Legislative Activity

The "Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act" authorizes the creation of the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on the National Mall. It ensures the museum's exhibits and programs reflect the diverse experiences and perspectives of women in the United States, seeking guidance from varied sources. The Act mandates regular reports to Congress on the museum's efforts to meet these diversity requirements.

The Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act ensures that specialized local government entities, known as special districts, are explicitly recognized as eligible recipients for federal financial assistance. This legislation mandates the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue clear guidance on recognizing these districts for grants and loans. The goal is to standardize how federal agencies distribute financial aid to these essential local service providers.

This bill reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, updating its governing structure and expanding the scope of its oceanographic research and data-sharing capabilities. It also mandates improved collaboration between regional and federal observing systems to enhance data integration. Additionally, the legislation authorizes $47.5 million in annual funding for these initiatives from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 strengthens U.S. policy by imposing mandatory sanctions on foreign persons and financial institutions that support Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, drone, and terrorist activities. The bill specifically targets Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors to cut off funding for these malign programs. Additionally, it expands the State Department’s "Rewards for Justice" program to incentivize the reporting of individuals who evade these sanctions.

This resolution formally honors the life and enduring legacy of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Louis Burns Jackson, Sr. It recognizes his significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, including his work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his founding of Operation PUSH. The bill specifically urges the President to order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in his memory.

The Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to issue a specific right-of-way for an emergency exit along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This requirement becomes mandatory only after the Secretary confirms that necessary environmental reviews and an analysis of alternatives have been completed. The act ensures a designated emergency egress route is established near Milepost 9.6, subject to specific reporting conditions.

This resolution officially recognizes Black History Month and adopts "A Century of Black History Commemorations" as the theme for 2026. It honors the contributions of Black Americans by establishing categories for "Unsung Souls" and "Righteous Intercessors." Ultimately, the bill affirms that Black history commemorations are essential for a complete national narrative and inspiring future progress toward liberty and justice for all.

The Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and share resources to help small businesses understand, adopt, and integrate artificial intelligence. These technology-neutral resources will include standards, best practices, and case studies, distributed in coordination with the Small Business Administration. The use of these materials by small businesses will be voluntary.

The ACERO Act establishes a NASA project to enhance the use of aircraft in fighting wildfires through advanced research and development. This initiative focuses on developing new aircraft technologies, improving real-time data sharing, and creating interoperable tracking systems for aerial assets. The bill also mandates coordination with various agencies and places restrictions on purchasing drones from certain foreign entities.

This bill, the MORE Opportunities for Homeownership Act, aims to expand access to homeownership by updating federal regulations. Specifically, it broadens the definition of "community financial institution" under the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to include federal credit unions. This change allows more institutions to participate in programs designed to support homeownership opportunities.

This resolution expresses support for the National FFA Organization and designates February 21–28, 2026, as National FFA Week. It recognizes the FFA's vital role in developing future leaders through agricultural education. The bill also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the chartering of the Alaska State FFA Association.

The Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 aims to support the Iranian people by expanding access to uncensored internet and communication technologies. The bill strengthens U.S. policy against regime repression by mandating investigations into human rights abuses and establishing a new Treasury initiative to combat corruption and money laundering by Iranian officials. Additionally, it enhances congressional oversight of sanctions and promotes independent media to counter state-sponsored censorship.

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 "Representing our Seniors at VA Act of 2025" ensures that the National Association of State Veterans Homes is represented in consultations with the Under Secretary for Health. It also adds a representative from the Association with a nursing home administration license to the Department of Veterans Affairs Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee. This aims to improve the quality of care and address the specific needs of senior veterans within state veterans homes.

The Fisher House Availability Act of 2025 expands access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) temporary lodging, such as Fisher Houses, for certain TRICARE beneficiaries and their accompanying support persons on a space-available basis. This legislation clarifies eligibility for beneficiaries who must travel for necessary medical care. The VA is now required to establish specific criteria for granting this temporary housing access.

The Healthy Families Act establishes a national standard requiring most employers to provide employees with earned paid sick leave. Employees will accrue a minimum of one hour of paid time for every 30 hours worked, usable for personal or family health needs, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The Act prohibits employer retaliation for using this leave and ensures existing, more generous leave policies are not diminished.

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 Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act prohibits the discharge of plastic pellets and other pre-production plastic materials into U.S. waters from industrial facilities. This requires the EPA to swiftly issue a rule banning these discharges from facilities involved in the manufacturing, use, packaging, or transport of these plastics. The prohibition will be enforced through existing permitting and regulatory systems under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

The Standards for Understanding Source and Habitat Identification Act, or SUSHI Act, mandates the creation of a standardized, science-based chemical testing method to definitively identify the country of origin for seafood. This new methodology, developed collaboratively by key federal agencies, aims to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices. The resulting standard must be practical for field use and applicable to both raw and prepared seafood products.

This bill provides the funding and establishes the operational rules for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year 2026 across all major components, including intelligence, security operations, emergency management, and research. It allocates billions for agencies like TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, and CISA while imposing strict new requirements for congressional oversight, spending transparency, and management of federal grants. The legislation also includes specific policy directives, such as mandating security screening for senior officials and restricting certain intelligence and contracting activities.