WASHINGTON (TNND) – America’s partisan divide is wide and on display daily in Congress, but there were times this year –often behind the scenes– when Republican and Democratic lawmakers actually got things done, together.
In May, the TAKE IT DOWN Act became law, making it a crime to publish intimate images of a person without their consent, also known as “revenge porn,” including AI-generated content.
“Today, through the Take It Down Act, we affirm that the well-being of our children is central to the future of our families in America,” First Lady Melania Trump said at the bill signing.
In August, President Donald Trump put his signature on the Aviator Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act, which directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to study cancer rates among military pilots and aircrews. By better understanding the correlation between aviation service and cancer, the department can better coordinate with the military and provide more effectively for veterans, the bill’s sponsors said.
“These are incredibly healthy, in-shape, well-tested individuals and yet they have almost 30% higher cancer rates than the average civilian population,” said Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, one of the sponsors of the legislation. “We need to know the why and we need to provide our airmen with the aircover for their own health.”
The ACES Act was introduced in three Congresses before finally becoming law.
Just before Thanksgiving, a win for parents flying with a baby: The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Act requires the Transportation Security Administration to streamline how it screens breastmilk without contamination, a bipartisan effort also years in the making.
In early December, the Medal of Honor Act became law after receiving unanimous support in the House and Senate. It means the roughly 60 living recipients of the military’s highest award will see their monthly pensions increase for the first time in 23 years, from $1,400 to $5,600.
This bill ensures their extraordinary acts of bravery are not forgotten and that their sacrifices are valued by a grateful nation,” said Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H.
Looking ahead to 2026, a midterm election year, it may prove more difficult for members of Congress to reach across the aisle. Still, many lawmakers have expressed determination to find ways to tackle some of the country’s most pressing issues, like regulating AI, making social media safer for children and lowering the cost of living.
In his recent primetime address to the nation, Trump said in the new year he will propose “aggressive” housing reform.
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