Legislative Activity

The Protecting Our Constitution and Communities Act aims to reassert Congress's exclusive constitutional authority over federal spending by clarifying that the President cannot unilaterally withhold appropriated funds. It strengthens the Comptroller General's oversight role and establishes new legal avenues for private citizens and governments to sue for damages if funds are improperly impounded. Furthermore, the bill tightens the definition of budgetary "contingencies" and ensures that judicial review of these spending disputes remains robust.

The Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act prohibits civilians from purchasing, owning, or possessing "enhanced body armor," defined as gear meeting or exceeding NIJ RF1 protection standards. This ban includes exceptions for federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as covered law enforcement officers. Knowingly violating this new federal prohibition carries penalties including fines and up to five years in prison.

The Born in the USA Act of 2025 declares that Executive Order 14160, which attempted to restrict birthright citizenship, is unconstitutional and contrary to the 14th Amendment. This Act prohibits the use of any federal funds to implement or enforce that Executive Order. It affirms the established constitutional right to birthright citizenship for nearly everyone born on U.S. soil.

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act mandates that group health plans and insurance policies provide comprehensive coverage for medically necessary treatment related to congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This coverage must include services needed to restore normal function and appearance, including necessary dental and orthodontic support. Plans must apply cost-sharing rules no more restrictive than those for other medical benefits, excluding purely cosmetic procedures.

The Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act supports key Eastern Mediterranean nations—Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel—as strategic partners for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The bill directs the U.S. to prioritize diplomatic engagement, energy security, and defense cooperation in the region. It also mandates several reports to Congress detailing implementation, multilateral initiatives, and potential expansions of successful U.S.-Israel partnership models to other regional allies.

The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025 modifies the collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) by streamlining existing statutes. This act removes outdated subsections related to bargaining and renumbers the remaining relevant section. Importantly, these changes do not affect the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authority regarding incentive pay or expedited hiring processes.

The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025 declares that practices attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity for payment constitute an unfair and deceptive business practice. Citing professional consensus on the ineffectiveness and harm of such "conversion therapy," the bill prohibits its provision and advertising. Enforcement authority is granted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the law allows both the U.S. Attorney General and State Attorneys General to file civil actions against violators.

The PFAS Alternatives Act aims to protect firefighters by funding research and development for next-generation turnout gear that eliminates harmful PFAS chemicals. The bill establishes grants through NIOSH to create safer, PFAS-free protective equipment and separate funding for training programs on the proper care of this new gear. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to reduce occupational illness and injury among fire and EMS personnel.

This House resolution urges the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to withdraw a recent notice that would reduce opportunities for public comment on new regulations. It affirms the importance of robust public input in the rulemaking process, which directly affects millions of Americans. The resolution calls for HHS to maintain its existing, open procedures for gathering feedback before finalizing any policy changes.

The Public Service Worker Protection Act expands the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) to explicitly cover all public employees, including those working for federal, state, and local governments. This change brings public sector workers under the general protections afforded by OSHA. While the expansion takes effect generally within 90 days, states without an existing OSHA plan are given a three-year transition period before federal oversight applies to their employees.

The SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends and significantly enhances federal research and development programs designed to support small businesses. It increases mandatory agency spending on these innovation programs, streamlines the path for award winners to secure commercial contracts with the government, and improves outreach to diverse entrepreneurs. Overall, the bill aims to boost federal investment in small business technology while increasing transparency and oversight of the programs through 2030.

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 comprehensively defines and bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of specific semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The bill grandfathers existing weapons but imposes new requirements for their secure storage and mandates dealer involvement for future private transfers. It also allows federal grant money to be used by states for buy-back programs targeting these banned items.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act officially repeals the previous law authorizing oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This legislation simultaneously designates approximately 1.56 million acres within the Refuge as protected wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Secretary of the Interior is now required to manage this newly designated land according to strict wilderness preservation standards.

The Equality Act comprehensively expands federal civil rights protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across key areas of American life. It amends existing laws to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, credit, employment, and federal funding. The purpose of the bill is to provide consistent, explicit, and comprehensive remedies for individuals facing bias in these essential sectors.

The American Music Tourism Act of 2025 directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to actively promote domestic and international travel focused on U.S. music heritage and events. This includes identifying key music tourism locations and streamlining international visitor access to these sites. The Act also establishes new biennial reporting requirements to Congress detailing progress on these tourism goals.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025 declares extreme settler violence and displacement in the West Bank a threat to U.S. national security interests. This Act mandates the President to impose sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals responsible for undermining peace and stability in the region. The Treasury Department must report to Congress on the implementation of these sanctions every 90 days.

The Ukraine Support Act formally declares unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty, condemns Russian aggression, and establishes mechanisms for economic recovery and security assistance. The bill mandates severe, contingent sanctions and export controls against Russia if its aggression continues. Furthermore, it extends and modifies security assistance authorities, including loan and lease programs, while increasing oversight through required reporting to Congress.

This Act mandates improvements to the mental health components of the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Solid Start Program. It ensures transitioning service members and new veterans receive comprehensive information on available mental health services, suicide risk, and related support resources. The Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs must jointly report to Congress on these updates within one year of enactment.

The Defend American Manufacturing Act ensures the continued operation of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) beyond 2024 by mandating the Secretary of Commerce to renew and award grants to MEP centers annually. This legislation also amends the NIST Act to convert a previously optional action for NIST into a mandatory requirement. Overall, the bill strengthens support for domestic manufacturing infrastructure.