Tammy Baldwin

This resolution designates October 12, 2026, as "National Loggers Day" to recognize the logging industry's contributions to the American economy and environment. The resolution acknowledges that logging supports rural jobs, generates government revenue, and provides renewable materials for everyday products, while also playing a role in forest health management through practices like wildfire prevention and carbon sequestration. According to the resolution, the logging industry anchors a $288 billion domestic forest products supply chain and plants approximately 2.5 billion trees annually as part of forest regeneration efforts. The resolution has no fiscal impact and does not authorize any funding, as it is a symbolic measure to honor the logging profession. The resolution was introduced in September 2026 by Senators Baldwin and Collins.

This Senate resolution designates October 23, 2026, as "National Marine Sanctuary Day" to honor the anniversary of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972. The resolution celebrates the National Marine Sanctuary System, which protects ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes environments across the United States, and recognizes their role in conserving biodiversity, protecting endangered species, and preserving historic shipwrecks and cultural sites. The resolution encourages Americans to visit and support these marine sanctuaries and calls on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to partner with communities to complete designations of new sanctuaries. There is no direct funding associated with this resolution, as it is a ceremonial measure that simply establishes a national observance day and expresses the Senate's support for marine conservation efforts.

The America's College Promise Act of 2026 establishes a federal-state partnership to make community college tuition and fees free for eligible students, with the federal government covering 100 percent of average tuition costs initially and declining to 80 percent by 2032, while states gradually increase their share to 20 percent over the same period. States and tribal colleges must apply by submitting plans that detail how they will eliminate tuition, provide student support services, implement educational reforms to improve completion rates, and establish transfer pathways to four-year institutions, while also aligning high school graduation requirements with community college standards and maintaining baseline state funding levels for higher education. The bill creates additional funding streams, including a $1 billion annual Student Success Fund to improve outcomes for underserved populations and targeted grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, and Minority-Serving Institutions, with federal appropriations escalating from $98.1 million in 2027 to $2.5 billion annually by 2036. States experiencing economic hardship based on unemployment levels can request waivers that reduce their cost-sharing obligations, with the most economically distressed states potentially receiving fully federally-funded programs. All participating institutions must submit annual reports on fund usage and student outcomes, and states may be subject to funding reductions if they fail to comply with grant requirements or implement required reforms.

This bill requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to update its monitoring plan for gray wolves in the Northern Great Lakes region, which includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, within one year of the law's enactment. Once the monitoring plan is updated, the Secretary of the Interior must issue a rule to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list in that region, though this does not affect wolf protections in other areas. The bill establishes a Northern Great Lakes Region Gray Wolf Advisory Committee within 30 days that will include federal agencies, state officials nominated by governors, representatives from federally recognized Indian tribes, and wolf experts to consult on the monitoring plan update and oversee a five-year post-delisting monitoring period. The legislation is sponsored by Senators Baldwin and Klobuchar and directs the advisory committee to help guide decisions about wolf management in the three-state region. No specific federal funding amount is mentioned in the bill text provided.

The Safe Access to the Polls Act would prohibit the federal government from spending money to deploy Department of Homeland Security personnel (including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Protection officers) or National Guard members near polling locations during elections. Specifically, the law would ban these uniformed federal employees from operating within a quarter mile of any voting location, setting up checkpoints on routes to polling places, or interfering with voters' ability to reach their assigned polling sites. The bill affects federal agencies and applies during any voting period. The legislation contains no specific funding amounts or implementation timeline. The bill aims to prevent the federal government from using immigration enforcement or military resources in ways that could discourage or prevent eligible citizens from voting.

This bill establishes the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative, a federal program designed to protect and restore the ecological health of the Mississippi River and its surrounding areas across ten states: Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The bill creates a new Mississippi River National Program Office within the Environmental Protection Agency, headed by a director who will coordinate restoration efforts across federal agencies and non-federal partners. The initiative focuses on five main areas: improving water quality, building community resilience against flooding, protecting fish and wildlife habitat, preventing invasive species, and conducting scientific research and monitoring. The EPA director must develop measurable goals within one year and an action plan within two years, with updates every five years, while also establishing three research centers affiliated with the U.S. Geological Survey to support the work. The bill authorizes federal funding for eligible projects carried out by government agencies, nonprofits, universities, and tribal governments, with most non-federal entities required to contribute at least 20 percent of project costs, though tribal governments and community capacity-building projects receive full federal funding.

The Seeds and Breeds for the Future Act would increase federal funding and coordination for developing new crop varieties and animal breeds through public research programs. The legislation requires the Department of Agriculture to set aside at least $75 million annually for competitive grants focused on developing publicly-owned seeds and breeds, with priority given to varieties that are climate-resilient, regionally adapted, and beneficial to local and Indigenous communities. The bill establishes a new coordinator position within the Agriculture Department to oversee plant and animal breeding research across federal agencies and to track all breeding programs funded with federal money, with results reported publicly each year. Anyone who receives intellectual property rights to publicly-funded cultivars or animal breeds must agree to produce them substantially in the United States, ensuring domestic production. The legislation also requires the Agriculture Department to implement and report on a national strategy for managing plant and animal genetic resources, including addressing the backlog of work needed to preserve existing animal germplasm collections.

This bill creates a new registration exemption under federal securities laws for rural telephone companies that provide broadband internet service. The exemption allows these companies to raise capital by issuing securities without going through the full registration process normally required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as long as they meet specific conditions. Companies qualifying for this exemption must have no more than 100,000 broadband subscribers collectively across all their affiliates, file annual financial summaries with the SEC and their investors within 120 days of their fiscal year end, and have between 500 and 2,000 non-accredited investors holding their securities. The legislation aims to help smaller rural broadband providers access capital more easily to fund expansion and service improvements, with no specific funding amounts or implementation timelines mentioned in the bill text.

The Reproductive Health Care Training Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to expand training for abortion care providers across the United States. The Health Resources and Services Administration would award grants to medical schools, academic health centers, and other health care organizations in states where abortion training is permitted to develop or expand educational programs in abortion care for doctors, residents, and advanced practice clinicians. The legislation prioritizes funding for institutions located in states with comprehensive abortion training, those that train providers from states with limited abortion access, and minority-serving institutions, with special focus on serving underrepresented and medically underserved communities. Funded activities can include clinical training programs, telehealth training, scholarships for trainees, and partnerships with community health organizations. The bill authorizes $25 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with recipient organizations required to submit annual reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Congress on program outcomes.

This bill establishes a federal grant program through the Treasury Department to fund travel expenses and support services for people seeking abortion care. Eligible organizations, primarily nonprofit and community-based groups like abortion funds, can receive grants to pay for costs such as transportation, lodging, meals, childcare, translation services, and lost wages for individuals traveling to access abortion services. The bill prioritizes grants to organizations serving people in states with abortion bans or restrictions and those helping people travel across state lines for care. The legislation authorizes $350 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support this program, which responds to the increased travel distances and financial barriers people face following the 2022 Supreme Court decision eliminating the constitutional right to abortion. The bill also includes a federal preemption clause preventing states from blocking the use of these funds and prohibiting federal agencies from cooperating with state investigations or prosecutions related to the program.

This bill updates the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 to strengthen protections for passengers with disabilities traveling by air. Currently, the law prohibits discrimination but lacks a "private right of action," meaning passengers cannot sue airlines directly in court for violations. The bill adds this critical enforcement mechanism, allowing individuals with disabilities to file civil lawsuits against airlines within two years of experiencing discrimination, including incidents involving damaged wheelchairs, denial of boarding, physical harm, or inadequate assistance. The bill also requires the Department of Transportation to assess civil penalties for specific violations such as loss or damage to assistive devices, failure to provide boarding assistance, and gross negligence, with serious cases referred to the Attorney General. Additionally, prevailing plaintiffs can recover compensatory and punitive damages along with attorney fees and court costs, giving passengers meaningful recourse without first having to go through government administrative processes.

This joint resolution seeks to block a federal regulation issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that sets rules for how Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces will operate in 2027, along with related standards for the Basic Health Program. Using its authority under the Congressional Review Act, Congress is exercising its power to formally disapprove this administrative rule, which was published in the Federal Register on May 20, 2026. If passed, the resolution would nullify the CMS rule entirely, meaning it would have no legal effect. This would primarily affect health insurers offering ACA marketplace plans, state governments running Basic Health Programs, and ultimately consumers who purchase insurance through ACA exchanges, since the payment and benefit parameters set by CMS influence premiums, cost-sharing, and plan offerings. The resolution was introduced in June 2026 and moved quickly through the Senate, with the committee discharged and the measure placed directly on the calendar for a vote in July 2026.

This bill establishes a new Foreign Investment Review Authority to monitor whether foreign countries follow through on investment commitments they have made to the United States. The FIRA will review foreign investments to determine if they qualify as fulfilling these commitments and whether they provide genuine economic benefits to America, such as creating quality jobs with good wages and benefits, using domestically sourced materials, and supporting domestic growth. The bill identifies specific initial investment commitments from Japan ($550 billion), South Korea ($350 billion), Taiwan ($500 billion), and China, and requires foreign investors and U.S. government officials to disclose their involvement in covered investments, with penalties up to 10 percent of the investment value for non-compliance. The FIRA will be governed by a board including representatives from Commerce, Justice, and Labor departments plus four additional members, along with an independent ethics officer and a public oversight board, and the bill requires annual reports to Congress and semiannual public reports on job creation and investment outcomes.

The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act expands federal housing assistance programs to include qualified volunteer firefighters and emergency responders who have been overlooked by existing programs. The bill allows volunteer first responders who have served continuously for at least two years and meet state or tribal certification requirements to access the Department of Agriculture's Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program with an $18,000 annual income deduction and to qualify for discounted home purchases through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program, which was previously limited to paid professionals in these fields. To receive these benefits, volunteers must submit verification letters from their fire departments or emergency services employers confirming their service history and current certification status. The bill includes a requirement that volunteers using the HUD program commit to continuing their service for at least one year after purchasing a home. This legislation aims to support volunteer first responders by recognizing their service and helping them achieve homeownership despite typically earning little or no compensation for their work.