Legislative Activity

This Act officially renames the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve, establishing distinct management rules for the new Park and Preserve areas. The bill maintains existing fishing regulations across the entire area while generally prohibiting hunting and trapping within the National Park, with exceptions for tribal treaty rights. All references to the former Lakeshore designation must now be updated to reflect the new Park and Preserve title.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

This bill primarily focuses on extending the authorization for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs by one year. It pushes the expiration dates for the core programs and several related pilot activities from fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2026. This ensures continued federal research and development funding opportunities for small businesses.

This resolution condemns the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and extends condolences to his family. It honors his life and legacy, recognizing his founding of Turning Point USA and his commitment to encouraging civil discourse on college campuses.

The SAFE Driving Laws Act aims to ensure that states only issue standard driver's licenses to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. To comply, states must prohibit issuing licenses to non-citizens and must cooperate fully with federal immigration enforcement information sharing. States failing to meet these requirements starting in fiscal year 2027 will face the withholding of 50% of their federal highway funding.

This resolution formally condemns the horrific political assassination of conservative spokesman Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. It expresses deep condolences to his family and recognizes the bravery of the first responders at the scene. Ultimately, the measure reaffirms the fundamental American right to peaceful assembly and stands firmly against political violence.

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 Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 directs the FAA to update regulations to encourage aviation workers to seek mental health support without fear of stigma. The bill mandates annual reviews of the medical clearance process and allocates funding to hire more Aviation Medical Examiners. Furthermore, it requires the FAA to implement recommendations from a recent mental health task force and launch a public awareness campaign to reduce stigma.

This Act, the Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act, penalizes states that issue driver's licenses to individuals lacking proof of lawful presence. It also targets states that restrict local officials from sharing immigration enforcement data with the Department of Homeland Security. States found in violation must return unspent Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds and become ineligible for future funding until compliance is achieved.

The Middle Mile for Rural America Act updates the timeline for expanding essential middle mile internet infrastructure into rural areas. This legislation shifts the designated period for these expansion projects under the Rural Electrification Act from 2018–2023 to the new timeframe of 2026 through 2031. This change ensures continued focus and potential funding for critical rural broadband development in the coming years.

The No Discrimination in Farm Programs Act prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from using race or sex as criteria when administering key USDA programs. This ensures that major financial support, conservation, and loan programs are managed based on fairness, equal opportunity, and merit. The bill specifically applies to pandemic assistance, crop insurance, conservation efforts, and various farm loan programs.

The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act establishes a new program to support local food producers and strengthen regional food security. This initiative requires the Secretary of Agriculture to fund agreements that ensure nutritious, locally sourced food is purchased and distributed widely, prioritizing small and beginning farmers. Funds must be used to buy minimally processed local products and provide technical assistance to producers. The program is backed by mandatory funding starting in Fiscal Year 2026.

The Save Our Bacon Act establishes a federal right for producers to move and sell products derived from covered livestock across state lines, ensuring a single national market. This legislation prevents individual states from imposing unique production standards on livestock or products raised outside their borders. Essentially, it standardizes regulations to ensure free interstate commerce for meat and dairy products, excluding those primarily derived from egg-laying animals.

This Act prohibits "covered foreign entities," primarily defined as those connected to the People's Republic of China, from acquiring or leasing U.S. agricultural land. Covered entities currently owning such land must divest within one year or face severe daily fines and potential criminal forfeiture. Additionally, the bill imposes a temporary two-year ban on these same entities purchasing residential real estate, with separate penalties for non-compliance. The legislation mandates the creation of new enforcement offices within the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce to oversee compliance.

The SAVES Act establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, up to $\$2,000,000$ each, will fund the training and provision of service dogs for veterans with qualifying conditions like PTSD or TBI. The bill also extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until February 2033.

The Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act establishes a new federal program dedicated to repairing and improving critical local and rural roads essential for agriculture. This program aims to enhance access to farms and agricultural facilities, reduce weight-restricted bridges, and increase the safety and resilience of rural transportation networks. Federal funding for these projects will cover up to 90 percent of the total cost.

Dillon's Law amends federal guidelines to grant preference points to states that allow trained, non-school personnel to administer epinephrine in schools. This change broadens the definition of who can provide life-saving medication beyond just school employees. The law also updates terminology to cover a wider range of epinephrine delivery systems.

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 targets foreign governments in the Western Hemisphere that have seized or unfairly controlled port infrastructure essential to U.S. trade access since early 2024. The bill requires the executive branch to identify this "prohibited property" and subsequently ban any associated vessels from accessing U.S. ports or receiving services. Furthermore, the Act expands the definition of unfair trade practices to explicitly include the nationalization or discriminatory treatment of U.S. assets by foreign nations.