Keith Self

Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act of 2026

The Department of Veterans Affairs would test a program to cover over-the-counter hearing aids for eligible veterans, allowing them to purchase these devices without a prescription and potentially reducing costs compared to traditional prescription hearing aids. This demonstration project would help determine whether providing easier access to affordable hearing aids improves veterans' quality of life and whether it's a cost-effective option for the VA to offer. The results would inform whether the VA should expand this coverage more broadly to all veterans who need hearing assistance.

Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee Oversight Act of 2025

This bill would strengthen oversight of the advisory committees that help the Department of Veterans Affairs make decisions about veteran benefits and services. It likely aims to ensure these committees operate transparently, follow proper procedures, and actually represent veterans' interests by establishing clearer rules for how they function and report their activities. Veterans, VA staff, and the public would benefit from better accountability in how these advisory groups influence policies affecting millions of veterans.

Board of Veterans Appeals Annual Report Transparency Act of 2025

The bill would require the Board of Veterans Appeals to publish detailed annual reports showing how many cases it handles, how long decisions take, and other performance metrics so the public and Congress can see how well the agency is serving veterans. This transparency would help identify bottlenecks in the appeals process and hold the board accountable for timely decisions on veterans' benefits claims. Veterans and their families would benefit from knowing whether the system is working efficiently and where improvements are needed.

To amend title 31, United States Code, to require certain financial institutions to verify the citizenship and legal status of individuals, and for other purposes.

Banks and other financial institutions would be required to verify that customers are U.S. citizens or have legal status to be in the country before opening accounts or conducting certain financial transactions. This would affect millions of Americans and immigrants who use banking services, potentially making it harder or slower to open accounts. The requirement aims to prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing the financial system, though it could also create delays for all customers during the verification process.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

The Department of Veterans Affairs would create a new office dedicated to handling communication and coordination with Congress and lawmakers, helping ensure veterans' concerns are properly represented in legislative discussions. This office would serve as a central point of contact between the VA and Congress, potentially improving how the department responds to congressional requests and how veterans' issues are addressed in legislation. The change aims to strengthen the relationship between the VA and elected officials who oversee veterans' programs and benefits.

State Department Recurring Reports Repeal and Sunset Act of 2026

The legislation would eliminate or end various recurring reports that the State Department is currently required to submit to Congress on a regular basis, reducing the department's reporting obligations. This would affect Congress's ability to receive ongoing updates on foreign policy matters, diplomatic activities, and international affairs that these reports currently cover. The change would streamline State Department operations by removing administrative requirements, though it could limit congressional oversight of certain international issues.

Compensation Fund Recrediting Act

The proposal would close down a fund that was created to provide financial compensation to Filipino veterans who served in World War II and other conflicts. This change would affect Filipino veterans and their families who may have been receiving or expecting payments from this program. The bill has been sent to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs for review.

To amend title 10, United States Code, to define the purpose, role, duties, and professional qualification requirements for chaplains in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

The proposal would establish clear rules about what military chaplains do, what qualifications they need, and how their role fits within the Armed Forces. It would define their responsibilities and set professional standards that chaplains must meet to serve in the military. This affects military personnel who rely on chaplains for spiritual and counseling support, as well as the chaplains themselves and military leadership.

CHARGE Act

The bill would prevent electric vehicles and related equipment made by foreign companies considered a threat to U.S. national security from being sold in America, similar to existing restrictions on other noncomplying vehicles. This would primarily affect car manufacturers and consumers looking to buy electric vehicles, potentially limiting options and raising prices for buyers while protecting domestic EV makers from foreign competition. The measure targets countries like China that the government views as security concerns.

Consanguineous Marriage Prohibition Act of 2026

The proposal would establish federal laws preventing people who are closely related by blood from getting married, setting standards for which family relationships would make a marriage illegal. This would affect couples across the country by potentially overriding or standardizing state laws on incest and consanguinity (blood relation restrictions). The measure is currently under review by the House Judiciary Committee.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of the integration of Kosovo into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The House would express its official support for Kosovo becoming a member of NATO, the military alliance of North American and European countries. This is a non-binding statement of the House's position rather than a law that would directly change policy, but it signals congressional backing for Kosovo's membership in the alliance. The measure reflects support for Kosovo's integration into Western security structures.

To amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to increase the civil penalties that may be imposed under such Act.

The bill would increase the financial penalties that the government can impose on companies and individuals who illegally export controlled goods or technology to foreign countries without proper authorization. Currently, these penalties have a maximum limit, and this change would raise that limit to punish violations more severely. The higher penalties would apply to exporters who break rules designed to protect national security by controlling what sensitive materials and technology leave the United States.

FAITH Act

This bill would ban organizations from charging fees or requiring payments as a condition for people to participate in religious activities or services. The law would apply to churches, religious nonprofits, and other faith-based organizations, protecting individuals from being denied access to worship, prayer, or other religious practices because they cannot afford to pay.

To amend title 51, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to seek to establish the initial elements of a lunar outpost, and for other purposes.

The bill would direct NASA to work toward building the first permanent structures and facilities on the Moon that could support human presence and scientific research. This would involve developing the initial infrastructure needed for a lunar outpost, such as habitats, power systems, and equipment for astronauts and scientists to use. The effort would advance American space exploration capabilities and potentially support future missions to the Moon and beyond.

GUARD Act

Without access to the specific legislative text, the GUARD Act appears to address taxation policy, though the exact provisions are unclear from the title alone. Based on its referral to the House Ways and Means Committee, it likely proposes changes to federal tax law that could affect individuals, businesses, or both. To provide an accurate summary of what the bill would actually do, the specific language and provisions would need to be reviewed.

Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act

This bill would strengthen international cooperation and diplomacy efforts related to biological threats and disease prevention by enhancing how the U.S. government coordinates with other countries on biodefense issues. It likely aims to improve information sharing, joint research initiatives, and coordinated responses to biological risks between American officials and their international counterparts. The measure would affect diplomats, public health agencies, and international partners working together on disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness.

SHADOW Act

The SHADOW Act would establish new measures to counter malign foreign influence operations and disinformation campaigns targeting the United States, likely by improving coordination between government agencies and enhancing transparency about foreign interference efforts. The bill aims to protect American citizens, election integrity, and national security by making it easier to identify and respond to covert foreign activities. It affects federal agencies responsible for national security and intelligence, as well as the general public who could benefit from better protection against foreign manipulation.

Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act of 2025

This bill would strengthen the federal government's ability to detect, investigate, and prevent fraud and waste across federal programs by improving coordination between agencies, requiring better tracking of how money is spent, and establishing clearer penalties for those who commit fraud. It would affect federal agencies, contractors, and anyone receiving federal benefits or services by making it harder to fraudulently obtain government funds or services. The measure aims to save taxpayer money by catching dishonest activity earlier and making it riskier for people to try to cheat the system.

VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act

This bill would address situations where the Department of Veterans Affairs has incorrectly paid bonuses or relocation assistance to veterans and needs to recover those overpayments. The legislation likely aims to establish clearer rules for how the VA can collect money back from veterans who received benefits they weren't entitled to, while potentially protecting veterans from aggressive collection tactics or providing them with options to repay without hardship.

Tehran Incitement to Violence Act

This bill would authorize the U.S. government to impose sanctions and take legal action against Iranian officials and entities that the government determines are inciting violence against Americans or U.S. allies. The measure would give federal agencies tools to freeze assets, restrict financial transactions, and potentially prosecute individuals involved in such activities. It affects how the U.S. responds to Iranian threats and violence directed at American citizens and interests abroad.

Expressing support for the designation of September 22 as "National Military and Veterans Suicide Awareness Day".

This resolution supports the designation of a National Military and Veterans Suicide Awareness Day.

To codify Executive Order 14280 relating to reinstating commonsense school discipline policies.

This bill would turn an executive order into permanent law that changes how schools handle student discipline, aiming to restore what supporters call "commonsense" approaches to school safety and behavior management. The specific changes would affect how schools discipline students and could impact school administrators, teachers, and students across the country. The bill is currently being reviewed by multiple congressional committees to determine which parts fall under their areas of responsibility.

To codify Executive Order 14235 relating to restoring public service loan forgiveness.

This bill would make permanent a temporary program that forgives federal student loans for people who work in public service jobs like teaching, nursing, and government work. Currently, borrowers can have their remaining loan balance erased after making 120 qualifying monthly payments while employed full-time in eligible public service positions, but this bill would codify and protect that program in law rather than leaving it dependent on executive orders that could change with future administrations. The change would primarily benefit teachers, social workers, military members, and other public servants who are pursuing loan forgiveness.

123 GO Act

The bill's title is too vague to determine its specific policy goals from the name alone. Based on its referral to multiple committees including Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Energy, the legislation likely addresses international trade, defense partnerships, technology cooperation, or energy agreements with other countries, though the exact provisions and affected parties cannot be determined without reviewing the full bill text.

Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2025

Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2025 This bill restricts the President's authority to unilaterally undertake certain actions with respect to Iran and increases congressional oversight of those actions. Specifically, the President must report to Congress before terminating or waiving sanctions related to Iran or taking a licensing action that significantly alters U.S. foreign policy with respect to Iran. Each report must (1) describe the proposed action and its rationale, and (2) indicate whether or not the action is intended to significantly alter foreign policy concerning Iran. If the intention is to alter that policy, the report must provide additional information including the policy objectives for which the affected sanctions were initially imposed and the anticipated effects of the action on U.S. national security interests. After the President submits a report, the bill provides Congress with a 30-day period to review it; this period is extended to 60 days for reports submitted between July 10 and September 7. During this period, Congress may enact a joint resolution approving or disapproving the action. During the review period, the President may not take the action unless Congress passes a joint resolution of approval; if Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval, the bill prohibits the President from taking the action. The bill also outlines procedures for the introduction and consideration of these types of joint resolutions.

Funding is Zero for Zero Nutrition Options (FIZZ-NO) Act of 2025

Funding is Zero for Zero Nutrition Options (FIZZ-NO) Act of 2025 This bill revises the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits to purchase soda. Under the bill, soda means a carbonated beverage that contains more than 1 gram of added sugar, artificial sweetener, or flavoring per serving.

To require the name of military installation under jurisdiction of Secretary of the Army located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to be known and designated as Fort Bragg, and for other purposes.

This bill would officially designate a military installation in Fayetteville, North Carolina that falls under Army control as "Fort Bragg." The measure affects how the base is officially named and recognized by the federal government.