Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses support for designating June 5, 2026, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and the entire month of June 2026 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." The bill aims to raise awareness about the impact of gun violence in the United States. It encourages the public to wear orange on the designated day to honor victims and promote community safety discussions.

This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the volunteers and communities that supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The Canteen was a massive, entirely volunteer-run operation that fed approximately six million service members traveling across the country. The original gold medal will be permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. The bill also allows the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the medal.

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 SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 aims to protect veterans from fraudulent and unauthorized fee charging by reinstating strict penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for those who illegally assist with VA benefit claims. The bill mandates the VA to improve transparency by creating an online tool listing accredited representatives and enhancing public warnings about predatory practices on all claim-filing websites. Furthermore, it requires new data collection on paid assistance providers and establishes a robust, accessible accreditation system for legitimate agents and attorneys.

This bill, the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2026, amends Medicare rules to count time spent receiving outpatient observation services in a hospital toward the required 3-day inpatient hospital stay. This change allows beneficiaries to qualify sooner for Medicare coverage of skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. The provision applies to observation services furnished on or after January 1, 2026.

This bill, TREY's Law, declares that nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements are void and unenforceable if they prevent the disclosure of sexual abuse against a minor. The legislation aims to protect survivors' rights to report crimes and cooperate with authorities by overriding any state or private contract that suppresses information about child sexual abuse. This law applies retroactively to all existing and future agreements.

This Act significantly increases the excise tax on stock buybacks for large oil and gas companies from 1% to 25%. This higher tax applies specifically to corporations meeting a $1 billion average annual gross receipts threshold and primarily engaged in the oil or gas business. The 25% rate remains in effect until the national average weekly retail price of regular gasoline drops below a specified trigger point for five consecutive weeks.

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 Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act bans the imposition and carrying out of the death penalty for any federal crime after the date of enactment. This legislation mandates that all individuals currently under a federal death sentence must be resentenced.

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 Scientific Integrity Act aims to safeguard the role of science in federal policymaking by requiring agencies that fund or conduct research to adopt and enforce strict scientific integrity policies. These policies must prohibit political interference, data suppression, and retaliation against scientists. The legislation establishes Scientific Integrity Officers within agencies and mandates regular training and public reporting on policy implementation to ensure public trust in government science.

This Senate resolution expresses the sense that access to mifepristone should be based on over 25 years of proven safety and effectiveness supported by peer-reviewed science. It calls for equitable and transparent laws and policies governing access to this time-sensitive medication abortion care. The resolution affirms the FDA's authority to regulate the drug based on the best available evidence, free from political interference.

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.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 10 through May 16, 2026, as "National Police Week." It serves to recognize and honor the service, sacrifice, and valor of law enforcement officers across the United States. The measure encourages the public to observe this week by honoring law enforcement personnel and promoting awareness of their essential mission.

The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 establishes free breakfast and lunch for all students in participating schools, eliminating income-based eligibility and school meal debt. It also updates federal funding metrics by replacing free/reduced lunch data with new measures of economically disadvantaged students across various education and nutrition programs. This comprehensive bill aims to ensure universal access to nutrition while streamlining administrative requirements related to poverty tracking.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, recognizing his significant contributions as a former U.S. Senator, Governor of Idaho, and Secretary of the Interior. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow over his passing and offers condolences to his family. The resolution directs that this tribute be communicated to the House and his family, and the Senate will adjourn in his memory.

This resolution formally recognizes the vital roles and significant contributions of teachers across the United States in shaping the nation's civic, cultural, and economic future. It specifically designates the week of May 4–8, 2026, as National Teacher Appreciation Week. The bill encourages widespread public recognition and respect for educators and the teaching profession.

The GUARD Act establishes federal guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence chatbots, particularly concerning minors. It mandates that companies operating these AI systems implement rigorous age verification processes for all users. Furthermore, the bill creates criminal penalties for designing AI that solicits minors into explicit conduct or promotes violence, and imposes civil penalties for non-compliance with user protection and disclosure requirements.

The Firearm Safety Act of 2026 amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to include firearms under the definition of a "consumer product." This action brings firearms under the regulatory authority of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.