Eric Schmitt

This bill strengthens federal penalties for damaging critical telecommunications infrastructure by expanding the law to specifically criminalize the destruction, theft, or damage of copper, fiber optic, and coaxial cables used for telecommunications and information services. The legislation applies to anyone who willfully or maliciously injures, destroys, or steals these cables, or attempts to do so, if the cables are used in or affect interstate or foreign commerce. Violators can be fined and imprisoned for up to ten years. The bill exempts customer-owned equipment on residential or business properties from these provisions, so homeowners and renters are not affected when working with their own equipment. The legislation was introduced in September 2026 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee but does not specify any funding or implementation timeline.

The Restoring American Citizenship Act of 2026 would change U.S. citizenship law by modifying who automatically receives citizenship at birth. Currently, anyone born in the United States is generally a U.S. citizen under the Fourteenth Amendment. This bill would deny automatic citizenship to children born in the United States if neither parent is a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident at the time of birth. The bill would also deny citizenship to children born to parents who are applicants for admission to the United States. The changes would apply only to people born after the bill's enactment, leaving the citizenship status of people born before unchanged.

The Yaeli Martinez Child Protection Act prohibits states receiving federal child welfare funding from treating parental affirmation of a child's biological sex as abuse or neglect, and restricts certain gender-related medical interventions for children in foster care and state custody. The bill requires states to train child welfare workers and judges that affirming a child's sex is not harmful, establish foster care housing policies based on biological sex, and prevent discrimination against foster and adoptive parents who affirm children's biological sex. It creates a federal civil right of action allowing parents, guardians, and children to sue state child welfare agencies in federal court for actions related to a child's sex affirmation, with courts presuming such actions were discriminatory unless states prove otherwise with clear evidence, and eliminates traditional legal defenses like qualified and sovereign immunity for states accepting federal funds. The bill imposes escalating financial penalties—ranging from 5 to 30 percent of federal child welfare grants—on states that violate its requirements and amends federal child custody law to prevent states from exercising jurisdiction over custody cases based on gender-related interventions or parental affirmation of a child's sex. These provisions take effect upon enactment and apply immediately to any state or entity receiving federal child welfare funding under the Social Security Act.

The Modern Skies Act authorizes $10 billion in fiscal year 2027 funding for a pilot program supporting the modernization and reconstruction of aging terminal buildings at up to three medium-hub airports that have not undergone major renovations since 1990. Additionally, the bill appropriates $9.1 billion for air traffic control improvements, including $7.2 billion for a common automation platform and controller workstation, $2 billion for cloud computing infrastructure, and other modernization efforts. The legislation also provides $10 billion for discretionary airport grants, with $5 billion specifically dedicated to terminal development projects at eligible airports nationwide, using a higher federal cost-share for smaller airports. The Secretary of Transportation will select pilot program participants and must report to Congress quarterly on expenditures and program status. Airports participating in the pilot program can use funds for terminal development, demolition and construction, utility upgrades, cargo facilities, and ground support equipment replacement, with the federal government covering up to 90 percent of costs.

This bill creates a new National Fraud Enforcement Division within the Department of Justice to specifically coordinate and oversee federal fraud prosecution efforts. The legislation establishes a new leadership position of Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement, who would be appointed by the President with Senate confirmation and would serve as head of the division. The bill also adds this division to federal restrictions on political activity by employees, ensuring personnel maintain impartiality in their law enforcement duties. The bill does not specify funding amounts or implementation timelines, which would likely be addressed through the agency's budget process. The legislation would primarily affect federal law enforcement personnel, fraud prosecutors, and the criminal justice system's approach to nationwide fraud cases.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly restrict voting in federal elections to U.S. citizens only. The amendment would apply to all primary and general elections for President, Vice President, Senate, House of Representatives, and presidential electors. If approved by Congress and ratified by three-fourths of the states, the amendment would give state legislatures the power to enforce the citizenship requirement through their own laws, while also allowing Congress to establish or modify voting regulations at the federal level. The resolution does not involve any direct federal funding or implementation timeline, as constitutional amendments typically require a lengthy ratification process that can span months or years. This proposal addresses voting eligibility at the federal level only and does not affect state or local elections.

This Senate resolution formally honors the 1960 University of Missouri Tigers Football Team for its historic achievements, including a perfect 10-0 regular season and a 21-14 victory over the Naval Academy in the 1961 Orange Bowl. The resolution highlights the team's Big Eight Conference Championship, its dominant defense that allowed only 59 points all season, and standout players like consensus All-American Danny LaRose, who received Heisman Trophy votes. It also credits legendary head coach Dan Devine for building Missouri into a national football powerhouse during this era. This is a symbolic measure that carries no funding, regulatory changes, or legal effect; it simply expresses the Senate's recognition of the team's accomplishments and honors the players, coaches, and supporters involved. It affects no policy but serves as an official tribute to this piece of college football and Missouri sports history.

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to prioritize research and education funding on tick-borne diseases affecting livestock, particularly those spread by the invasive Asian longhorned tick. The diseases targeted include bovine anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and a form of bovine theileriosis, which can cause severe illness, reduced productivity, and death in cattle, resulting in significant economic losses for beef and dairy farmers. The legislation emphasizes that many of these diseases currently lack approved vaccines or treatments in the United States, creating a need for better diagnostic tools, surveillance methods, and management strategies. Funding will support both research to develop new vaccines and treatments as well as extension programs to help veterinarians, state agriculture departments, and livestock producers recognize and prevent these diseases. The bill amends existing Department of Agriculture grant authorities under the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to include emerging tick-borne livestock diseases as a research priority area.

This joint resolution seeks to overturn an Environmental Protection Agency decision from 2009 that allowed California to set its own greenhouse gas emission standards for new vehicles, separate from federal standards. Under the Clean Air Act, California has historically been granted waivers to establish stricter pollution controls than the rest of the nation, and this particular waiver applied to vehicles from 2009 onwards. The resolution would eliminate the EPA's approval of California's standards, preventing the state from enforcing its own tailored emissions requirements for new motor vehicles. The measure affects automakers and California, which would lose its authority to maintain its stricter vehicle emission rules. This is a congressional disapproval resolution, which uses a fast-track process to challenge federal agency regulations.

The BOASBERG Act would require all federal district courts, appellate courts, and three-judge district courts to randomly assign cases to judges, preventing lawyers, parties, or judges from influencing which judge hears their case. Cases could only be reassigned in limited circumstances, such as when a judge must recuse themselves, when cases are related and need consolidation for efficiency, or in rare situations where the chief judge publicly certifies reassignment is necessary for docket management. The bill also mandates that judges cannot decline randomly assigned cases and prohibits chief judges from using their position to steer cases to particular judges. Courts would be required to publicly disclose their assignment rules and publish annual statistical reports on reassignments, while any attempt to manipulate the system could result in lawyer sanctions, judge misconduct proceedings, or disciplinary action for court employees. Federal courts would have 120 days from the bill's enactment to implement the required random assignment rules.

The American Citizenship Act would change how the United States grants citizenship to people born in the country. Currently, anyone born in the U.S. automatically becomes a citizen regardless of their parents' immigration status. This bill would modify that rule so that children born in the U.S. would only receive automatic citizenship if at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident at the time of birth. The legislation would apply only to people born after the law takes effect, leaving the citizenship status of people born before the enactment date unchanged. The bill aims to redefine what the Fourteenth Amendment's citizenship clause means in practice by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans ActThis bill reauthorizes through 2031 the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) authority to carry out demonstration projects within the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. The bill also imposes requirements related to beneficiary income, project funding, and SSA reporting.SSDI demonstration projects must be designed to promote attachment to the workforce and generally involve temporary changes to SSDI policies tested on a subset of beneficiaries. Participation in a demonstration project must be voluntary. SSA’s authority to carry out these projects expired on December 31, 2022.Under the bill, SSA must ensure that an individual’s participation in a demonstration project does not reduce their total income. Further, the bill specifies that administrative expenses related to demonstration projects must be paid from funds appropriated for administration.Finally, the bill requires SSA to report to Congress 120 days before initiating a demonstration project. This is an increase from 90 days under current law. This advance notification must include evaluation metrics for the relevant project.

Declaration of Independence Reaffirmation Act of 2026This bill reaffirms and readopts the Declaration of Independence as an organic law of the United States and as the enduring charter of American independence, national sovereignty, natural rights, equal citizenship, and government by consent. (Organic laws are the laws that form the original foundation of a government.)

This bill expands the Ashanti Alert system, which broadcasts emergency alerts for missing people, to better include individuals with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia. The legislation modifies Kristen's Act to require that alerts issued through the system include information about whether a missing person has one of these conditions, enabling law enforcement and the public to better assist in searches. The bill also mandates training programs for state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies on how to effectively respond to reports of missing adults and children with developmental disabilities. By expanding alert criteria and requiring specialized training, the bill aims to improve response times and recovery outcomes for vulnerable populations who may be at higher risk when missing. The legislation does not specify new funding allocations or implementation timelines in the text provided.

This Senate resolution honors Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and the Corps of Discovery on the 222nd anniversary of their departure from St. Louis on May 14, 1804, to explore the Louisiana Purchase territory. The resolution recognizes the expedition's 8,000-mile journey as one of the greatest exploration achievements in American history, noting how the team endured extreme hardships while producing valuable maps, scientific observations, and geographic records that aided future settlement and development. The resolution acknowledges contributions from all expedition members, including Sacagawea and York, and celebrates how the journey strengthened America's sovereignty and strategic position in North America. As a ceremonial resolution, it requires no funding and simply expresses the Senate's recognition of the expedition's lasting importance to American history and identity, encouraging all Americans to study and reflect on this legacy.

The America First Citizenship and Allegiance Act establishes stricter requirements and enforcement mechanisms for naturalization and citizenship in the United States. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to provide English-language instruction to applicants on oath allegiance, U.S. constitutional duties, and citizenship obligations before they take the naturalization oath, with applicants required to certify under penalty of perjury that they understand and freely accept these commitments. It defines key terms broadly, including "foreign power" to encompass foreign governments, terrorist organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and cartels, and preserves the government's authority to revoke citizenship through denaturalization proceedings if applicants engaged in fraud or concealment during the naturalization process. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, with most provisions becoming law right away, though some specific provisions may have their own implementation timelines. Overall, the legislation affects all future naturalization applicants and expands the grounds on which the government can challenge or revoke citizenship.

10 Years of ICE Funding ActThis bill provides appropriations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through FY2036.Specifically, the bill provides specified appropriations to ICE for operations and support, including for the purchase and lease of police-type vehicles, for overseas vetted units, and for maintenance, minor construction, and minor leasehold improvements at owned and leased facilities.The bill also provides appropriations to ICE for procurement, construction, and improvements, including for acquisition of necessary additional real property and facilities, construction and ongoing maintenance, facility improvements, equipment, and related expenses.The appropriations provided to ICE by this bill are available until September 30, 2036.

The amendment introduces provisions that enhance existing regulations by expanding eligibility criteria for certain programs and increasing funding allocations for specific initiatives. Additionally, it mandates more rigorous reporting requirements to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of these programs.

The amendment introduces new provisions aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the allocation of federal funds, requiring detailed reporting from recipient organizations. Additionally, it establishes stricter compliance measures to ensure adherence to the stipulated guidelines.

S. 4072 reauthorizes federal funding for Agricultural and Food Policy Research Centers, which conduct research on agricultural policy and food systems issues. The bill increases annual funding from $10 million to $15 million per year and extends the program through fiscal year 2031, replacing the previous authorization that expired after 2023. This affects universities and research institutions that operate these centers and rely on federal grants to support their policy research work. The legislation does not create new centers or programs but simply restores and expands support for existing research infrastructure that had lapsed. The bill was introduced in March 2026 and referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee.