Legislation

The "Defending American Diplomacy Act" requires congressional approval for any Department of State reorganization and mandates the Secretary of State to submit detailed plans assessing the impact of such changes. It ensures transparency and accountability by requiring a thorough analysis of potential risks, effects on foreign policy, and workforce implications. The Act also restricts federal funds for the Department of Government Efficiency and official travel by politically appointed officials if reorganizations are implemented without proper authorization.

The Religious Workforce Protection Act allows religious workers facing delays in their green card process to extend their nonimmigrant R-1 visas while their applications are pending. It also provides job flexibility for these workers and waives the one-year foreign residency requirement for those who had to leave the U.S. due to the R-1 visa's five-year limit. This bill aims to support religious organizations by ensuring they can retain needed personnel without unnecessary immigration hurdles.

The UNPLUGGED Act of 2025 aims to limit student access to personal electronic devices, like mobile phones, during school hours to improve focus and academic outcomes. It requires state educational agencies to establish and enforce policies prohibiting student phone possession in schools, with exceptions for medical needs, disabilities, English learners, or other situations deemed necessary by state and local authorities. The Act also allows for secure storage methods for phones and authorizes the Secretary of Education to establish a grant program to help states implement these policies.

The Down East Remembrance Act designates six creeks in North Carolina with specific names to honor Noah Styron, Hunter Parks, Kole McInnis, Stephanie Fulcher, Jacob Taylor, and Daily Shepherd. Official references to these creeks in any U.S. documents will now reflect these designated names.

The "Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025" establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program to provide eligible veterans and certain other individuals with lockboxes or vouchers for secure firearm storage, along with information on safe storage practices. The VA will conduct outreach and public education campaigns, develop an informational video, and submit annual reports to Congress, while ensuring the program does not infringe upon lawful firearm ownership or create participant lists. This program is authorized to receive \$5,000,000 annually from 2026 to 2036.

The "Building Child Care for a Better Future Act" increases funding for the Child Care Entitlement to States and establishes grants aimed at improving the child care workforce, supply, quality, and access, particularly in underserved areas. The bill allocates significant funds to states, territories, and tribal organizations, emphasizing community engagement and data-driven strategies to address specific child care needs. These grants support various initiatives, including workforce development, facility improvements, and financial assistance for providers, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations and ensuring fair wages for child care professionals. The bill also includes reporting requirements and ongoing evaluations to assess the impact of these investments on the child care landscape.

The Innovate to De-Escalate Modernization Act amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to include less-than-lethal projectile devices in the definition of firearms, while providing specific criteria for what qualifies as a less-than-lethal device. It requires the Attorney General to determine if a device meets the criteria to be considered less-than-lethal within 90 days of a request.

The "Police Officers Protecting Children Act" amends title 18 of the United States Code, allowing qualified and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms and discharge them within school zones, provided they are authorized under existing sections of the law and the firearm remains concealed.

The "Communities of Recovery Reauthorization Act of 2025" reauthorizes and increases funding for communities of recovery support services. It amends the Public Health Service Act to raise the allocated funding from $5,000,000 per year to $17,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

The "Save Our Small Farms Act of 2025" amends the noninsured crop assistance program to better support small farmers by expanding market access, streamlining the application process, and offering premium discounts to encourage the transition to whole farm revenue insurance. It also increases compensation for crop losses, raises payment limitations for certain farmers, and promotes program awareness through outreach and partnerships. This act aims to provide more accessible and comprehensive support to small-scale and diverse farming operations.

The Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act of 2025 mandates an independent assessment of the notices sent to claimants by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This assessment, conducted by a federally funded research and development center, will focus on reducing paper consumption and costs, while also improving the clarity, organization, and conciseness of these notices. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must then submit the assessment to Congress and implement the recommendations within one year.

The "No Union Time on the Taxpayer's Dime Act" prohibits federal employees from conducting union activities during paid work hours. This bill amends existing law to ensure that all labor organization business is performed only when the employee is in a non-duty status, effectively eliminating "official time" for union-related work.

The Staff Sergeant John D. Martek Purple Heart Restoration Act allows veterans who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to enemy actions on or after December 7, 1941, to be eligible for the Purple Heart. It directs the relevant Secretary to treat these veterans the same as those killed or wounded in action, provided they have a service-connected disability due to the TBI or have documented evidence of the injury in their military records. The Act mandates the establishment of an application process for eligible veterans to receive the Purple Heart, irrespective of when the TBI occurred.

The "Invest to Protect Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within the Department of Justice to provide resources to local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 175 officers. These grants can be used for de-escalation training, mental health support for officers, officer recruitment and retention, and other community safety programs. The Act prioritizes a streamlined grant application process and emphasizes accountability and transparency in the use of funds, with \$50 million authorized annually from 2027 through 2031.

The Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act authorizes the creation of a Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on the National Mall. It ensures the museum's exhibits and programs accurately represent the diverse experiences of women in the United States, seeking guidance from various sources reflecting different viewpoints. The Act also requires regular reports to Congress on the museum's progress in meeting these diversity requirements.

The "Driving Forward Act" permanently exempts qualifying school bus drivers from specific pre-trip vehicle inspection skills tests outlined in the Federal Register. States participating in this exemption must submit annual reports to the Secretary of Transportation for six years, detailing the number of drivers licensed under this exemption.

The Florida Coastal Protection Act prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing leases for oil and gas exploration, development, or production in specific areas off Florida's coast, including the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, a portion of the South Atlantic Planning Area, and the Straits of Florida Planning Area. This act aims to protect Florida's coastal environment and economy by preventing offshore drilling in these sensitive regions. The prohibition does not affect existing leases.

The "Project Safe Neighborhoods Reauthorization Act of 2025" reauthorizes and modifies the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program to reduce violent crime by allowing grant funds to be used for hiring crime analysts, covering overtime costs, and acquiring technology. It also requires the Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Judiciary Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives detailing how the funds were spent, the community outreach efforts undertaken, and the number and description of violent crimes committed. Additionally, the bill includes support for multi-jurisdictional task forces and is also known as the Officer Ella Grace French and Sergeant Jim Smith Task Force Support Act of 2025. Finally, the bill extends the authorization of appropriations through fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

The Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act directs the Under Secretary for Science and Technology to evaluate existing federal research on climate change and prioritize research and development that impacts the Department's operations. It requires consultation with other agencies and governments, and the submission of annual reports to Congress for three years. The goal is to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on homeland security, preparedness, disaster response, and federal funding for disaster declarations.

The Financial Integrity and Regulation Management Act (FIRM Act) aims to prevent federal banking agencies from using "reputational risk" as a basis for regulating or supervising depository institutions. This bill requires these agencies to remove considerations of reputational risk from their supervisory documents and prohibits them from creating rules, conducting examinations, or taking enforcement actions based on reputational risk management. Furthermore, the bill requires federal banking agencies to report to Congress on their implementation of these changes.