María Salazar

This bill reauthorizes the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1998, which is a federal program that funds conservation efforts in tropical forests and coral reef ecosystems around the world. The legislation extends funding for the program through 2032 by allocating $20 million annually for each fiscal year from 2028 through 2032. The bill affects conservation organizations, international partners, and tropical ecosystems that depend on U.S. funding support. No new programs or structural changes are made; this is simply a straightforward renewal of existing authorization with dedicated funding levels for the next five years.

This resolution grants permission for Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center to be used on June 24, 2026, for a ceremony dedicating the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The measure primarily affects congressional operations and the Architect of the Capitol, who is responsible for overseeing the physical setup and logistics for the event. This is a procedural resolution rather than one creating new laws or spending programs, and it does not involve public funding beyond routine facility preparation costs. The event affects members of Congress, Capitol staff, and visitors attending the dedication ceremony. The resolution has a specific, one-time timeline tied to the June 24, 2026 event date.

The PANA Act of 2026 establishes a Venezuela Restoration Fund that will collect money and assets seized from individuals and entities connected to the Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro regimes in Venezuela. The fund will be controlled by the Secretary of State and used to support democratic governance, human rights documentation, independent media, and anti-corruption efforts in Venezuela without requiring annual congressional appropriations. The legislation affects anyone whose assets have been or will be forfeited to the U.S. government for connections to Venezuelan leadership, and it directs the Treasury and State Departments to report annually to Congress on the fund's deposits and spending. No specific funding amount is allocated upfront since the fund will be filled by seized assets, and the measure becomes effective upon enactment.

Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act of 2026 or the NO FAKES Act of 2026This bill creates a federal intellectual property right to protect individuals from unauthorized digital replicas (e.g., digital content made using generative artificial intelligence) of their voice and visual likeness.Specifically, the bill gives each individual or right holder the right to authorize the use of the individual's voice or visual likeness (1) in a digital replica, or (2) for a product or service requiring authorization to avoid liability under the bill. This property right is not assignable during the individual’s lifetime but is licensable and does not expire upon the death of the individual.Generally, any individual or entity that engages in specified prohibited activities (e.g., distributing a digital replica without authorization) shall be liable in a civil action and subject to related penalties. The bill exempts specified uses from liability, such as categories of conduct likely to involve protected speech under the First Amendment (e.g., news reporting, sports broadcasts, and satire).The bill establishes (1) a notice-and-takedown process for unauthorized digital replicas; and (2) a counter-notification process, which allows an individual to contest the removal of a digital replica. The bill establishes penalties related to false or deceptive notice or counter-notice.The bill expressly preempts state laws related to digital replicas except for causes of action under state statutes or common law in existence as of January 2, 2025.

This bill amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to strengthen the nation's medical supply chains by giving the federal government expanded authority to secure critical pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biological products deemed essential to national defense. The legislation requires the President to develop a comprehensive strategy within 180 days that identifies vulnerabilities in medical supply chains, recommends ways to diversify sources away from exclusive foreign control, and outlines a timeline for implementation, with annual progress reports due through 2029. The bill also allows the President to make direct payments to U.S. companies that produce critical medical components or materials, provided Congress is notified at least 30 days in advance that such payments are necessary for national defense. The regulations defining "supply chain" and "supply chain activities" must be established within 90 days of enactment. Overall, the legislation aims to reduce American dependence on foreign sources for vital medicines and medical equipment while maintaining U.S. competitiveness and scientific innovation.

H.R. 6892 authorizes the U.S. Treasury Secretary to purchase up to 25,124 additional shares in the Inter-American Investment Corporation, a multilateral development finance institution. This would increase U.S. investment in an organization that provides financing and support for private sector development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The bill does not specify a funding amount; instead, any purchase would require separate congressional appropriations before the Treasury can proceed. The legislation primarily affects U.S. government participation in international development finance, with no new funding automatically triggered by passage. This type of authorization is standard for allowing U.S. participation in multilateral financial institutions and requires Congress to approve actual spending through the annual appropriations process.

The Shelter Act creates two new tax credits to encourage homeowners and businesses to make disaster-resistant improvements to their properties. For individuals, the bill offers a nonrefundable personal credit equal to 25 percent of qualified disaster mitigation expenses, capped at $3,750 annually per person (or $7,500 for joint filers) and $15,000 total per dwelling unit across all years. For businesses, a separate 25 percent credit is available on similar expenses, limited to $5,000 annually. Both credits phase out for higher-income taxpayers—individuals with income above $100,000 and businesses with average gross receipts above $5 million. Qualified expenses include a broad range of improvements such as roof reinforcements, flood barriers, fire-resistant materials, storm shelters, backup generators, and vegetation removal around properties. To be eligible, homeowners and businesses must be located in areas that received federal disaster assistance or declarations within the past five years or are designated resilience zones. The credits apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and unused credits can be carried forward up to five years.

H.R. 6540, the Anti-Communism Week Act, requests that the President designate one week each year as "Anti-Communism Week" and issue a proclamation encouraging Americans to observe it with appropriate ceremonies and activities. The bill does not affect any specific groups or require funding; it is a symbolic measure that adds a new section to federal law regarding national observances. The legislation expresses congressional opposition to communism and references historical grievances against communist regimes, framing the week as a remembrance of lives lost under communist governments. No implementation timeline or funding is specified since the bill only requests a presidential proclamation and public observance. The measure was introduced in December 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

This concurrent resolution denounces socialism and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States.

The Flight Refund Fairness Act requires airlines to transfer refund money to ticket agents (travel agencies and booking services) on the same timeline that airlines must provide refunds to passengers for cancelled, significantly delayed, or substantially changed flights. Currently, airlines must refund passengers "promptly," but the bill clarifies that airlines must transfer funds to ticket agents by the specific deadline set in existing law. Once ticket agents receive these funds from airlines, they have up to 7 days to pass the refund along to customers. This legislation affects all airlines operating in the United States and the travel agencies that sell their tickets, aiming to speed up refund processing by eliminating delays when ticket agents wait to receive funds from carriers. The bill does not specify new funding requirements and was introduced in September 2025 with bipartisan support.

H.R. 5246 reorganizes and clarifies the leadership structure of the State Department's political affairs division, which handles diplomacy and foreign policy implementation. The bill establishes or reaffirms the positions of Under Secretary for Political Affairs and several regional Assistant Secretaries covering East Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Central Asia. It creates two new ambassador positions—one for the Arctic region and one for the Indian Ocean region (to be appointed by April 1, 2026)—and establishes a special unit to counter Chinese government influence operations, which will operate for two years after the bill's enactment. The legislation requires the State Department to notify Congress at least 15 days before changing which countries fall under any regional bureau's jurisdiction and directs appropriate funding to these offices for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, though no specific dollar amounts are specified in the text.

Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act of 2025 or as the DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025This bill addresses various immigration-related issues, including by requiring higher pay for U.S. Border Patrol agents, deferring the removal of eligible individuals without lawful immigration status, and implementing a mandatory electronic employment eligibility verification system patterned off the E-Verify system. The bill establishes several programs for individuals present in the United States without lawful status, including a path to lawful permanent resident status for qualified individuals, including those with deferred action for childhood arrival (DACA) status. In addition, the bill establishes the Dignity Program, which defers the removal of eligible individuals without lawful immigration status on a seven-year, renewable basis, provided individuals meet employment or education requirements, pay restitution, and satisfy other conditions. The bill also makes various changes to penalties and processes applicable to individuals entering the United States, for example byincreasing the maximum criminal penalty for individuals previously removed or denied admission to the United States who attempt to reenter,authorizing the use of DNA testing to verify family relationships of immigrants, andestablishing campuses at the border to process asylees.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must create, and U.S. employers must use, a nationwide electronic employment eligibility verification system.Furthermore, DHS may grant relatives of U.S. citizens relief from removal.The bill also increases the per country percentage ceiling for family-sponsored and employment-based visas.

The Protect Honduran Democracy Act directs the U.S. Secretary of State to develop a strategy supporting free and fair elections in Honduras scheduled for November 30, 2025. The bill responds to concerns about irregularities in Honduras's March 2025 primary election, violence against candidates, and human rights violations occurring under an ongoing state of emergency. The legislation authorizes the President to impose visa bans and exclusions on any Honduran government officials or other individuals who prevent candidates from running, provide material support to those committing electoral abuses, or intimidate election observers and officials. The bill also authorizes up to $1 million per year for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support election monitoring by international organizations like the Organization of American States and the European Union, as well as nongovernmental groups, and encourages the State Department to help Honduran citizens living in the United States participate in the elections.

Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act of 2025 or the NO FAKES Act of 2025This bill creates a federal intellectual property right to protect individuals from unauthorized digital replicas (e.g., digital content made using generative artificial intelligence) of their voice and visual likeness.Specifically, the bill gives each individual or right holder the right to authorize the use of the individual's voice or visual likeness (1) in a digital replica, or (2) for a product or service requiring authorization to avoid liability under the bill. This property right is not assignable during the individual’s lifetime but is licensable and does not expire upon the death of the individual.Generally, any individual or entity that engages in specified prohibited activities (e.g., distributing a digital replica without authorization) shall be liable in a civil action and subject to related penalties. The bill exempts specified uses from liability, such as categories of conduct likely to involve protected speech under the First Amendment (e.g., news reporting, sports broadcasts, and satire).The bill establishes a notice-and-takedown process for unauthorized digital replicas. The bill establishes penalties related to false or deceptive notice.The bill expressly preempts state laws related to digital replicas except for causes of action under state statutes or common law in existence as of January 2, 2025.

John W. Walsh Alpha-1 Home Infusion Act of 2025This bill provides for Medicare coverage of treatment for alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency (a protein deficiency that raises the risk of lung and other diseases). Specifically, the bill provides for coverage of at-home augmentation therapy for beneficiaries with emphysema as a result of severe hereditary AAT deficiency. Treatment must be provided through qualified home infusion therapy suppliers; beneficiaries must be under the care of a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.

Crucial Communism Teaching Act This bill directs the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to develop a civic education curriculum and oral history resources for high school students to promote understanding of certain political ideologies (e.g., communism and totalitarianism) that conflict with principles of U.S. democracy.

Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters ActThis bill extends the customs waters territory of the United States to 24 nautical miles from the baselines of the United States.Under current law, customs waters means waters within four leagues (equivalent to 12 nautical miles) of the coast of the United State. This bill provides statutory authority for two presidential proclamations to extend the customs waters to 24 nautical miles from the baselines of the United States.Specifically, the bill revises the statutory definition of customs waters to include the waters within (1) the territorial sea of the United States to the limits permitted by international law in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 5928, dated December 27, 1988, that extended such limits to 12 nautical miles from the baselines of the United States; and (2) the contiguous zone of the United States to the limits permitted by international law in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 7219, dated September 2, 1999, that extended such limits to 24 nautical miles from the baselines of the United States.

Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes On Websites and Networks Act or the TAKE IT DOWN ActThis bill generally prohibits the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, both authentic and computer-generated, and requires certain online platforms to promptly remove such depictions upon receiving notice of their existence. Specifically, the bill prohibits the online publication of intimate visual depictions ofan adult subject where publication is intended to cause or does cause harm to the subject, and where the depiction was published without the subject’s consent or, in the case of an authentic depiction, was created or obtained under circumstances where the adult had a reasonable expectation of privacy; ora minor subject where publication is intended to abuse or harass the minor or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person. Violators are subject to mandatory restitution and criminal penalties, including prison, a fine, or both. Threats to publish intimate visual depictions of a subject are similarly prohibited under the bill and subject to criminal penalties. Separately, covered platforms must establish a process through which subjects of intimate visual depictions may notify the platform of the existence of, and request removal of, an intimate visual depiction including the subject that was published without the subject’s consent. Covered platforms must remove such depictions within 48 hours of notification. Under the bill, covered platforms are defined as public websites, online services, or applications that primarily provide a forum for user-generated content.

Fighting Oppression until the Reign of Castro Ends or the FORCE ActThis bill prohibits removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism until the President makes the determination that a transition government in Cuba is in power.