Legislative Activity

The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2026 establishes a dedicated unit within the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute criminal trade activities, such as smuggling, duty evasion, and trade-based money laundering. This legislation aims to bolster enforcement capacity through increased staffing, interagency collaboration, and the development of multi-jurisdictional responses. Additionally, it mandates annual reporting to Congress to ensure transparency and accountability in the government's efforts to protect American industry and labor.

This resolution formally honors the courage and sacrifice of U.S. veterans who served during the Korean War and those who have served in Korea since the 1953 armistice. It seeks to ensure these service members receive the recognition they deserve for their vital role in defending democracy and freedom on the Korean Peninsula.

The Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act extends the Social Security Administration’s authority to conduct disability insurance demonstration projects through 2031. This legislation enhances participant protections by ensuring no reduction in income for those involved in these projects and strengthens oversight through updated waiver requirements and evaluation metrics.

The Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends vital funding for ALS research and clinical trial programs through 2031. This legislation strengthens oversight by enhancing grant review processes, improving safety reporting requirements, and mandating a comprehensive five-year FDA action plan to accelerate the development of treatments for rare neurodegenerative diseases.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 1225 Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The facility will now be known as the "Colonel Edward Shames Post Office Building." This designation will be used in all future federal references to the building.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act authorizes $6 million in annual grants over seven years to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. These funds will support the National Law Enforcement Museum’s public education, community outreach, and officer safety and wellness programs. As a condition of the grant, the museum must provide free admission to law enforcement officers and their families, as well as dedicated free hours for the general public.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.

This act, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, prohibits the Secretary of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed rule regarding heat injury and illness prevention published in August 2024. This restriction extends to any future standard substantially similar to the one proposed.

The High-Capacity Grid Act mandates that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) establish a "best-available transmission conductor" standard based on capacity, efficiency, and sag mitigation. This legislation requires FERC to presume that using these advanced conductors in covered transmission projects is prudent and cost-justified. Conversely, using anything less than the best-available conductor will be presumed imprudent in rate cases.

The Ratepayer Protection Act establishes a new federal standard requiring electric utilities to ensure large industrial customers (100 MW or more) fully cover the costs of necessary infrastructure upgrades. This mandates that large-load customers provide financial assurances before construction begins, protecting existing ratepayers from bearing the risk of future contract terminations. States must consider and adopt this standard within two years, unless they have already implemented similar requirements.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The Anti-Fraud Fund Act of 2026 increases the funding cap for the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account by $7 billion annually from 2027 through 2030. This legislation provides additional resources to combat health care fraud while implementing safeguards to ensure these temporary increases do not permanently inflate future funding baselines.

The DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2025 establishes a federally coordinated research program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of Down syndrome. The initiative focuses on long-term health studies, expanding clinical trial access, and investigating co-occurring conditions to improve the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome. By fostering collaboration across NIH institutes and consulting with patient advocates, the program aims to accelerate medical breakthroughs and provide biennial progress reports to Congress.

The AADAPT Act expands access to specialized dementia care by authorizing grants for public and nonprofit health centers to integrate these services into their programs. Additionally, the bill extends federal funding authorization through 2031 to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of these critical health outcomes.

The Rural Patient Monitoring Access Act aims to improve access to remote patient monitoring (RPM) for rural Medicare beneficiaries. It establishes a minimum payment floor for the geographic indices used to calculate practice expense and malpractice costs for RPM services starting in 2026. Furthermore, the bill sets new quality requirements for RPM providers to qualify for Medicare payment, including real-time clinical availability and data interoperability. Finally, it mandates a future report analyzing the actual cost savings generated by these enhanced RPM services.

The Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act reauthorizes and modernizes the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office to better coordinate regional restoration and research efforts. The bill establishes expanded programs for integrated coastal observation, environmental education, and the management of critical habitats and living resources. Through these initiatives, the Office will work closely with the Chesapeake Executive Council to support the long-term health and sustainability of the Bay watershed.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 ensures that residents in long-term care facilities maintain access to designated essential caregivers, even when general visitation is suspended. The bill mandates that facilities allow residents to appoint up to two caregivers who can provide in-person support, provided they adhere to established safety protocols. It also prioritizes the investigation of access complaints and guarantees that these visitation rights cannot be waived during emergencies.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Expedited Access to Biosimilars Act streamlines the FDA approval process for biosimilar products by reducing requirements for unnecessary clinical trials. The bill mandates that the FDA provide written justification if it determines additional clinical studies are required, ensuring a more efficient and transparent path to licensure.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 10660 Page Avenue in Fairfax, Virginia, as the "Congressman Gerald E. Connolly Post Office Building." All official federal references to this location will be updated to reflect this new name.