Jeff Merkley

This bill would allow certain Hong Kong residents who have been living in the United States under temporary protection to become lawful permanent residents. Specifically, it targets people who received Deferred Enforced Departure status through presidential actions issued between August 2021 and January 2025. To qualify, applicants must have continuously lived in the United States since January 15, 2025, with only brief authorized absences, cannot have returned to Hong Kong or China, and must have no felony convictions or more than one misdemeanor conviction. The bill also permits eligible family members—spouses, children, and unmarried adult sons and daughters—to adjust their status along with the primary applicant, and it provides work authorization protections while applications are being processed. Applicants must submit their applications within one year of the bill's enactment, and any prior removal orders would be cancelled upon approval.

This bill creates a new death gratuity payment program for federal wildland firefighters and certain contractors who die in the line of duty from work-related injuries. The death gratuity, equal to the maximum amount already paid to other federal employees who die in service, would be paid to survivors immediately upon notification of death for any covered wildland firefighter who died on or after January 1, 2026. The bill covers firefighters employed by the Forest Service, Department of Interior agencies, and state or local firefighting entities, as well as eligible contractors who perform fire suppression work under agreements with these agencies. Eligible survivors include spouses, children, parents, and designated beneficiaries, with payment priority given in that order. The death gratuity is in addition to any other compensation survivors may receive, such as workers' compensation benefits.

The Car Privacy Rights Act of 2026 establishes new privacy protections for consumers whose personal data is collected through their vehicles. The law requires car manufacturers and data companies to provide clear privacy policies explaining their data collection practices, disclose what information they hold about consumers upon request, and reveal which third parties have received shared data. Enforcement is handled through multiple channels: the Federal Trade Commission can pursue violations as unfair or deceptive practices, state attorneys general can sue on behalf of residents for injunctions and penalties, and individual consumers can file private lawsuits seeking statutory damages of at least $5,000 per violation plus punitive damages and attorney's fees. The legislation takes effect upon enactment with no specified implementation delay.

This bill strengthens protections against the improper withholding of federal spending authority by amending the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. It requires that any budget authority proposed for rescission or deferral must be made available for agencies to spend with sufficient time to do so responsibly, and prohibits the government from withholding or delaying funds during the final 90 days before they expire. The legislation applies both to special rescission proposals submitted to Congress and to routine budget apportionments made by federal agencies. It specifically nullifies a September 25, 2026 rescission proposal and establishes clear rules that all appropriated funds must be available for obligation without conditions at least 90 days before their availability period ends. The bill affects federal agencies and program administrators who manage federal spending across the government.

S. 5592 was introduced on September 29, 2026 by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) with no cosponsors. The text for this legislation has not yet been released. A summary will be generated when there is text available.

This bill, titled the "No Funds for Trump's Illegal Arch Act," would block the use of federal money to plan, design, engineer, permit, or build any structure or monument at Memorial Circle, a location within Lady Bird Johnson Park (formerly known as Columbia Island) in Washington, D.C. The prohibition covers all related activities, including ground preparation and site disturbance work. An exception is made if the structure or monument is formally authorized under existing federal law governing commemorative works and markers in the capital region. The bill was introduced by Senator Merkley along with Senators King, Reed, and Van Hollen in September 2026 and appears aimed at stopping a specific proposed monument project at this site without proper legal authorization. There is no funding appropriated by this bill; it simply restricts how existing federal funds may be used going forward, with no specified expiration date.

S. 5603, the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act, would bar the demolition of any presidential memorial that has been designated by an Act of Congress, unless Congress specifically passes a new law authorizing that demolition. The bill defines "demolish" as intentionally razing, destroying, or wrecking an entire structure or a substantial portion of one. This measure affects any federal entity or official who might oversee or decide the fate of congressionally designated presidential memorials, effectively removing unilateral authority to tear them down. The bill does not include new funding or appropriations, nor does it set a specific implementation timeline, since it simply establishes a permanent legal restriction once enacted. Introduced by Senator Merkley along with several cosponsors, the bill was read twice and placed on the Senate calendar in late September 2026, meaning it is pending further action before a full Senate vote.

The Stop Corrupt Gratuities Act amends federal law to make it a crime for state and local government officials to solicit or accept gratuities, as well as for private individuals or organizations to offer such gratuities to these officials. The bill targets situations involving transactions worth $5,000 or more and applies to officials working for state, local, or tribal governments and their agencies. Violations carry criminal penalties of up to two years in prison and fines. The legislation affects state and local public officials, private citizens and businesses who might offer them things of value, and organizations that contract with government entities. The bill does not include specific funding amounts or implementation timelines, focusing instead on establishing the new criminal offense within the existing federal corruption statute.

The Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act of 2026 would authorize the federal government to award competitive grants to local school districts to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through third grade classrooms. The bill would prioritize funding for school districts serving the highest number of low-income students, with grants lasting five years. Districts would be required to reduce class sizes to no more than 18 students per class in their highest-poverty schools, hire qualified teachers, provide professional development, and use at least 97 percent of grant funds directly for class size reduction efforts, with the remaining 3 percent available for administrative costs. The legislation authorizes $2 billion in funding for the first fiscal year and any additional amounts needed in following years, while requiring annual reports to Congress on progress in reducing class sizes and improving student outcomes and teacher working conditions.

The Homeownership Promise Act would create a new federal savings program called Homeownership Promise Accounts to help first-time homebuyers afford down payments on homes. Eligible families who are first-time homebuyers and have completed HUD-approved housing counseling could open these accounts at participating community development financial institutions and save money toward purchasing a home at or below the area's median home price. The federal government would match every dollar a family saves with five dollars in matching grants, up to a maximum of fifty thousand dollars in federal matching funds, allowing families to accumulate up to sixty thousand dollars total in their accounts. The accounts would earn interest comparable to regular savings accounts, and families could withdraw their personal contributions for any reason at any time. The bill authorizes whatever funding is necessary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer this program but does not specify a set budget amount or implementation timeline.

S.Res. 868 is a symbolic Senate resolution that designates September 20, 2026, as "National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day." The resolution does not create any new programs or funding, but instead formally recognizes the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces throughout American history. The resolution acknowledges the historical discrimination these servicemembers faced, including the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that resulted in over 13,000 discharges, and documents recent policy changes affecting transgender military members. The Senate also expresses regret for past harm and urges the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to implement policy changes that restore justice, improve outreach to affected veterans, and restore access to healthcare services including gender-affirming care for transgender servicemembers and veterans.

This bill transfers approximately 18,628 acres of federal land from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Interior, where it will be held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. The transferred land becomes part of the Grand Ronde Reservation and will be administered under federal laws governing tribal trust lands. The Secretary of Interior must complete a legal survey and establish boundaries within two years of the bill's enactment, and must enter into an agreement with the tribe within 180 days to ensure continued federal administrative access to the land. The legislation prohibits gaming activities on the land and requires that federal laws restricting unprocessed log exports continue to apply, while allowing the tribe to manage the land's forests according to tribal and federal law and keeping the land open to the public for hunting, fishing, and recreation unless the tribe restricts access for safety, administration, or wildlife management reasons.

This resolution designates September 19, 2026, as "National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day" to recognize the tens of thousands of families affected by stillbirth in the United States and to promote prevention efforts. The resolution notes that more than 20,000 pregnancies end in stillbirth annually, with significant racial disparities, and that stillbirths exceed combined deaths from the five leading causes of death in children under 15. The resolution calls on the President to issue a proclamation encouraging Americans to observe the day through prevention and awareness programs and activities. It also celebrates the passage of the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024, which provides federal resources for stillbirth prevention research and activities. This is a congressional resolution expressing support for the designated day and requesting presidential action, with no direct funding or implementation requirements.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to close a loophole in the 13th Amendment that has allowed slavery and involuntary servitude to be used as criminal punishment. The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery nationwide but included an exception permitting it as punishment for crime, which the resolution argues has resulted in hundreds of thousands of people being subjected to forced labor conditions. The proposed amendment would eliminate this exception entirely by stating that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be imposed as a punishment for a crime." The resolution emphasizes that this change would not prevent incarcerated people from voluntarily working or participating in job training programs, nor would it prevent courts from ordering community service as an alternative to incarceration. To become part of the Constitution, the amendment must be approved by two-thirds of both the Senate and House, then ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures.

This bill directs the U.S. State Department to advocate internationally for recognition and inclusion of the Central Tibetan Administration, the government-in-exile led by the Dalai Lama, in United Nations bodies and other multilateral organizations. The legislation expresses Congress's position that China has violated its commitments to Tibetan autonomy through a 2026 Chinese law mandating Mandarin education and prioritizing Chinese national identity over Tibetan ethnic identity, and asserts that the Central Tibetan Administration legitimately represents the Tibetan people and their right to self-determination. The bill requires the Secretary of State to engage with Central Tibetan Administration officials at senior diplomatic levels, extend appropriate diplomatic courtesies including security details for visits, and work with U.S. allies to increase international support for the group. The State Department must submit annual reports to Congress for ten years documenting progress on these advocacy and diplomatic efforts, beginning no later than one year after the bill's enactment. The legislation does not specify direct funding but establishes a long-term diplomatic policy aimed at strengthening the international standing of the Tibetan government-in-exile in opposition to Beijing's authority.

# Summary of S. 5302: Truth in Labeling Act of 2026 This bill establishes federal standards for labeling packaging, food service products, and beverage containers as recyclable, compostable, reusable, or refillable. The law aims to reduce consumer confusion by creating uniform national definitions for these terms and requiring producers to use standardized labels that clearly communicate how items should be disposed of. The Environmental Protection Agency, working with the Federal Trade Commission, must develop standardized on-package labels within two years and regularly update them as recycling technologies evolve. The legislation sets specific criteria for each category: recyclable materials must be collected through programs reaching at least 60 percent of consumers, compostable items must meet industry standards and be accepted by at least 50 percent of composting facilities, and reusable or refillable products must have supporting infrastructure for multiple uses. Producers making false claims about these attributes face Federal Trade Commission enforcement, with penalties starting 18 months after the labeling standards are established, though manufacturers have time to sell existing inventory. The bill establishes an advisory committee including representatives from industry, environmental organizations, material recovery facilities, and government to provide guidance on standards and labels. It also requires the EPA to conduct a nationwide analysis of existing recycling and composting infrastructure and directs federal agencies to develop consumer education materials. Importantly, the law bars energy recovery and fuel conversion from counting as legitimate recycling, and it exempts the advisory committee from standard administrative procedure requirements to speed its work.

The TABOO Act imposes uniform ethics, financial disclosure, and conflict-of-interest requirements on individuals serving in special envoy, special representative, special coordinator, and similar positions across the federal government, regardless of whether they are paid, unpaid, or volunteer workers. The bill aims to close loopholes that currently allow some diplomats and negotiators to avoid standard oversight rules. Covered positions include anyone directing negotiations with foreign countries or international organizations or exercising significant authority in foreign policy or national security contexts. Individuals in these roles must disclose financial interests in covered countries, divest or place such interests in blind trusts within 60 days, and submit written confirmation of compliance to their agency heads, who must then report to Congress. Agency heads must also submit quarterly lists of all individuals in covered positions to the President and Congress, and those who fail to comply face penalties ranging from fines and imprisonment to loss of government support and suspension from their duties. The requirements take effect 180 days after enactment, with current officeholders given an additional 60 days to comply.

Summer Meals and Learning Act of 2026 This bill establishes a grant program to support summer early reading programs held at schools with a summer lunch site.Specifically, the Department of Education must use funds provided for the program to award competitive grants to state library administrative agencies to enable them to award subgrants to eligible local educational agencies for summer early reading programs held at schools with a summer lunch site.The program is open to local educational agencies that include schools where at least 50% of the students in prekindergarten through grade 3 are (1) reading below grade level at grade 3, or (2) at risk of reading below grade level at grade 3.

Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act This bill requires certain providers, as a condition of Medicare participation, to limit mandatory overtime for nurses. Specifically, the bill prohibits hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, home health agencies, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and other specified providers from requiring nurses to work (1) more than a previously scheduled shift, 48 hours in a workweek, or 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period; or (2) during the 10 hours immediately following the 12th hour worked in a shift during a 24-hour period. Qualifying work hours include time spent in training, on call, and on standby. The bill's provisions do not apply during declared emergencies or disasters, subject to specified conditions, and do not preclude voluntary overtime. The bill also establishes (1) certain protections for nurses who file complaints against providers, (2) documentation and notice requirements for providers, and (3) potential civil penalties for violations.