Legislative Activity

The Speedy Tariff Refund Act of 2026 mandates the immediate, automatic refund of all duties unlawfully collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This legislation requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to issue these refunds, with interest, within 30 days without requiring any formal request or documentation from importers. Congress strongly urges businesses that benefited from these duties to pass the refunds along to affected customers and families.

The Drug Deal Disclosure Act mandates the public release of all federal government agreements with drug manufacturers concerning pricing, sales, and import conditions. This transparency requirement applies to specific existing deals and any future agreements made after enactment. The law strictly limits what information can be withheld, preventing redactions based on political embarrassment. Finally, it requires analyses from the CBO and GAO on the economic and budgetary effects of these disclosed deals.

The Modernization of Derivatives Tax Act of 2026 overhauls the Internal Revenue Code's treatment of derivatives by mandating annual recognition of gains and losses, generally classifying them as ordinary income. The bill establishes detailed rules for "investment hedging units" to coordinate tax treatment between derivatives and their underlying assets. Furthermore, it repeals several outdated rules concerning capital gains and straddles while making extensive conforming amendments across the tax code.

The Pedophile Financial Accountability Act mandates a thorough investigation by FinCEN into potential Bank Secrecy Act violations by financial institutions concerning transactions involving Jeffrey Epstein. This inquiry will specifically examine failures to report suspicious activity and delays in disclosing Epstein's financial dealings. The resulting report to Congress must detail these findings, and any willful violations of anti-money laundering laws will be referred to the Attorney General.

This bill, the Ending the Carried Interest Loophole Act, fundamentally changes how partnership interests received as compensation—often by investment managers—are taxed. It redefines the valuation of these interests and introduces a new mechanism that generally requires the income to be treated as ordinary income rather than long-term capital gains. The legislation aims to eliminate preferential tax treatment for compensation derived from investment or asset development businesses.

This resolution formally recognizes and honors the six Oregon athletes who represented the United States at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics and Paralympics. It congratulates these athletes and acknowledges the vital support provided by their families, coaches, and staff. The bill celebrates the accomplishments of all Oregonian competitors at the Games.

The Getting Rid of Abusive Trust Schemes Act (GRATS Act) imposes new minimum term and remainder value requirements on Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) to qualify for special tax treatment. It also changes the tax treatment for certain transfers between a trust and its deemed owner, treating them as sales or exchanges. Finally, the bill mandates that when the deemed owner of an applicable, non-revocable grantor trust pays the trust's income taxes, that payment is treated as a taxable gift.

The PPLI Abuse Act fundamentally changes the tax treatment of certain investment-oriented private placement life insurance and annuity contracts, classifying them as non-insurance products for tax purposes. This subjects contract holders to annual taxation on investment gains and subjects certain distributions to ordinary income tax rates. The bill also establishes stringent new initial and annual reporting requirements for issuers of these contracts, backed by severe penalties for non-compliance.

The Health Workforce Innovation Act establishes a grant program to fund community-driven training initiatives for allied health professionals. By supporting partnerships between vocational programs and health centers, the bill aims to increase the supply of essential healthcare workers in rural and underserved communities.

The Privacy Protection Updates Act significantly strengthens protections against government searches and seizures of protected materials, such as journalists' work product. It establishes a strict exclusionary rule, preventing illegally obtained materials and derived evidence from being used in any proceeding. Furthermore, the Act imposes rigorous new warrant requirements for accessing these materials, including judicial review for emergency searches.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's rule concerning permissible purposes for obtaining and using consumer reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this measure nullifies the specified CFPB rule, preventing it from taking effect.

The Wildfire and Grid Reliability Act establishes a Department of Energy grant program to help electric utilities harden power infrastructure against wildfires and natural disasters. By funding projects like undergrounding lines, vegetation management, and advanced monitoring technology, the program aims to enhance grid reliability and public safety nationwide. The legislation prioritizes cost-effective community benefits and provides dedicated support for smaller utility providers.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend critical clean electricity production, investment, and residential tax credits based on annual increases in electricity prices or demand. Additionally, it removes existing restrictions to ensure that wind and solar projects located on federal land are eligible for these tax incentives.

The Stop Presidential Emoluments Act imposes a 100% tax on any damages received by high-ranking federal officials—including the President, Vice President, and Members of Congress—from civil lawsuits filed against the United States. This legislation applies to damages awarded or settled during the official's term and for one year thereafter. By taxing these payouts at the full amount, the bill aims to prevent government officials and their close relatives from profiting through litigation against the federal government.

The Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026 strengthens privacy protections by requiring warrants for most government surveillance of U.S. persons and prohibiting the purchase of personal data from commercial brokers. The bill mandates increased transparency, stricter court oversight, and enhanced accountability for intelligence agencies while reauthorizing key surveillance programs for four years. These reforms aim to close legal loopholes and ensure that digital information—including vehicle and communication data—remains protected under the Fourth Amendment.

The Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026 mandates a transition to secure, chip-enabled EBT cards to better protect SNAP recipients from fraud and benefit theft. The bill requires states to modernize their digital account management tools, improves online transaction security, and establishes a grant program to help small retailers upgrade their payment terminals. Additionally, it streamlines the card replacement process and prohibits states from charging fees for replacing cards compromised by fraud or technical malfunctions.

The Government Surveillance Transparency Act of 2026 mandates greater public oversight of criminal surveillance by requiring courts to maintain searchable, online dockets for surveillance orders and limiting the government's ability to keep these records sealed. The bill establishes stricter notice requirements for individuals targeted by surveillance and mandates that courts be notified if data is collected beyond authorized limits. Additionally, it introduces comprehensive reporting requirements for government surveillance activities and provides grant funding to help state and tribal courts implement these transparency measures.

The Specialty CROP Act of 2026 mandates an annual report from the Secretary of Agriculture to Congress regarding the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop exports. This legislation requires an analysis of foreign trade barriers, their economic impact, and the executive branch’s ongoing efforts to eliminate these obstacles. By incorporating public input and ensuring transparency, the Act aims to strengthen the global market position of American specialty crop producers.

The Tariff Refund Act of 2026 mandates that U.S. Customs and Border Protection issue interest-bearing refunds for import duties collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act that were subsequently ruled unlawful. The bill prioritizes small businesses in the refund process and requires that larger entities pass these savings on to their customers. All refunds must be processed within 180 days of enactment, with regular progress reports provided to Congress.

The Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act establishes mandatory minimum nurse staffing levels for nursing homes, including 24-hour registered nurse coverage. It also permanently funds the inspection and certification program for healthcare facilities. Finally, the bill directs states to use a portion of collected civil money penalties to fund nursing home workforce recruitment, education, and retention programs.