Andy Biggs

H.R. 10420, the Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act, authorizes $19 billion in federal spending to address water security challenges in the Colorado River Basin through multiple programs: $5 billion for a water augmentation program, $1 billion to restore the Yuma Desalting Plant, $1 billion for desalination efforts involving Mexico, and $12 billion for broader water infrastructure projects. The bill establishes a dedicated Colorado River Basin Water Augmentation Fund that provides ongoing resources to the Secretary of the Interior without requiring annual reappropriation, allowing funds to remain available indefinitely until spent. To ensure accountability and track progress, the bill requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress documenting all funded projects, amounts spent, water produced, infrastructure improvements, and any additional legislative needs to increase water supplies in the basin. This legislation aims to strengthen water security for Colorado River Basin states through a combination of new water supplies, infrastructure modernization, and international cooperation while maintaining consistent federal funding for these long-term water management efforts.

The No GRIFT Act of 2026 would prohibit nonprofit organizations from receiving Department of Justice grants if they meet two conditions: they derive more than 50 percent of their revenue from DOJ grants and they pay any officer or employee a salary exceeding what the Attorney General is authorized to earn. The bill targets nonprofits that are tax-exempt under federal law and would require organizations applying for DOJ grants to certify they do not meet these disqualifying criteria. The legislation contains no specified funding amounts or implementation timeline beyond requiring compliance in the fiscal year following passage. This bill would primarily affect nonprofit organizations that are heavily dependent on federal grants while paying executive-level compensation above the Attorney General's salary threshold.

This bill would require the Treasury Department to share Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) information with the Department of Homeland Security upon request for immigration enforcement purposes. ITINs are issued to individuals who need tax identification numbers but may not be eligible for Social Security numbers, and are used by people to file taxes and obtain loans. The legislation would allow Treasury to disclose names, addresses, filing status, dependent information, and other identifying details to immigration authorities. The bill's sponsors argue that immigrants using ITINs to secure housing loans have contributed to rising home prices and reduced housing availability for American citizens. The measure would take effect immediately upon enactment, with no specific funding or timeline limitations specified in the legislation.

This bill improves how the Department of Defense shares excess military equipment with state and local law enforcement agencies. It requires the Defense Department to establish standardized procedures for coordinating with states about which equipment transfers would be most useful, prioritizing needs related to drug trafficking, terrorism, disasters, and border security. The bill also mandates that the Defense Department create annual training standards for state coordinators to ensure they properly manage and account for the equipment they receive. Additionally, the Defense Logistics Agency must review the program starting one year after the bill becomes law and every two years thereafter, with the Defense Secretary submitting public reports to Congress detailing compliance, effectiveness, and recommendations for improvements. The bill affects state law enforcement agencies and federal defense officials involved in managing military equipment transfers.

Taxpayer Resources Used in Emergencies Accountability Act or the TRUE Accountability ActThis bill requires agencies to develop and implement plans for preventing fraud and improper payments relating to federal emergency spending (e.g., providing funding relating to disasters or pandemics).The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must issue, and review every three years, guidance to agencies for developing plans with appropriate internal controls. The guidance must incorporate the current Government Accountability Office frameworks for managing fraud risk in federal programs and managing improper payments in federal emergency assistance.Within one year after the bill’s enactment, agencies must submit to OMB plans required by the guidance. Each plan must include procedures to (1) evaluate the risk of financial loss to the federal government caused by improper payments and fraud relating to the agency’s federal emergency spending; (2) develop risk reduction strategies that are, to the extent possible, implemented prior to expenditure; and (3) adopt payment monitoring to identify and reduce improper and fraudulent payments (e.g., anomaly detection). Agencies must revise and resubmit plans, as necessary, at least every three years.OMB must annually submit the plans to Congress along with information relating to helping agencies implement the plans and legislative recommendations for emergency appropriations.

Monitor Accountability ActThis bill requires the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish conditions on the appointment of monitors to oversee state and local governmental entities. A monitor is an independent official appointed to oversee corrective reforms as part of a civil settlement agreement or consent decree, such as to remedy a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing.Among the conditions, this bill requires notice and an opportunity for public comment prior to the appointment of a monitor, limits an individual to one monitor appointment at a time, sets a five-year term limit for monitors, and requires a public accounting of the fees charged and services provided by the monitor. It also caps fees and explicitly authorizes the use of pro bono services.In 2021, the Department of Justice began implementing a set of principles and specific recommendations regarding the use of monitors in civil settlement agreements and consent decrees involving state and local governmental entities, including recommendations relating to term limits, capping fees, and public accountability.

The SOUL Act of 2026 would establish new federal ownership rights for U.S. citizens over their personal identity characteristics, including name, image, voice, likeness, biometric data, and AI-generated digital replicas. Citizens would automatically own these rights for their lifetime plus 50 years after death without needing to register or prove commercial use. The bill would prohibit unauthorized creation of digital replicas and deepfakes, allowing individuals to sue in federal court for damages ranging from $750 to $30,000 per violation, or up to $150,000 for intentional violations, without needing to prove actual harm. The law includes exceptions for fair use, parody, satire, news reporting, and government activities protected by the First Amendment. The legislation would take effect 90 days after enactment and would override any existing state laws covering similar protections to ensure uniform national standards.

H.R. 7816, the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act of 2026, comprehensively restricts federal government surveillance of Americans by requiring court orders for most searches of intelligence databases and access to commercial data broker information. The bill strengthens oversight by mandating transparency requirements for surveillance directives, expanding protections for court-appointed advocates in Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court proceedings, and banning federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies from purchasing Americans' personal data from third parties. It also extends warrant requirements to internet service providers, libraries, and educational institutions, and establishes FISA as the exclusive legal authority for collecting communications records and location data from U.S. persons. Additionally, the bill delays certain surveillance powers from expiring in 2026 to April 20, 2028, while requiring the government to declassify surveillance details and provide quarterly reports to Congress on directives issued to service providers. Overall, the legislation balances national security needs with enhanced privacy protections for American citizens through stricter judicial oversight and transparency measures.

The VERIFY CDL Act requires states to use the federal E-Verify employment verification system to confirm that applicants are legally authorized to work in the United States before issuing or renewing a commercial driver's license (CDL). The bill affects anyone applying for a new CDL or renewing an existing one, as well as state motor vehicle departments that administer these licenses. The legislation contains no specific funding allocation or implementation timeline beyond requiring verification at the time of application. This mandate would create a new verification checkpoint for commercial driver licensing, linking employment authorization status to the ability to obtain or maintain a CDL. The bill essentially adds a work-authorization check to the existing CDL application process.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total federal expenditures for a year from exceeding the average annual federal receipts collected in the three prior years, adjusted for changes in the population of U.S. citizens and inflation. Expenditures for payment of debt and receipts derived from borrowing are excluded.Under the amendment, Congress may authorize specific expenditures in excess of the limit with (1) a roll call vote of two-thirds of each chamber, or (2) a roll call vote for any year in which a declaration of war is in effect.The amendment also prohibits any bill to levy a new tax or increase the rate of any tax from becoming law unless it has been approved by a roll call vote of two-thirds of the whole number of each chamber of Congress.The requirements take effect in the fifth year beginning after ratification of the amendment.

Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment Act of 2025 or the CSAFE Act of 2025This bill establishes a new federal criminal offense for compelling a minor to engage in certain acts: animal crushing, self-harm, obscene speech, sexually explicit conduct, or abusive or degrading nonsexual conduct.An offense, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit an offense, is punishable by a fine, prison term, or both. Additionally, in the case of an offense committed by a minor who is at least 13 years of age, the bill allows the minor to be prosecuted as an adult in federal court if certain criteria are met (e.g., possession of a firearm during the offense).

The Putting Patients First Healthcare Freedom Act would significantly restructure the nation's healthcare system by allowing states to opt out of major Affordable Care Act requirements starting January 1, 2026, in exchange for maintaining high-risk insurance pools and redirecting federal subsidies into new "Trump Health Freedom Accounts." The bill expands Health Savings Accounts for all workers (including Medicare beneficiaries), increases contribution limits substantially, creates new "Association Health Plans" that allow employers across different industries to band together to offer coverage with reduced regulations, and establishes "CHOICE Arrangements" that let employers fund employee purchases of individual insurance or Medicare coverage. Additionally, the bill tightens ACA exchange enrollment rules starting in 2027, narrows open enrollment periods to November 1–December 15 annually, adds income verification requirements, allows certain health plans to charge older adults higher premiums, and restricts federal healthcare funding for abortion and gender transition procedures, with exceptions for rape, incest, life-threatening pregnancies, and disorders of sexual development. The bill would be funded through a reinsurance program capped at $6 billion annually (2026–2030) and employer tax credits for the CHOICE arrangement option.

The Veterans' Cremation Certainty Act of 2025 allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay cremation providers directly when a veteran has chosen cremation in advance. Veterans who are eligible for VA burial benefits can now apply ahead of time to elect direct cremation and specify their preferred cremation provider, and upon their death, the VA will pay that provider directly instead of providing traditional burial benefits. The direct cremation payment will not exceed the amount normally authorized for standard burial benefits and will cover transportation of remains, a basic container, delivery of cremated remains, and death certificate completion. The VA must integrate this application process with its existing pre-need eligibility system and has 120 days to write the regulations implementing the program. The new benefit takes effect 180 days after the law is enacted, affecting all veterans who die on or after that date.

The CLEAN VA Act aims to strengthen accountability and fraud prevention within the Department of Veterans Affairs by streamlining employee discipline, enhancing penalties for fraud, and modernizing disability rating processes. The bill accelerates disciplinary actions against VA employees to 15 business days, significantly limits appeals of penalties, and increases criminal penalties for VA employee fraud to up to 15 years imprisonment and $500,000 in fines, with mandatory restitution and pension forfeiture requirements. The legislation also strengthens whistleblower protections by requiring the VA to complete retaliation investigations within 60 days, establishing monetary awards up to $10,000 for disclosures preventing fraud over $100,000, and mandating annual public reporting on settlements. Additionally, the bill requires a comprehensive review of disability rating schedules and directs the VA to implement artificial intelligence and data analytics tools—modeled on Medicare's fraud detection system—to identify suspicious claims, though all automated findings must undergo human review before taking action. The VA must report its findings and recommendations within 180 days, and all VA employees must complete annual ethics and fraud prevention training.

The HSAs For Heroes Act expands Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility and benefits for military veterans and individuals providing caregiving. The bill allows any veteran who served honorably in the military to contribute to an HSA, regardless of whether they have a service-connected disability—broadening eligibility beyond current law. It also permits HSA distributions without penalty during periods when individuals are on leave to provide family care under the Family and Medical Leave Act, making these withdrawals tax-free. Additionally, the bill eliminates the requirement that HSA account holders must be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan and increases the annual contribution limit to $9,000 (or $18,000 for joint returns). The law takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and requires the Treasury Department to report to Congress annually on veteran participation, contribution amounts, and any issues with fraud or benefit duplication, while ensuring the changes do not reduce existing veterans' benefits or create double coverage.

H.R. 5904 creates a limited exception to parole fees for certain non-citizens who are invited to participate in sacred tribal or religious ceremonies, cultural exchanges, or celebrations. Under this bill, the Secretary of Homeland Security can waive standard parole fees and instead charge just $200 if the alien is enrolled in a cultural participant program run by a federally recognized Indian Tribe with trust land near the Southwest border, has a written request from that tribe, and passes a preliminary criminal background check. This exception applies only during a two-year period starting from when the bill is enacted, and it requires the Secretary to determine that the parole will provide a significant public benefit. The bill essentially allows Native American tribes to facilitate temporary visits by tribal members or cultural participants from other countries for important ceremonial and cultural purposes without the higher standard parole fees.

H.Res. 842 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House's support for placing a statue of Charlie Kirk in the Capitol building to honor his legacy. Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012, a conservative organization focused on promoting fiscal responsibility and limited government among students, and the resolution credits him with advancing free speech and civic engagement. According to the resolution, Kirk was killed on September 9, 2025, allegedly because of his political beliefs and advocacy work. The resolution directs the House Fine Arts Board to accept the statue and display it prominently in the House wing of the Capitol no later than January 2, 2027. This is a symbolic measure with no direct funding requirements, as it simply calls for acceptance and display of a statue that would presumably be created and donated by supporters.

The Deportation Disclosure Act would require the Department of Homeland Security to publicly post information about individuals who receive final deportation orders on its website. For each person deported, the government would publish their name, photograph, any aliases they've used, and the last state where they lived. The bill applies to all deportation orders issued after the law takes effect and would affect anyone placed in removal proceedings by immigration authorities. The legislation does not specify any funding amounts or implementation timeline beyond requiring publication to begin after enactment. This bill would make deportation case information that is currently handled through individual case files available as a public database.

This resolution condemns the United Nations and International Maritime Organization for proposing a global tax on shipping emissions, which the bill argues would violate U.S. sovereignty and harm American economic interests. The proposed scheme would require ships to pay into an international fund based on their carbon emissions, creating what the resolution calls an "unprecedented global taxation system" on trade and transportation. The bill claims such a tax would increase costs for consumers, reduce competitiveness for American companies and workers in shipping and manufacturing, and undermine U.S. energy independence. Rather than imposing any funding or timeline, this resolution directs the House to call on the Trump Administration to instruct U.S. representatives at the International Maritime Organization to vote against the emissions tax proposal and suggests considering reciprocal measures like tariffs against nations that enforce it. The resolution asserts that no American vessel should be subject to international taxation without Congressional consent and reaffirms U.S. commitment to free enterprise and protecting American jobs from global regulations.

Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets ActThis bill establishes and increases mandatory minimum sentences of imprisonment for specified crimes in the District of Columbia.First, the bill mandates a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder (currently, the mandatory minimum sentence is 30 years imprisonment and the maximum sentence is life imprisonment without parole). The bill also repeals provisions that prohibit the sentencing of individuals under the age of 18 to life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder.The bill also establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment for second-degree murder,10 years imprisonment for kidnapping,25 years imprisonment for first- degree sexual abuse, and25 years imprisonment for rape. Finally, the bill increases the mandatory minimum sentence forfirst-degree burglary from 5 years to 10 years imprisonment,unarmed carjacking from 7 years to 10 years imprisonment,armed carjacking from 15 years to 20 years imprisonment, andrape with a prior conviction of a crime of violence from 7 years to 30 years imprisonment.

H.R. 5015 would extend the amount of time that a U.S. President can take control of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department during declared emergencies. Currently, the District of Columbia Home Rule Act limits this presidential control to 30 days, but the bill would lengthen that period to 180 days. The change would apply not only to future emergencies but also retroactively to any emergency the President has already declared under this authority. The bill does not establish new funding or specify an implementation timeline beyond the extension itself. This legislation would significantly increase federal executive power over local D.C. policing during crisis situations, shifting authority away from the District's local government to the President.

H.R. 5016 would require that anyone charged with a crime in Washington, D.C. must post a secured bail bond with a solvent surety before being released while awaiting trial. The bill eliminates the current option for judges to release defendants on their own recognizance (a personal promise to appear without posting bail) and removes other release alternatives. This legislation applies to all individuals charged with offenses in D.C., regardless of when their case begins. The bill directly overrides local D.C. laws and regulations by preventing the city council and mayor from enacting or enforcing any policies that permit release without a secured bail bond. There is no specific funding authorization mentioned, as the bill primarily restricts the discretion of D.C. judges and prohibits local bail reform policies.