Legislative Activity

This bill establishes the National Council on African American History and Culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council will consist of 12 Presidentially appointed members tasked with advising on national policy related to African American history and culture. Its duties include preparing annual reports, monitoring related organizations, and recommending policies to foster understanding and preservation of this history. The Council is set to terminate 10 years after the Act's enactment.

The **BE HEARD in the Workplace Act** comprehensively strengthens federal workplace protections by requiring new anti-discrimination policies, expanding legal rights for employees, and phasing out the tipped minimum wage. It aims to prevent harassment through mandated training, broadens protections to nearly all workers, and restricts employers' use of secrecy agreements. The Act also establishes grants to increase access to legal aid and worker advocacy nationwide.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rule concerning the "Beginning of Construction Requirements" for clean electricity production and investment tax credits for wind and solar facilities. If enacted, this disapproval would nullify the IRS rule, preventing it from having any legal effect.

This resolution calls for the Federal Government to establish a comprehensive Transgender Bill of Rights to protect and codify the rights of transgender and nonbinary people. It mandates federal action to ensure equal access to medical care, safety, employment, housing, and legal recognition. The bill aims to eliminate discrimination across various sectors and strengthen protections against violence and abuse.

The Soil CARE Act of 2026 establishes a dedicated training program for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) focused on soil health management. This initiative aims to equip NRCS personnel and third-party providers with the necessary science and technical support to assist agricultural producers in implementing improved soil health practices. The program mandates comprehensive curriculum development, including online and in-person training, to advance conservation and regeneration efforts across the agricultural sector.

The WORK to Save Lives Act aims to combat workplace opioid overdoses by providing non-mandatory guidance to private employers on stocking and training for overdose reversal medication. Additionally, the bill mandates that all federal agencies must acquire and maintain this medication and provide annual employee training on its use. This legislation seeks to ensure preparedness for opioid emergencies across various workplaces.

This resolution supports the observation of National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month from January 1 to February 1, 2026. It highlights the severe scope of human trafficking globally and within the U.S., emphasizing the imperative to eliminate these modern-day forms of slavery. The measure calls for increased public awareness and continued collaborative efforts to protect victims and prosecute traffickers.

The FAIR Act establishes pay increases for federal employees in calendar year 2027. This legislation mandates a 3.1 percent increase to the basic pay rates for General Schedule and similar employees. Additionally, it provides a 1 percent adjustment to federal locality pay rates for the same year.

This resolution authorizes the Senate Majority Leader to initiate litigation against the President and Department of Justice officials for failing to comply with the bipartisan mandate of Public Law 11938 regarding the release of Epstein-related records. It specifically addresses the DOJ's insufficient document production, improper redactions, and failure to meet the statutory deadline. The measure directs the Senate to legally challenge these actions to ensure full compliance with the law.

The Predatory Lending Elimination Act amends federal law to apply the Military Lending Act's 36% interest rate cap (MAPR) to most consumer credit transactions. This new restriction generally excludes residential mortgages and specific auto loans, while preserving stronger state consumer protection laws. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is tasked with issuing implementing rules within one year.

This concurrent resolution commemorates the 15th anniversary of the tragic January 8, 2011, Tucson, Arizona, shooting. It honors the six individuals who lost their lives and recognizes the survivors, including former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. The resolution reaffirms the importance of civility in democracy and Congress's dedication to preventing gun violence.

This bill establishes the Mental Health Career Promotion Grant Program to address workforce shortages in mental and behavioral health. The program awards grants to partnerships between schools, community colleges, and mental health providers to create or expand initiatives that promote these careers to students. Activities funded will include educational presentations, internships, and mentorship opportunities for students in grades 9 through college.

This resolution officially recognizes January 2026 as National Mentoring Month to raise awareness and encourage the expansion of quality mentoring programs nationwide. It highlights the significant benefits mentoring provides for youth development, academic success, and community strength. The bill also acknowledges the vital role of volunteer mentors and supports efforts to close the gap for the millions of young people currently without one.

This resolution officially designates the week of February 2 through 6, 2026, as "National School Counseling Week." It recognizes the vital role school counselors play in supporting students' academic, social-emotional, and career development. The measure aims to increase public awareness of the essential services school counselors provide despite often facing high student-to-counselor ratios.

The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 mandates the Department of Transportation to establish new federal safety standards requiring all new commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with comprehensive front, rear, and side underride protection systems. This legislation aims to drastically reduce preventable deaths and injuries from underride crashes involving passenger vehicles and vulnerable road users. The bill also reconvenes the Advisory Committee on Underride Protection and requires new studies and public reporting on crash data and prevention effectiveness.

The ICE Out of Our Faces Act prohibits immigration officers from using biometric surveillance systems, such as facial recognition or voice analysis, for identifying or tracking individuals. This ban covers acquiring, possessing, accessing, or using such technology or any information derived from it. The bill mandates the deletion of existing biometric surveillance data and establishes penalties, including civil fines and private rights of action, for violations.

The Preserving Homes and Communities Act of 2026 establishes strict requirements for the sale of non-performing and re-performing single-family mortgage loans held by FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. This bill prioritizes sales to government entities and nonprofits to promote affordable housing and neighborhood stabilization. Purchasers must adhere to robust loss mitigation standards, and the legislation includes new data reporting requirements and penalties for noncompliance.

The ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act establishes a civil remedy allowing individuals to sue the U.S. government for monetary damages when ICE or CBP officers violate their constitutional or legal rights. This liability applies even if the officer was not following official policy. The bill aims to hold the government financially accountable for misconduct such as racial profiling and unreasonable searches by these agencies.

The REAL Health Providers Act establishes stricter requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations to maintain accurate and publicly accessible online provider directories. It mandates regular verification of provider information and protects enrollees from unexpected out-of-network costs if they rely on incorrect directory listings. Furthermore, the bill requires annual accuracy reporting and public posting of accuracy scores for MA plans.

This bill, the Prohibit Partisan Park Passes Act, amends existing law to regulate the imagery used on the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Specifically, it prohibits the use of any image featuring a living current or former elected official or any other living political figure on the pass.