Legislative Activity

This bill establishes a point of order in the House of Representatives to prevent reconciliation measures from reducing benefits or eligibility for Medicaid or SNAP for protected groups, including children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. This rule applies for the duration of the 119th Congress. However, provisions aimed at reducing fraud or improper payments are exempt from this restriction.

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.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

The CFPB Budget Integrity Act limits the amount of unspent funds, or "unobligated balances," the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) can retain to no more than 5% of a specified statutory amount. Any excess savings must be transferred to the Treasury general fund. This legislation also enhances reporting requirements to provide greater transparency regarding the CFPB's retained balances.

The Community Services Block Grant Improvement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen federal efforts to combat poverty by updating the core goals and operational rules of the Community Services Block Grant program. The bill revises definitions, sets a specific annual funding authorization through Fiscal Year 2032, and tightens requirements for state plans and local agency governance, including mandating tripartite boards. Ultimately, these changes seek to ensure grant funds are effectively used by local entities to promote the self-sufficiency of low-income individuals and families.

The SALUTE Act establishes a pilot program to allow certain active-duty service members and their dependents to purchase supplemental private insurance for uncovered cancer-related medical expenses. This optional coverage will be offered through agreements with selected insurance companies, with participants paying the full premium cost. The Department of Defense must report on the program's success after three years to determine if it should become permanent.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating May 2025 as "Renewable Fuels Month." It recognizes the vital role that renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel play in reducing carbon emissions and strengthening U.S. energy independence. Furthermore, the bill highlights how these fuels benefit consumers through lower prices and provide significant economic support to rural communities.

The Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act of 2025 aims to bolster the commercial space industry by treating spaceports similarly to airports under tax-exempt bond rules. This allows qualifying spaceport facilities to access crucial financing benefits typically reserved for public infrastructure. The Act specifically defines what constitutes a spaceport for these purposes, including manufacturing and operational facilities, regardless of public access. This measure is designed to encourage investment in the infrastructure necessary for U.S. leadership in space activities.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost employee ownership in S corporations through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). The bill extends key tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and removes a major restriction on this tax treatment. Furthermore, it establishes new government offices and an Advocate for Employee Ownership to provide technical assistance and resolve disputes, while ensuring ESOP-owned businesses retain small business status for federal programs.

The "Prove It Act of 2025" aims to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses by requiring agencies to consider indirect costs when creating new rules, allowing small businesses to petition for reviews of agency certifications, and mandating agencies to publish guidance documents and allow comments on rules with a significant economic impact on small businesses. Additionally, the Act amends the periodic review process for rules, requiring agencies to consider indirect costs and providing a mechanism for the Small Business Administration to address rules not reviewed within a 10-year period. The Act specifies that no additional funds will be allocated for its implementation.

The Police Officers Protecting Children Act amends federal law to allow qualified active and retired law enforcement officers to carry and discharge concealed firearms within a school zone, provided they meet existing authorization requirements. This legislation clarifies exceptions to the general prohibition on firearms in school zones for these specific personnel.

The Fresh Start Act of 2025 incentivizes states to adopt automatic criminal record expungement laws by tying them to federal gun violence prevention grants. This legislation requires states receiving these funds to automatically clear or seal eligible criminal records without requiring individual action or payment of outstanding fees. Recipients must also annually report detailed data on the process, broken down by race, ethnicity, and gender, which the Attorney General will then make public.

This resolution formally expresses the U.S. Congress's unwavering stance demanding that North Korea immediately resolve the long-standing issue of abducted Japanese citizens. It calls upon North Korea to return all foreign nationals, provide information on the deceased, offer restitution to the families, and issue a full apology. The bill emphasizes that these abductions are a grave violation of fundamental human rights and international law.

The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act mandates the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to rapidly adopt key industry standards as federal safety rules for lithium-ion batteries in small electric vehicles and personal mobility devices. This legislation ensures these standards automatically update to the newest industry revisions unless the CPSC finds a revision compromises safety. Furthermore, the CPSC must report to Congress five years after enactment regarding battery hazards and compliance.

The Training and Nutrition Stability Act amends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by removing an outdated rule. Crucially, this bill excludes income earned from specific employment and job training programs when calculating a household's SNAP eligibility. This change aims to encourage participation in workforce development and rehabilitation efforts without negatively impacting food assistance benefits.

The Coast Guard Combat-Injured Tax Fairness Act ensures that Coast Guard members with combat-related injuries receive the same tax fairness on their severance payments as other military branches. This legislation clarifies which Secretaries are responsible for correcting improperly withheld taxes from past payments. It also sets deadlines for identifying past errors and immediately stopping future improper tax withholdings.

The Fight Fentanyl Act strengthens federal efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis by updating the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. This legislation mandates increased reporting on fentanyl investigations, sets dedicated funding levels through 2030, and expands HIDTA purposes to prioritize fentanyl interdiction. Furthermore, it requires the Attorney General to ensure sufficient prosecutorial resources are dedicated to fentanyl trafficking cases through temporary AUSA assignments.

The Drone Espionage Act updates federal law to specifically prohibit the unauthorized taking or transmission of **video** of national defense information. This amendment modernizes existing statutes, ensuring that capturing sensitive material via video is treated the same as capturing it via photographs or negatives. The bill aims to strengthen protections against the illicit sharing of defense secrets using modern recording technology.

The Protect National Service Act affirms the significant societal return on investment provided by national service programs like AmeriCorps. This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) or alter its status as a Government corporation. It ensures that any future reorganization must maintain the Trust's solvency and continue federal commitment to civic engagement. The CEO must annually certify compliance with these protections to Congress for five years.

The Accounting STEM Pursuit Act of 2025 officially recognizes accounting education as a vital component of a well-rounded K-12 curriculum. This legislation amends federal education law to ensure accounting is counted within core curriculum planning frameworks. The Act specifically directs states and districts to improve access to quality accounting programs, with a focus on increasing opportunities for underrepresented students.