New Jersey Congressional Bills

passed · New Jersey · Senate Jun 15, 2026

S 736: Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act

S 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, amends federal law to increase penalties for providing prohibited items (like phones) to prison inmates. It adds a maximum 2-year prison term for knowingly supplying phones to inmates, specifically targeting violations related to phone trafficking. The bill also requires the Bureau of Prisons to review and update its policies within one year of enactment to better prevent inmate access to prohibited objects and enhance safety for both incarcerated individuals and staff. These changes directly affect prison staff, correctional facilities, and individuals involved in supplying contraband to inmates.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Chuck Grassley (R) · 17 co-sponsors

passed · New Jersey · Senate Jun 15, 2026

S 567: First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act

First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · New Jersey · House Jun 12, 2026

HR 9152: VETRA Act

The VETRA Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to run a two-year pilot program aimed at upgrading its digital security systems to better protect veterans' benefits and reduce fraud. Under this initiative, the VA will test new multi-layered identity verification methods on up to three high-use platforms, such as those for disability claims, health care enrollment, and educational benefits. The program requires the use of commercially available, independently certified security tools that adjust verification strictness based on the risk level of each transaction. To ensure accountability, the bill mandates regular reports to Congress on performance metrics and requires an independent evaluation by the Government Accountability Office before deciding whether to expand the system nationwide.

Topics ✓ Technology ✓ Veterans

in committee · New Jersey · House Jun 12, 2026

HR 8971: Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2026

The Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2026 establishes a program to allow noncitizen veterans who were previously removed from or barred from entering the United States to return and obtain permanent resident status. It requires government officials to reopen and terminate removal cases for eligible veterans, provided they were not deported due to violent crimes or serious offenses involving at least five years in prison. The bill also mandates that noncitizen service members and veterans cannot be removed unless convicted of a crime of violence, while granting them access to military benefits and a streamlined path to naturalization. Additionally, the law directs immigration authorities to identify at-risk veterans, seek supervisory approval before initiating removal proceedings against them, and annotate official records with specific details about their military service.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration ✓ Veterans

in committee · New Jersey · House Jun 12, 2026

HR 8793: Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act of 2026

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a public list of healthcare providers who have completed annual, evidence-based training on preventing veteran suicide. To qualify for this preferred provider list, providers must either finish VA-sponsored training or demonstrate completion of substantially similar external training that meets military healthcare standards. The VA must review this list annually to ensure compliance and submit regular reports to Congress detailing participation numbers and the effectiveness of the program in influencing veteran care choices.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

in committee · New Jersey · House Jun 12, 2026

HR 8553: POPCaP Authorization Act of 2026

This bill establishes a new Precision Oncology Program for Prostate Cancer within the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide specialized care and research for veterans diagnosed with prostate or related genitourinary cancers. The legislation authorizes the creation of at least 21 designated Centers of Excellence across the country, each required to offer genetic sequencing, clinical trials, and specialized medical staff to treat eligible veterans. A dedicated leadership team will coordinate these centers, maintain a national data registry, and develop uniform tools to standardize care and research efforts. The program includes a five-year funding authorization of $15.5 million annually and mandates that existing prostate cancer resources at these facilities remain protected until 2030. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit detailed implementation plans and annual performance reports to Congress to ensure accountability.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

in committee · New Jersey · House Jun 11, 2026

HJRES 196: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the right to vote.

This bill proposes a new amendment to the U.S. Constitution to guarantee the right to vote for all citizens of legal voting age in their place of residence. It requires states to allow voters to register and cast ballots on election day and mandates that Congress set national standards for how elections are administered. The amendment permits only narrowly tailored rules to protect election integrity and gives Congress the authority to pass laws enforcing these new voting rights.

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 11, 2026

SRES 766: A resolution acknowledging and apologizing for the mistreatment of, and discrimination against, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served the United States in the uniformed services, the Foreign Service, and the Federal civil service and committing to the pursuit of equal rights, protections, and respect for all LGBT servicemembers and Federal civil servants.

This Senate resolution formally acknowledges and apologizes for the decades of discrimination and wrongful termination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served in the U.S. military, Foreign Service, and federal civil service. The measure highlights historical policies, such as the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule and the "Lavender Scare," which forced hundreds of thousands of service members to leave their jobs or hide their identities, while also noting recent executive actions that have rescinded protections for gender identity. While the resolution reaffirms a commitment to equal rights and respect for all LGBT government employees, it explicitly states that it does not create any legal claims or settlements for affected individuals.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Tim Kaine (D) · 19 co-sponsors

in committee · New Jersey · House Jun 11, 2026

HRES 1364: Commemorating 10 years since the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016.

This resolution commemorates the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, which was an act of domestic terrorism. It formally honors the names of the victims and expresses condolences to their families while acknowledging the bravery of law enforcement and emergency responders who responded to the tragedy. The document also reaffirms support for the LGBTQ+ community and calls for continued efforts to improve gun safety and mental health legislation.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Darren Soto (D) · 29 co-sponsors

in committee · New Jersey · House Jun 11, 2026

HRES 1361: Expressing support for the recognition of July 3 through July 10, 2026, as "National Extreme Heat Awareness Week", a national event educating the public on the dangers of extreme heat and the risks of extreme heat events to public safety, infrastructure, agriculture, and much more, and supporting the goals of a National Extreme Heat Awareness Week.

This resolution expresses support for designating July 3 through July 10, 2026, as "National Extreme Heat Awareness Week" to educate the public on the dangers of extreme heat. The bill highlights how high temperatures threaten public safety, infrastructure, and agriculture, noting that heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States. It encourages federal, state, and private entities to hold ceremonies and activities during this week to raise awareness about preventing heat-related illnesses and promoting community preparedness.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 11, 2026

S 4776: Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act

This bill, known as the Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act, aims to repeal specific restrictions on how the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives manages gun-related data. By removing these limits, the legislation would allow federal agencies to keep instant background check records longer than the current 24-hour requirement and enable the ATF to conduct annual inventory audits of gun dealers. Additionally, the bill would permit the consolidation of firearms records and allow for more Freedom of Information Act requests regarding gun traces. These changes are intended to help law enforcement track illegal firearms more effectively and support research into gun trafficking patterns.

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 11, 2026

S 4770: Web of Biological Data Act of 2026

The Web of Biological Data Act of 2026 directs the Department of Energy to create a centralized online platform called the Web of Biological Data to help researchers access and analyze biological information using advanced tools like artificial intelligence. This system will serve as a single entry point for various biological datasets, particularly those funded by the federal government, while implementing tiered security measures to protect sensitive data and restrict access to certain foreign nations. The bill establishes a phased rollout plan that includes an initial testing phase within two years and a full expansion within five years, supported by an advisory board comprising representatives from industry, academia, and other federal agencies. Funding is authorized to support the development, maintenance, and expansion of the platform, with requirements for regular reports on progress and cybersecurity assessments.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Technology

New Jersey Congressional Bills

Bill results