mandates new health studies and expanded screening services for affected populations and their descendants.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 imposes sweeping economic, financial, and energy sanctions on the Russian Federation to counter its war efforts and support for global instability. Additionally, the bill extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 through 2031 to maintain continued pressure on the Iranian regime. Together, these measures aim to isolate adversarial actors through targeted financial restrictions, trade barriers, and enhanced oversight.

The Wildfire Response and Readiness Act is a comprehensive legislative package designed to modernize federal wildfire management, enhance community resilience, and improve support for the wildland firefighting workforce. The bill expands the use of prescribed fire, increases funding for forest restoration and post-fire recovery, and streamlines federal grant programs for home hardening and community protection. Additionally, it establishes new health, safety, and retirement benefits for federal firefighters while investing in advanced wildfire detection technology and public health protections against smoke.

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 Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026 mandates a comprehensive study to identify the funding and resources necessary to bring Bureau of Indian Education schools into parity with other public school systems. This legislation focuses on updating the Indian School Equalization Formula to ensure competitive salaries for educators and staff while exploring sustainable revenue sources. Ultimately, the Act aims to provide a high-quality, equitable education for students in Bureau-funded and tribally controlled schools.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act authorizes $6 million in annual grants over seven years to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. These funds will support the National Law Enforcement Museum’s public education, community outreach, and officer safety and wellness programs. As a condition of the grant, the museum must provide free admission to law enforcement officers and their families, as well as dedicated free hours for the general public.

The Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act of 2026 mandates that large-scale data centers report their annual energy and water consumption to state or federal authorities. This legislation aims to increase transparency by requiring operators to disclose efficiency metrics and future usage projections. The collected data will be used to publish annual public reports detailing the environmental and economic impacts of data centers on local communities and utility infrastructure.

Tyler's Law mandates a comprehensive study by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the frequency, cost, and impact of fentanyl testing in hospital emergency departments during overdose cases. Following the study, the Secretary must issue guidance on whether routine fentanyl testing should become standard practice for overdose patients. This guidance will also address staff training regarding existing drug test panels and the long-term health implications of such testing.

The CDC Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act strengthens national emergency response by formally integrating Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations into public health preparedness programs. The bill increases overall funding and establishes a dedicated 5% Tribal set-aside, ensuring these entities have direct access to resources and flexible administrative requirements. Additionally, it mandates a comprehensive review to evaluate program effectiveness and identify further improvements for Tribal public health infrastructure.

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 AADAPT Act expands access to specialized dementia care by authorizing grants for public and nonprofit health centers to integrate these services into their programs. Additionally, the bill extends federal funding authorization through 2031 to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of these critical health outcomes.

The Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act of 2026 mandates the restoration of reimbursement rates for the VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program to 2025 levels and requires 90-day congressional notification for any future reductions. The bill also improves oversight by requiring the VA to report annually on provider availability and to provide full transparency regarding the methodology used to calculate reimbursement rates.

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 Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 ensures that residents in long-term care facilities maintain access to designated essential caregivers, even when general visitation is suspended. The bill mandates that facilities allow residents to appoint up to two caregivers who can provide in-person support, provided they adhere to established safety protocols. It also prioritizes the investigation of access complaints and guarantees that these visitation rights cannot be waived during emergencies.

The FAIR Data Act protects residential and small business utility customers by prohibiting electric utilities from passing on the costs of grid upgrades required by large-scale data centers. The bill mandates that states review these cost-recovery policies and ties federal energy funding to the implementation of these consumer protections. Additionally, it requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to provide annual reports on the impact of large data centers on electricity rates and grid reliability.

This resolution designates July 10th as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day to honor the essential, high-risk work performed by these skilled professionals. It pays tribute to the lineworkers who provide critical service during emergencies and recognizes those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

The Home Internet Accessibility Act mandates a comprehensive assessment of broadband infrastructure within federally assisted housing to identify gaps in connectivity and physical capacity. Following this report, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is required to develop a strategic plan to retrofit these properties for modern internet access. This legislation aims to bridge the digital divide by providing Congress with the data and actionable recommendations necessary to ensure all federally assisted housing can support reliable broadband service.

This bill authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the collective heroism of the individuals who defended Bataan, Corregidor, and other locations in the Pacific theater during World War II. The medal honors the extraordinary sacrifice of U.S. service members and Filipino forces who fought and endured imprisonment by Imperial Japan. Following the presentation, the medal will be permanently displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The legislation also allows for the production and sale of bronze duplicate medals.

The SHARE Act of 2025 establishes new federal requirements for the FBI to share criminal history record information with states participating in professional licensing interstate compacts. This information sharing is strictly for the purpose of conducting background checks on applicants seeking to practice a profession in another compact state. States receiving this data are severely restricted on how they can use or further disseminate the detailed criminal history, generally only being permitted to report a binary "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" determination back to the compact's Commission.