Summer Lee

Access to School Supplies Act of 2026This bill directs the Department of Education to carry out a pilot program to make competitive grants for up to 10 qualified local educational agencies to purchase school supplies. School supplies refer to books, supplies, and supplementary materials used by students and instructional staff in the classroom.

The Consumer Appeal Rights Enforcement Act amends federal retirement and health plan laws to strengthen enforcement of how plans handle claims and appeals. The bill creates new civil penalties that the Department of Labor can impose on plans and administrators that violate claims procedures or external review requirements, whether through defective written procedures or failure to follow them in practice. Penalties for widespread failures called "global violations" can reach up to $1,000 per participant per year, potentially tripled if not corrected within 90 days. For individual violations affecting specific participants, penalties can reach up to $1,000 per day until corrected, with shorter correction timelines for health plans and urgent care claims. The bill also grants the Labor Department expanded direct enforcement authority and allows courts to impose these same penalties in private lawsuits, though prevents double penalties for the same violation. The changes take effect 90 days after enactment.

The Support Our Miners Act amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to increase monthly payments for coal miners and their families who suffer from black lung disease. The legislation raises the annual benefit amount to $15,030 starting in 2026, which represents a significant increase from the current benefit level that has remained essentially unchanged since 1969 and has lost about 40 percent of its value to inflation. Beginning in 2027, the benefits will automatically adjust each year based on the Consumer Price Index to keep pace with the cost of living. The bill affects tens of thousands of disabled coal miners across the country who depend on these benefits to cover healthcare costs and living expenses. The measure was introduced by representatives from Pennsylvania coal mining regions and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

The Right to Vote Act establishes voting as a fundamental right for all eligible citizens in federal elections and sets strict limits on government actions that burden voting. The bill prohibits governments from diminishing or substantially impairing voters' ability to vote unless they can demonstrate that such restrictions are necessary to serve an important government interest and are the least restrictive way to do so. Any voter or group of voters can sue in federal court to challenge voting restrictions, and courts must expedite these cases and apply a legal standard that places the burden on the government to justify any voting barriers. The law applies to all federal, state, and local governments, as well as U.S. territories, and takes effect for elections occurring on or after September 1, 2026. The bill also allows courts to award attorney's fees to successful plaintiffs challenging voting restrictions under this Act.

This bill amends federal coal mining regulations to strengthen financial protections for taxpayers by requiring coal mining companies to post more secure bonds before beginning surface mining operations. Currently, some coal companies can post "self-bonds" using their own company assets to guarantee they will pay for environmental reclamation, which creates taxpayer risk if the company fails financially. The bill eliminates self-bonding and requires companies to use surety bonds or collateral instead, while also restricting what can be used as collateral—such as coal, mining equipment, and coal-related property. The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue new rules within one year to limit risks from surety bond companies and sets strict financial standards for alternative bonding systems that states may propose. Companies with existing self-bonds must replace them by their next permit renewal or major modification date, and states allowing self-bonds must change their programs within 90 days of the bill's enactment to comply with these new requirements.

The Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act would establish a federal grant program to provide emergency compensation to essential health care workers during declared emergencies or disasters. The bill allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to hospitals, health care facilities, and home health agencies, which would use the funds to pay eligible workers an additional $13 per hour in hazardous duty pay, capped at $25,000 annually per worker. Eligible workers include doctors, nurses, direct care workers, medical technologists, public health workers, orderlies, and janitorial or custodial staff in health care settings whose work cannot be performed remotely. Grant funds can also be used for safety measures such as alternative transportation, personal protective equipment, and other protections to shield workers from hazards. The bill does not specify a total funding amount, instead authorizing whatever funds are deemed necessary to carry out the program.

The Revitalizing America's Schoolyards Act of 2026 authorizes the Department of Education to award grants to schools and nonprofits to transform outdoor school spaces into nature-based learning environments. These revitalized schoolyards would feature trees, plants, gardens, and natural play areas designed to improve student health and learning while supporting local ecosystems and climate resilience. The bill prioritizes schools serving low-income students and those vulnerable to extreme heat or flooding. Grants are structured in two phases over four years: schools first receive planning grants to develop design concepts, and successful applicants then receive implementation grants to build the projects, with individual awards capped at $1 million total. The bill reserves 5 percent of funds for tribal schools and requires grantees (except the poorest schools) to provide 20 percent matching funds from local sources. The authorization covers fiscal years 2027 through 2031, though the specific funding amount is left to Congress to determine through the appropriations process.

This resolution impeaches Attorney General Pamela Bondi on five articles, alleging she obstructed Congress by refusing to release complete Jeffrey Epstein files to shield political figures including Donald Trump; violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act by missing deadlines and selectively redacting documents; abused prosecutorial power by firing ethics officials and career prosecutors while selectively closing investigations into Trump allies and launching cases against Trump opponents; undermined the rule of law by defying court orders and withholding information from courts to enable Trump administration policies; and committed perjury during her confirmation hearings regarding her handling of journalist prosecutions, DOJ politicization, and Trump's involvement in Epstein matters. The articles collectively allege that Bondi prioritized protecting Trump administration officials and policies over her duties as Attorney General and her constitutional obligations to Congress and the judiciary.

H.R. 7623 authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom House Ambulance Service in recognition of its pioneering contributions to emergency medical care and civil rights history. Founded in 1965 in Pittsburgh's Hill District, Freedom House was the first ambulance service in the United States staffed by trained paramedics and served as a model for the modern paramedic system now used nationwide, while also providing job training and employment opportunities to residents of a predominantly Black neighborhood that had been economically disadvantaged. The service, which operated until 1975, was instrumental in developing the first national paramedic training curriculum and directly influenced national EMS standards adopted by the Department of Transportation. The Treasury Department will design and strike the gold medal, which will be displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, with the option for it to be loaned to other locations associated with Freedom House. The legislation authorizes funding from the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund to cover the costs of producing the medal and allows the Treasury to sell duplicate bronze copies to offset expenses.

H.R. 7220 requires the federal government to publicly disclose all records related to COINTELPRO, the FBI's controversial domestic surveillance program from the 1950s and 1960s, within six months with only limited exceptions for records that would cause clear and demonstrable harm. The bill establishes a centralized COINTELPRO Records Collection at the National Archives and creates an independent, five-member Review Board with subpoena power and broad investigative authority to assess contested documents and recommend disclosure to the public. The Review Board, composed of distinguished professionals including historians and attorneys, will operate for up to four years (with a possible one-year extension) and can access sealed court and grand jury records relevant to COINTELPRO investigations. Any records withheld after 25 years must have written justification approved by the Archivist and relevant branch leaders, with ultimate override authority held by the President, Chief Justice, or Congressional leadership depending on the record's location. The bill also renames the J. Edgar Hoover Federal Building to the FBI Federal Building and gives this disclosure law priority over most other secrecy statutes while preserving existing Freedom of Information Act and judicial review rights.

This bill requires federal agencies that use, fund, or oversee artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to establish civil rights offices dedicated to identifying and reducing bias and discrimination in those systems. Each covered agency must staff these offices with experts and technologists and submit detailed reports to Congress every two years on algorithmic risks, steps taken to prevent harm, stakeholder engagement efforts, and legislative recommendations. The bill also directs the Department of Justice to create an interagency working group bringing together these civil rights offices to coordinate on algorithmic bias issues. The legislation applies to algorithms used in federal programs that could affect program eligibility, economic opportunities, or legally protected rights, and it defines protected characteristics broadly to include race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, sex, age, income level, and other federally protected categories. Congress has authorized whatever funding is necessary for agencies to implement these requirements, though no specific budget amount is stated.

This resolution recognizes the 113th anniversary of the founding of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

H.R. 5088 would repeal Section 504 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, which currently prohibits certain individuals from holding leadership positions in labor unions. The bill, introduced by Representatives Lee, McGovern, McIver, Ocasio-Cortez, Thanedar, Tlaib, and Wilson, aims to expand who can serve as union officers by removing this historical restriction. The legislation includes a technical conforming amendment to align related sections of labor law with the repeal. This bill would directly affect labor organizations and individuals previously barred from union leadership roles, though the specific categories of people currently prohibited are not detailed in the bill text itself. There is no specific funding requirement or implementation timeline mentioned in the legislation.

The Eviction Right to Counsel Act of 2025 establishes a $100 million annual grant program for states, local governments, and tribal governments that pass laws guaranteeing free legal representation to low-income tenants facing eviction. The bill defines eligible tenants as those earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty line and covers eviction cases as well as housing subsidy terminations. States and localities that receive grants can use the funds to cover the costs of providing lawyers to these tenants and for attorney training and recruitment. The legislation prioritizes funding for jurisdictions that have also enacted complementary tenant protections—such as limits on eviction causes, 30-day notice requirements, eviction diversion programs, or emergency rental assistance—and those that commit to building a pipeline of attorneys to serve low-income renters. The bill authorizes $500 million total in federal funding over fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

This bill would give college athletes at both public and private universities the right to form unions and negotiate collectively with their schools for better pay, benefits, and working conditions. The bill defines college athletes as "employees" under federal labor law if they receive any direct compensation—such as athletic scholarships or grants-in-aid—in exchange for playing sports. It would amend the National Labor Relations Act to cover colleges and universities and allow athletes to bargain together across multiple schools within the same athletic conference to establish uniform standards for wages, health and safety protections, and other employment terms. The legislation argues that college athletes currently face exploitative practices through compensation caps and strict control over their work, and that organized labor representation would remedy this imbalance. The bill includes provisions protecting athletes from having to waive their organizing rights and clarifies that any compensation athletes receive would not change their tax status or affect their eligibility for federal financial aid.

The People's Response Act establishes a new Division on Community Safety within the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee and fund alternatives to traditional law enforcement and incarceration, including community health workers, crisis intervention, violence prevention, and mental health services. The bill provides $17 billion in federal grants from 2026 to 2030 to community-based organizations, local governments, and states to implement these community-led safety approaches, with priority given to communities disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system and a requirement that at least 30 percent of funds reach rural areas. The legislation also creates a National Advisory Committee with members who have direct experience with the criminal legal system and an Interagency Task Force across multiple federal departments to coordinate safety efforts and track federal spending on law enforcement versus community-based approaches. States and grant recipients must match federal funds and demonstrate measurable results, including reductions in arrests and citations, while maintaining that federal grants supplement rather than replace existing state and local funding.

The Equality in Laws Act directs the Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives to systematically replace all gender-specific pronouns and nouns throughout the United States Code with gender-neutral alternatives. The bill specifies that pronouns like "he," "she," "his," and "hers" should be replaced with terms such as "they," "their," "the individual," or relevant job titles, as long as these changes do not alter the actual meaning or intent of the laws. The legislation applies to all federal law titles—both those formally enacted into positive law and those not yet formally codified—and requires the counsel to prepare revisions for submission to the House Judiciary Committee and to draft a bill for updating any remaining titles. No specific funding amount or timeline is specified in the bill. The change is purely technical in nature, aimed at making federal law more inclusive in its language without substantively changing what the laws actually say or do.

H.R. 4337 prohibits executive branch personnel—including officers, agents, contractors, and employees—from using physical force against, detaining, or physically interfering with Members of Congress who are conducting official oversight activities on federal property. The bill protects lawmakers investigating federal programs, policies, and operations as long as they present valid congressional identification and do not pose a clear and imminent physical threat. The legislation applies to all federally controlled properties, including detention centers and field-control sites, but explicitly preserves the right of security personnel to conduct lawful security screenings and take action against genuine physical threats. No specific funding or timeline is mandated in the bill, which was introduced in July 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

H.Res. 540 is a resolution expressing support for the "Equity or Else" quality-of-life platform, a framework developed through hundreds of community listening sessions and town halls to address racial and economic inequity across major policy areas including education, housing, healthcare, food systems, and criminal justice. The resolution calls on the House of Representatives to adopt this framework when drafting and implementing legislation, and to prioritize input from communities most affected by systemic racism and inequality. While this is a symbolic resolution rather than a binding law, it outlines specific policy recommendations such as investments in public schools, healthcare reform including Medicare for All, affordable housing initiatives, environmental remediation, and criminal justice reform. The resolution does not include direct federal funding or specific timelines, as it functions primarily as a statement of values and commitment rather than enacted legislation. It reflects the priorities of a coalition of Democratic representatives and is based on grassroots input gathered since 2022.

The True Justice Act of 2025 authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to states, local governments, and public defender offices to improve legal representation for people in criminal court proceedings following arrest, including at their initial appearance. The bill also provides grant funding for training public defenders and court-appointed attorneys on best practices for defending individuals in these early stages of criminal cases. Grant amounts will be determined based on each entity's costs for technology and training, as well as the size of their justice system relative to others in their state or region. The legislation authorizes $50 million in funding annually from fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to support these grant programs. The bill reflects Congress's view that the constitutional right to legal counsel—established by the Supreme Court in the landmark Gideon v. Wainwright case—applies to all proceedings that occur after an arrest.

This resolution recognizes the responsibility of the federal government to provide reparations and encourages the passage and implementation of the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act.

The Oligarch Act of 2025 would impose a new annual wealth tax on individuals and trusts with substantial net assets in the United States. The tax applies progressive rates ranging from 2 percent to 8 percent depending on wealth level, starting once a taxpayer's net assets exceed a threshold amount (set at 1,000 times the median household wealth or $50 million, whichever is greater). The legislation affects wealthy individuals and their trusts, though it exempts retirement accounts and certain low-value personal property. The bill includes enforcement provisions requiring the IRS to audit at least 30 percent of wealth tax filers annually and establishes steep penalties for undervaluing assets, while also allowing taxpayers facing severe liquidity constraints up to five years to pay the tax. The wealth tax would take effect for calendar years beginning after the bill's enactment, with the Treasury Department given 12 months to develop detailed valuation rules and reporting requirements.

The Abolish Super PACs Act would place contribution limits on Super PACs—political committees that make independent expenditures in elections—for the first time since a 2010 court ruling eliminated such restrictions. Currently, Super PACs can accept unlimited donations from individuals and corporations, but this bill would cap those contributions at the same levels that apply to traditional PACs. The legislation affects donors, candidates, and Super PACs involved in federal elections, which the bill's sponsors argue have become vehicles for potential corruption and foreign interference, citing data showing that in 2024, the wealthiest 1 percent of Super PAC donors contributed nearly 97 percent of all individual donations. The bill would take effect for contributions and expenditures made during the first full calendar year after enactment, with no specific new funding allocated—it is primarily a regulatory change to federal election law. The sponsors argue that restoring contribution limits is necessary to reduce the appearance of corruption and restore public confidence in elections, though the bill faces significant legal challenges given prior court decisions protecting unlimited Super PAC contributions as free speech.

This resolution recognizes the 112th anniversary of the founding of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.