Legislative Activity

The RELIEF Act establishes a mandatory refund process for certain tariffs collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection starting January 1, 2025, specifically those imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This legislation requires the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection to automatically issue refunds to importers within 90 days of enactment. Importers will receive these refunds without needing to file an application or protest.

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 Postal Supervisors, Managers, and Postmasters Fairness Act of 2026 updates the process for determining pay and benefits for Postal Service supervisory personnel. This bill requires the Postal Service to formally propose pay changes to supervisor organizations before existing decisions expire or after related union contracts are settled. Any unresolved disputes regarding these proposals will result in a final, binding determination issued quickly by a review panel.

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 2026 updates the membership requirements for the Department of Veterans Affairs Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee. This legislation ensures the committee includes diverse representation from veterans service organizations, State homes, and licensed nursing home administrators to better support aging veterans.

The Fisher House Availability Act of 2026 expands access to temporary lodging, including Fisher Houses, at VA facilities for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families who must travel significant distances for medical care. This expansion is contingent upon space availability. The bill also extends certain limits on pension payments.

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.

The Fiscal Harms of Federal Firings Act mandates a comprehensive study by the Comptroller General on how federal workforce reductions (RIFs) impact state and local government budgets. This study will analyze changes in state spending, tax revenues, and regional economic effects resulting from federal job cuts. The resulting report will provide Congress with findings, identify the most affected areas, and suggest policy options for mitigating these fiscal harms.

The BRAVE Burma Act aims to increase accountability for the military regime in Burma through enhanced sanctions reporting. It requires the President to assess Burmese state-owned enterprises and entities involved in the jet fuel sector for potential sanctions. Furthermore, the Act directs the U.S. to oppose increases to Burma's shareholding in the International Monetary Fund while the State Administration Council is in power.

The Rail and Highway Transmission Planning Act directs a comprehensive study on the feasibility and best practices for building high-voltage electric transmission lines within existing highway and railroad rights-of-way. This initiative aims to accelerate the deployment of new transmission infrastructure to enhance grid reliability and lower consumer energy costs. The resulting report will provide Congress and stakeholders with an action plan for utilizing these corridors effectively.

The Cybersecurity Hiring Modernization Act reforms federal hiring by limiting agencies' ability to mandate college degrees for competitive service cybersecurity positions. Agencies can only require specific education if mandated by local law or if the education directly proves necessary job skills. This legislation also requires the Office of Personnel Management to track and report on education standards and hiring outcomes for these critical roles.