Matt Van Epps

The SHIELD for Victims Act of 2026 directs the Attorney General to develop a standardized, evidence-based tool that law enforcement officers can use to identify domestic violence victims, assess their risk of serious injury or death, and connect them to support resources. The bill requires this tool to be completed within one year and mandates that federal law enforcement officers receive training on how to use it, with refresher training required every three years. The legislation is based on the Lethality Assessment Program, which research has shown reduces the severity and frequency of violence experienced by survivors and is already being used successfully in several states including Maryland, Utah, and Florida. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to submit a report within 180 days outlining how to ensure federal law enforcement officers can connect domestic violence victims to local response resources when using the assessment tool.

This resolution commemorates the 13 U.S. servicemembers killed in the August 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Abbey Gate during the Afghanistan evacuation and expresses criticism of President Biden's withdrawal decision. The resolution names all 13 victims, including one Navy sailor, one Army staff sergeant, and 11 Marines, and details the House's concerns about how the withdrawal was executed, including claims that military and intelligence officials warned against the timeline, that the abandonment of Bagram Air Base compromised security, and that vetting procedures for Afghan evacuees were inadequate. The resolution formally condemns what it characterizes as the Biden administration's mismanagement of the withdrawal and calls for accountability from officials involved. No funding or specific timeline is allocated as this is a commemorative resolution rather than legislation that creates programs or appropriates money. The resolution was introduced in August 2026, five years after the Abbey Gate bombing.

The Declaration of Independence Reaffirmation Act of 2026 is a symbolic measure that formally reaffirms the Declaration of Independence as one of the foundational organic laws of the United States. The bill, introduced in the House and referred to the Judiciary Committee, contains congressional findings that connect the Declaration's principles of natural rights, equality, and popular sovereignty to the founding of the nation and the later adoption of the Constitution. The legislation reaffirms the Declaration as the enduring charter of American independence and includes the full text of the Declaration in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence. There is no funding or timeline requirements associated with this legislation, as it is primarily a restatement of historical principles rather than an active policy measure. The bill affects all Americans by restating the nation's commitment to the founding principles of natural rights and government by consent of the governed.

The Web of Biological Data Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a centralized online platform, called the Web of Biological Data, that allows researchers to access biological datasets from multiple federal sources in one place. This platform is designed to support advanced computational research, particularly artificial intelligence applications, by bringing together federally funded biological data that is currently scattered across different agencies and databases. The bill calls for the Department of Energy to award a grant to a national laboratory to build and operate the system, with an advisory board including representatives from industry, academia, federal laboratories, and agencies overseeing the effort. The legislation sets out a two-phase implementation timeline. Within two years, the Secretary must test an initial version focused on specific types of biological data with user-friendly interfaces and cybersecurity protections. Within five years, the system should expand to serve all U.S. researchers and accommodate various biological data types. The bill authorizes $30 million over three years for research and development, $310 million over three years for the initial phase, and $80 million per year for the subsequent two years. The platform must include data quality metrics, tiered security safeguards, and restrictions preventing data access by adversarial nations, while maintaining all existing privacy protections and informed consent requirements for biological data.

The Critical Infrastructure Airspace Defense Act would authorize private owners and operators of critical infrastructure facilities, such as power plants and electrical substations, to use counter-drone technologies to detect, track, and disable unmanned aircraft systems that pose threats to their operations. Currently, only federal agencies and trained state and local law enforcement have clear authority to use such countermeasures, but this bill closes that gap by allowing certified personnel at critical facilities to take protective action after completing training and certification programs. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish a national certification program within 180 days and coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure activities don't interfere with civilian air traffic. It provides $250 million in grant funding for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to help critical infrastructure owners purchase and install approved counter-drone systems, and it grants liability protection to facility owners and authorized personnel who act in accordance with the law. The authority granted under this bill would expire on September 30, 2031.

The Guard Equal Benefits for Federal Missions Act would allow National Guard members who perform full-time duty supporting federal law enforcement operations to receive the same benefits as those provided to service members during declared national emergencies. This benefit expansion applies to National Guard members authorized by the President or Secretary of Defense to support federal law enforcement agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, when addressing serious crimes, drug trafficking, organized crime, or public safety threats. Eligible service members would qualify for specific federal benefits including military retirement age reductions, transitional assistance programs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits, and other benefits typically reserved for national emergency service. The bill does not establish new funding requirements or timelines, but instead creates a new legal classification for certain existing National Guard service. The legislation was introduced in April 2026 and referred to the House Committees on Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs for consideration.

Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment ActThis bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to provide Congress with an assessment of terrorism threats to the United States posed by foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) present in countries operating or designated as major non-NATO allies.The assessment must include various elements, including (1) an identification of each FTO or SDGT present in each ally, (2) a description of all activities of each such FTO or SDGT within each ally, and (3) a description of efforts by the government of each ally to disrupt or degrade the activities of each such FTO or SDGT. There are currently 19 countries designated as major non-NATO allies (Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand, and Tunisia). Additionally, while Taiwan is not designated as a major non-NATO ally, federal law provides that it be treated as one for certain purposes.

This bill increases the death gratuity — a one-time payment to the families of military members who die on active duty — from $100,000 to $200,000, effective for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026. The legislation also establishes an automatic annual cost-of-living adjustment to the death gratuity beginning in 2027, tied to inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index, which will be rounded to the nearest $100 and published each year by the Department of Defense. The bill directly affects Gold Star Families — families who have lost a military member in service — by ensuring they receive increased financial support at the time of their loss and protection against inflation eroding that benefit's value over time. There is no specific appropriations amount listed in the bill text, as it modifies existing statutory payment obligations rather than creating a new discretionary spending program.