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119th Congress Legislation Tracker—Michigan Impact, Bill by Bill (2026)

Last Updated: May 7, 2026. A bill-by-bill look at what's actually moved through the 119th Congress — sorted by issue, so you can jump straight to what matters to you.

119th Congress Legislation Tracker

Coverage is current through the May 7, 2026 Congressional Record Daily Digest. This guide is updated as new digest data becomes available. It's a companion piece to our U.S. Senate Race for Michigan 2026 Voter Guide — read that guide for candidate positions, fundraising, and how to vote.

Table of Contents

  1. Budget & Economy
  2. Healthcare
  3. Immigration
  4. Education
  5. Housing
  6. Children & Families
  7. Elections & Voting Rights
  8. Environment & Great Lakes
  9. Veterans
  10. Agriculture and Farm
  11. Technology and Finance
  12. Infrastructure
  13. National Security & Defense
  14. Also on the Table

Introduction

The Senate has introduced thousands of bills in the 119th Congress. Most will never become law — fewer than 1% do. What you'll find below are the ones that actually moved: signed into law, passed a chamber, failed a critical vote, or are actively being debated. Some of the most significant policy changes of this term didn't come through standalone legislation — they were buried inside the budget bill. We've pulled those out and placed them in the issue sections where they belong, so you can see the full picture.

For context on just how rare it is for a bill to become law — and why that makes legislative experience worth asking candidates about — see How Much Legislation Actually Passes in our Senate guide.

The data is sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, the official daily log of Senate and House activity, and is current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

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1. Budget & Economy

The budget is where the biggest decisions of the 119th Congress were made — and where the biggest fights happened. One massive bill reshaped taxes and spending for years to come. Everything else has been a struggle to simply keep the government's lights on.

The One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1)

Status: Signed into Law | July 2025: The defining legislation of this Congress. Passed the Senate 51–50 with VP Vance breaking the tie. Every Democrat voted no. Because it used the budget reconciliation process, it only needed 51 votes — no bipartisan support required.

What it does on taxes:

    • Makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent — they had been set to expire in 2025
    • Eliminates federal taxes on tips and overtime pay
    • Increases the child tax credit
    • Creates a new deduction for car loan interest on American-made vehicles
    • Raises the SALT deduction cap — a concession to Republicans from high-tax states
    • Raises the debt ceiling by $4 trillion

What it cuts to pay for it:

    • Medicaid: Adds work requirements for able-bodied adults 18–64; tightens eligibility verification; reduces federal matching rates. The CBO estimated millions would lose coverage nationally.
    • SNAP (food stamps): Reduces benefits and shifts more costs to states
    • Student loans: Limits income-driven repayment and forgiveness options
    • Clean energy: Phases out EV tax credits, solar and wind incentives from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act

During the Senate vote-a-rama — the marathon amendment process — Democrats offered dozens of amendments to protect Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, school meals, and childcare funding. Every single one was rejected on party-line votes of approximately 47–51.

Michigan impact: Michigan has approximately 2.8 million Medicaid enrollees and 1.3 million SNAP recipients. Changes to benefits and eligibility tightening will directly affect Michigan families. The elimination of the EV tax credit hits Michigan's auto industry transition. The "no tax on tips" provision benefits Michigan's large service and hospitality workforce.

Keeping the Government Funded

FY2025 Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 1968)
  • Status: Signed into Law | March 2025
  • Funded the federal government through September 30, 2025. Prevented a shutdown left over from the previous Congress. Flat funding — no increases — which hit programs already under inflationary pressure.
FY2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 7148)
  • Status: Signed into Law | February 3, 2026
  • After months of failed cloture votes — the Senate voted more than eight times on various continuing resolution versions from September through November 2025 — Congress finally passed a full-year funding bill. Passed the Senate 71–29, a notably bipartisan vote after months of gridlock. Signed more than four months into FY2026.
DHS Funding Lapse
  • Status: Unresolved As of May 2026
  • DHS, which runs ICE, Border Patrol, and immigration services, was given only a short-term continuing resolution inside the February bill. When that expired, DHS went into a funding lapse. The Senate tabled the House's standalone DHS funding bill in April. The House passed a new bill called the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act (H.R. 8029) on March 26, 2026 —218 to 206. The Senate has not acted on it. Congress has held hearings on the impacts of the DHS shutdown. As of May 2026, DHS remains unfunded on a full-year basis.
FY2026 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 33)
  • Status: Passed Senate & House | April 2026
  • After months of funding chaos, Congress finally passed the budget blueprint in the Senate 50–48 on April 22, 2026 and the House 215–211 on April 29, 2026. A budget resolution doesn't become law and the President doesn't sign it — but it sets the spending and revenue targets Congress is supposed to follow when writing actual appropriations bills. This one covers FY2026 through FY2035. Its passage is a prerequisite for any future reconciliation legislation.

Tariffs: The Senate Tried, The Courts Delivered

Setting tariffs is constitutionally Congress's job — written directly into Article I. But over decades, Congress passed laws allowing the President to impose tariffs in national emergencies. Trump used those laws broadly, imposing sweeping tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, China, and nearly every other country. The courts have been systematically striking them down.

The Senate tried to fight back legislatively first. Under the same laws Trump used, Congress can pass resolutions terminating tariffs — but those still need to clear both chambers and survive a presidential veto. The Senate passed two. The House didn't act on either. Then the courts stepped in.

Global Tariff Termination (S.J. Res. 49)
  • Status: Failed | April 2025
  • The first Senate attempt to roll back broad global tariffs. Failed before it even cleared the Senate — tied 49–49, with VP Vance casting the deciding vote to kill it.
Global Tariff Termination (S.J. Res. 88)
  • Status: Passed Senate, Did Not Become Law | October 2025
  • Passed 51–47 with several Republicans joining all Democrats. The House did not take it up. Even if it had passed both chambers, the President could have vetoed it.
Brazil Tariff Termination (S.J. Res. 81)
  • Status: Passed Senate, Did Not Become Law | October 2025
  • Passed 52–48. Same outcome — the House did not act.
Supreme Court Strikes Down EEPA Tariffs
  • Status: Decided | February 20, 2026

  • In Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that IEEPA — the emergency powers law Trump used to impose sweeping global tariffs — does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. The Court began with Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, and imposts. Tariffs, the Court stressed, have long been understood as a branch of the taxing power, and the framers gave Congress alone access to the pockets of the people. All IEEPA-based tariffs — including the "Liberation Day" reciprocal tariffs and the fentanyl tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China — were terminated February 24, 2026. An estimated $166 billion in tariffs had been collected under the now-invalidated authority. Refund questions were sent back to lower courts.

Trump Pivots to Section 122 — Also Struck Down
  • Status: Decided | May 7, 2026
  • Within hours of the Supreme Court ruling, Trump imposed new 10% — then 15% — tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a different law meant to address balance-of-payments deficits for up to 150 days. On May 7, 2026, the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down those Section 122 tariffs as well. This was a lower federal court — not the Supreme Court — and the ruling is expected to be appealed to the Federal Circuit and potentially back to the Supreme Court. The Section 122 tariffs also faced a hard deadline — they automatically expire after 150 days unless Congress votes to extend them — putting Congress in the position of having to vote on tariffs just months before the 2026 midterm elections. Steel and aluminum tariffs under Section 232 were not affected by either ruling and remain in place.

Michigan impact: The U.S. average effective tariff rate climbed to nearly 17% — the highest since the early 1930s — with research finding that nearly 90% of those costs were borne by American firms and consumers. Michigan's auto industry, which depends heavily on cross-border supply chains with Canada and Mexico, was directly in the line of fire. The legal fight is not over — but the constitutional principle that tariffs belong to Congress, not the President, has now been affirmed twice.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


2. Healthcare

Healthcare decisions in the 119th Congress have landed in two places: inside the One Big Beautiful Bill — where the biggest coverage changes happened — and in a series of hearings that signal where the Senate's attention is focused. The biggest healthcare story of this term isn't a standalone healthcare bill. It's a budget bill.

Medicaid Cuts (H.R. 1 — One Big Beautiful Bill)
  • Status: Signed into Law | July 2025
  • The reconciliation bill added work requirements for able-bodied Medicaid enrollees aged 18–64, tightened eligibility verification, and reduced federal matching rates for certain state Medicaid expansions. The CBO estimated millions would lose coverage nationally. This is fully detailed in the Budget section — but it belongs here too because it is the largest single change to healthcare coverage in this Congress.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan has approximately 2.8 million Medicaid enrollees. Coverage losses will be felt most in rural areas where documentation requirements are harder to meet.
ACA Subsidy Protection (S.J. Res. 84)
  • Status: Failed | January 2026
  • Democrats attempted to use the Congressional Review Act to block a rule rolling back Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies and protections. Failed 47–52 — the ACA rule rollback stood.
Opioid Treatment Reauthorization (H.R. 2483)
  • Status: Signed into Law | December 2025
  • Reauthorizes federal programs for opioid use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery. One of the few genuinely bipartisan healthcare bills of the term.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan has been among the hardest-hit states in the opioid crisis. This reauthorization maintains federal treatment funding statewide.
Prescription Drug Pricing
  • Status: Failed | April 2026
  • During the budget resolution vote-a-rama, Senator Sanders offered an amendment to reduce prescription drug prices by more than 50% by adopting Most Favored Nation pricing, so Americans would pay no more for drugs than Europeans or Canadians. Failed 49–49. A separate Senate HELP Committee hearing in April 2026 examined how competition could lower drug prices, but no legislation has advanced.
Chemical Abortion Drugs
  • Status: Hearing Held | January 2026 T
  • The Senate HELP Committee held a hearing examining medication abortion drugs — specifically mifepristone, the FDA-approved drug used in the majority of abortions in the U.S. Witnesses included a state attorney general arguing for restrictions and a physician arguing for continued access. No legislation introduced yet — but the hearing signals this is an active area of Senate interest.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan voters passed Prop 3 in 2022, protecting abortion rights at the state level. Federal action on medication abortion would affect Michigan regardless of state law.
RFK Jr. & HHS Priorities
  • Status: Hearing Held | April 2026
  • Secretary RFK Jr. testified before both the Senate Finance Committee and Senate HELP Committee on the FY2027 HHS budget request — two separate hearings on the same day. The hearings covered Medicaid, public health priorities, vaccine policy, and NIH funding. RFK Jr.'s confirmation was narrow (approximately 52–48), and his leadership of HHS remains one of the most watched and debated of any cabinet appointment.
  • Michigan impact: HHS administers Medicaid, the NIH, CDC, FDA, and public health infrastructure — all of which directly affect Michigan residents and Michigan's healthcare system.
FDA Bureaucracy
  • Status: Hearing Held | February 2026
  • The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing examining whether FDA bureaucracy is slowing access to treatments for rare diseases. Witnesses included patient advocates and researchers. No legislation resulted but reflects ongoing tension around drug approval speed vs. safety standards.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


3. Immigration

Immigration has been the most active legislative topic of the 119th Congress — more floor time, more hearings, and more signed legislation than almost any other issue. The Senate has moved on enforcement and detention, while broader policy questions around citizenship remain unresolved.

Detention & Criminal Enforcement

Laken Riley Act (S. 5)
  • Status: Signed into Law | January 2025
  • Requires mandatory federal detention of undocumented immigrants charged with theft, burglary, or crimes causing death or serious injury — before conviction. Named for a Georgia nursing student killed by a Venezuelan national in 2024. First bill signed by President Trump in the 119th Congress. Passed 64–35; twelve Democrats crossed party lines to vote yes.
One Big Beautiful Bill — Border & Enforcement Provisions (H.R. 1)
  • Status: Signed into Law | July 2025
  • The reconciliation bill included more than $170 billion for border enforcement, deportation operations, expanded ICE detention capacity, and additional immigration judges. It also increased fees for legal immigration processes, including green cards. Every Democrat voted no. Passed 51–50 with VP Vance breaking the tie.

Who Gets to Stay

Removal of Automatic Work Authorization Extension (S.J. Res. 99)
  • Status: Failed | April 2026
  • Would have overturned a rule that automatically extends work permits for immigrants with pending renewal applications. Failed 47–50. The rule allows immigrants who filed renewals on time to keep working legally while waiting for processing — eliminating it would have caused immediate job losses for legal immigrants caught in the backlog.
Oversight Hearing — ICE, CBP, and USCIS
  • Status: Hearing Held | February 2026
  • The Senate Homeland Security Committee brought in the heads of ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to testify on operations and enforcement priorities. No legislation resulted, but the hearing put enforcement leadership on the record.

Citizenship

Birthright Citizenship
  • Status: Hearing Held | March 2026
  • The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution held two hearings examining whether children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants should automatically receive citizenship — a right currently guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. The first hearing focused specifically on birthright citizenship; the second broadened to federalism, sanctuary cities, and the rule of law. Legal scholars testified on both sides. No bill has been introduced yet, and any change would likely require a constitutional amendment.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


4. Education

Education in the 119th Congress has been shaped most by what's already been signed — student loan cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill — and by a wave of committee activity on school curriculum, higher education access, and workforce preparation. No major standalone education bill has passed yet, but the direction is clear.

Student Loan Changes (H.R. 1 — One Big Beautiful Bill)
  • Status: Signed into Law | July 2025
  • The biggest education policy change of this Congress happened inside the budget bill, not a standalone education bill. The Big Beautiful Bill consolidated student loan repayment plans and significantly limited income-driven repayment and forgiveness options. Borrowers who were on track for loan forgiveness under existing plans may no longer qualify or may face longer repayment timelines. Full details in the Budget section.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan has significant student loan debt across its university and community college population. The changes to income-driven repayment directly affect Michigan graduates — particularly those in lower-wage fields like education, social work, and public service who relied on forgiveness pathways.
Legacy Admissions Ban (S. 880)
  • Status: In Committee | 2026
  • Would prohibit colleges and universities receiving federal student assistance from giving preferential treatment in admissions to legacy applicants or donors' children. Raised in the Senate HELP Committee member day. No vote yet — but signals bipartisan interest in college admissions fairness following the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling.
Home School Graduate Recognition (S. 3747)
  • Status: In Committee | 2026
  • Amends the Higher Education Act to formally recognize students who completed secondary education through home schooling as high school graduates for federal purposes. Reported from the Senate HELP Committee.
Standard Financial Aid Offer Form (S. 1558)
  • Status: In Committee | 2026
  • Would require colleges to use a standardized financial aid offer form so students can accurately compare aid packages across schools. A transparency measure — in Senate HELP Committee.
Charter Schools — FLEX Act (H.R. 7082)
  • Status: In Committee | January 2026
  • The Fostering Learning and Excellence in Charter Schools Act passed out of the House Education and Workforce Committee in January 2026. Would expand and reform the federal charter school grant program. Needs Senate action.
Parental Consent in Schools (H.R. 2616)
  • Status: In Committee | 2026
  • Would require public elementary and middle schools receiving federal funds to obtain parental consent before changing a student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms, or providing sex-based accommodations. Reported from the House Judiciary Committee. Senate has not acted.
Foreign Influence in Higher Education
  • Status: Hearing Held | March 2026
  • The Senate HELP Committee held a hearing examining foreign influence in higher education — focused on transparency around foreign funding of universities. No legislation yet.
Linda McMahon — FY2027 Education Budget
  • Status: Hearing Held | April 2026
  • Education Secretary Linda McMahon testified before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the FY2027 Education Department budget request. The hearing put the administration's education priorities on the record, including school choice expansion and reduced federal involvement in local education decisions.

Michigan impact: Michigan has one of the strongest public university systems in the country — University of Michigan, Michigan State, Wayne State, and 15 public universities total — plus 28 community colleges. Federal education policy on accreditation, financial aid, and student loans directly affects hundreds of thousands of Michigan students.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


5. Housing

Housing affordability has been a rare area of bipartisan urgency in the 119th Congress. The Senate passed a major housing supply bill with one of the most lopsided bipartisan votes of the entire term. It still needs to clear the House.

Housing for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 6644)
  • Status: Passed Senate | March 12, 2026
  • Passed the Senate 89–10 — one of the most bipartisan votes of the 119th Congress. The bill aims to increase the supply of housing in America through a package of reforms targeting zoning, development incentives, and federal land use. The Senate debated it for several days and adopted a bipartisan amendment requiring the Comptroller General to study workforce housing, housing for elderly and disabled Americans, and the proximity of housing to Superfund sites. The bill now needs House action. The House has been working on its own housing legislation — the Affordable HOMES Act (H.R. 5184) and the SHOWER Act (H.R. 4593) — but no House-Senate reconciliation has happened yet.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan has faced a significant housing shortage, particularly for workforce housing and affordable units in both urban and rural communities. Federal action on housing supply is directly relevant to Michigan renters, first-time buyers, and lower-income households.
Housing Affordability Hearing
  • Status: Hearing Held | January 2026
  • The House Oversight Committee held a hearing titled "Housing Affordability: Saving the American Dream" — examining what's driving costs and what federal policy options exist. No legislation resulted directly from the hearing.
Hedge Fund Home Ownership
  • Status: Failed | April 2026
  • During the budget resolution vote-a-rama, Senator Merkley offered an amendment to establish a reserve fund addressing the impact of hedge fund ownership of single-family homes on rent prices. Failed 46–52. The issue of institutional investors buying up single-family homes has been a growing concern — this was an attempt to put Congress on record addressing it. It didn't succeed.
  • Michigan impact: Institutional investors have been active in Michigan housing markets, particularly in metro Detroit and mid-sized cities, driving up prices and reducing inventory for individual buyers.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


6. Children & Families

The Senate has introduced hundreds of bills touching on social policy this term. Most never make it to a vote. What you see below are the ones that actually moved — passed into law, failed a critical vote, or are actively being debated. Some of the biggest social policy changes this term happened inside larger bills like the One Big Beautiful Bill (see Budget section) — not in standalone legislation.

Abortion & Pregnancy

Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 6)
  • Status:  Failed | January 2025
  • Would have required medical care for infants born alive after a failed abortion. Didn't reach the 60 votes needed to advance. Significant for Michigan, given voters passed Prop 3 protecting abortion rights in 2022.
FACE Act (Existing federal law)
  • Status: Hearing Held | April 2026
  • Federal law protects access to abortion clinics. A hearing framed it as potentially dangerous, questioning whether it's been used as a weapon against protesters. No Senate vote yet.
Pregnant Student's Fairness Act (S. 3627)
  • Status: Failed January 2026
  • Would have required colleges to inform pregnant students of their rights, accommodations, and resources. The Senate attempted to bring it to the floor — the cloture vote to proceed failed 47–45 on January 27, 2026. Sixty votes were needed to advance. A companion House bill (H.R. 6359) passed the House 217–211 and is now sitting in the Senate on the Legislative Calendar.

Child Care

Child Care Fraud Prevention Package (H.R. 7720–7726)
    • Status: Passed House Committee | April 2026
    • A package of eight bills targeting fraud in the Child Care and Development Block Grant program cleared the House Education and Workforce Committee and has been reported to the full House. These bills:
      • Require states to account for fraudulent child care payments
      • Debar providers who committed fraud from receiving future federal funds
      • Mandate triennial reviews of state performance
      • Withhold funds from noncompliant states
      • Important context: This package is about fraud prevention — not expanding access or affordability. It doesn't create new child care slots, increase funding, or help working parents afford care. No Senate vote yet.
Child Care Worker Wages (S. 846)
    • Status: In Committee | 2026
    • Would strengthen programs to increase the supply of quality child care by enhancing wages for child care workers. In the Senate HELP Committee — no vote yet.
Child Care Funding Amendment
    • Status: Failed | April 2026
    • During the budget resolution vote-a-rama, Senator Alsobrooks offered an amendment to establish a reserve fund to increase child care funding for families. Failed 47–51.
    • Michigan impact: Michigan faces a significant child care shortage. The state has lost thousands of child care providers since the pandemic. Federal action on affordability and access has not materialized in this Congress — what has moved is fraud prevention, which addresses a real issue but doesn't help parents find or afford care.

Paid Leave

Balancing Careers and Care
    • Status: Hearing Held | February 2026
    • The House Education subcommittee held a hearing examining innovative approaches to paid leave — covering both private sector and public policy options. No legislation has advanced.
    • Michigan impact: Michigan does not have a state-paid family leave law. Federal paid leave legislation has stalled in Congress for years. No change in the 119th Congress so far.

Child Safety

CHILD Act (S. 1528)
    • Status: Passed Senate | April 2026
    • Businesses and organizations working with children or vulnerable populations can now run federal background checks on contractors, not just employees.
COPPA 2.0 (S. 836)
    • Status: In Committee | January 2026
    • The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act update was reported out of the Senate Commerce Committee in January 2026 — meaning it cleared committee and is eligible for a Senate floor vote. Strengthens protections for the online collection, use, and disclosure of children's and teens' personal information. Has not yet come to a full Senate vote.
Kids Internet Digital Safety Act (H.R. 7757)
    • Status: In Committee | March 2026
    • Cleared the House Energy & Commerce Committee in a March 2026 markup alongside the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (H.R. 6291) and the App Store Accountability Act (H.R. 3149). These bills represent a package of child online safety measures moving through the House — Senate action pending.

Michigan impact: Michigan parents, educators, and advocates have been active on children's online safety. These bills would impose new requirements on tech platforms regarding how they handle data and content for minors.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


7. Elections & Voting Rights

Voting rights legislation in the 119th Congress has been defined less by what's passed and more by how Republicans are trying to pass it — attaching voting restrictions to unrelated bills to avoid the 60-vote filibuster threshold. Nothing has been signed into law yet, but the fight is very much alive.

The SAVE Act — Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote

SAVE Act via Veterans Bill (S. 1383)
  • Status: Pending | Active through April 2026
  • This is the most significant voting legislation in the 119th Congress — and the way it's moving through the Senate tells its own story. The SAVE Act (Secure and Accurate Federal Elections Act) requires proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It's a major policy change — currently, voters sign a form attesting to citizenship under penalty of perjury, but don't have to provide documentation. The SAVE Act would require actual documents. Rather than introducing it as a standalone bill — where it would need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster — Republicans attached it to S. 1383, a veterans bill establishing an advisory committee. The House passed the veterans bill with the SAVE Act provisions added. The Senate has been debating the House version for weeks, with Republicans also attempting to add a photo ID requirement as an additional amendment. Learn more about the SAVE Act →
  • As of the May 7, 2026 digest, the Senate has not yet voted to finalize it. The debate has been grinding and contentious.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan voters passed Proposal 2 in 2022, which expanded voting access — including automatic voter registration, same-day registration, and nine days of early voting. The SAVE Act's proof-of-citizenship requirement would create a new documentation hurdle that could disenfranchise eligible voters who lack easy access to passports or birth certificates, including seniors, lower-income voters, and rural residents. Michigan's existing voter registration system would need significant changes to comply.
Photo Voter ID Requirement
  • Status: Pending | March–April 2026
  • Senator Husted offered an amendment to the SAVE Act vehicle requiring photo identification to vote in federal elections. It has been pending alongside the broader SAVE Act debate. No final vote yet.
Voter ID & Registration — Budget Vote-A-Rama
  • Status: Failed | April 2026
  • During the budget resolution vote-a-rama, Senator Kennedy offered an amendment to establish voter ID and registration identification requirements for federal elections through the reconciliation process. Failed 48–50 — the amendment also ran into a procedural point of order.
"Make Elections Great Again" Hearing
  • Status: Hearing Held | February 2026
  • The House Administration Committee held a hearing on restoring "trust and integrity" in federal elections. Testimony came from state election officials making the case for stricter ID requirements and registration rules.
  • Michigan impact: A Michigan state representative — Ann Bollin — testified at this hearing, placing Michigan's election laws directly in the national spotlight.
Women & Girls in Athletics
  • Status: Pending | March–April 2026
  • Senator Tuberville and Senator Blackburn offered an amendment to protect women and girls in athletics — targeting transgender athlete participation — also attached to the SAVE Act veterans bill vehicle. This amendment has been pending alongside the other SAVE Act amendments. No final vote yet.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan has active collegiate and high school athletics programs. Federal legislation on transgender athlete participation would affect Michigan schools and universities regardless of state policy.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


8. Environment & Great Lakes

The environmental story of the 119th Congress runs in two directions at once — rollbacks of clean energy and climate regulations on one side, and bipartisan protection of specific natural resources on the other. For Michigan, the Great Lakes are the headline.

The Great Lakes

Great Lakes Basin Monitoring Reauthorization (S. 2878)
  • Status: Signed into Law | December 2025
  • Reauthorizes federal funding to monitor, assess, and research the Great Lakes Basin. Passed with bipartisan support. Michigan has more Great Lakes coastline than any other state — this reauthorization maintains federal investment in water quality monitoring critical for drinking water, fishing, and tourism.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (S. 528)
  • Status: Hearing Held | April 2026
  • The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on restoration efforts in the Great Lakes region, including reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative — the primary federal program funding cleanup of pollution, invasive species control, and habitat restoration. No vote yet, but the hearing signals active attention to the program's future. Michigan impact: The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has directed hundreds of millions of dollars into Michigan over its lifetime. Its reauthorization is one of the most Michigan-specific legislative questions pending in the Senate.
Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act (S. 216)
  • Status: Signed into Law | December 2025
  • Improves the administration of the Marine Debris Foundation and NOAA's marine debris program. Directly relevant to Great Lakes debris and water quality.

Clean Energy Rollbacks

California EV Emission Waivers (PL 119-15, 16, 17)
  • Status: Signed into Law | June 2025
  • Three CRA resolutions revoked California's authority to set stricter vehicle emission standards than federal minimums, including the Advanced Clean Cars II rules that would have required increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicle sales through 2035. Because automakers can't practically build different vehicles for different states, California's standards had effectively been the national standard. Revoking them removes the regulatory pressure driving EV investment nationwide.
  • Michigan impact: This is one of the most consequential environmental actions for Michigan. Ford, GM, and Stellantis had built major EV investment plans around California's standards. The reversal reduces transition pressure — which cuts both ways depending on whether Michigan workers are in EV or traditional manufacturing.
One Big Beautiful Bill — Energy Provisions (H.R. 1)
  • Status: Signed into Law | July 2025
  • The reconciliation bill phased out clean energy tax credits from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act — including the $7,500 consumer EV credit, credits for used EVs, and incentives for solar and wind energy. It also expanded fossil fuel leasing on federal lands and offshore, and extended nuclear energy production credits.

Fossil Fuel Expansion

National Petroleum Reserve — Alaska (S.J. Res. 80)
  • Status: Passed Senate | October 2025
  • Passed 52–45. Overturned Biden-era land management rules that had restricted oil drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Needed House action to become law — status of House action not confirmed in available records.
Colorado Regional Haze Plan Disapproval (S.J. Res. 139)
  • Status: Failed | April 2026
  • Would have overturned an EPA rule on air quality standards for Colorado. Failed 46–52 — the EPA rule stayed in place. One of the few environmental CRA attempts that did not succeed.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


9. Veterans

Veterans legislation has been one of the few consistently bipartisan areas of the 119th Congress. Several bills were signed into law with broad support. A large package of VA reform legislation is now working through committee, with more action expected before the term ends.

Michigan impact throughout: Michigan has approximately 570,000 veterans. All federal VA legislation directly affects this community.

Benefits & Compensation

VA Disability Compensation Rate Increase
  • Status: Signed into Law | November 2025
  • Increased VA disability compensation rates effective December 1, 2025. Directly benefits Michigan veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Medal of Honor Pension Increase
  • Status: Signed into Law | December 2025
  • Increased pension payments for Medal of Honor recipients.
VA Fiduciary Reform
  • Status: Signed into Law | December 2025
  • Strengthens repayment requirements when VA-appointed fiduciaries misuse veterans' benefits. Closes an accountability gap that had allowed misuse to go uncorrected.
Military Aircrew Cancer Study
  • Status: Signed into Law | August 2025
  • Directs the National Academies to study cancer prevalence among active duty military aircrew. Relevant to Michigan's Air National Guard community and veterans who served in aviation roles.

Housing

VA Housing Income Calculation Reform (H.R. 224)
  • Status: Signed into Law | January 2026
  • Requires that service-connected disability compensation be excluded when calculating income eligibility for housing programs. Previously, VA disability payments could push veterans over income thresholds and make them ineligible for housing assistance — this fix ensures disability pay doesn't count against them.
End Veteran Homelessness Act (H.R. 1957)
  • Status: In Committee | 2026
  • Would strengthen federal programs targeting veteran homelessness. In committee — no floor vote yet.
Every Veteran Housed Act (H.R. 3869)
  • Status: Hearing Held | March 2026
  • Heard in a major VA reform package hearing in March 2026. No vote yet.
Kitchen Table Issues — VA Home Loan Program
  • Status: Hearing Held | March 2026
  • The House Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing specifically on lowering costs for veteran families through the VA home loan program — examining interest rates, fees, and access.

Healthcare & Wellbeing

Dental Care for Veterans Act (H.R. 10)
  • Status: Hearing Held | March 2026
  • Would expand VA dental care coverage for veterans. Currently, VA dental benefits are very limited — this bill would significantly broaden access. Heard in the major March 2026 VA reform package. No vote yet.
Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act (H.R. 4876)
  • Status: Hearing Held | March 2026
  • Would require the VA to provide reproductive healthcare services to veterans and their dependents. Heard in the March 2026 VA reform package hearing alongside more than 20 other bills. No Senate vote yet.
VA Reform Package
  • Status: Hearing Held | March 2026
  • The House Veterans' Affairs Committee held a sweeping hearing in March 2026 on more than 20 VA reform bills covering accountability, contracting, electronic health records modernization, employment services, toxic exposure advisory committees, and management reform. These bills are in early stages — most have not yet come to a floor vote in either chamber.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


10. Agriculture & the Farm Bill

Agriculture rarely makes headlines but it drives Michigan's rural economy — and the biggest agriculture legislation in five years just passed the House and is headed to the Senate where Michigan's Senator Slotkin sits on the Agriculture Committee.

Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567)

  • Status: Passed House, Awaiting Senate | April 30, 2026
  • The House passed the new farm bill 224–200 on April 30, 2026. This is the five-year legislation that governs federal agricultural programs through 2031 — everything from crop insurance and commodity supports to SNAP, conservation programs, and rural development. It now heads to the Senate.

Key provisions in the House-passed version:

  • SNAP restrictions: Tightens what food items can be purchased with benefits. An amendment adding hot rotisserie chicken as an eligible SNAP item passed 384–35 — one of the few bipartisan moments in the bill.
  • Foreign land ownership: Prohibits the purchase of U.S. agricultural land by foreign adversaries and state sponsors of terrorism.
  • Farm equipment: Removes emissions mandates on farm equipment, reducing costs for farmers.
  • Agricultural research: Includes provisions for sustainable agriculture innovation and weather resilience programs.
  • Honey standards: Establishes federal testing standards for honey products.

Michigan impact: Michigan is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the country — ranking in the top ten nationally for production of more than 300 commodities including cherries, blueberries, apples, soybeans, corn, dairy, and dry beans. The farm bill directly affects Michigan farmers through crop insurance, commodity programs, and conservation funding. The SNAP provisions affect the more than 1.3 million Michigan residents who rely on food assistance.

Senator Slotkin sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee's Commodities, Derivatives, Risk Management, and Trade subcommittee — putting her directly in the room when the Senate takes up its version of the farm bill. This is one of the clearest opportunities for Michigan's junior senator to shape legislation that affects her state.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


11. Technology & Finance

Technology and finance have been active in the 119th Congress — not through sweeping regulation, but through targeted legislation on specific issues: crypto, children's online safety, and AI. The Senate's biggest tech accomplishment was bipartisan. Its most active area right now is protecting kids online.

Cryptocurrency & Digital Finance

GENIUS Act (S. 1582)
  • Status: Signed into Law | 2025
  • The first federal framework for regulating payment stablecoins — cryptocurrencies pegged to the dollar like USDC. Passed the Senate 68–30, one of the most bipartisan votes of the term. Requires stablecoin issuers to hold 1:1 reserves in high-quality liquid assets, register with federal or state regulators, and comply with anti-money laundering rules. Reflects growing congressional consensus that crypto needs federal guardrails.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan residents who use digital payment platforms or stablecoins gain new federal consumer protections under this law.
Online Scams, Crypto Fraud & Digital Extortion
  • Status: Hearing Held | April 2026
  • The Senate Homeland Security Committee held a joint hearing examining how transnational criminal networks are targeting Americans through online scams, crypto fraud, and digital extortion. No legislation yet — but signals this is an active area of concern.
CFPB Financial Rules Rollbacks
  • Status: Signed into Law | May 2025
  • Two regulations were overturned via the Congressional Review Act. The overdraft fee cap — which would have limited fees to $5 at large banks — was eliminated. The rule extending federal oversight to digital payment apps like Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal was also reversed. Both directly affect Michigan consumers.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan parents, educators, and advocates have been active on children's online safety. These bills would impose new requirements on tech platforms regarding how they handle data and content for minors.

Artificial Intelligence

AI — Multiple Hearings, No Legislation Yet
  • Status: Hearings Held | January–April 2026
  • Congress has been actively examining AI through hearings but has not passed any AI-specific legislation in the 119th Congress. Hearings include: "Building an AI-Ready America" (January 2026), "Winning the AI Arms Race Against the Chinese Communist Party" (January 2026), "Advancing America's AI Action Plan" (January 2026), and "Robots Made in America: Advancing U.S. Leadership in Manufacturing and Automation" (April 2026). The lack of legislation reflects genuine disagreement about how — and whether — to regulate AI at the federal level.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan's manufacturing sector is at the center of the robotics and automation debate. How Congress approaches AI regulation will directly affect Michigan factory floors and the workforce transition already underway.

Surveillance

FISA Section 702 Extension (S. 4344)
  • Status: In Committee | April 2026
  • Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — the authority that allows the U.S. government to collect communications of foreign targets, including communications with Americans — was being considered for a three-year extension as of late April 2026. Senate began consideration April 30. Section 702 has been one of the most contested surveillance authorities in Congress for years, with civil liberties advocates pushing for reform and national security advocates pushing for clean reauthorization.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


12. Infrastructure

Infrastructure has been more active than it might appear. The Senate passed a major pipeline safety bill in April, broadband deployment legislation is moving through the House, and a high-profile aviation disaster prompted sweeping FAA reform hearings. For Michigan specifically — a state famous for bad roads, rural broadband gaps, and a controversial pipeline running through the Straits of Mackinac — the activity matters.

Pipeline SAFETY Act (S. 2975)
  • Status: Passed Senate | April 29, 2026
  • Passed the Senate with bipartisan support. Amends federal transportation law to enhance the safety of pipeline transportation — covering inspection requirements, safety standards, and enforcement. Reported from committee in February 2026 after a March hearing on pipeline safety authorization. Needs House action to become law.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan has significant pipeline infrastructure, including the highly controversial Enbridge Line 5 — the pipeline running through the Straits of Mackinac. Federal pipeline safety standards directly govern how pipelines like Line 5 are inspected, maintained, and regulated. This bill matters for Michigan's water and environmental safety.
Broadband Funding Map Modernization (S. 2585)
  • Status: In Committee | February 2026
  • Reported from the Senate Commerce Committee. Would modernize the federal broadband funding map to promote more efficient use of federal broadband deployment dollars — fixing data accuracy problems that have led to funds going to areas already served while underserved areas are missed.
  • Michigan impact: Rural Michigan has significant broadband gaps. Accurate mapping is the first step to getting federal deployment dollars to the communities that actually need them.
American Broadband Deployment Act (H.R. 2289)
  • Status: In Committee | April 2026
  • Cleared the House Rules Committee in April 2026. Would streamline broadband deployment on federal lands and right-of-way. Needs full House floor vote, then Senate action.
Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act (H.R. 4690)
  • Status: In Committee | April 2026
  • Also cleared the House Rules Committee in April 2026 alongside the broadband bill. Addresses federal infrastructure permitting and reliability. Details of Senate consideration pending.
DCA Midair Collision — Aviation Safety
  • Status: Hearing Held | February 2026
  • The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on the NTSB final report on the Reagan National Airport (DCA) midair collision. The hearing prompted broader discussion about FAA staffing, air traffic control safety, and airport capacity. The Senate also reported an FAA safety management system review bill (S. 3700) from committee.
  • Michigan impact: Detroit Metro (DTW) is a major hub and Bishop International (FNT) in Flint serves the mid-Michigan region. FAA safety and staffing decisions affect both airports and Michigan air travelers.
Brownfields Redevelopment
  • Status: Hearing Held | March 2026
  • The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on legislative proposals to unlock the potential of brownfield sites — former industrial or commercial properties contaminated by prior use. No legislation passed yet.
  • Michigan impact: Michigan has hundreds of brownfield sites — legacy of its industrial manufacturing history. Federal brownfields policy directly affects redevelopment opportunities in Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, and other Michigan communities.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


13. National Security & Defense

The defining national security story of the 119th Congress isn't a bill — it's a constitutional fight over who has the authority to take the country to war. That question has played out repeatedly in votes over U.S. military engagement with Iran. Meanwhile, the annual defense bill passed on time and FY2027 military planning is already underway.

The Annual Defense Bill

National Defense Authorization Act FY2026 (S. 1071)
  • Status: Signed into Law | December 2025
  • The NDAA authorizes military activities, defense spending, pay, and construction for the fiscal year. It passes every year — this one was bipartisan as usual, though negotiations were contentious. Authorizes defense programs relevant to Michigan's military installations, Air National Guard, and defense manufacturers including General Dynamics and L3Harris.

Iran: Who Has the Authority to Go to War?

This is the constitutional question the 119th Congress has been wrestling with in real time. The U.S. has been engaged in military hostilities with Iran — and Congress never formally authorized it. Multiple attempts to invoke the War Powers Resolution and force a withdrawal have failed.

Iran War Powers — Senate (S.J. Res. 114)
  • Status: Failed | April 2026
  • Would have directed the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran not authorized by Congress. Failed 46–51 in the Senate.
Iran War Powers — Senate (S.J. Res. 184)
  • Status: Failed | April 2026
  • A second Senate attempt to invoke War Powers and remove U.S. forces from Iran hostilities. The motion to even bring it to the floor failed 47–50.
Iran War Powers — House (H. Con. Res. 38)
  • Status: Failed | March 2026
  • The House attempted to direct the President to remove forces from unauthorized hostilities in Iran. Failed 212–219.
Iran War Powers — House (H. Con. Res. 40)
  • Status: Failed | April 2026
  • A second House attempt. Failed by a single vote: 213–214.

The pattern: bipartisan concern about unauthorized military engagement, but not enough votes in either chamber to force a pullback. Every attempt has failed narrowly — the issue is not going away.

Michigan impact: Michigan has active military personnel, Air National Guard units, and a significant veteran and military family community. Unauthorized military engagement is not an abstract constitutional debate — it has direct consequences for who gets deployed.

FY2027 Defense Buildup

Senate Armed Services Committee hearings for the FY2027 NDAA are already underway, covering:

  • U.S. Special Operations Command and Cyber Command (April 2026)
  • U.S. Northern Command and Southern Command — which oversees U.S. homeland defense and operations in the Western Hemisphere (March 2026)
  • Nuclear forces and atomic energy defense (April 2026)

These hearings set the stage for next year's defense bill and reflect the Pentagon's budget priorities heading into an election year.

Nuclear Energy & Defense
  • Status: Hearing Held | March 2026
  • The Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee examined the implementation of Trump's May 2025 nuclear energy executive orders, covering both civilian nuclear power expansion and defense-related nuclear activities.
Intelligence
  • Closed Briefings — Ongoing
  • The Senate and House Intelligence Committees received multiple closed briefings throughout 2025 and 2026 on classified matters, including one on Operation Epic Fury (March 2026) and regular worldwide threat assessments. By their nature these don't produce public records — but their frequency signals active intelligence activity.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

[Back to Legislation on the Docket]


14. Also on the Table

Sexual Misconduct

TAKE IT DOWN Act (S. 7)
  • Status: Signed into Law | 2025
  • Makes it a federal crime to publish non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. Bipartisan. First federal law of its kind.
DEFIANCE Act (S. 1837)
  • Status: Passed Senate | January 2026
  • Strengthens the right to sue in civil court over non-consensual intimate digital forgeries. Paired with the TAKE IT DOWN Act — one covers criminal penalties, this one covers civil remedies.

Senate Ethics and Accountability

Senators Banned from Prediction Market Betting (S. Res. 708)
  • Status: Passed Senate | April 2026
  • Senators have inside knowledge the public doesn't. This closes that loophole. Bipartisan.
CLEAR Path Act (S. 2132)
  • Status: Passed Senate | April 2026
  • Tightens ethics rules on conflicts of interest when government officials leave for private sector jobs.

Guns & the Second Amendment

Second Amendment Hearing
  • Status: Hearing Held | April 2026
  • The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing examining the Second Amendment — featuring testimony from Representative Thomas Massie, Gun Owners of America, the National Association for Gun Rights, and a Georgetown Law constitutional scholar. The framing was firmly in support of gun rights, not gun restrictions. No legislation resulted.
Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act (H.R. 2189)
  • Status: Passed House | February 2026
  • Passed the House 233–185. Modernizes federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons — primarily addressing weapons like tasers and other de-escalation tools used by law enforcement. This is not a gun control bill — it updates definitions and standards for less-lethal weapons. Needs Senate action.

The bottom line on guns: No gun control legislation has been introduced, voted on, or come close to passing in the 119th Congress. No universal background checks, no red flag laws, no assault weapons legislation. The Senate's activity on firearms has been entirely in the direction of gun rights affirmation.

Michigan impact: Michigan has a strong hunting culture and significant gun ownership. Michigan also passed Prop 2 in 2022 requiring background checks for all firearm purchases. Federal inaction leaves the state operating under its own rules.

Labor & Workforce

Gig Economy
  • Status: Hearing Held | April 2026
  • The House Small Business Committee held a hearing on independent work and the gig economy — examining classification, benefits, and entrepreneurship for gig workers. No legislation yet.
Robots & Automation
  • Status: Hearing Held | April 2026
  • The House Science subcommittee held a hearing on U.S. leadership in robotics and automation manufacturing. No legislation yet but signals congressional attention to workforce displacement from automation.

Michigan impact: Michigan's manufacturing workforce is directly affected by automation decisions. The lack of federal action on either gig worker protections or automation workforce transitions leaves Michigan workers navigating these shifts without a federal safety net.

Data sourced from the Congressional Record Daily Digest, current through May 7, 2026. To explore bills, track their status, or read the full legislation, visit the U.S. Senate Bills, Acts & Laws page.

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Content Disclaimer: Our team researches information from official websites, news outlets, and other public resources to make it easier for Michigan residents to stay informed. We strive to provide accurate, balanced, and up-to-date information, but we may occasionally miss updates or changes. Michigan Women is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and does not support or oppose any political candidate or party. This content is intended solely for civic education and public awareness.