Tim Burchett

This bill modernizes federal paperwork requirements by requiring government agencies to reduce the burden of information collection on the public. It amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to require agencies to evaluate alternatives like using existing data, electronic collection methods, and statistical sampling before creating new information requests. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Office of Management and Budget require each federal agency to conduct comprehensive reviews of its information collections within 18 months of the law's enactment and every three years thereafter to identify unnecessary collections, opportunities to reduce burden, and duplicative requests across agencies. The reviews will help eliminate redundant paperwork while ensuring agencies still obtain the information needed for their operations.

The Recovery First Housing Act would require homeless shelters and housing programs that receive federal funding to offer substance use disorder treatment to people admitted to their facilities. The bill applies to emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing programs that participate in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, one of the main federal programs addressing homelessness. The treatment must be evidence-based and delivered by licensed providers, with options ranging from medically supervised detoxification to medication-assisted treatment and step-down approaches that gradually transition people to community-based services. The requirement would not apply to unaccompanied minors. The legislation does not specify new funding amounts or implementation timelines, meaning it would need to be implemented within existing federal homeless assistance program budgets.

The Diesel Price Reduction Act of 2026 prohibits the export of diesel fuel from the United States when domestic prices are elevated. Specifically, the Secretary of Commerce must ban diesel exports once the average retail price of diesel fuel in the United States exceeds $5 per gallon for 14 consecutive days, and this ban remains in place until prices drop below $4.50 per gallon for 30 consecutive days. The legislation is intended to help reduce diesel prices for American consumers and businesses by keeping more fuel supply in the domestic market during price spikes. The bill affects U.S. diesel fuel exporters and trading partners who purchase American diesel, while benefiting domestic consumers and industries that depend on diesel. No specific funding or implementation timeline beyond the price-trigger mechanism is included in the legislation.

This bill prohibits the export of diesel fuel until December 31, 2026.

This bill would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer money to provide housing assistance to people who are unlawfully present in the United States. The prohibition applies to a wide range of housing-related support, including rental assistance, security deposits, housing vouchers, mortgage help, hotel accommodations, utility assistance, and related services like eviction prevention and housing counseling. The bill carves out exceptions for housing assistance provided as part of immigration law enforcement or criminal law enforcement activities. Federal agencies would be required to enforce this prohibition by having recipients of federal funds certify compliance, monitoring adherence to the rule, imposing civil penalties for violations, and potentially barring violators from future federal funding for a period of time. The bill does not specify any funding amount or implementation timeline, leaving enforcement responsibility to individual federal agencies.

This bill prohibits federal agencies from purchasing, using, or accessing automated surveillance technologies that identify or track individuals, including facial recognition systems, license plate readers, biometric scanners, and other mass surveillance tools. The ban also extends to state and local governments, preventing them from using federal funding to acquire these same technologies. Any data collected in violation of the prohibition must be deleted within 30 days and cannot be used as evidence in court or administrative proceedings. The legislation effectively bars federal agencies from contracting with companies that provide these surveillance services and eliminates any legal use of improperly collected surveillance data. This bill directly affects federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, as well as state and local law enforcement that relies on federal grants or partnerships.

The Concealed Crime Prevention Act would add enhanced criminal penalties in Washington, D.C. for anyone who wears a ski mask while committing a crime. Under the bill, a person convicted of a misdemeanor while wearing a ski mask would face an additional mandatory prison sentence of at least six months on top of any other punishment for that crime, while someone convicted of a felony would face an additional mandatory sentence of at least two years. The bill defines a ski mask as a balaclava or similar head covering that conceals the wearer's identity while leaving only the eyes, nose, and mouth exposed, though it specifically excludes religious headwear from this definition. These enhanced penalties would apply to crimes committed in D.C. on or after the bill's enactment, and the additional sentences must be served consecutively, meaning they would be added to rather than run alongside other prison time imposed for the underlying offense.

This bill would authorize the President to issue "cyber letters of marque and reprisal" that commission private companies and individuals to conduct offensive cyber operations against foreign targets designated as cyberthreats. The legislation aims to disrupt cybercriminal networks, recover stolen digital assets and cryptocurrency, and return funds to American victims of cyber-enabled crimes like ransomware and fraud. Operators holding these letters could conduct activities like data recovery, asset seizure, and infrastructure disruption, but would be prohibited from targeting U.S. citizens or entities and would need to post security bonds and maintain detailed records. The President could require license holders to forfeit up to 15 percent of recovered assets to fund future operations, with remaining recovered funds deposited into the Crime Victims Fund, while also allowing informants without letters to claim up to 5 percent of assets recovered as rewards. The bill provides liability protections for authorized operators, insulating them from lawsuits for actions expressly approved under their letters.

The Stop Retail Food Store SNAP Trafficking Act of 2026 aims to combat fraud in the food assistance program by requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve how it estimates and reports on retailers illegally exchanging SNAP benefits for cash or other items. The bill requires the department to update its assumptions about trafficking rates, validate those estimates using real transaction data from known cases, and publish updated trafficking reports every three years starting within 18 months of the law's enactment. It also significantly strengthens penalties for retailers caught trafficking SNAP benefits by increasing maximum civil fines from $100,000 to $250,000 and allowing the department to impose both permanent disqualification and financial penalties simultaneously. The legislation requires the department to submit a progress report to Congress within two years detailing implementation efforts, updated trafficking estimates, and data on investigations and penalties issued against retailers. By tightening oversight and enforcement mechanisms, the bill seeks to protect the integrity of SNAP and ensure benefits reach eligible low-income families as intended.

H.R. 9456 would change eligibility rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps. Under this bill, non-citizens could only receive SNAP benefits if they are lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who have lived legally in the United States for at least 10 years. The legislation amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and would affect immigrants currently receiving SNAP benefits who do not meet these stricter criteria. The bill does not specify any new funding amounts or implementation timelines. This represents a significant tightening of current SNAP eligibility rules for non-citizen populations.

The Easy Access to Mail Act restricts the U.S. Postal Service's ability to require centralized mail delivery, where multiple mailboxes are grouped at a single location rather than at individual homes. The bill prohibits the Postal Service from switching existing single-family homes or townhouses from direct delivery to centralized delivery, and requires local government approval before implementing centralized delivery in new housing developments. For any approved centralized delivery in new developments, the local postmaster must provide residents and other stakeholders with at least 60 days' notice and opportunity to comment. Additionally, the bill directs the Postal Regulatory Commission to monitor whether the Postal Service changes any existing policies in ways that would harm rural, lower-income, elderly, disabled, or minority communities. The legislation contains no specific funding or implementation timeline beyond the notice and comment requirements.

This bill would allow the Secretary of Defense to restrict certain financial activities by major defense contractors who underperform on their contracts. Specifically, for defense contracts valued at $100 million or more, the Pentagon could prohibit contractors from conducting stock buybacks, issuing shareholder dividends, or paying executives (including CEOs) more than $5 million annually if the contractor fails to deliver on time and on budget, or if they fail to maintain adequate production speed and capacity. The restrictions would apply only to contracts signed after the bill becomes law and would be triggered by contractor actions such as inadequate investment in production methods or failure to maintain necessary equipment. The bill targets the financial practices of major defense contractors to incentivize better performance and redirect resources toward meeting military needs. No specific funding or implementation timeline is specified in the legislation.

The Local Beef Marketing Incentive Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create a subsidy program that pays beef producers for revenue losses when direct-to-market beef sales drop significantly. Payments are triggered when direct-to-market sales fall 25 percent or more compared to a five-year average, and eligible producers must raise cattle, use a local processor for slaughter, and conduct at least 50 percent of their beef sales directly to consumers, restaurants, or retail stores without intermediaries. Each head of cattle qualifies for payment calculated as 20 percent of the difference between the historical five-year average cattle price and the current year's price, multiplied by the animal's weight, capped at $500 per animal and $100,000 total per producer annually. The Department of Agriculture must establish the program and issue implementing rules within one year of enactment, with applications due within one year after each subsidy year ends and payments due within 90 days of application approval. Funding is authorized for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 in amounts necessary to carry out the program.

The DROP Act of 2026 amends federal law governing how death sentences are carried out in the federal criminal justice system. The bill expands the methods available for federal executions to include lethal injection or hanging, and allows the federal execution method to be determined by either federal law or state law, whichever applies. Within 180 days of enactment, the United States Marshals Service must develop written protocols for carrying out executions in consultation with the Attorney General, medical professionals, and correctional officials. The Attorney General is also required to update federal regulations within the same 180-day timeframe to align with the new execution procedures. The legislation affects federal death row inmates and would apply to future federal capital cases.

The Deporting Illegal Poachers Act would make hunting and fishing violations grounds for deporting immigrants from the United States. Under current law, immigration violations are limited to certain serious crimes, but this bill would add violations of state and federal hunting or fishing laws to the list of offenses that make someone inadmissible to the country or deportable if already present. The law would apply to anyone convicted of or who admits to hunting, trapping, or fishing without a valid license, or illegally taking wildlife in violation of seasons, bag limits, methods, locations, or protected species rules. The bill does not specify any funding or implementation timeline. The legislation affects both foreign nationals trying to enter the United States and immigrants already living in the country who violate hunting and fishing regulations.

The Survivor Tax Filing Simplification Act directs the Treasury Department to create an online Survivor Tax Portal within 12 months to help surviving spouses and estate executors file taxes after a person's death. The portal will provide guidance through checklists and pre-populated forms, allow secure upload of legal documents, integrate death information from Social Security Administration records, and include identity verification to protect personal information. The bill also requires the Treasury Department to publish a one-page instructional guide that Social Security will attach to benefit statements sent to the public. Additionally, the legislation establishes a grant program to help states improve their death record reporting to the Social Security Administration, with priority given to states whose improvements enhance the portal's efficiency. The bill does not specify funding amounts but requires the Treasury Secretary to set performance goals, including resolving user inquiries within 45 days.

The Veterans Protection from Fraud Act of 2026 strengthens federal law by increasing criminal penalties for fraud and similar crimes specifically targeting veterans. The bill amends federal criminal code to add veterans as a protected class under enhanced penalty provisions, meaning criminals who defraud or commit crimes against veterans face harsher sentences than those who commit the same crimes against the general public. This legislation affects both veterans who may become victims of fraud and the federal courts that prosecute these cases. The bill does not specify new funding amounts or implementation timelines, focusing instead on modifying existing criminal statutes to deter crimes against this vulnerable population.

The PEARL Act would allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense or sell the abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol if doing so conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs. The bill prohibits employers, licensing boards, and the federal government from punishing pharmacists who make this choice, including through license revocation or withdrawal of federal funding. The legislation applies to all pharmacists, whether they work for private businesses or government agencies. Pharmacists who believe they have been illegally required to dispense these drugs or punished for refusing could sue in federal court for injunctive relief. The bill contains no specific funding or implementation timeline beyond establishing these protections immediately upon enactment.

H.R. 8197 would shut down the Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which investigates unidentified flying objects and similar phenomena, within 60 days of the bill becoming law. The legislation would transfer the office's existing functions to other parts of the Defense Department and would also prohibit the establishment of any similar centralized office within the Defense Department or the intelligence community's Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The bill repeals the original statute that created this office and makes related changes to remove references to it in other defense laws. While there is no specific funding mentioned, the net effect would be to eliminate a dedicated office and redistribute its responsibilities, likely reducing overall spending on this particular mission area. The bill was introduced in April 2026 and was referred to the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees.

The Duplication Scoring Act of 2026 requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review all major bills passed by Congress and identify whether they create new federal programs, offices, or initiatives that duplicate or overlap with existing ones already flagged in GAO reports. When duplications are found, the GAO must notify the Congressional Budget Office and the relevant congressional committee, and publish its findings on the GAO website. The Congressional Budget Office can then include this duplication analysis alongside its standard cost estimates for legislation. The requirement takes effect within 60 days of a scheduled government efficiency update or one year after the bill's enactment, whichever comes first, and applies to any bill reported out of a congressional committee, including appropriations and budget legislation.

The American Meat Freedom Act would allow meat and meat products inspected under state inspection programs to be shipped across state lines, rather than being limited to sales within the state where they were produced. Currently, small and mid-sized ranchers using state-approved inspection programs cannot sell their products in other states, even if those state programs meet federal standards. The bill aims to expand market access for smaller producers and increase competition in the meat processing industry while maintaining food safety by requiring that state inspection programs be equivalent to federal standards, establishments comply with state requirements, products be clearly labeled as state-inspected, and states submit to periodic audits by the Department of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture must issue regulations to implement these changes within 90 days of the bill's enactment, and state inspections must have been approved by the federal government within the 36 months before any interstate shipment occurs.

The African Development Foundation Termination Act of 2026 would abolish the United States African Development Foundation, a federal agency that provides development assistance in Africa, within 120 days of the bill's enactment. During this wind-down period, the Foundation would be prohibited from awarding any new grants, loans, or project agreements, though it would continue overseeing existing multi-year grants until they expire. Any unspent money would be returned to the Treasury, while all remaining assets, records, and liabilities would transfer to the Department of State for liquidation purposes. The bill also repeals the underlying African Development Foundation Act and requires the State Department to propose technical amendments to federal law to reflect the agency's elimination. Foundation employees would receive notice of layoffs according to standard federal reduction-in-force procedures.

H.R. 7028 requires the Secretary of State to notify Congress at least 15 days before spending more than $37,500 on art purchases or related services through three State Department programs: the Art in Embassies Program, residential design programs, and the Cultural Heritage Program. The notifications must include a description of the item or project, its purpose and location, estimated cost, and funding source, and must go to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. This bill affects State Department spending on art, furnishings, design elements, and cultural heritage restoration at U.S. diplomatic facilities worldwide. The legislation establishes no new funding and contains no specific timeline for implementation beyond the 15-day notification requirement before each purchase obligation.

This bill would increase the standard tax deduction for individual taxpayers in 2026 and 2027 as a way to offset the financial impact of tariffs on consumers. Married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses would receive an additional $4,000 deduction, heads of household would get $3,000, and all other filers would receive $2,000. The changes apply only to tax years 2026 and 2027, after which the standard deduction would return to normal levels. By raising the standard deduction, the bill would reduce the taxable income of most Americans, effectively lowering their federal income taxes during this two-year period to help them cope with higher prices from tariffs.

H.R. 6516 directs the federal government to establish a system for identifying people who are enrolled in both Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and a health insurance plan through the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplaces. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to compare enrollment records at least quarterly using the Public Assistance Reporting Information System to catch these dual enrollments. Once identified, the government would notify relevant agencies to prevent these individuals from receiving premium tax credits or cost-sharing assistance they're not eligible for, since they already have government-sponsored coverage. The Secretary must establish this program within 60 days of the bill's enactment. This legislation aims to reduce improper payments and ensure that subsidies go only to people who qualify.