Chris Deluzio

This bill prohibits the intimidation of election officials and election workers by making it illegal for anyone to intimidate, threaten, or coerce people who administer federal elections or participate in election-related duties. The legislation adds a new provision to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that specifically targets intimidation involving firearms, creating a legal presumption that displaying or carrying a visible firearm, imitation firearm, or antique firearm while interacting with election workers or voters constitutes voter intimidation or intimidation of election officials unless the person can prove otherwise. The bill provides an exception for state and local law enforcement officers acting in their official duties, though National Guard members remain subject to the law regardless of their duty status. Courts would have authority to grant relief in cases of violations, including imposing temporary limits on defendants carrying firearms. The bill does not specify funding amounts or implementation timelines.

This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to strengthen cybersecurity protections for water authorities across the country by increasing funding for the Drinking Water Infrastructure Risk and Resilience Program. The legislation doubles funding for technical assistance to water systems from $5 million to $10 million annually and doubles grants available to small water systems from $10 million to $20 million per year. The bill also increases the program's overall authorization for appropriations from $25 million to $50 million for fiscal years 2028 and 2029. These changes affect public water utilities and small water systems that rely on federal support to upgrade their infrastructure and defend against cybersecurity threats. The expanded funding aims to help water authorities improve their resilience and protect critical water supply systems from potential cyberattacks.

The Oversight Access Act prohibits the Secretary of Homeland Security from blocking Members of Congress or their staff from visiting immigration detention facilities for oversight purposes. The bill prevents the department from requiring advance notice before such visits and bars making temporary changes to facilities that could hide conditions from congressional visitors. The legislation is aimed at ensuring Congress can directly inspect how the Department of Homeland Security operates detention centers that house immigrants. The bill includes a requirement that the Homeland Security Inspector General report to Congress within 30 days if the Secretary violates these access provisions. No specific funding amounts or implementation timelines are included in the legislation.

# Summary The Build America Fund Act establishes a Manufacturing Sovereign Wealth Fund to invest in domestic manufacturing and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign supply chains. The fund will be governed by a 13-member Board of Governors appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, with representatives from labor, workforce development, industry, regional development, academia, finance, and the military. The fund can make equity investments and loans to companies in strategic manufacturing, technology, supply chain security, and workforce development sectors, but only if companies agree to keep operations in the United States for 50 years, maintain domestic control, and meet labor standards including wage protections and neutrality toward union organizing. The bill provides $100 billion in initial appropriations, declining to $5 billion annually by year nine, with additional funding from tariff duties, a 1 percent fee on mergers and acquisitions over $1 billion, stock trading and buyback fees, and an increase in the corporate tax rate from 21 to 22 percent. After 10 years, any remaining fund assets will transfer to the Commerce Department for manufacturing assistance programs. The legislation also establishes an Industrial Sovereignty Council within the White House to coordinate manufacturing policy across agencies and directs the Fund to make dividend payments to eligible individual taxpayers starting in 2033, amounting to 25 percent of the fund's average annual proceeds.

The Pathway to Trades Act would amend federal higher education law to expand opportunities for students to pursue vocational trades at colleges and universities. The legislation requires institutions that receive federal Perkins Loans to designate a faculty member as a point of contact for students interested in trades programs and to develop courses related to trades. The bill affects colleges and universities that participate in the federal Perkins Loan program, as well as students seeking alternatives to traditional four-year degree paths. No specific funding amounts or implementation timelines are specified in the legislation. The bill aims to make trade education more accessible and visible within higher education institutions by establishing dedicated support and curriculum development.

The Stop Spying Bosses Act restricts employer surveillance and monitoring of workers by requiring employers with 11 or more employees to disclose what data they collect about workers, including personal information, work activity monitoring, biometric data, and information used in automated hiring or scheduling decisions. The bill gives employees the right to access their collected data within 30 days, request corrections, and review what information employers used to make work-related decisions like hiring, firing, or pay adjustments at least 7 days before those decisions take effect. Enforcement is handled by the Department of Labor's new Worker Protection and Technology Division, state attorneys general, and private lawsuits brought by workers, with penalties ranging from $500 to $100,000 for violations plus actual damages and attorney's fees. The law protects employees who report violations from employer retaliation and prohibits companies from forcing workers into mandatory arbitration or class action waivers to resolve disputes under the act.

This bill requires the Pentagon's Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to develop and submit a plan for using advanced manufacturing techniques to increase production of critical military supply items within 180 days of the law's enactment. The plan affects defense contractors, military supply chain partners, and the Defense Logistics Agency, which must update its tracking systems to mark items identified as critical readiness shortfalls. Following the plan's submission, a working group composed of members from an existing collaborative forum must implement solutions designed to boost production of these critical items within 24 months. The Defense Logistics Agency must also update its No Bid Solicitation List within 60 days to identify which items have been flagged as critical readiness supplies. The bill is intended to strengthen the defense industrial base by addressing supply chain gaps through innovative manufacturing approaches.

This bill prohibits Amtrak from enforcing mandatory arbitration clauses in its contracts with passengers. Specifically, it prevents Amtrak from requiring customers to settle consumer disputes or civil rights violations through private arbitration instead of taking their cases to court. The law applies to all disputes involving Amtrak passengers, including personal injury claims and alleged discrimination based on race, sex, age, disability, religion, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The bill also prevents Amtrak from blocking customers from participating in class action lawsuits or other joint legal actions. The legislation takes effect immediately upon passage and applies to any disputes arising after the bill becomes law.

The Let Kids Play Act prohibits private equity firms classified as "vulture investors" from investing in youth sports entities and bans all private equity-backed companies from engaging in exploitative practices such as consolidating control over multiple youth sports providers, imposing hidden fees, requiring exclusive multi-year commitments, restricting athlete competition, or claiming ownership of athlete data and performance metrics. Existing vulture investors must divest their ownership stakes within two years, return all acquired assets and intellectual property, and remove their personnel, with monthly revenue escrow payments and financial penalties if they fail to meet divestiture deadlines. The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice have authority to impose additional remedies including forcing companies to disgorge profits, forgive debts, refund excessive fees, and restore scholarship programs, and can block or oversee sales to protect competition and financial stability. The bill includes anti-evasion provisions that prevent companies from circumventing its requirements through creative restructuring or transaction arrangements by allowing regulators to look past the legal form of a deal to its actual substance.

The SMART Kids Act directs the Surgeon General to develop evidence-based recommendations for how much time children should spend using screens, with the goal of promoting healthy development. The recommendations must be tailored to six different age groups ranging from infants through 18-year-olds, and may also address whether certain types of screen content are less harmful than others. The Surgeon General must work with an independent entity that has no financial conflicts of interest to develop these guidelines. Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Surgeon General must publish the recommendations on the Health and Human Services website and submit them to Congress. The bill does not establish specific funding levels or create any regulations, instead simply requiring the federal government to provide parents and the public with guidance on healthy screen time practices for children.

The Railroad Retirement Fairness Act would modify how benefits are calculated for retired railroad workers by removing certain deductions that are currently applied to their annuities under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974. Specifically, the bill eliminates subdivision (6) of Section 2(f), which authorizes specific deductions from railroad retirement annuities. The legislation affects current and future recipients of railroad retirement benefits, potentially increasing their monthly payments. The bill does not specify any funding amounts or implementation timeline, focusing instead on a straightforward change to the existing deduction formula. By removing these deductions, the bill aims to provide fairer benefit payouts to railroad workers and their families.

H.R. 8135 declares a national cost-of-living emergency and establishes a coordinated federal response to address rising costs for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, and wages affecting households earning below the median income. The bill creates six Special Advisors to the President who will lead weekly task forces and hold regional listening sessions, while also establishing a Joint Task Force between the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to investigate price gouging and anticompetitive practices. The legislation authorizes the President to use Defense Production Act funds to increase domestic production of household necessities and provides loans, purchase commitments, and subsidies to small and medium businesses to reduce retail prices within 180 days. A bipartisan 12-member commission with equal Republican and Democratic representation must develop policy recommendations and draft legislation within 180 days, holding at least six public hearings and releasing all findings within 24 hours of approval. The entire emergency framework operates under a 180-day timeline, after which the coordinated response measures expire unless extended.

H.R. 8003, the Expanding the Fast Track Act of 2026, lowers the cost threshold that determines which infrastructure projects can access expedited federal permitting processes. Currently, only infrastructure projects estimated to cost $200 million or more qualify for these fast-track permitting procedures; this bill reduces that threshold to $50 million, making many smaller projects eligible for streamlined approval. The bill affects infrastructure developers, contractors, and states seeking to build or upgrade roads, bridges, utilities, and other facilities more quickly. The legislation takes effect on January 1, 2027, or upon enactment, whichever is later. By expanding eligibility to lower-cost projects, Congress aims to reduce permitting delays and costs for a broader range of infrastructure development across the country.

The Railway Safety Act of 2026 strengthens railroad safety and emergency preparedness across multiple areas. The bill requires freight railroads to evaluate and potentially regulate increasingly longer trains, report accident data by train length and weight, and install comprehensive defect detection systems to catch equipment problems before they cause accidents, with the Secretary of Transportation issuing implementing regulations on a specific timeline. To address blocked crossings that delay emergency vehicles and school buses, the legislation directs a National Academy of Sciences study of the most problematic crossings and requires railroads to establish hotlines for reporting blockages within 180 days. The bill also enhances hazmat emergency response by increasing federal grant funding from 80% to 90% for states and 100% for tribes, establishing a dedicated emergency assistance program that provides up to $10 million in immediate reimbursement for response costs, and recommending virtual training options for hazmat handlers alongside traditional courses. Additionally, the law directs reviews of emergency brake signal technology and the Federal Railroad Administration's safety culture, ensuring both are aligned with modern safety standards and best practices.

This bill strengthens environmental protections for coal mining operations by increasing the financial guarantees that mining companies must post before receiving permits. The legislation requires mining companies to set aside bonds sufficient to cover the full cost of reclamation if the government has to complete the work after a mine closes, with a minimum bond of $52,593 annually adjusted for inflation. Key changes include requiring regulators to account for inflation, unexpected mine closures, and potential water pollution when calculating bond amounts, and mandating that bonds be recalculated whenever permits are renewed, transferred to new operators, or significantly revised. The bill also holds current and former company owners liable for all reclamation costs if bonds prove insufficient. Within 90 days of enactment, the Interior Department must issue regulations establishing national guidelines for minimum bond amounts based on data from actual reclamation projects completed after bond forfeitures.

The Full Cost of War Act requires that any future military authorization or declaration of war must include automatic funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover veteran medical care, disability compensation, and other earned benefits resulting from that military action. The bill aims to ensure that the full costs of war—including long-term care for veterans—are explicitly budgeted upfront rather than addressed separately later. The funding amounts would be jointly determined by the Defense and Veterans Affairs secretaries based on anticipated veteran needs. This legislation applies to all military authorizations and declarations of war enacted after the bill becomes law, affecting both Congress and executive branch departments responsible for military and veteran affairs. By linking military authorizations directly to veteran care funding, the bill seeks to make the true fiscal cost of military action more transparent and comprehensive.

The Under Pressure Act requires the Federal Railroad Administration to study and report to Congress on failures of pressure relief devices on rail tank cars, particularly during derailment events. Within 18 months of the bill becoming law, the FRA must provide detailed information about how often these devices fail, what causes the failures, and specific data from each incident including the number of tank cars involved, whether fires occurred, fire temperature and duration, and technical assessments of the failed devices themselves. The report must also include recommendations for preventing future failures and review the status of any related safety recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board. In preparing this report, the FRA must consult with pipeline safety officials, railroad employers and employees, and tank car manufacturers and owners. This legislation aims to improve safety for hazardous materials transported by rail by identifying vulnerabilities in the devices designed to prevent dangerous pressure buildup during accidents.

This bill requires the Department of Labor and Department of Veterans Affairs to create a notice for each state that details benefits available to veterans, including information about the Veterans Crisis Line and how to apply for federal and state benefits. All employers with 50 or more employees must display this notice in a visible location where they post information for workers and job applicants. The Labor Department must develop and publish the notices within 270 days of the bill becoming law, with states given 45 days to contribute information about their own veteran benefits programs, and the notices must be reviewed and updated at least twice yearly. The bill also requires the Labor and Veterans Affairs departments to conduct a public information campaign during the first 180 days to inform employers about the notice requirement. The display requirement takes effect one year after the bill is enacted, giving employers time to prepare, though other provisions take effect immediately upon enactment.

The Whole Health for Veterans Act limits copayments that the Department of Veterans Affairs can charge veterans for wellness services focused on preventive health and well-being. Under the bill, veterans in the highest-priority enrollment groups (1-5) are completely exempt from copayments for these services, while other veterans can be charged a monthly copayment capped at $30. The legislation defines Whole Health services to include wellness coaching, education programs, and complementary practices like yoga, meditation, and Tai Chi that promote overall health independent of treating specific medical conditions. This bill reflects Congress's intent to expand affordable access to the VA's Whole Health program, which encourages veterans to take a proactive role in managing their health and wellness. The measure was introduced in December 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R. 5730 reauthorizes a federal grant program that helps municipalities address sewer overflows and manage stormwater runoff more effectively. The bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide $350 million annually in federal funding for these projects, covering fiscal years 2026 through 2031. Cities and towns use these grants to upgrade aging sewage systems, reduce pollution entering waterways during heavy rains, and implement water reuse programs. This legislation ensures continued federal financial support for local water infrastructure improvements that protect public health and environmental quality. The bill was introduced in October 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

The Rail Passenger Fairness Act would allow Amtrak to sue freight railroads directly in federal court to enforce its legal right to priority access on the nation's rail lines. Under federal law since 1973, passenger trains are supposed to have preference over freight trains, but freight railroads have frequently ignored this requirement, causing significant delays to Amtrak passengers. Currently, only the U.S. Attorney General can enforce this preference right—and has done so only once in Amtrak's entire history. The bill responds to data showing that when enforcement mechanisms existed in the past, Amtrak's on-time performance improved dramatically (from 50 percent to 85 percent on long-distance routes), saving millions in operating costs, but performance declined sharply after enforcement tools were struck down as unconstitutional in 2014. By giving Amtrak independent enforcement authority, the legislation aims to restore timely passenger rail service and reduce the freight-related delays that currently cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars annually.

H.R. 5391 expands the federal government's support for bulletproof vest purchases by law enforcement agencies through the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. The bill increases the federal share of grant funding from 50 percent to 60 percent, meaning the federal government will cover a larger portion of the cost while states and local agencies cover less. The legislation authorizes $60 million in federal funding annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support this program. This change makes it easier for police departments and other law enforcement agencies to afford protective equipment by reducing the local financial burden. The bill was introduced on a bipartisan basis and is intended to improve officer safety nationwide.

The Defense Industry Pricing Transparency Act requires defense contractors to report significant price increases to the government within 30 days of becoming aware of them. Contractors must report when prices rise 25 percent above their original bid, 25 percent above what the government paid in the prior year, or 50 percent above historical prices from the previous five years. The law applies specifically to non-competitive defense contracts, which are typically awarded through sole-source or limited-competition processes. If contractors fail to comply with reporting requirements, they will be listed in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, a database used to track contractor performance and integrity. The bill aims to increase government visibility into defense spending and prevent cost overruns by making contractors more accountable for price escalations on defense purchases.

This bill directs the Comptroller General (an independent government auditor) to evaluate how mergers and acquisitions in the defense contracting industry have affected competition over the past ten years. The assessment will examine whether previous merger remedies actually worked to protect competition, how well the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and Federal Trade Commission coordinated during merger reviews, and whether the Pentagon has adequate tools to monitor vertical integration and anticompetitive behavior among defense contractors. The report will also assess whether previous recommendations to boost competition have been implemented. The findings will be submitted to Congress's defense committees, helping lawmakers determine if current oversight of major defense industry consolidation is sufficient to maintain a healthy and competitive defense industrial base.

The Best Price for Our Military Act of 2025 closes a legal loophole that allows defense contractors to submit cost and pricing data late without penalty. Currently, contractors can defend themselves against fraud charges by claiming that late-submitted cost data was based on outdated information. This bill eliminates that defense by requiring contractors to submit accurate pricing data before finalizing contracts, or face liability if their data is more than 30 days old. The legislation directly affects defense contractors and subcontractors who work on federal military contracts. By tightening pricing transparency requirements, the bill aims to ensure the Department of Defense pays the lowest appropriate price for military goods and services without giving contractors excuses for submitting incomplete or tardy financial information.