Legislative Activity

The Major Richard Star Act ensures that military retirees with combat-related disabilities can receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation concurrently without reduction. This law removes previous restrictions that caused military retirement pay to be offset by VA disability payments for these specific cases. The changes take effect on the first day of the month following the Act's enactment.

The Reimbursing Border Communities Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to help local governments within 200 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border cover specific security-related costs. To qualify, communities cannot be designated as "sanctuary jurisdictions" that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Grants are capped at $500,000 per year and strictly prohibit funding for non-citizen basic needs or legal representation.

The Save Our Shrimpers Act prohibits the U.S. from providing federal funds to international financial institutions that use that money to finance foreign shrimp farming, processing, or export operations. Furthermore, the bill mandates an annual report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to Congress detailing whether U.S. representatives at these institutions are following instructions to oppose assistance for commodities already in global surplus. This legislation aims to protect domestic shrimpers by restricting U.S. financial support for foreign competition.

The Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2025 bans all federal funding or support for research utilizing human fetal tissue obtained specifically from an induced abortion. The bill permits federal research on tissue derived from miscarriages or stillbirths, provided it adheres to updated Public Health Service Act guidelines. Furthermore, it prohibits the solicitation or knowing acceptance of human fetal tissue donations if the donor knows the tissue resulted from an induced abortion or was procured for that purpose. This legislation also repeals an existing law concerning NIH revitalization.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 620 East Pecan Boulevard in McAllen, Texas, as the "Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Post Office Building." The legislation ensures that all official records and documents reflect this new memorial name for the building.

The "Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act of 2025" ensures that U.S. Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers are paid during any government shutdown in fiscal year 2025. The bill appropriates the necessary funds to cover the salaries and expenses of these essential employees, guaranteeing they continue to receive paychecks even when the government is shut down.

This bill expresses condolences for the 67 lives lost in the American Eagle Flight 5342 and PAT 25 crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025. It recognizes the impact on Wichita, Kansas, and acknowledges the cooperation of officials in responding to the tragedy and assisting the families. The bill also commends the heroic actions of first responders and emergency services personnel.

The "Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2025" increases penalties for stealing firearms from licensed dealers. It sets stricter punishments, including up to 20 years in prison, for violating laws related to firearm theft. The act also mandates minimum prison sentences of 3 years for burglaries and 5 years for robberies targeting licensed firearm businesses.

The Law Enforcement Protection and Privacy Act of 2025 amends FOIA to protect sensitive firearms data, penalizes unauthorized disclosures of protected information by non-federal entities, and grants licensees the right to sue for damages resulting from such disclosures. It establishes financial penalties for improper disclosures and allows harmed parties to seek compensation in court. The act defines key terms and ensures that other legal remedies remain available.

The "Donald J. Trump $250 Bill Act" would require the Department of Treasury to print $250 Federal Reserve notes featuring a portrait of Donald J. Trump, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. This bill also amends existing law to allow the portrait of living Presidents to appear on United States currency and securities.

The SCREEN Act requires online platforms that host or provide pornographic content to implement technology verification measures to prevent minors from accessing harmful material. It mandates that these platforms use reliable age verification methods, undergo regular audits by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ensure compliance, and protect user data collected during the verification process. The FTC is responsible for enforcing the Act, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report to Congress on the effectiveness and impact of these measures. This act aims to protect children from the harmful effects of online pornography.

This bill expresses support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear republic, while condemning the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, support for terrorism, and attempts to develop nuclear weapons. It affirms the right of the Iranian people to self-determination and supports continued sanctions against the current regime. The bill also calls for the protection of Iranian political refugees in Albania.

The "DOC Access Act of 2025" aims to enhance health care coverage under vision and dental plans by ensuring fair payment practices, protecting doctors' choices in labs and suppliers, and respecting state laws. It allows optometrists and dentists to charge their standard rate for non-covered services if the plan's payment is unreasonable, while ensuring they can only charge the contracted rate for dental cleanings. The bill also gives doctors more control over agreement extensions with limited benefit plans and allows them to opt out of certain provisions. Ultimately, this act seeks to balance federal guidelines with state oversight in regulating health insurance issuers and dental or vision benefit plans.

The Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act aims to strengthen U.S. trade laws by addressing unfair subsidies, currency undervaluation, duty evasion, and circumvention of trade remedies. It refines the process for handling successive trade investigations, ensuring that the International Trade Commission considers prior findings and assesses cumulative effects on domestic industries. The act also empowers authorities to counteract cost distortions in foreign countries and prevent importers from avoiding duties. Additionally, it includes provisions related to trade with Canada and Mexico and sets effective dates for new regulations.

The "Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act" restricts federal funds from being used by foreign and domestic organizations that perform or promote abortions, furnish abortion-related items, or support entities that do so. This includes barring funds for referrals, counseling, lobbying, and training related to abortions. The restrictions do not apply to abortions in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at risk.

The Reinforcing Sanctions on Iranian Terrorists Act requires the President to determine whether to apply sanctions to the Iran Airports Company, which facilitates Mahan Air's operations, due to Mahan Air's support for terrorist activities and the Iranian government's destabilizing actions. This determination must be submitted to Congress within 90 days of the Act's enactment. The Act reinforces existing sanctions against Mahan Air, which has been identified as supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Qods Force.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, effective from the date of enactment. It adjusts gift tax calculations by setting the lifetime gift exemption at $10,000,000, with inflation adjustments after 2011. The Act also includes transitional rules for applying certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code during the enactment year.

The "Promoting American Patriotism In Our Schools Act" mandates that schools receiving federal funds must require daily Pledge of Allegiance recitation, prominently display the U.S. flag in classrooms and gyms, and provide education on the flag's history. Individuals can abstain from reciting the Pledge for religious or personal reasons. Non-compliant schools will face enforcement by the Secretary.

The Officer John Barnes Act requires the Bureau to inform claimants of their benefit eligibility determination within 270 days of receiving a claim.

The "Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025" increases penalties for fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of U.S. customs laws, including banning violators and their affiliates from importing goods. It also allows private parties harmed by customs fraud to sue for damages and injunctive relief. The Act excludes those who commit fraud from participating in the importer of record program.