Nonpartisan civic infrastructure
AllCiv·Legis1
·

Maxine Dexter

D
U.S. Representative · Oregon-3 · 119th, 1 year 7 months
Legislation
BillHouseIn Committee
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Jun 29, 2026·Jun 29, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Armed Forces and National SecurityD0R1(1 co-sponsor)
Committee
The VHA OPEN Policies Act of 2026 requires the Veterans Health Administration to publish all of its national policies online and make them publicly accessible to veterans and the general public. Within 90 days of the bill's enactment, the VA must post directives, handbooks, memoranda, and guidance documents on a dedicated website, ensuring transparency about how VHA programs operate and are implemented. Going forward, any new or revised policies must be added to the website within 30 days of their creation or change. The legislation affects veterans, VA employees, healthcare providers, and anyone seeking to understand VHA procedures and requirements. There is no specific funding amount mentioned in the bill, as it primarily mandates the consolidation and publication of existing policy documents rather than establishing new programs.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Jun 11, 2026·Jun 11, 2026 — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
ImmigrationD28R0(28 co-sponsors)
Introduced
The Dignity and Due Process for Children Act of 2026 establishes new protections for unaccompanied minors in immigration enforcement proceedings. The bill prohibits immigration officers from arresting or detaining children under 18 who are encountered in the United States without a parent or legal guardian unless an immigration judge issues a warrant first. It also bans the use of military personnel, contractors, and Department of Defense vehicles or aircraft to transport unaccompanied children for deportation or removal purposes, with a narrow exception for disaster relief situations. The legislation requires that before any child signs legal documents affecting their immigration case, they must have access to a lawyer within five business days, and the government cannot coerce them to waive their right to a hearing or immigration relief options. These protections apply to all unaccompanied minors encountered by immigration enforcement agencies.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Jun 4, 2026·Jun 4, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Armed Forces and National SecurityD1R2(3 co-sponsors)DRBipartisan
Introduced
The MEDIC Careers Act of 2026 aims to help military medics transition into civilian healthcare jobs by improving how their military credentials translate to civilian positions like certified nurse aides, licensed practical nurses, and medical assistants. The bill requires the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to work with states and other agencies to identify barriers preventing this transition—such as credential standardization issues and lack of bridge programs—and submit recommendations within 180 days of enactment. Additionally, the bill establishes a three-year pilot program providing grants of up to $600,000 to eligible healthcare providers in medically underserved areas to hire and train separating military members, with $5 million authorized annually from 2027 through 2031. The program targets rural health clinics, nursing homes, Federally qualified health centers, and other facilities, and requires the Department of Defense to ensure rural providers receive adequate grant funding.
Concurrent ResolutionHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Apr 27, 2026·Apr 27, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
International Affairs
Introduced
This concurrent resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its government or military unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted.The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself, its Armed Forces, its diplomatic facilities, or allied states from imminent attack.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Apr 20, 2026·Apr 20, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Health
Introduced
This bill requires dietary supplement manufacturers to register their products with the Food and Drug Administration by submitting detailed information about each supplement they sell. Manufacturers must provide the product name, ingredient list with amounts, label information, warnings, allergen statements, and any health-related claims made on the packaging. Existing dietary supplements on the market must be registered within 18 months of the law's enactment, while new products must be registered at the time they enter commerce, with manufacturers required to display an FDA-assigned product listing number on labels within two years. The FDA will establish a publicly searchable online database containing most of this information, though certain details like proprietary blend amounts and manufacturer locations will remain confidential. The bill authorizes approximately $7.9 million for fiscal year 2026 and $6.6 million annually for 2027 through 2030 to implement this registration system.
ResolutionHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Apr 14, 2026·Apr 14, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Sports and RecreationD4R1(5 co-sponsors)DRBipartisan
Introduced
This resolution honors six athletes from Oregon who competed in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics and Paralympics. The athletes recognized are Jacqueline Wiles and Hunter Hess in skiing events, Sean FitzSimons and Alessandro Barbieri in snowboarding, and Anna Soens and Ravi Drugan in para alpine skiing. The House of Representatives formally congratulates these Oregonian competitors for representing the United States and acknowledges the support provided by their families, coaches, and staff during the Games. This is a ceremonial resolution with no funding or programmatic impact, serving purely to honor the athletes' achievements and dedication.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Mar 26, 2026·Mar 26, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Environmental ProtectionD10R0(10 co-sponsors)
Introduced
The Plug Offshore Wells Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to produce an annual report on the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas infrastructure, beginning two years after the bill's enactment. The report must track applications for decommissioning wells, platforms, and pipelines; count how many decommissioning projects were completed on time; document wells and structures approved to be left in place rather than removed; and detail enforcement actions taken against companies that fail to meet decommissioning requirements. This information must be submitted to Congress and posted on the Department of the Interior's website so the public can access it. The bill affects oil and gas companies operating in federal waters and aims to increase transparency and accountability around the cleanup and removal of aging offshore energy infrastructure.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Mar 18, 2026·Mar 18, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Health
Introduced
The Protecting Americans from Unsafe Drugs Act of 2026 expands the FDA's authority to recall unsafe medications by extending rules previously limited to controlled substances to all drugs. Currently, the FDA has broad recall powers specifically for controlled substances, but this bill removes that restriction so the agency can more quickly order the removal and halt distribution of any unsafe drug from the market. The legislation also clarifies that the Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research can participate in these recall decisions alongside other FDA officials, and extends recall authority to cover imported and exported drugs. The bill aims to give the FDA faster tools to protect the public from dangerous medications regardless of whether they are controlled substances, though no new funding or specific timeline is mentioned in the text provided.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Feb 13, 2026·Feb 13, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Social WelfareD0R1(1 co-sponsor)
Introduced
The Modernize SSI Stipends Act increases cash payments for institutionalized individuals and couples receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a federal program that provides financial assistance to elderly, blind, and disabled people with limited income. The bill doubles the minimum monthly personal needs allowances—from $360 to $720 for individuals and from $720 to $1,440 for couples—effective January 1, 2026. These increased amounts will also be eligible for annual cost-of-living adjustments going forward, ensuring the payments keep pace with inflation. Additionally, the bill requires states that provide supplementary SSI payments to pass through the full amount of any federal cost-of-living increases to beneficiaries, updating state payment formulas to reflect these changes. The legislation directly benefits institutionalized SSI recipients, who receive these personal needs allowances while living in care facilities, by nearly doubling their monthly cash assistance.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Jan 8, 2026·Jan 8, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
HealthD0R1(1 co-sponsor)
Introduced
This bill directs the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to periodically assess the health effects of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as "forever chemicals") and develop clinical guidance for doctors treating patients exposed to these chemicals. The initial assessment and recommendations must be completed within two years of the agreement being signed, with updates required every five years or more frequently if new science warrants it. The bill requires the Director of the agency to finalize and publish this medical guidance on the agency's public website and share it with state and local health departments and healthcare providers. The legislation also mandates that the assessment process include input from communities affected by PFAS contamination about their exposure and health experiences. Overall, the bill aims to ensure doctors and public health officials have current, scientifically-sound information to better diagnose and treat people exposed to PFAS chemicals.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Nov 7, 2025·Nov 7, 2025 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
ImmigrationD49R0(49 co-sponsors)
Introduced
The Restoring Access for Detainees Act would provide free phone and communication services to people held in immigration detention by the Department of Homeland Security. The bill requires detainees to receive at least one 10-minute call to family within their first five hours in custody and at each new detention location, plus 200 free minutes per month for ongoing family contact. Detainees would also get unlimited free communication with their lawyers, courts, immigration judges, and government oversight officials. The legislation, introduced in November 2025, aims to restore a program that provided 520 free minutes monthly during the COVID-19 pandemic but was halted in 2024 due to lack of funding. The bill specifies that communications with legal counsel and investigators must be confidential and unmonitored, and directs the Department of Homeland Security to establish consistent protocols ensuring detainees can access these communication services without intimidation or retaliation.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Aug 15, 2025·Aug 15, 2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Environmental ProtectionD21R0(21 co-sponsors)
Introduced
This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study how wildfire smoke affects children in schools and childcare settings. The study will examine current policies and safety measures that schools and childcare programs have in place to protect children from wildfire smoke exposure during and after wildfires, including during school sports and summer camps. The review will identify gaps in existing research and policies on this topic, with special attention to under-resourced schools and childcare facilities. Based on the findings, the bill requires the National Academies to provide recommendations to Congress on better strategies to protect children from wildfire smoke. The legislation does not specify funding amounts or completion timelines in the provided text.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Aug 1, 2025·Aug 1, 2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Labor and Employment
Introduced
This bill requires the federal government to establish new workplace safety standards protecting farmworkers from wildfire smoke and extreme heat. An interim standard takes effect immediately upon passage, requiring farm employers to provide respirators (like N95 masks) when air quality becomes dangerous and water/cooling facilities when heat reaches hazardous levels, along with mandatory rest breaks and worker training in languages farmworkers understand. The Department of Labor must develop a permanent occupational safety standard within 90 days that meets at least the same protections as the interim rules and is no weaker than any existing state standards. The bill responds to growing public health threats posed by increasingly severe wildfires and heat waves across the U.S., which have caused documented farmworker deaths, and directs the Labor Department to provide free technical assistance and sample training materials to help farm employers comply with these new requirements.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Jul 17, 2025·Jul 22, 2025 — Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3548-3549)
HealthD17R0(17 co-sponsors)
Introduced
The Climate Health Emergency Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to declare a formal public health emergency due to health risks linked to climate change. The bill's supporters argue that climate change is driving or worsening extreme weather events and infectious disease spread, and note that over half of the 120 public health emergency declarations made in the past decade were related to extreme weather and climate-linked conditions. By declaring this emergency, the federal government could mobilize additional resources, coordinate across agencies, and exercise emergency authorities to strengthen public health infrastructure in preparation for climate-related health crises. The legislation is aimed at protecting vulnerable communities and building a more resilient public health system, though no specific funding amounts or implementation timelines are specified in the bill text provided.
BillHouseBecame Law
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Jul 16, 2025·Jan 20, 2026 — Became Public Law No: 119-72.
Armed Forces and National SecurityD1R2(3 co-sponsors)DRBipartisan
Enacted
Focused Assistance and Skills Training for Veterans' Employment and Transition Success Act or the FAST VETS ActThis act establishes conditions under which a veteran's individualized vocational rehabilitation plan (under the Veteran Readiness and Employment program) must be redeveloped. The program provides job training and employment-related services to veterans with service-connected disabilities.Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must formulate and annually review an individualized vocational rehabilitation plan for veterans who have a serious employment handicap and have a reasonably feasible vocational goal.The act provides that such plan must be redeveloped with the veteran if the VA determines the achievement of the long-range rehabilitation goals for the veteran are no longer feasible due to changes in the employment handicap of the veteran and are more likely under a different plan.
BillHouseIn Committee
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Jun 10, 2025·Mar 18, 2026 — Committee Hearings Held
Armed Forces and National SecurityD1R0(1 co-sponsor)
Committee
The Every Veteran Housed Act expands who qualifies as a "veteran" eligible for homelessness assistance programs run by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Currently, veterans must meet specific service length requirements, but this bill removes those restrictions and opens benefits to anyone discharged or released from the uniformed services under honorable or general (but not dishonorable) conditions—regardless of how long they served, whether they served on active duty or in the reserves, or their current military status. The legislation also makes technical updates to ensure consistency across different veteran benefit programs. By broadening eligibility this way, the bill aims to provide housing assistance to a wider population of homeless individuals with military service, though it does not specify new funding amounts or implementation timelines.
BillHouseIntroduced
U.S. House of Representatives·Introduced Feb 5, 2025·Feb 5, 2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Government Operations and PoliticsD5R0(5 co-sponsors)
Introduced
Stop Musk ActThis bill bars retaliation against federal employees for resisting, circumventing, or preventing Elon Musk or individuals he oversees from taking unlawful or unconstitutional actions relating to federal agencies.