Legislative Activity

The Future of Artificial Intelligence Innovation Act of 2026 establishes a comprehensive framework to advance U.S. leadership in AI through voluntary safety standards, rigorous testing programs, and strategic international alliances. The legislation promotes innovation by increasing access to high-quality government data and launching competitive research prize programs. Additionally, it strengthens national security by implementing robust oversight for research and enhancing the government's ability to recruit specialized technical talent.

This resolution expresses support for designating February 21-28, 2026, as "National FFA Week." It recognizes the National FFA Organization's role in developing future leaders. The resolution also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the chartering of the Alaska State FFA Association.

The SAFER Transport Act aims to enhance security and integrity within the U.S. freight industry by combating fraud, theft, and illegal operations. The bill establishes a dedicated advisory committee, mandates stricter registration requirements for motor carriers and brokers, and strengthens oversight of commercial driver licensing and training. Additionally, it introduces new criminal penalties for fraudulent certifications and improves coordination between federal agencies to better enforce transportation laws.

The After Hours Child Care Act establishes the Child Care and Development Innovation Fund to improve access to child care for parents working nontraditional hours. This pilot grant program will provide funding to expand or create child care options for those working evenings, nights, or weekends. The goal is to support workforce participation and economic stability for these parents.

This resolution congratulates the Indiana University Hoosiers football team for winning the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. It celebrates their historic, undefeated 16-0 season and recognizes the outstanding achievements of the players and coaching staff. Official copies of this recognition will be presented to key university and team leadership.

The AI for Mainstreet Act aims to support small businesses by integrating artificial intelligence assistance into the Small Business Development Center program. This initiative will provide guidance, training, and resources to help small businesses evaluate and effectively use AI in their operations. The bill defines AI for the purposes of the Small Business Act but does not authorize any new federal funding for these expanded services.

This bill establishes the Calumet National Heritage Area across parts of Indiana and Illinois, recognizing its unique blend of industrial history, cultural diversity, and significant natural resources. It designates the Calumet Heritage Partnership as the local entity responsible for managing the area. The legislation requires the submission of a management plan within three years, while federal funding authority is set to terminate 15 years after enactment.

The Digital Trade Promotion Act of 2025 grants the President authority to negotiate and enter into comprehensive digital trade agreements with foreign partners. These agreements must establish strong international rules promoting the free flow of data, banning discriminatory digital taxes, and protecting intellectual property. The bill mandates rigorous Congressional oversight, consultation, and a review period before any agreement can take effect, ensuring alignment with U.S. economic interests and values. It also establishes mechanisms for monitoring and enforcing continued compliance by partner countries.

This act mandates the declassification of U.S. intelligence regarding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and related activities by the Chinese government. Within 180 days, the intelligence community must review and publicly release information concerning research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and any efforts by Chinese officials to obstruct investigations or suppress vital information. The goal is to enhance transparency surrounding the pandemic's emergence and the initial global response.

This bill mandates the Director of National Intelligence to develop a comprehensive strategy for coordinating and sharing intelligence related to critical and emerging technologies across the intelligence community. The strategy must also detail how this intelligence will be shared with relevant federal departments and agencies involved in regulation, research, and national security. The Director is required to report the completed strategy to the congressional intelligence committees shortly after its development.

The Advanced Artificial Intelligence Security Readiness Act of 2025 mandates the National Security Agency to develop and distribute comprehensive security guidance for protecting advanced AI systems and their supply chains from foreign threats. This guidance will detail unique vulnerabilities, mitigation strategies against technology theft and sabotage, and best practices for protecting sensitive AI artifacts. The NSA must collaborate with industry experts and relevant federal agencies while reporting progress to the congressional intelligence committees.

The Brake for Kids Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a national public safety messaging campaign to warn drivers about the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus. The Secretary of Transportation must launch this broad-reaching campaign within one year, utilizing national media like TV and radio. Funding for this initiative will be drawn from existing allocations for the Secretary's other public safety campaigns.

The Biobased Market Expansion Act of 2025 significantly strengthens federal requirements for purchasing biobased products by mandating annual goal increases and tightening exemptions for non-compliance. This legislation promotes U.S.-made goods by establishing domestic price advantages and improving transparency through public reporting of purchasing data and any unmet goals. Furthermore, it requires updated training for contracting officers and directs the GAO to review the program's effectiveness within two years.

The National Biotechnology Safety Act establishes a new research program, managed by the NSF, to study the potential risks associated with biotechnology products. It also mandates a two-phase study by the National Academies to compare the safety of biotech tools against traditional methods. The overall goal is to provide the necessary scientific foundation for effective federal regulation and oversight of these rapidly developing technologies.

The Synthetic Biology Advancement Act of 2025 establishes the National Synthetic Biology Center within the Department of Agriculture. This Center will award competitive grants to eligible research institutions to accelerate the development and deployment of synthetic biology solutions in agriculture. The goal is to enhance food security, national resilience, and sustainability through advanced biological engineering and innovation. The Act authorizes funding for both the Center's operations and the research grants through Fiscal Year 2030.

The Cloud LAB Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program to create a national network of high-tech, remotely accessible "cloud laboratories" focused on biotechnology research. This network, coordinated by the NSF Director, will generate high-quality biological data using automated experiments to train AI models and provide researchers access to advanced experimental tools. The Act mandates the creation of an advisory board to guide priorities, ensure equitable access, and establish security protocols for the data and infrastructure.

The HARPOON Act, or Helping Allies Respond to Piracy, Overfishing, and Oceanic Negligence Act, enhances U.S. efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing globally. It modifies existing law to allow the Department of Defense to train and equip foreign security forces specifically to counter IUU fishing operations. Furthermore, the Act mandates the establishment of joint patrols with foreign partners and requires annual reporting to Congress on these counter-IUU fishing programs.

The 504 Credit Risk Management Improvement Act of 2025 strengthens the oversight of the 504 loan program by granting the Office of Credit Risk Management new authority to supervise Certified Development Companies (CDCs). This includes mandatory file reviews, the ability to impose enforcement actions and civil penalties for violations, and the requirement for an annual risk analysis report to Congress. Furthermore, the bill mandates the SBA to establish clear procedures for CDCs to comply with existing National Environmental Policy Act requirements.

The Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act aims to address the national housing shortage by requiring local governments receiving federal housing grants to report on their land use policies. This legislation focuses on identifying and encouraging the removal of restrictive zoning and regulatory barriers that unnecessarily increase housing costs. By standardizing this reporting every five years, the Act seeks to clear roadblocks to increase housing supply nationwide.

The Investing in Main Street Act of 2025 aims to boost support for small businesses by increasing the Small Business Administration's (SBA) investment limits in certain Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs). This legislation raises the maximum percentage the SBA can invest in these vehicles from 5 percent to 15 percent. The goal is to channel more capital toward small businesses through these established investment programs.