Valerie P. Foushee

State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act

The federal government would create a grant program to help state and local governments update their outdated computer systems and technology infrastructure. This funding would allow cities, counties, and states to modernize their IT equipment and software so they can better serve residents and operate more efficiently. The grants would be managed by the Commerce Department's communications office.

Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act

The government would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to create task forces that develop technical standards and guidelines for identifying content made by artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT or image generators. These standards would help people, companies, and platforms detect when text, images, or other media were created by AI rather than humans. This affects tech companies, social media platforms, news organizations, and the general public who need reliable ways to spot AI-generated content.

Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

This measure would require the President to withdraw U.S. military forces from any active combat operations involving Iran, unless Congress votes to approve continued military action. The directive invokes the War Powers Resolution, a law that limits how long the President can keep troops engaged in military hostilities without congressional approval. It affects military personnel deployed in the Middle East and reflects ongoing debate over which branch of government should authorize military conflicts.

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to codify the Optional Practical Training program.

The proposal would officially write into law the Optional Practical Training program, which allows foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges and universities to work in the country for a limited time in their field of study. Currently, this program operates under temporary government rules rather than permanent legislation, so codifying it would give it more stable legal status and potentially make it harder to change without new laws. The change would mainly affect international students and the employers who hire them, as well as universities that host these students.

RECON Act

The proposal would allow Social Security disability and supplemental income applicants to skip the reconsideration step when their initial claim is denied, letting them go directly to a hearing before a judge instead. Currently, people must request reconsideration (where the same agency reviews the denial) before they can appeal to a judge, which can delay their case by months. This change would give applicants more control over their appeals process and potentially speed up decisions for those who want to move straight to a hearing.

Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act

The federal government would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop technical standards and guidelines for identifying content created by artificial intelligence, and would mandate that audio and video content made or significantly altered by AI include a clear label disclosing its AI origin. This would affect tech companies, content creators, and media platforms by establishing rules for how AI-generated material must be marked and identified. The goal is to help the public distinguish between human-created and AI-generated content.

Supporting the goals and ideals of "Long COVID Awareness Month".

This resolution recognizes Long COVID Awareness Month to highlight the ongoing health challenges faced by millions of people who continue experiencing symptoms weeks or months after their initial COVID-19 infection, such as fatigue, breathing problems, and brain fog. The measure aims to raise public awareness about Long COVID, support affected individuals and their families, and encourage research and medical attention to better understand and treat this condition. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a statement of congressional support for efforts to address Long COVID.

HBCU AI Research Leadership Act

This bill would direct federal funding and support to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to establish and expand artificial intelligence research programs and centers. The goal is to help these institutions build AI research capacity, train students in AI fields, and position HBCUs as leaders in developing this important technology. The funding would help increase diversity in AI research and development, an area where Black Americans and graduates from HBCUs are currently underrepresented.

Ensuring OB–GYN Care in Prisons Act

This bill would require prisons to provide pregnant women and incarcerated people with access to obstetric and gynecological care, including prenatal and postpartum services. The legislation aims to ensure that pregnant inmates receive proper medical attention during pregnancy and childbirth rather than being denied or delayed necessary healthcare. The bill affects incarcerated women and their newborns by establishing standards for reproductive health services in correctional facilities.

Military Family Diaper Partnership Act

This bill would establish a partnership program to help military families afford diapers and other essential baby care products, recognizing that service members and their families often face financial strain. The program would likely work with retailers or manufacturers to provide discounts or direct assistance to eligible military families, making childcare costs more manageable for those serving in the armed forces.

Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026

This bill would expand mental health services and treatment options for people with mental health conditions, particularly those who may have faced barriers to care in the past. It likely aims to improve access to mental health providers, increase funding for mental health programs, and remove obstacles that prevent individuals from getting the help they need. The changes would affect patients seeking mental health treatment, healthcare providers, and potentially insurance companies and government health programs.

Empowering Young Readers Act of 2026

The bill aims to improve reading skills and literacy among young students, likely through funding, programs, or resources focused on early reading instruction and intervention. It probably affects schools, teachers, and elementary-age children by providing support for reading education initiatives. The measure is currently under review by the House Committee on Education and Workforce to determine its specific provisions and funding requirements.

Expanding AI Voices Act

This bill would likely expand the use of artificial intelligence-generated voices in communications and media, possibly by clarifying rules about when companies can use AI to create synthetic speech or by removing barriers to AI voice technology development. The legislation would affect tech companies, broadcasters, and potentially consumers who encounter AI-generated audio in everything from customer service calls to entertainment. The bill's exact impact depends on whether it aims to promote AI voice adoption, establish safety standards, or address concerns about deepfakes and voice impersonation.

To require a report on merits and options for establishing an institute relating to space resources, and for other purposes.

Congress would require the government to study whether the U.S. should create a new institute focused on space resources—such as mining materials from asteroids or the moon and developing technology to use them. The study would examine the benefits of establishing such an institute and what different approaches might work best, helping lawmakers decide if this is something worth pursuing. This affects space companies, scientists, and the government agencies that oversee space exploration.

To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program for partnerships between covered basic needs banks and military installations to provide diapers and diapering supplies to military families, and for other purposes.

The Department of Defense would create a test program allowing military bases to partner with organizations that distribute diapers and diaper supplies to help military families afford these essential items. This pilot program would provide free or low-cost diapers to service members and their families who need assistance, addressing a common financial hardship among military households. The program would run at select military installations to determine whether these partnerships effectively reduce the financial burden on military families.

National Gun Violence Research Act of 2025

National Gun Violence Research Act of 2025 This bill promotes gun violence research, including by removing limitations on the use of firearms tracing data by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; permitting funds made available to the Department of Health and Human Services to be used for gun violence research; establishing the National Gun Violence Research Program to promote gun violence research; and authorizing competitive grants to support research into the nature, causes, consequences, and prevention of gun violence.

IMPACT Act 2.0

IMPACT Act 2.0 This bill expands and modifies Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) programs, including the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program, to provide states reimbursement, incentives, and technical assistance to purchase low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, or asphalt mixtures. Under the bill, these are products that reduce, to the maximum extent practicable, greenhouse gas or directly related pollutant emissions to levels below the commercially available products. Specifically, the FHWA must provide to states reimbursement for the additional cost of using low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and asphalt mixtures used in state highway projects; incentives for the acquisition of these products for use in state highway projects; technical assistance to update the state's specifications and standards to be performance-based specifications and standards; and technical assistance to benchmark and quantify embodied greenhouse gas emissions (i.e., emissions associated with the production and transportation of goods). The FHWA must leverage the Every Day Counts Initiative to promote the commercialization of low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and asphalt mixtures. The FHWA must establish and maintain a publicly available directory of state-submitted low-emissions products that the FHWA determines to be eligible for reimbursement or incentives. Further, the bill modifies the STBG program to allow states to issue advance purchase commitments for cement, concrete, asphalt binder, or asphalt mixtures (1) with superior durability and performance to conventional materials, or (2) that achieve superior performance with respect to environmental performance or energy efficiency. The bill allows for multi-year contracts, under specific conditions.