Deborah K. Ross

Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026

Independent musicians and music creators would be allowed to band together to negotiate better pay and terms with major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, rather than having to accept whatever deals those companies offer individually. This would give smaller artists more bargaining power to fight for fairer compensation for their work. The bill aims to level the playing field between independent creators and the large tech companies that control music distribution.

Supporting Women COPS Act of 2026

The legislation would provide federal grants and support programs to help recruit, train, and retain women in law enforcement careers across the country. It aims to address the underrepresentation of women in police departments and other law enforcement agencies by funding initiatives that remove barriers to entry and advancement. Police departments, women interested in law enforcement careers, and communities would be the primary beneficiaries of these programs.

Petfax Act of 2026

This bill would require pet sellers to provide accurate information about the health, breed characteristics, and background of animals being sold, with penalties for misleading customers. The measure would affect pet stores, breeders, and online sellers who would need to follow new disclosure rules to help buyers make informed decisions and reduce fraud in the pet industry. The bill has been sent to two congressional committees for review.

Closing Bankruptcy Loopholes for Child Predators Act of 2026

The legislation would change bankruptcy laws to prevent companies and individuals accused of child sexual abuse from using bankruptcy proceedings to avoid paying settlements or judgments to victims. It aims to ensure that survivors of child sex abuse can still recover compensation even when defendants file for bankruptcy protection. The bill affects both victims seeking justice and organizations facing such allegations.

Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act of 2026

The federal government and state health agencies would be required to share food safety inspection data and contamination reports with each other more quickly and consistently, helping them identify and respond to foodborne illness outbreaks faster. This would affect food companies, restaurants, grocery stores, and consumers by improving the speed at which dangerous products are removed from shelves and the public is warned about contaminated food. The law aims to prevent illnesses and deaths by breaking down information barriers that currently exist between different government agencies.

RECOVER Act of 2026

This bill would stop Medicare from reducing payments to healthcare providers when patients receive multiple therapy services (like physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy) at the same time. Currently, Medicare pays less per service when a patient gets several types of therapy together, and this bill aims to eliminate that payment cut so providers receive full reimbursement for each therapy service delivered. The change would affect Medicare beneficiaries, therapy providers, and the Medicare program's costs.

Clean Slate through Repayment Act of 2026

If a borrower repays a federal student loan that went into default, this bill would require that the default mark be removed from their credit report, giving them a fresh financial slate. This would help borrowers rebuild their credit scores after catching up on their payments, making it easier for them to qualify for mortgages, car loans, or other credit in the future. The change would primarily benefit student loan borrowers who have fallen behind but are now able to get current on their payments.

Expressing support for the designation of March 26, 2026, as "National Science Appreciation Day".

Congress would officially recognize March 26, 2026, as "National Science Appreciation Day" to celebrate and promote public interest in science and scientific achievement. The designation is largely symbolic and would encourage Americans, schools, and organizations to highlight the importance of science and technology in everyday life. This type of resolution doesn't create new laws or funding but serves as a statement of congressional support for raising awareness about science.

No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act

This bill would prevent people convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot from receiving federal benefits like pensions, disability payments, or other government assistance. The measure aims to ensure that individuals who participated in the attack cannot profit from or receive support through taxpayer-funded programs while serving their sentences or after conviction.

End Prison Gerrymandering Act

End Prison Gerrymandering Act This bill requires the Bureau of the Census, beginning with the 2030 decennial census, to attribute an individual incarcerated in a correctional facility or detention center to the individual's last place of residence before incarceration. Further, a state must treat such an individual's last place of residence in the state before incarceration as the individual's place of residence for purposes of congressional redistricting.

Buy Now, Pay Later Protection Act of 2025

This bill would establish new consumer protections for "buy now, pay later" services—the increasingly popular payment plans that let shoppers split purchases into installments without using a credit card. The legislation would likely require these companies to disclose fees and terms clearly, limit predatory practices, and possibly regulate how they report payment history to credit agencies, similar to protections that already exist for traditional credit products. The rules would affect both the companies offering these services and the millions of consumers using them to make everyday purchases.

Redistricting Transparency and Accountability Act of 2025

This bill would require states to make their congressional district-drawing process more transparent and accountable by establishing standards for how districts are created and making those decisions more open to public input and scrutiny. It aims to reduce partisan gerrymandering—where politicians manipulate district boundaries to favor one party—by setting rules that states must follow when redrawing electoral maps. The changes would affect voters, politicians, and state election officials who oversee the redistricting process every ten years after the census.

America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025

The bill addresses immigration policies affecting children, likely focusing on how the government handles minors who enter the country without parents or guardians and the legal protections available to them. The specific provisions would determine whether it expands or restricts services, detention practices, or pathways for these children, impacting both immigration enforcement agencies and organizations that work with vulnerable youth.

Land of the Free Act of 2025

I don't have access to the specific details of what this bill would do, as I can only see its title, subject area (immigration), and current status (referred to committee). To write an accurate summary of the bill's concrete effects on immigration policy and who it would affect, I would need to review the actual bill text or legislative summary. I'd recommend checking Congress.gov for the full bill details to get an accurate description of its provisions.

Right to FDA-Approved Medicines Act

This bill would allow patients to access medications that the FDA has approved in other countries but not yet approved in the United States, even if those drugs haven't completed the full U.S. approval process. The legislation aims to give terminally ill or seriously ill patients more options when standard treatments aren't working, though it would likely include some safeguards to ensure the drugs meet basic safety standards. The change would affect patients with life-threatening conditions, pharmaceutical companies, and the FDA's drug approval process.

Defend our Coast Act

The proposal would restrict or prohibit oil and gas drilling activities in coastal waters off the United States, protecting marine environments and coastal communities from potential environmental damage and spills. This would affect energy companies that operate offshore drilling operations, as well as coastal residents, fishing industries, and tourism businesses that depend on clean ocean waters.