Lisa Blunt Rochester

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to "Fair Credit Reporting; Background Screening".

Congress is considering blocking a recent decision by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to withdraw its rules protecting people's credit information when used for background screening by employers and landlords. If approved, this would force the agency to keep those protections in place, preventing companies from using credit reports for background checks without following strict fairness requirements. The resolution targets workers and renters who could be denied jobs or housing based on their credit history.

Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act of 2026

The federal government would direct health officials to create guidelines ensuring that state Medicaid programs cover pelvic health services for women during the postpartum period, which is the time after childbirth. This would help ensure that low-income mothers have access to treatments for conditions like pelvic floor dysfunction and other health issues that commonly occur after pregnancy. The guidance would apply to all states that receive federal Medicaid funding.

IMPACT to Save Moms Act

The federal government would fund a test program allowing states to experiment with new ways of paying for pregnancy and childbirth care through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). States participating in the demonstration project could try different payment approaches to see what works best for covering pregnant women and new mothers. This would help identify more effective and efficient ways to deliver maternity care to low-income individuals covered by these government health programs.

WELLS Act

Hospitals that accept Medicare payments would be required to create written discharge plans for pregnant patients before they leave the hospital, ensuring they have clear instructions for follow-up care and support after delivery. This requirement would apply to all hospitals participating in the Medicare program and aims to improve outcomes for mothers and newborns by making sure patients understand their post-hospital care needs. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Finance Committee.

Permanent Housing Affordability Act

This bill would likely create or expand programs to help make housing more affordable and stable for low- and middle-income Americans, possibly through measures like rental assistance, down payment help, or protections against eviction. It would affect renters and homebuyers struggling with housing costs, as well as landlords and housing developers. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Senate committee that handles housing policy.

Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act of 2025

This bill would support the use of virtual reality, augmented reality, and other immersive technologies to train American workers in new skills and prepare them for jobs in growing industries. The legislation likely aims to help workers learn through realistic simulations and hands-on digital experiences, making job training more effective and accessible while helping employers find skilled workers they need. It would affect workers seeking training, employers looking to develop their workforce, and educational institutions offering career preparation programs.

National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2025

This bill would establish a national center to study and address the nursing shortage in the United States by collecting data on nurse employment, training needs, and workforce trends. The center would help hospitals, schools, and policymakers understand where nurses are needed most and how to better prepare people for nursing careers. This affects nurses, hospitals, nursing schools, and patients who depend on adequate staffing in healthcare facilities.

Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill would extend and renew a federal program that funds projects to clean up and restore the Delaware River and its surrounding watershed, which supplies drinking water to millions of people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York. The reauthorization would allow the program to continue receiving federal money for activities like removing pollution, restoring wetlands and fish habitats, and protecting water quality in the region. Communities and water utilities that depend on the Delaware River would benefit from ongoing federal support for environmental improvements.

Rental Housing Investment Act

This bill would likely change how rental property owners are taxed on their investments, possibly by adjusting tax deductions, depreciation rules, or other tax benefits related to owning and renting residential properties. The changes could affect both individual landlords and large rental companies, and might influence housing costs and availability by making rental property investment more or less attractive depending on the specific tax modifications included.

A resolution recognizing the importance of career and technical education ("CTE") educators and work-based learning coordinators in delivering high-quality CTE, preparing students for success in the workplace, the classroom, and in life, and supporting dynamic workforce pipelines that enable the United States to grow and lead in critical economic sectors.

This resolution honors career and technical education teachers and coordinators who prepare students for jobs in fields like skilled trades, healthcare, and manufacturing by combining classroom learning with real workplace experience. The resolution recognizes that these educators play a crucial role in building a strong workforce pipeline that helps the United States compete globally and fill critical job openings in key industries. The measure passed the Senate unanimously without changes.

Maximizing Transportation Efficiency Act

This bill aims to improve how transportation systems operate and reduce inefficiencies in public infrastructure, though the specific measures aren't yet detailed since it's still in early stages. The proposal would likely affect commuters, shipping companies, and local governments that manage roads and transit systems. Once the committee reviews it, lawmakers will determine whether it focuses on things like traffic management, freight movement, or funding for transportation projects.

Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act

Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act This bill requires the strategic plan for the Manufacturing USA program to be updated every four years. Manufacturing USA is a network of public-private manufacturing innovation institutes. Current law requires the strategic plan for Manufacturing USA to be updated every three years. The bill aligns the timeline for updates to the Manufacturing USA strategic plan with the timeline for updates to the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing, such that both documents must be updated at four-year intervals.

Housing Supply Frameworks Act

This bill would establish new frameworks and guidelines to help increase the supply of affordable housing across the country by streamlining development processes and potentially providing incentives for builders and communities to construct more homes. It would affect housing developers, local governments, and people struggling to find affordable places to live by making it easier and faster to build new housing projects.