Legislation

The Sergeant Ted Grubbs Mental Healthcare for Disabled Veterans Act aims to improve access to mental healthcare for disabled veterans. Specifically, it mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide care or services to veterans with a service-connected mental disorder rated at 50 percent or higher within five days of their request. This ensures timely access to crucial mental health support for veterans in need.

This resolution designates the Republican Party's membership on various Senate committees for the 119th Congress. It specifies the chairs and members for key committees, including Appropriations, Armed Services, Finance, and Judiciary. The resolution ensures the Republican Party's representation and leadership roles within these important legislative bodies. This structure will remain in place until successors are appointed.

The "Thin Blue Line Act" amends the U.S. Code to include the killing or targeting of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders as an aggravating factor in death penalty cases. This applies if the victim was targeted due to their status or duties as a public safety official.

This bill expresses support for designating January 26 - February 1, 2025, as "National School Choice Week" to recognize the importance of diverse K-12 education options and the role of parents in choosing the best learning environment for their children. It encourages raising awareness about the benefits of educational choice and congratulates those involved in education.

The "Endowment Tax Fairness Act" increases the excise tax on private colleges and universities' investment income from 1.4 percent to 21 percent. This change applies to taxable years following the law's enactment. The generated revenue will first be used to reduce the national deficit, and then the national debt.

This resolution designates January 30, 2025, as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. It recognizes Fred Korematsu's resistance to the unjust incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The resolution encourages reflection on the importance of political leadership, vigilance, justice, and civil rights.

The Making Agricultural Products Locally Essential (MAPLE) Act expands the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program. It will now include maple syrup in addition to herbs. This change aims to provide seniors with more options for locally sourced agricultural products.

The REVOCAR Act of 2025 prohibits U.S. individuals and entities from investing or operating in Venezuela's energy sector until the Maduro regime respects the results of the July 28, 2024, election. The President can waive these prohibitions for national security reasons, subject to Congressional reporting requirements. The prohibitions will end when Maduro recognizes the opposition's victory or by December 31, 2027.

The "BRIDGE to Congress Resolution" amends House rules to eliminate the requirement that remote witness appearances at committee proceedings are only allowed at the discretion of the committee chair, allowing for more flexible participation.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 107 North Hoyne Avenue in Fritch, Texas, as the "Chief Zeb Smith Post Office." Any reference to this facility will now refer to it as the Chief Zeb Smith Post Office.

The Stay on Schedule (S.O.S.) Resolution aims to change House rules to prevent the House from taking recess in August if all regular appropriation bills have not been approved by July 31st. This would apply to annual funding bills managed by a House Appropriations Committee subcommittee.

This bill expresses support for Career and Technical Education Month, recognizing the vital role of CTE in preparing a skilled workforce for high-demand fields and contributing to economic growth. It highlights CTE's positive impact on student achievement, employability, and college readiness. The bill encourages educators, counselors, and parents to promote CTE as a valuable educational pathway.

The "Write the Laws Act" aims to reinforce the separation of powers by preventing Congress from delegating its legislative authority to other entities, including executive agencies. It defines what constitutes an unlawful delegation of legislative power and mandates that all regulations impacting individuals must be explicitly authorized by an Act of Congress. The Act allows individuals harmed by non-compliant actions to sue the government and requires the Comptroller General to identify existing statutes with prohibited delegations. Any directive not adhering to these requirements will have no legal force.

This joint resolution terminates the national emergency concerning energy declared by the President in January 2025. The resolution nullifies Executive Order 14156, effectively ending the emergency powers invoked under the National Emergencies Act.

This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to regulate artificial or prerecorded voice systems generated through artificial intelligence. It includes AI-generated voices in the existing regulations for telephone solicitations, ensuring these systems adhere to the same standards as traditional prerecorded voices.

This resolution authorizes the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to spend funds, hire staff, and utilize personnel from other agencies for its operations from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027. It sets limits on the committee's expenses, including specific allocations for consultants and staff training, and outlines the permissible use of funds from the Senate's contingent fund. The resolution grants the committee broad authority to investigate government operations, potential fraud, criminal activities, and the efficiency of various governmental functions, including national security and energy management. It also empowers the committee to compel testimony and document production through subpoenas and continue existing legal processes.

The TBI and PTSD Treatment Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder. This therapy must be administered through healthcare providers already approved by the VA. The Act also updates the U.S. Code to formally include hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a treatment option for these conditions.

The "Saving the Civil Service Act" limits the ability of federal agencies to move positions out of the competitive service, ensuring that civil service positions are filled based on merit and qualifications. It restricts the transfer of positions between different types of service, requires employee consent for certain transfers, and mandates reporting to Congress on any changes made. The goal is to prevent political influence over career civil servants and maintain a nonpartisan, professional civil service.

The Maintaining Innovation and Safe Technologies Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance by January 1, 2027, clarifying Medicare payments for remote monitoring devices utilizing artificial intelligence. This includes devices like continuous glucose monitors that transmit data to healthcare providers for patient care. The guidance aims to address how Medicare will handle payments for these innovative technologies.

The Western Hemisphere Nearshoring Act incentivizes companies to move operations from China to Latin America and the Caribbean by providing financial assistance, duty-free treatment, and tax benefits. To qualify, companies must commit to creating jobs, avoiding control by foreign adversaries, and relocating assets. The Act also directs the U.S. Trade Representative to prioritize trade agreement negotiations with countries that reduce illegal migration and economic dependence on China, and allows the sale of nuclear reactors to certain countries or corporations. Finally, the act establishes a trust fund using tariffs collected on goods from China to offset revenue losses resulting from assistance provided under this Act.