Part one · Priority one
Policy trackers
Policy that bears on a subject one of our trackers already covers. Each entry links to its tracker.
At a glance
Ordered by next decision date. Reviewed Nov 7, 2026.CLARITY Act (H.R. 3633): digital asset market structure
Whether Congress sets federal rules for digital asset markets before the 119th Congress ends.
Where it standsPassed one chamber; stalled in the Senate
Record
- Jul 17, 2025
- May 2026
The Senate Banking Committee ordered it reported, and it was reported Jun 1 (Senate Calendar No. 423). Sen. Cynthia Lummis's office puts the committee vote at 15 to 9.
Verified Congress.gov: H.R. 3633 · Sen. Lummis release - Sept 15, 2026
The motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed failed, 49-50 (Record Vote 234; 60 needed). Every Democrat who voted voted no, as did Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Josh Hawley, Jerry Moran and Tillis. Tillis recorded his no to preserve a motion to reconsider. Sen. Chris Coons did not vote.
Verified Senate Daily Press, Sept 15 · Galaxy Research - Since
A law-firm review says the bill "appears effectively dead for 2026," though the motion to reconsider means it is not formally dead. Galaxy Research put the odds of a revival after the vote as "very low."
Reported Yahoo Finance · Galaxy Research
Positions
- For
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY): said Senate Democrats "proved they were never truly serious about protecting consumers and preserving American leadership." Her office says the final text carried 126 changes made at Democrats' request.
Sen. Lummis statement - Against
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD): said Democrats needed "very clear ethics in place to prevent the grift and the corruption that we have seen from this administration."
Galaxy Research - Against
Sens. Hawley and Moran voted no and each cited the stablecoin yield question, per Galaxy Research.
Galaxy Research - Disputed
Banking trade groups, including the American Bankers Association, called the bill's deposit-flight "circuit breaker" "not a safeguard at all" because it would act only after substantial deposit flight.
Yahoo Finance
NextCongress returns the week of Nov 9. Sen. Thom Tillis's motion to reconsider the failed Sept 15 vote is still pending. A bill that is not enacted by Jan 3, 2027, when the 119th Congress ends, has to be reintroduced. Senate Daily Press, Sept 15 · The Hill · NPR
Iran war: war powers and funding
Whether Congress limits, ends or funds the U.S. war with Iran.
Where it standsPassed the House; failed in the Senate
Record
- Feb 28, 2026
The U.S. war with Iran began, according to AP.
Reported AP - Jul 23, 2026
- Sept 24, 2026
The Senate rejected H.Con.Res. 89, 49-50 (Vote 244). Republican Sens. Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul and Tillis voted yes. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voted no, and Alsobrooks did not vote.
Verified Senate Daily Press, Sept 24 · Senate floor activity - Sept 24, 2026
AP counted it as the Senate's 14th war powers vote since Feb 28, and notes a concurrent resolution does not go to the president. AP also reports a White House request for $87.6 billion for the war and other needs that had "idled in Congress," and a war cost of $43.5 billion to date.
Reported AP
Positions
- For
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), quoted by AP: "They have been carrying water for this ridiculous and illegal war for months and months and months and not listening to their constituents."
AP - For
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): "We've got to break the cycle."
AP - Against
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO): opposes the resolution and believes the president is acting within his authority. "My own view is that the focus right now needs to be on attacking the cost of living issues."
AP - Open
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries: "it is clear from this election that the American people are demanding accountability and an end to the war." He has not said whether Democrats will condition funding on it.
Politico
NextDec 11 is the year-end funding deadline. Some Democrats want that bill to block money for the conflict, and party leaders have not said whether they will. Congress returns the week of Nov 9. Politico · The Hill
AI companions and minors: GUARD Act and KIDS Act
Whether federal law restricts AI companion chatbots for minors, and how it sits beside state laws.
Where it standsReported by Senate committee; KIDS Act passed the House
Record
- Oct 28, 2025
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced S. 3062, the GUARD Act, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and others. It would ban AI companions for minors, require age verification and disclosure that a chatbot is not human, and set penalties of up to $100,000 per violation.
Verified Congress.gov: S. 3062 - Apr 30, 2026
The Senate Judiciary Committee ordered S. 3062 reported. It was reported May 11 with a substitute amendment (Senate Calendar No. 406). No later action is recorded. The committee vote was unanimous, per The Hill.
Verified Congress.gov: S. 3062 · The Hill - Apr 30, 2026
Rep. Blake Moore introduced a House companion, H.R. 8623, referred to the Judiciary and Energy and Commerce Committees. No later action is recorded.
Verified Congress.gov: H.R. 8623 - Jun 29, 2026
The House passed the KIDS Act (H.R. 7757, Rep. Brett Guthrie), 267-117 (Roll 228). It includes an AI chatbot disclosure provision, and the Kids Online Safety Act duty of care was removed. It reached the Senate Jul 13 and was referred to the Commerce Committee.
Verified Congress.gov: H.R. 7757 · CRS LSB11465 · NBC News
Positions
- For
Sens. Hawley and Blumenthal, the GUARD Act's lead sponsors.
The Hill - Mixed
Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) voted yes in committee and flagged age verification and revisions they want.
The Hill - Against
The Electronic Frontier Foundation calls the GUARD Act a "surveillance mandate disguised as child safety." The Future of Free Speech and Fight for the Future also oppose it.
EFF
NextJan 3, 2027: the 119th Congress ends, and bills not enacted by then lapse. The New York chatbot bill S9051B is tracked on The Companion Question, with checks set for Jan 12 and Jan 26, 2027. NPR
NASA authorization: H.R. 7273 and S. 933
Whether Congress authorizes NASA's budget, a Moon base and the path off the International Space Station.
Where it standsOrdered reported in both chambers
Record
- Jan 30, 2026
Rep. Brian Babin introduced H.R. 7273, the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026. The House committee ordered it reported Feb 4, 37-0. No later action is recorded.
Verified Congress.gov: H.R. 7273 - Mar 4, 2026
The Senate Commerce Committee passed S. 933 by voice vote with a Cruz-Cantwell substitute, titled the NASA Authorization Act of 2026. No later action is recorded.
Verified Congress.gov: S. 933 · Senate Commerce release - Mar 4, 2026
The Senate substitute authorizes $24.7 billion for FY2026 and $25.3 billion for FY2027, directs a permanent Moon base, and extends ISS operations from 2030 to Sept 30, 2032. NASA could begin transferring operations once a commercial station has shown it can do the ISS's work for a full year.
Verified Senate Commerce release
Positions
- For
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA): "For the first time, it authorizes NASA to establish a permanent Moon base as part of sustained American presence on the lunar surface and defines a transition process to end operations on the ISS and shift to commercial space stations."
Senate Commerce release - For
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), committee chair: the bill directs a permanent Moon base "so we can get there before the Chinese" and extends the ISS through 2032, requiring two independent commercial space stations to launch before the ISS can be retired.
Sen. Cruz statement
NextNo floor action is recorded in either chamber. Jan 3, 2027: the 119th Congress ends, and bills not enacted by then lapse. The authorization competes for floor time with funding, the defense bill and other year-end items. NPR
Haiti: the Gang Suppression Force and Haitians' status in the U.S.
How long the UN-authorized force is mandated, and what the Supreme Court's ruling means for Haitians with Temporary Protected Status.
Where it standsIn effect; litigation on remand
Record
- Jun 25, 2026
In Mullin v. Doe (No. 25-1083), the Supreme Court held 6-3 that the Temporary Protected Status statute bars court review of non-constitutional challenges, found the Haitian plaintiffs' equal protection claim "unlikely to succeed," and reversed and remanded. Justice Alito wrote for the Court. Justices Kagan, Sotomayor and Jackson dissented.
Verified Supreme Court opinion · CRS LSB11446 - Jul 27, 2026
DHS's termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti took effect.
Verified USCIS notice - Sept 29, 2026
UN Security Council Resolution 2829 renewed the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti for six months, to Mar 31, 2027. The vote was 12-0-3, with China, Pakistan and Russia abstaining.
Verified UN press release
Positions
- Stated
United States: the Force "exists and, better yet, it is beginning to work," taking the fight to gangs and clearing roads and neighbourhoods.
UN press release - Stated
Haiti: welcomed the renewal and said the Force needs personnel, equipment and operational capabilities to become fully operational. "It is not enough to take territory from the gangs."
UN press release - Abstained
China: the crisis is "not a simple security question," and it questioned whether an external force would ease it. Russia: questioned the Force's model and financing. Pakistan: Haiti needs a "holistic response that is nationally owned and executed."
UN press release
NextMar 31, 2027: the Gang Suppression Force mandate expires unless the Security Council renews it. The lower-court status of the Haitian plaintiffs' constitutional claim after remand has not yet been reviewed. UN press release
Federal preemption of state AI laws
Whether the federal government displaces state AI laws, by executive action, litigation or statute.
Where it standsExecutive order in effect; no statute
Record
- Dec 11, 2025
Executive Order 14365 set a national policy framework for AI (published Dec 16, 90 FR 58499). It directs a Justice Department litigation task force within 30 days and a Commerce evaluation of state AI laws within 90 days, adds conditions on federal broadband funds, calls for FCC and FTC action, and asks for a legislative recommendation that is not to preempt state child-safety laws.
Verified Federal Register: EO 14365 - Jan 9, 2026
- Apr 24, 2026
The Justice Department moved to intervene in xAI's lawsuit challenging the Colorado AI Act.
Reported Jenner & Block - Since Mar 11, 2026
The order set Mar 11, 2026 for Commerce to publish an evaluation of state AI laws. Jenner & Block reported on Apr 29 that Commerce had "yet to publicly release such a list," and we have not found one since. No preemption statute has been enacted.
Reported Jenner & Block
Positions
- For
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) wants a federal standard in place of what he calls a "patchwork of state laws."
Tech Times, Nov 6 - Against
- Context
A draft reportedly led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, John Thune and Cruz includes preemption language. In 2025 the Senate voted 99-1 to strip a proposed 10-year moratorium on state AI laws from a budget bill.
Tech Times, Nov 6
NextNo dated decision point. Watch for the Commerce evaluation of state laws, new Justice Department suits against state laws, and any preemption language in a bill in the new Congress, which convenes Jan 3, 2027. NPR
Russia sanctions: the Graham Act and the presidential waiver
Whether the sanctions and tariffs Congress mandated against Russia are ever applied.
Where it standsSigned into law; waived by executive order
Record
- Aug 7, 2026
The Senate passed H.R. 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, with an amendment, 86-11 (Roll 224).
Verified Congress.gov: H.R. 5334 - Sept 16-18, 2026
- Sept 2026
The Act directs sanctions and tariffs on Russia within 30 days, including duties of up to 500% on Russian goods and up to 100% on the top buyers of Russian energy, with a national-interest waiver under Section 115. It also extends the Iran Sanctions Act through 2031.
Reported Legal500 - Oct 16, 2026
Executive Order 14436 waived the Act's duties and its listed sanctions provisions under Section 115(a). The waivers last until the President or the Secretary of State determine that further action is appropriate. The order says it does not affect earlier Russia sanctions.
Verified Federal Register: EO 14436 - Oct 2026
The president's certification to Congress says he or his delegee will apply the sanctions provisions, and the increased duty rate, if needed "to incentivize resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war" or if circumstances change.
Verified House Document 119-202
Positions
- Against waiver
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): "What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?"
AP - For waiver
The president, in his certification to Congress: waiving the sanctions is in "the national interests of the United States." He says he will apply them if he determines it is necessary to incentivize resolution of the war.
House Document 119-202
NextNo dated decision point. The waivers stay in effect until the President or the Secretary of State decide "further action is appropriate." Congress returns the week of Nov 9. Federal Register: EO 14436 · The Hill
Louisiana v. Callais: the Voting Rights Act and redistricting
How the Supreme Court's ruling changes the legal test for vote-dilution claims and the maps drawn under it.
Where it standsIn effect: Supreme Court ruling
Record
- Apr 29, 2026
In Louisiana v. Callais (No. 24-109), the Supreme Court held 6-3 that Louisiana's SB8 congressional map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, because Louisiana intentionally drew District 6 with a Black voting-age population over 50% and no compelling interest justified it. Justice Alito wrote for the Court. Justices Kagan, Sotomayor and Jackson dissented.
Verified Supreme Court opinion - Apr 29, 2026
The Court updated the Gingles framework for Section 2 vote-dilution claims. Illustrative maps may not use race, plaintiffs must control for party affiliation, and the totality-of-circumstances inquiry must focus on present-day intentional racial discrimination.
Verified Supreme Court opinion
Positions
- Majority
Justice Samuel Alito, for the Court: compliance with Section 2 can be a compelling interest, but Louisiana was not required to create an additional majority-minority district.
Supreme Court opinion - Concurring
Justice Clarence Thomas, concurring: Section 2 does not regulate districting at all, so no Section 2 challenge to districting should succeed.
Supreme Court opinion - Dissent
Justice Elena Kagan: the majority turns Section 2's effects test into an intent test, and "betrays Congress's choice."
Supreme Court opinion
NextNo dated decision point. State and lower-court responses to the ruling have not yet been reviewed against primary records, so none are listed. They will be added as each is confirmed.