Andrea Salinas

The ICE Shootings Transparency Act requires federal authorities to share evidence and investigative materials with state and local law enforcement agencies when officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection discharge firearms, injure someone, or kill someone during their official duties. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security and Attorney General provide access to incident scenes and share all relevant evidence without unreasonable delay, including body camera footage, surveillance video, radio communications, witness statements, forensic evidence, and other investigative materials. This requirement applies to incidents occurring anywhere in the United States where state or local law enforcement have jurisdiction. The legislation aims to increase transparency and coordination between federal immigration enforcement agencies and local authorities when use-of-force incidents occur. The bill was introduced in October 2026 and referred to the House committees on Homeland Security, Judiciary, and Ways and Means for consideration.

This bill transfers approximately 18,628 acres of federal land from the U.S. Forest Service to the Department of the Interior, where it will be held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. The transferred land will become part of the Grand Ronde Reservation and will be governed by federal Indian trust land laws. The Secretary of the Interior must complete a legal survey and description of the land within two years of the bill's enactment, and must enter into an administrative access agreement with the tribe within 180 days. The legislation prohibits gaming activities on the land and requires that unprocessed logs harvested from the property comply with federal export regulations, while allowing the tribe to manage forests according to applicable federal and tribal law and to restrict public access for safety, wildlife management, or emergencies.

The Lifeline for First Responders Act would establish a federal grant program to support mental health and wellness services for emergency medical services workers and first responders. The program, administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, would provide funding to fire departments, EMS agencies, and dispatch centers to offer evidence-based mental health services, suicide prevention programs, confidential counseling, peer support, and family services for first responders and their families. The legislation also authorizes these organizations to use grants for stigma reduction education and training related to behavioral health. The bill allocates $7.5 million annually in federal funding for the program from fiscal years 2028 through 2032, totaling $37.5 million over the five-year period.

This bill creates a new federal excise tax of 1 cent per kilowatt-hour on electricity used by large data centers, defined as facilities with over 1 megawatt of peak power capacity that primarily process, store, or transmit digital information. The tax applies to data centers starting immediately after the bill is enacted and affects technology companies, cloud service providers, and other organizations operating major data center facilities. Revenue from the tax would be divided equally among five programs: the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Housing Trust Fund, the Hazardous Substance Superfund, the Highway Trust Fund, and a newly created Energy Technology Trust Fund for energy project loan guarantees. The bill has no specified end date, meaning the tax would continue indefinitely as an ongoing funding source for these programs.

This bill makes it illegal for the President or Vice President, or entities they control, to buy, sell, or exchange nonpublic government information for financial gain. It also prohibits anyone else from purchasing, selling, or trading such information. Violations can result in criminal penalties including fines up to twice the transaction value and up to five years in prison, along with forfeiture of any profits gained. The legislation also allows the Attorney General to pursue civil cases seeking disgorgement of profits, civil penalties up to three times the gain, and injunctions, with a six-year window to file such actions. The Office of Government Ethics is tasked with referring credible evidence of violations to the Attorney General and notifying Congress's judiciary committees of these referrals.

Feeding Our Rural Kids Act of 2026 or the FORK Act of 2026This bill establishes a summer meal delivery vehicle pilot program as part of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). (The SFSP is a federally funded, state-administered program that reimburses providers that serve no-cost, healthy meals and snacks to children and teens at summer sites in low-income communities.)Under the bill, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must award one-year grants of up to $100,000 for service institutions (e.g., school food authorities) to purchase, retrofit, or repair vehicles to facilitate noncongregate meal distribution. This is meal distribution outside of the typically required group, or congregate, setting (e.g., grab-and-go meal service).Among other things, USDA must give priority to service institutions located in an area in which poor economic conditions exist and that serve a high proportion of students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. USDA must also ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that service institutions receiving grants are located in different states.

This resolution expresses House support for designating July 20, 2026, as "National Moon Landing Day" to commemorate the Apollo 11 mission's historic first crewed lunar landing on July 20, 1969. The resolution highlights the scientific and technological achievements that have resulted from the Apollo program and current NASA space exploration efforts, including the Artemis missions that aim to return humans to the Moon. It acknowledges that the U.S. space program has generated substantial economic benefits, supporting a $240.9 billion commercial space economy and over 373,000 jobs. The resolution encourages Americans to use the day to celebrate NASA astronauts and space workers, honor fallen astronauts, and inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. No funding or specific implementation timeline is attached to this symbolic resolution, which serves primarily to recognize the importance of American space exploration achievements and ongoing lunar missions.

The NO PROFIT Act would impose a 100 percent tax on net capital gains that a sitting U.S. President accrues during their time in office. Under the bill, any profits from selling stocks, real estate, or other investments while serving as President would be subject to this punitive tax rate, effectively requiring the President to surrender all such gains to the government. The legislation also includes a "mark to market" provision that would require Presidents to recognize gains or losses on most assets annually, as if they were sold at year-end, though assets held in qualified blind trusts would be exempt from this rule. The bill would apply retroactively to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and would be enforced through amendments to the Internal Revenue Code. The stated purpose is to prevent sitting Presidents from profiting financially from their investments during their tenure in office.

This is a symbolic resolution expressing congressional support for designating May 2026 as "Mental Health Awareness Month." The measure does not create any new programs or provide funding, but rather calls attention to the ongoing mental health crisis in America and urges removal of stigma surrounding mental illness. The resolution cites extensive data showing alarming trends, including that 61.5 million American adults currently live with mental illness, over 14 million adults had serious suicidal thoughts in the past year, and suicide rates among teenagers and certain occupational groups like construction workers have significantly increased. The resolution also highlights disparities in mental health care access for LGBTQ youth, communities of color, veterans, and rural populations. By supporting this designation, the House declares mental health a national priority and encourages expansion of mental health funding and services across the country.

This bill would exempt low-alcohol kombucha from federal excise taxes and alcohol beverage regulations. Specifically, kombucha products containing no more than 1.25 percent alcohol by volume would be freed from both wine and beer taxes under the Internal Revenue Code, as well as the regulatory requirements that typically apply to alcoholic beverages. The legislation defines qualifying kombucha as beverages fermented by bacteria and yeast cultures, made from fermentable sugars and plant materials like tea or coffee, and marketed as kombucha. The exemption would take effect for calendar quarters beginning after the bill becomes law. The measure was introduced by Representatives Salinas and Smith of Nebraska and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee in April 2026.

This bill amends the National Quantum Initiative Act to establish a new grant program that funds upgrades to quantum research facilities and improves access to quantum equipment and instrumentation. The National Science Foundation will award grants to colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations to purchase and upgrade quantum research resources, train professional staff, and share equipment across institutions, including at community and technical colleges. The grants aim to accelerate quantum technology development, address implementation challenges, and support the quantum supply chain by ensuring researchers have access to necessary materials and devices. The legislation affects academic institutions, nonprofit research organizations, and students pursuing quantum science and engineering, but does not specify funding amounts or implementation timelines in the text provided.

This bill allows rural health care facilities—including hospitals, clinics, behavioral health facilities, and nursing homes—to access federal agricultural credit programs to refinance existing debt, upgrade technology and equipment (especially telehealth capabilities), and cover operating expenses. The bill targets struggling rural health facilities in areas with high poverty rates, low population density, or significant financial distress, with the goal of preserving access to health services in rural communities. Facilities must meet standard financial requirements and demonstrate that the assistance would meaningfully improve their financial situation. The legislation also gives the Secretary of Agriculture authority to waive certain eligibility requirements for facilities that are insolvent or located in persistently poor or socially vulnerable areas. The bill becomes effective six months after enactment, allowing time for implementation of the new assistance program.

Soil Conservation And Regeneration Education Act of 2026 or the Soil CARE Act of 2026This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a training program for soil health management in Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs.Under the bill, soil health management means land management methods used to increase and balance soil health, such as microbial biomass and macrofauna, for the purpose of improving biological functions, including forming and stabilizing soil structure, cycling nutrients, controlling pests and disease, and degrading or detoxifying contaminants.The training program must (1) provide education, resources, and technical support to NRCS personnel and third-party providers on the rapidly evolving methodologies, science, and practices for improving soil health; and (2) assist NRCS personnel and third-party providers in supporting agricultural producers in understanding and implementing soil health management systems that regenerate farmland.The training program must be available twice every two years in each NRCS region and include both an online curriculum and in-person training workshops.The training program must be developed and delivered through cooperative agreements with entities with soil health management systems expertise and experience working with and training producers.The bill includes minimum curriculum requirements for the training program, including specific units on soil health and diversified production systems.USDA must review and update the training program curriculum and materials every two years.

H.R. 7297 would allow people to sue the federal government for damages if their constitutional rights are violated by officers or agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The bill specifically addresses claims involving violations of due process, racial profiling, unlawful searches and seizures, and infringements on privacy and free speech rights. Under this legislation, victims could recover monetary damages without needing to prove that the violation resulted from an official departmental policy, and plaintiffs would be allowed to seek punitive damages in addition to other remedies. The bill would fund these settlements using appropriations designated under a specific budget law (Public Law 119-21) and, if those funds are depleted, other available government funds. This legislation would essentially make it easier for individuals to hold ICE and CBP accountable in court for constitutional violations.

This bill establishes a federal grant program to expand mental health and substance use treatment services delivered through telehealth to underserved rural populations and workers in farming, fishing, and forestry industries. Grant recipients—public or nonprofit telemental health providers—would use funding to deliver services to patients in their homes, develop quality metrics comparing telehealth to traditional in-person care, and improve infrastructure like broadband access and patient devices needed to support remote mental health services. The bill allocates up to $10 million annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2029 for the program and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress every three years on the effectiveness and quality of home-based telemental health services. By targeting rural health professional shortage areas and occupational groups with historically limited access to mental health care, the bill aims to address mental health disparities in communities where providers and services are scarce.

Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2025This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a student loan repayment program for mental health professionals who work in designated workforce-shortage areas.

H.R. 6593 establishes a new Domestic Organic Investment Program to strengthen America's organic farming and food production industry by providing grants to eligible entities—including organic producers, handlers, processors, and tribal governments—to expand domestic supply chain capacity. The program funds projects such as building storage and processing facilities, purchasing equipment, improving food safety systems, and developing markets for domestic organic products to reduce reliance on imported organics. Grants cap at $2 million for major infrastructure projects and $100,000 for equipment-only purchases, with recipients required to match federal funds (50% for large projects, 25% for equipment). The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and includes flexibilities like simplified application processes for smaller projects and potential waivers for beginning farmers, ranchers, and veterans.

The Housing to Homes Act of 2025 expands federal homeless assistance programs by allowing organizations to use Continuum of Care funding to provide household furnishings—including delivery, installation, and assembly—to homeless individuals and families, as well as those who recently became housed. The bill defines "furniture banks" as nonprofits and charities that distribute household items at little or no cost, and makes any furnishings provided the permanent property of recipients. The Department of Housing and Urban Development must report within three years on how furniture assistance affects homelessness and "furniture poverty" (the inability to afford essential household items), with annual follow-up reports thereafter. The legislation is temporary and automatically repeals five years after enactment, making it a pilot program to test whether addressing basic housing needs like furniture can help prevent people from returning to homelessness.

The Social Security Data Transparency Act requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to publish detailed performance statistics on its public website within 90 days of enactment and then monthly thereafter. The bill mandates disclosure of information about service quality across multiple areas, including first-contact resolution rates, customer satisfaction by service channel, and comprehensive data on the SSA's 800-number phone line (such as average wait times, call volume, and percentage of callers reaching representatives). Additionally, the SSA must report specific metrics for retirement and survivors benefits claims, disability insurance claims, appeals processes, and hearings, including approval rates, processing times, and online filing percentages. The bill also requires the agency to maintain a live tracker on its website showing real-time information about 800-number call and callback wait times and pending callers, and to monthly report the number of system outages. The legislation contains no specific funding authorization and focuses on transparency and public accountability of SSA operations.

This bill would give federal employees at least 40 hours of paid leave when their spouse is stationed elsewhere due to military or Foreign Service reassignment. The leave applies to spouses of uniformed service members and Foreign Service personnel who receive permanent change-of-station orders, and federal employees can use proportionally fewer hours if they work part-time. The paid leave is separate from other leave benefits, can be used intermittently over one month following the move, and applies each time a relocation occurs without accumulating for future use. Employees must provide documentation of their spouse's orders when requesting the leave, and they can use it only for moving-related activities during times they would normally be working. This legislation would affect federal employees government-wide, including those at the Postal Service, Veterans Affairs, and other agencies.

Latino Youth Mental Health Empowerment ActThis bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to conduct outreach and studies relating to mental health in the Hispanic and Latino community. SAMHSA must develop and implement an education and outreach campaign to promote mental health and reduce stigma associated with mental health within the Hispanic and Latino youth population. SAMHSA must also conduct studies on mental health among Hispanic and Latino youth and strategies for increasing the mental health professional workforce within the Hispanic and Latino community, and publish reports on the findings of the studies.

The Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act establishes two new grant programs administered by the Department of Agriculture to support economic development in rural communities. The first program provides multiyear grants (2-5 years) to partnerships of local governments, nonprofits, businesses, tribes, and universities to coordinate federal and private investments in rural areas, with eligible uses including planning, workforce development, disaster recovery, and capital projects. The second program funds technical assistance grants to nonprofit and educational organizations that help rural communities access federal funding, develop projects, and build capacity. Both programs prioritize economically distressed rural areas and tribal communities, with grants requiring 25-30 percent non-federal matching funds (though the secretary can waive this for high-poverty areas and tribes). The bill also restructures and expands the existing Rural Partners Network to coordinate federal economic development programs more efficiently. The legislation authorizes whatever funding Congress appropriates, with the secretary retaining up to 2 percent of funds for program administration.

National Guard Proper Use ActThis bill prohibits, in accordance with the Posse Comitatus Act, members of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard from being ordered to enforce immigration laws. Generally, the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the military for civil law enforcement purposes.

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to fund comprehensive mental health services in schools, helping students cope with trauma, grief, suicide risk, and violence. The bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants of up to $2 million each to partnerships between school districts and community mental health providers, with funding distributed equitably across regions and between urban and rural areas. Eligible programs must offer culturally appropriate, trauma-informed services and include staff training, family engagement, and positive behavioral supports. Recipients must comply with privacy laws and submit annual reports measuring program effectiveness; the bill authorizes $300 million in funding for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, with grants lasting five years and renewable thereafter.

The Mental Health for Latinos Act of 2025 directs the federal government to develop and implement a comprehensive outreach and education strategy specifically designed to promote mental health and reduce stigma around mental illness and substance abuse in Hispanic and Latino communities. The strategy must be culturally and linguistically tailored to meet the needs of diverse Hispanic and Latino populations, including different age groups, genders, and sexual orientations, and should highlight evidence-based treatments that are appropriate for these communities. The bill requires meaningful involvement from community members and mental health organizations serving Latino populations in developing the materials and approach. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must report to Congress annually starting one year after enactment on whether the strategy is actually improving mental health outcomes in these communities. The legislation authorizes $1 million in funding for fiscal year 2026 to carry out these activities.