Ruben Gallego

The Supporting Focus in Schools Act establishes a federal grant program to help schools restrict student use of cellular phones and personal electronic devices during instructional time. Eligible schools must receive federal Title I funding and adopt a policy prohibiting personal electronic devices during school hours, with exceptions for students with medical needs, documented disabilities, or emergencies. Schools receiving grants can use the funds to purchase storage equipment like phone lockers or pouches and to provide teacher training on implementing the device restriction policy. The bill requires schools to report back to the Department of Education within one year of receiving a grant, describing the policy's effects on student academic outcomes. The legislation aims to reduce classroom distractions and improve student focus during instruction.

This resolution establishes a new Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence in the U.S. Senate to investigate and oversee the development and use of artificial intelligence technology. The committee will consist of up to 13 senators appointed by the Senate leadership and will examine how AI affects national security, the economy, labor, consumer protection, critical infrastructure, and other areas of government and society. The committee has broad investigative powers, including the ability to hold hearings, issue subpoenas, and request information from federal agencies, and it can develop legislative proposals related to artificial intelligence governance. Committee staff and funding will be split equally between the majority and minority party leadership, and the committee is authorized to spend money from the Senate's contingent fund for personnel, consultants, equipment, and other operational expenses necessary to carry out its work. The committee will continue beyond the current Congress unless the Senate votes to dissolve it.

The Restore Veterans' Compensation Act of 2026 eliminates the military's practice of taking back separation pay from service members who later receive disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill affects military members who received separation pay, special separation benefits, or voluntary separation incentive payments and subsequently qualify for VA disability compensation or military retirement pay. For those who receive retirement pay instead of disability compensation, the bill limits recoupment to 25 percent of monthly retirement pay unless the member requests faster repayment, requires the Pentagon to notify members 90 days before deductions begin, and allows the Secretary of Defense to waive deductions if they would cause financial hardship. The changes take effect the first day of the first month after the bill becomes law and apply to all future deductions from retirement pay.

This bill would amend the tax code to allow developers and investors in affordable housing to carry back the low-income housing tax credit for five years instead of the current rules. The low-income housing tax credit is a tax incentive that helps finance the construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low-income families. By allowing a five-year carryback, taxpayers could apply unused credits from a current year back to their previous five years of taxes, potentially resulting in refunds or reduced tax liability during those earlier years. This change would primarily benefit housing developers, real estate investors, and syndicators involved in affordable housing projects. The bill would take effect for tax years beginning after it is enacted into law and does not specify any particular funding or budget allocation, as it operates through the tax system's existing mechanisms.

This bill would increase the overtime pay rate that employers must provide to employees from 1.5 times their regular wage to 2 times their regular wage. The change applies to covered workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act and would take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law. The legislation was introduced in August 2026 by a group of Democratic senators and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The bill does not specify funding requirements, as it simply mandates how employers must calculate overtime compensation for eligible employees. This would affect millions of American workers who regularly work overtime hours and would increase labor costs for employers across various industries.

This bill requires social media companies to obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing children under 16 years old to create or maintain accounts on their platforms. If a child does get parental approval, the social media company must set up a parent-supervised account that provides parents with tools to monitor and control their child's activity, including managing privacy settings, time limits, direct messages, purchases, and who can contact the child. The Federal Trade Commission will establish regulations defining acceptable methods for age verification, obtaining parental consent, and setting minimum requirements for parent-supervised accounts. Social media companies that violate this law will face enforcement by the FTC and state attorneys general, who can seek injunctions, damages, and other remedies. The bill does not specify any new federal funding and applies immediately once enacted.

The State of Men's Health Act directs the federal government to study and address health disparities affecting American men. Within one year of enactment, the Government Accountability Office must complete a comprehensive study on men's health and report findings to Congress, including recommendations for federal programs to improve male health outcomes and coordination efforts across government agencies. The bill then requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a new Office of Men's Health within 18 months to coordinate programs and activities related to men's health, with particular focus on colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, and mental health screening. The legislation highlights concerning statistics, such as men dying at rates 1.4 times higher than women and comprising nearly 80 percent of suicides despite being half the population. Neither the study nor the new office require additional appropriations, as both must operate using existing federal funds authorized under other laws.

This resolution expresses the Senate's formal opposition to any presidential pardon, commutation, or other form of federal clemency for Samuel Bankman-Fried, the FTX cryptocurrency exchange founder convicted of massive financial fraud. It recounts his 2023 conviction on seven federal counts including wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering, along with his 2024 sentencing to 25 years in prison and an $11 billion forfeiture order after a scheme that cost customers, investors, and lenders over $11 billion combined. The resolution notes that Bankman-Fried has continued to claim innocence, has called his prosecution "lawfare," and formally applied for a presidential pardon in 2026, a request currently pending with the Department of Justice. As a non-binding resolution, it carries no legal force or funding implications but serves as a public statement urging that clemency be denied, defending the integrity of his trial and sentence, and reaffirming the Senate's broader commitment to holding financial fraudsters accountable. It primarily affects public and political discourse around the case rather than creating any new laws, programs, or deadlines.

This bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act to help American companies compete against Chinese government subsidies and protect critical U.S. industries. The legislation expands the bank's ability to provide financing and guarantees for exports and domestic programs in strategic sectors including semiconductors, semiconductor machinery, printed circuit boards, and medical manufacturing. The changes broaden the bank's authority to counter not just direct export subsidies from China but all types of subsidies that disadvantage American businesses. By enhancing the Export-Import Bank's tools, the bill aims to strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and national security in industries considered vital to American interests. The legislation was introduced in June 2026 and does not specify a funding amount or implementation timeline in the text provided.

To make funds available for the timely adjudication of DACA renewal applications.