Category: Congress at Work

Completing FY2026 Budget Appropriations, Protecting Trafficked Victims, and Vetoing Special Interest Projects

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HR 6938Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 (HR 6938) – This Act is one of the remaining budget bills to fund the government through Sept. 30, 2026. It includes funding for several agencies, including the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The bill was introduced by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) on Jan. 6. It passed in the House on Jan. 8, the Senate on Jan. 15, and was signed into law on Jan. 23.

Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 (HR 7006) – This Act was introduced by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) on Jan. 12. Yet another fiscal year 2026 budget bill, it authorizes investments to support economic growth and entrepreneurship, safeguard American security and authorize funding for the Executive and Judicial branches. The bill passed in the House on Jan. 14 and is awaiting passage in the Senate.

Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (HR 4323) – The purpose of this bipartisan bill is to help stop a vicious cycle that makes human trafficking victims vulnerable to further exploitation. The Act enables survivors to file motions to vacate non-violent convictions and purge arrest records for certain criminal offenses committed as a direct result of being trafficked. The current iteration of the bill was introduced by Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC) on July 19, 2025. It cleared the House on Dec. 1, the Senate on Dec. 18, and was signed into law on Jan. 23.

Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act (HR 131) – Introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) on January 3, 2025, this bill is related to a Colorado water infrastructure pipeline currently under construction, designed to port clean water from the Pueblo Reservoir to 50,000 Coloradans in the local area. The bill would have extended the repayment period for local municipalities and removed interest payments. The bill passed in the House on July 21 and in the Senate on Dec. 16; it was vetoed by the President on Dec. 31, 2025.

Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act (HR 504) – This bill would have authorized the expansion of the Miccosukee Reserved Area to include a portion of Everglades National Park in Florida. In recent years, the area, known as Osceola Camp, has been prone to flooding, and this bill would have authorized safeguard measures to protect structures within the camp. The bill was introduced on Jan. 16, 2025, by Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL). It passed in the House on July 14 and in the Senate on Dec. 11, 2025. The bill was vetoed by the President on Dec. 30 and failed an override vote in the House on Jan. 8.

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 (S 222) – This Act amends the existing National School Lunch Act to allow schools participating in the federal school lunch program to serve whole milk. It was introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) on Jan. 23, 2025, passed the Senate on Nov. 20, the House on Dec. 15 and was signed into law by the President on Jan. 14.

Improving Military Benefits, Relaxing Energy Regulations and Increasing Aviation Regulations

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Improving Military BenefitsVeterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025 (S 2392) – This Act was introduced by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) on July 23. It passed in the Senate on Nov. 9, the House on Nov. 17, and was signed into law on Nov. 25. The purpose of this bill is to increase rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities, as well as the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans. The rate hikes became effective on Dec. 1.

Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025 (HR 970) – This bipartisan Act was introduced on Feb. 4 by Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA). It authorizes increases to servicemember and veteran life insurance packages in order to account for inflation and higher costs of living. It passed in the House on April 7, in the Senate on Nov. 20, and was enacted by the President on Dec. 12.

Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act of 2025 (HR 1912) – The Veterans Benefits Administration has experienced negligence and fraud that have prevented many veterans from receiving benefits. In the past, the case-by-case system of investigation into misuse led to further delays; in some cases, veterans passed away before ever receiving remuneration. The purpose of this bill is to allow the Veterans Benefits Administration to reimburse victims of fraud via a streamlined process, so that the investigation occurs after the affected veterans have been reimbursed. The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA) on March 6, passed in the House on May 5, in the Senate on Nov. 20, and was signed into law on Dec. 12.

SPEED Act (HR 4776) – The purpose of this bipartisan legislation is to streamline the existing environmental analysis requirements for energy projects (e.g., offshore drilling, mining, pipeline development). Provisions include reducing litigation challenges to a 150-day challenge window, developing standardized federal action criteria, and defining procedural deadlines. The Act was introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) on July 25 and passed in the House on Dec. 18. Its fate currently rests with the Senate.

ROTOR Act (S 2503) – Prompted by multiple incidents this year, including military aircraft such as the Washington, D.C., helicopter collision, this bipartisan bill seeks to improve aviation safety and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight. The legislation would specifically require all aircraft to incorporate ADS-B technology, which displays nearby planes and weather data on cockpit screens. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on July 29. It passed in the Senate on Dec. 17 and awaits consideration by the House.

Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act (HR 6703) – Sponsored by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), this healthcare bill proposes expanding association health plans, increasing transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers, and funding some cost-sharing reductions for qualifying Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees. It does not include extending the enhanced premium tax credits that expired on Dec. 31, 2025. The bill was introduced on Dec. 15 and passed in the House on Dec. 17. Its fate now lies with the Senate.

Partial Government Funding, Promoting Transparency and Protecting Against Foreign Terrorism

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Government Promoting TransparencyEpstein Files Transparency Act (HR 4405) – The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Justice to release all documents and records in its possession of investigations and court cases related to Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was previously convicted of soliciting prostitution from an underage girl, and also faced new sex trafficking charges prior to his 2019 death in custody. The files are expected to reveal the names of other people involved in the sex trafficking scheme. The act was initially introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) on July 15. It was updated and passed in the House on Nov. 18, in the Senate the next day, with only one opposing vote between the two chambers. The bill was signed into law by the president on Nov. 19. The DOJ has up to 30 days to release the documents, which may be lightly redacted to protect against unwarranted invasion of privacy, such as victim names and medical data.

Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (HR 5371) – This is the bill that ended the federal government shutdown. It includes funding for the remainder of the fiscal year for the food assistance program SNAP, the Department of Agriculture, the FDA, the military, Veterans Affairs, and Congress through Sept. 30, 2026. However, it stops short of funding approval beyond Jan. 30, 2026, for Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS); Defense, Energy and Water; Financial Services and General Government (FSGG); Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS); State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs; Transportation; and Housing and Urban Development. The continuing resolution did contain a few ancillary provisions, including mandatory backpay and rehiring of all federal employees furloughed or laid off during the shutdown. The original version of the bill was introduced on Sept. 16 by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK). It passed in the House on Sept. 19 and failed in the Senate 14 times before a revised bill was passed on Nov. 10. The final bill, with changes, passed in the House on Nov. 12 and was signed into law on the same day.

District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of 2025 (HR 5214) – This bill was introduced on Sept. 8 by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY). It represents Republicans’ ongoing battle over who has jurisdiction over Washington, D.C.’s law enforcement and justice system. The bill would return to a cash bail system and require automatic detention of those charged under a wider set of offenses. The new confinement rule counters D.C.’s long-standing system of judge discretion regarding detention or supervised release. The bill passed in the House on Nov. 19 and currently lies in the Senate.

Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act (HR 2659) – This bipartisan legislation represents a federal strategy to strengthen U.S. cyber defenses to counter China’s attempts to actively target American infrastructure. Unfortunately, the bill does not apply to other hostile state-sponsored cyber actors such as Russia, Iran, or North Korea. Introduced by Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-TN) on April 7, the bill passed in the House on Nov. 17 and currently rests with the Senate.

Department of Homeland Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2025 (HR 1608) – This bipartisan bill seeks to address the rising threat of vehicle-based attacks, including the possible misuse of autonomous vehicles, rideshare platforms, and connected vehicle technologies. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) on Feb. 26 and passed in the House on Nov. 17. It currently awaits consideration by the Senate.

Controversial Defense Funding Bill, Shoring Up ESOP Plans, and Leave Benefits for Public Health Personnel

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Shoring Up ESOP PlansNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S 2296) – Introduced by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) on July 15, the Senate passed this legislation on Oct. 9. The bill is a carve-out of the 2026 budget bill intended to fund military appropriations for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill was largely supported by Republicans but less so by Democrats, who are in favor of keeping the government closed until all of their budget concerns are addressed. In addition to establishing funding and policies for military and defense-related activities, the bill includes a roadmap for bomber modernization, a real-time database for contractor compliance oversight, and authorizing programs for nuclear weapons facilities. The legislation would authorize $32.1 billion over the President’s budget request, and the White House opposes provisions in the bill that thwart the President’s ability to control immigration and conduct foreign affairs, including submitting plans to Congress ahead of actions, dictating the terms of intelligence support to Ukraine, and enabling the Defense Department to bypass the Administration’s tariffs. The bill currently rests with the House, which asserts it will not return to regular session until the Senate passes the current controversial CR budget bill.

Employee Ownership Representation Act of 2025 (S 1728) – This bipartisan bill seeks to expand the membership of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans to include two representatives of employee ownership organizations. While the council presently includes 15 members from business, labor, and the public, the council has no expertise specific to Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). The legislation was introduced by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on May 13 and passed in the Senate on Oct. 9. It currently awaits consideration by the House.

Retire Through Ownership Act (S 2403) – The main purpose of this bill is to provide a clear definition for certain closely held stock that aligns valuations with IRS standards in an effort to mitigate valuation risk for ESOPs. It would also provide “safe harbor” for trustees relying on these guidelines. The Act was introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) on July 23. It passed in the Senate on Oct. 9 and currently lies with the House.

Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act (S 1440) – Introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) on April 10, this legislation would authorize leave benefits (parental leave, emergency leave) to Public Health Service (PHS) officers. The bill sponsors assert that the current lack of these important benefits is a challenge to recruiting and retaining PHS personnel, who should be on par with the same benefits offered to uniformed service members. The bill passed in the Senate on Oct. 9 and is up for review in the House.

Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act (HR 998) – This bill was introduced on Feb. 5 by Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA). Among other provisions, it instructs the IRS to provide taxpayers with details of notices that relate to a math or clerical error. The bill passed in the House on March 31 and in the Senate on Oct. 20. It currently awaits the President’s signature to become law.

Enhancing Homebuyer Protections, Wildfire Risks, 911 Response and Domestic Manufacturing

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HR 2808, HR 2483, HR 3400, S 306, S 725, S 433Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (HR 2808) – Introduced by Rep. John Rose (R-TN) on April 10, the House passed this bill on June 23, and the Senate passed it on Aug. 2. Signed into law on Sept. 5, this bipartisan bill prohibits a consumer reporting agency from selling a mortgage applicant’s personal information to other lenders without their explicit consent. The legislation is designed to safeguard homebuyers’ personal financial information and eliminate the frequent bombardment of other lender marketing offers during the financing process underway with the applicant’s existing lender.

SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (HR 2483) – This bill renews billions of dollars in federal funding for programs responsible for preventing overdoses and further strengthening treatment and recovery services. The renewal of funds to nationwide county programs is timely, given the current behavioral health and substance abuse disorder crises. The bill was introduced by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) on March 31, passed in the House on June 4 and in the Senate on Sept. 18; it currently awaits signature by the president.

TRAVEL Act of 2025 (HR 3400) – Also known as the Territorial Response and Access to Veterans’ Essential Lifecare Act, the purpose of this bill is to enable VA physicians and specialists to travel to hard-to-reach areas in U.S. territories for up to one year. The Act is designed to help fill critical gaps in VA medical services across the Pacific territories by compensating providers with travel bonuses. The legislation was introduced by Representative Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-Northern Mariana Islands) on May 14. It passed in the House on Sept. 15 and currently lies with the Senate.

Fire Ready Nation Act of 2025 (S 306) – Introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) on Jan. 29, this legislation would establish a fire weather program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The new program would enable scientists to better predict wildfires, fire weather, and fire risk via forecasting, detection, and modeling, as well as respond quickly to prevent devastation to families, homes, and businesses due to wildfires. The legislation was passed in the Senate on Sept. 10 and is now under review in the House.

Enhancing First Response Act (S 725) – This bill was introduced on Feb. 25 by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and passed in the Senate on Sept. 10. The law would reclassify 911 dispatchers as public safety workers from their current role as office and administrative support in the federal Standard Occupational Classification system. In addition, the bill contains provisions to improve access to the 911 call system during major disasters and make the system more resilient against outages and disruptions. The fate of this bipartisan bill now rests in the House.

National Manufacturing Advisory Council Act (S 433) – This Act was introduced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) on Feb. 5. It seeks to establish a working group of representatives from industry, labor, and academia to advise Congress on policies and programs to enhance domestic manufacturing despite the challenges of global competition, U.S. supply chain issues, and the current tariff solution. The bipartisan legislationwas  passed unanimously in the Senate on July 14 and is currently under review in the House.