Legislative Activity

This Act establishes a U.S. policy to hold Chinese officials accountable for severe religious freedom abuses, such as arbitrary detention and forced labor, by imposing sanctions. It directs the Department of State to actively promote religious freedom in China and monitor transnational repression against religious minorities. Furthermore, Congress calls for designating China as a country of particular concern and demands the unconditional release and humane treatment of all religious and political prisoners.

The AI for Mainstreet Act requires Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to provide guidance, training, and outreach to small businesses on effectively and securely integrating artificial intelligence into their operations. This assistance will cover areas like cybersecurity, data protection, and regulatory compliance. The bill utilizes the existing definition of AI from the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020. Importantly, this Act does not authorize any new funding for these expanded responsibilities.

The Saving the American Dream Act mandates that key federal housing agencies collaborate to share research and data through a formal agreement. This legislation requires these agencies to jointly submit a comprehensive report to Congress outlining policy solutions for improving housing finance coordination, reducing mortgage costs, and addressing barriers to new home construction. The goal is to ensure federal housing policy is based on coordinated, evidence-based analysis.

The Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the U.S. biobased products industry by increasing federal procurement of these items made from agricultural materials. The bill updates definitions, enhances reporting requirements, and mandates training to ensure federal agencies prioritize purchasing biobased goods. Additionally, it establishes a temporary USDA Task Force to coordinate and improve federal support for research, development, and marketing in this sector. Finally, the Act strengthens labeling rules to prevent the misuse of terms like "biobased" and protects proprietary business information during enforcement.

This resolution formally congratulates the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings for successfully executing Operation Midnight Hammer. The operation involved a historic 36-hour mission by B-2 pilots to strike targets related to Iran's nuclear program. Furthermore, the bill recognizes the long and distinguished service history of both military units.

The Supporting Trade and Rebuilding Opportunity for National Growth Act, or STRONG Act, significantly increases the maximum loan amounts available through key Small Business Administration (SBA) programs. Specifically, it doubles the maximum size for standard 7(a) loans from $\$3.75$ million to $\$7.5$ million. Additionally, the bill raises the maximum loan amount for development company loans from $\$5$ million to $\$10$ million. These changes aim to provide greater capital access for small business growth and development.

The American Land and Property Protection Act prohibits nationals and entities from adversarial nations, including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, from purchasing any public or private real estate within the United States. This measure grants the President authority to take necessary steps to block such transactions. The prohibition applies to nonresident aliens and foreign businesses connected to these specified countries or designated foreign terrorist organizations.

The Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act bans Members of Congress and their spouses from trading or holding most securities and investments while in office. Members must divest prohibited assets within 180 days of enactment or taking office. Violators face disgorgement of profits and potential civil fines assessed by ethics committees, with ongoing penalties for non-compliance.

The Returning SBA to Main Street Act of 2025 mandates the relocation of at least 30% of Small Business Administration (SBA) headquarters employees outside the Washington D.C. area to regional offices, contingent upon cost savings. This legislation also requires a corresponding 30% reduction in SBA headquarters office space within two years of enactment. Furthermore, the bill adjusts pay and telework policies for relocated staff and increases transparency by requiring detailed workforce location breakdowns in future budget submissions to Congress.

This resolution expresses support for designating March 18, 2025, as "National Agriculture Day." It recognizes and celebrates the significant impact of agriculture as a leading industry in the United States.

The APLUS Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to update regulations, permitting market agencies to have financial interests in smaller meatpacking companies, defined by specific slaughter capacities. These market agencies must disclose these financial ties to livestock sellers. The Act does not reduce the Secretary's authority to enforce rules protecting producers, competition, and market integrity under existing law.

The "Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act" directs the Small Business Administration to enhance outreach efforts in rural communities for the SBIR and STTR programs. This will be done by instructing federal agencies to conduct specific outreach to small businesses in rural areas, with the goal of increasing their participation in these programs.

This bill supports designating February 9, 2025, as the inaugural "Gulf of America Day" to celebrate the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. It recognizes Executive Order 14172, which directed the Secretary of the Interior to officially rename the United States Continental Shelf area bordering Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, extending to the seaward boundaries with Mexico and Cuba. The commemoration also marks President Trump's visit to the Gulf of America on February 9, 2025. The bill emphasizes the importance of this area to the nation.

The "Small Business Technological Act of 2025" amends the Small Business Act, enabling the Small Business Administration to provide loans to small businesses for the adoption of modern business software and cloud computing technologies. These loans can be used for software that improves business operations, product delivery, payroll, HR, sales, billing, accounting, and inventory management. The Act clarifies that it does not authorize loans for research and development.