Legislative Activity

The Fair Seeds for Farmers Act restricts federal intellectual property protections for plants to specific existing statutes, preventing the use of broader patent laws to control plant materials. Additionally, the bill prohibits contractual clauses that restrict farmers and researchers from saving, breeding, or experimenting with seeds and plant germplasm. These measures aim to protect agricultural autonomy and ensure continued access to plant materials for research and propagation.

This joint resolution directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate potential antitrust violations within the fire truck manufacturing industry, including price fixing, monopolization, and serial acquisitions. The investigation aims to address the industry's extreme market consolidation, which has led to skyrocketing costs and multi-year delivery delays for critical emergency equipment. Ultimately, the FTC must report its findings and provide legislative recommendations to mitigate the severe safety and financial impacts currently facing fire departments nationwide.

The **Accreditation Reform and Enhanced Accountability Act of 2026** aims to improve the quality of higher education by strengthening the oversight of accrediting agencies and increasing institutional accountability for student outcomes. The bill grants the Secretary of Education greater authority to set student achievement benchmarks, mandates more rigorous accreditation reviews, and increases transparency through standardized public disclosures. Additionally, it implements stricter conflict-of-interest rules and establishes new protections for students, such as enhanced requirements for credit transfers and institutional teach-out plans.

The CDC Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act amends the Public Health Service Act to formally include Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations as eligible entities for federal public health emergency preparedness funding. The bill authorizes $750 million annually for this program, with a dedicated 5% set-aside for Tribal entities and exemptions from traditional matching-fund requirements. Additionally, it mandates federal consultation with Tribal leaders to ensure program flexibility and requires a comprehensive report to Congress on the effectiveness of Tribal implementation.

The Mamas First Act aims to address the maternal mortality crisis in the United States by mandating that state Medicaid programs cover services provided by doulas, midwives, and lactation support providers. Beginning in 2027, this legislation ensures these essential maternal health services are accessible to all Medicaid beneficiaries without any copays or cost-sharing. By expanding access to these specialized care providers, the bill seeks to improve birth outcomes and reduce health disparities across the country.

The Pharmaceutical Investment Oversight and Accountability Act mandates an annual report from the Federal Trade Commission on foreign investment within the U.S. pharmaceutical and DNA-sequencing industries. This legislation aims to increase transparency regarding supply chain reliance on foreign manufacturing and the impact of foreign ownership on domestic production capacity. The findings will be shared with Congress and the public to ensure greater oversight of these critical sectors.

The Health and Location Data Protection Act of 2026 prohibits data brokers from selling or transferring sensitive health and location information. This legislation empowers the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and private individuals to enforce these protections through civil lawsuits and significant financial penalties. By restricting the trade of this personal data, the bill aims to enhance individual privacy and security.

The Critical Defense Ownership Review Act requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to review and approve certain acquisitions of major defense suppliers by investment companies that result in a 25% stake or control. This review assesses the impact on national security, the defense industrial base, and competition for DoD contracts. Additionally, the DoD must conduct a triennial review of all merger and acquisition activity involving major defense suppliers to assess its impact on the defense industrial base's health and supply chain.

The AI Bubble Transparency Act directs the Office of Financial Research to collect detailed data on how much financial companies are invested in or lending to the artificial intelligence sector. This information will be used to assess the potential risks AI-related debt and equity exposure poses to U.S. financial stability. The resulting public report will inform policy recommendations aimed at mitigating these emerging financial risks.

The Restore Military Families’ Voices Act aims to strengthen protections for military families living in privatized housing. This legislation prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to sign nondisclosure agreements regarding housing conditions or services. Furthermore, it expands the list of officials and offices to whom tenants can report housing issues without fear of retaliation.

The Protecting American Consumers Act establishes a new, guaranteed minimum annual funding level for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This bill sets the compulsory funding floor at 12% of the Federal Reserve System's 2009 operating expenses, replacing the CFPB's previous funding structure.

This bill aims to increase transparency regarding foreign influence over Department of Defense (DoD) contractors. It mandates that companies bidding on DoD contracts must disclose beneficial ownership information as part of their proposals. Furthermore, the legislation expands the scope of foreign influence risk assessments and lowers the contract value threshold that triggers these mitigation procedures.

The Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes during public health emergencies. It allocates significant funding for enhanced data collection, surveillance, and research across CDC and NIH programs. Furthermore, the bill establishes a task force to develop federal recommendations for ensuring safe, respectful, and equitable maternity care, especially for marginalized communities.

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 Patients Before Monopolies Act aims to restore competition in the prescription drug market by structurally separating vertically integrated health conglomerates. This is achieved by making it illegal for any entity to own both a pharmacy and either an insurer or a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM). The bill mandates divestiture of any conflicting ownership within one year and grants the FTC and DOJ strong enforcement and civil penalty authority to ensure compliance.

The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2026 expands FEMA disaster assistance eligibility to include occupants without formal property ownership, such as those experiencing homelessness. It simplifies repair standards, allowing aid for any home "damaged by a major disaster," and mandates streamlined processes for self-certifying eligibility. The bill also requires FEMA to coordinate with HUD on joint temporary rental assistance programs following a disaster declaration.

This act prohibits the President from withholding congressionally appropriated funds and ensures taxpayer money is spent as directed by law. It also bans current and former Presidents, Vice Presidents, and their immediate families from receiving settlement payments from the U.S. government, imposing strict transparency and penalty measures for violations.

The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act of 2026 establishes a grant program to fund evidence-based or promising strategies addressing students' academic, social-emotional, and health needs, particularly those exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants prioritize entities serving high-need, low-income, and rural student populations. Recipients must focus on evidence-based interventions, culturally responsive practices, and comprehensive student and staff support systems.

This joint resolution expresses congressional disapproval of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s decision to withdraw its circular regarding steering and preferencing practices by digital intermediaries. By nullifying this withdrawal, the resolution effectively restores the original regulatory guidance.

This joint resolution exercises congressional authority to disapprove a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). By nullifying the CFPB’s withdrawal of "Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2022-06," this measure effectively reinstates the original guidance regarding unanticipated overdraft fee assessment practices.