Legislative Activity

This resolution designates June 6, 2026, as National Naloxone Awareness Day to increase public understanding and access to naloxone, the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. The day aims to educate the public on how to use naloxone and reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorder. It encourages broad support for expanding the availability and distribution of this critical medication.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment collectively. This recognition honors the regiment's crucial and heroic service during the Revolutionary War, notably as one of the first integrated military units in American history. The original medal will be displayed at the Rhode Island State Library, and bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs.

This resolution formally acknowledges and apologizes for the decades of discrimination and mistreatment faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served in the U.S. military, Foreign Service, and federal civil service. It condemns past and recent discriminatory policies that led to wrongful terminations and exclusions. The resolution commits the nation to pursuing equal rights, protections, and respect for all LGBT servicemembers and federal employees moving forward.

This bill, the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026, authorizes the President to declare a smoke emergency when severe wildfire smoke significantly impacts air quality in a state. Upon declaration, federal agencies like FEMA can provide emergency assistance, including resources for smoke shelters and air monitoring. The Act also allows the Small Business Administration to offer relief grants to small businesses affected by the declared emergency.

The Open Courts Act of 2026 mandates the creation of a modern, centralized electronic system for federal court records, accessible to the public via a separate interface. This system must feature modern development principles, robust search capabilities, and free public access, while establishing new funding mechanisms to cover its operation. The bill also sets standards for digital accessibility, cybersecurity, and long-term online availability of court documents.

This resolution honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for Michigan. It recognizes his decades in Congress, highlighting key legislative achievements such as co-sponsoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and leading significant banking reforms. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow and adjourns in his memory.

The Email Privacy Act modernizes federal electronic communication laws by standardizing terminology and expanding protections for stored data. Crucially, it mandates that law enforcement obtain a warrant to access the content of any electronic communication, regardless of how long it has been stored. The bill also clarifies the conditions under which service providers can voluntarily disclose customer communications.

This bill establishes the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act to address the critical need for mental health support in schools. It provides federal grants to states to award subgrants to local educational agencies for recruiting, retaining, and hiring school-based mental health services providers in high-need schools. The goal is to help schools work toward recommended student-to-provider ratios for counselors, psychologists, and social workers.

The SAFE for Survivors Act of 2026 comprehensively supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence by establishing job-protected safe leave, prohibiting employment discrimination, and ensuring access to unemployment benefits and insurance protections. The bill reauthorizes critical grant funding for workplace response resources and mandates reasonable accommodations to help survivors maintain employment and stability while recovering. These provisions aim to reduce the economic pressures that often trap victims in dangerous situations by strengthening their safety net across employment, benefits, and insurance sectors.

The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act aims to strengthen protections and increase fairness for individuals reporting tax fraud. It grants the Tax Court the authority to conduct a fresh, independent review of denied whistleblower awards and mandates that awards are protected from federal budget sequestration cuts. Furthermore, the bill enhances whistleblower privacy by allowing anonymity in Tax Court proceedings and requires the IRS to pay interest on awards delayed beyond a specified timeframe.

The Elder Pride Act amends the Older Americans Act to explicitly recognize and address the needs of LGBTQI and HIV-positive older adults. It establishes a new Office of LGBTQI Inclusion within the Administration on Aging to coordinate services and promote access. Furthermore, the Act creates a dedicated grant program to fund rural outreach initiatives specifically targeting LGBTQI older individuals and those in other protected classes.

The Safe Cloud Storage Act amends existing law to establish a secure framework for law enforcement agencies to utilize approved cloud service providers for storing child pornography and related materials. This legislation sets strict cybersecurity and evidence handling requirements for these vendors while granting them limited liability protections for their contractual duties. The bill ensures data remains secure, primarily within the U.S., and mandates regular audits and notifications to the Department of Justice.

This bill reauthorizes and extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program through fiscal year 2030. The program allows eligible small, rural hospitals to receive Medicare payments based on reasonable costs for inpatient services to promote financial stability. It maintains participation limits and requires a report evaluating the program's impact on rural access to care and costs.

The Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026 establishes a competitive grant program to support and expand career and technical education (CTE) programs focused on early childhood education. These grants will fund partnerships to develop curriculum, recruit and train educators, and provide student support services. The goal is to strengthen the early childhood education workforce by creating clearer career pathways and improving educational outcomes for students.

The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026 overhauls federal student loan programs to eliminate debt for educators serving in high-need schools and early childhood education settings. After five years of qualifying service, educators can receive 100% forgiveness on remaining federal student loans. The bill also provides monthly loan assistance while educators are actively serving, treating these payments as qualifying service toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This legislation aims to stabilize the educator workforce by significantly reducing the financial burden of student debt.

This bill, the Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act, invalidates mandatory arbitration agreements and class action waivers for Amtrak passengers involved in consumer or civil rights disputes. It ensures that passengers alleging personal injury, discrimination, or other civil rights violations can pursue their claims in court. These new rules do not apply to disputes covered under the Railway Labor Act.

This resolution officially designates May 2025 as Jewish American Heritage Month to recognize the significant, 350-year history and contributions of Jewish Americans across all sectors of society. It also strongly calls upon leaders to actively counter the recent rise in antisemitism through education and awareness. The resolution commits to ensuring the safety, security, and dignity of American Jews while honoring their service to the nation.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late former United States Senator John Seymour of California. It recognizes his extensive public service, highlighting his career in business, local government, and his tenure in the U.S. Senate. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow and directs that official copies of this resolution be delivered to his family.

The Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026 significantly updates federal overtime exemptions for executive, administrative, and professional employees. It establishes a phased-in increase to the minimum salary threshold required for these "white-collar" roles to be exempt from overtime pay, eventually tying the threshold to national earnings data. Furthermore, the bill tightens the duties test by lowering the allowed percentage of time spent on non-exempt work from 40% to 20%.

The Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act aims to eliminate barriers to sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. It establishes grant programs to train the healthcare workforce, expand the number of providers with disabilities, and fund accessible health education. The bill also creates a National Technical Assistance Center and mandates a study to identify effective care models and coordination gaps.