Legislative Activity

The Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act of 2025 establishes a national policy favoring traditional and classical architectural styles for new federal public buildings to ensure they are inspiring and command public respect. The Act mandates that the GSA prioritize these preferred styles, especially in Washington D.C., and requires significant community input in the design process. Furthermore, it sets up new GSA requirements, including specialized training and the creation of a Senior Advisor role, to enforce these architectural standards.

The Empower Parents to Protect their Kids Act of 2025 aims to ensure that schools receiving federal funding cannot affirm a student's gender identity that differs from their biological sex without explicit parental consent. This bill mandates that school employees must not conceal information from parents regarding a student's gender transition discussions or social changes. Any school violating these requirements faces civil lawsuits from affected parents or the Attorney General, with the potential for financial penalties and court-ordered relief.

The DC CRIMES Act significantly revises the handling of youth offenders by lowering the age eligibility for youth offender status to 18 and under. It also mandates the creation of a public website managed by the Attorney General to display detailed, monthly statistics on juvenile crime and legal outcomes. Finally, the Act prohibits the D.C. Council from enacting changes to existing mandatory minimum sentences or current criminal sentencing guidelines.

This bill amends the user fee system for Over-the-Counter (OTC) monograph drugs, establishing new fee collection schedules and revenue targets for the FDA for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. It updates definitions related to OTC monograph changes and extends the authorization for related programs and reporting requirements through 2030. The legislation ensures that collected fees are dedicated to funding OTC monograph drug activities.

The Fairness in Veterans' Education Act of 2025 modifies how the Department of Veterans Affairs repays service members who voluntarily contributed to the Montgomery GI Bill but later elect to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This bill eliminates the requirement that this repayment must occur in a single lump sum with the final Montgomery GI Bill payment. This change aims to provide veterans with more flexible repayment options for their prior educational contributions.

The RESIDE Act establishes the Blighted Building to Housing Conversion Program, administered by HUD, to turn vacant commercial structures into attainable housing. This pilot program awards competitive grants, funded by excess HOME Program money, to local entities for the acquisition, renovation, and conversion of these properties. Priority is given to projects in economically distressed areas or those that streamline local conversion regulations. The program will run from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, followed by a final report to Congress.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Reform Act of 2025 aims to streamline and improve the VA's management of construction, facilities, and procurement. This bill centralizes construction, leasing, acquisition, and logistics functions under single leadership within the VA. It also mandates reforms to prioritize hiring entry-level acquisition staff through expanded internship programs.

This Act seeks to mandate that federal historical sites and museums, particularly the Smithsonian Institution, present American history in an uplifting manner that emphasizes national progress and shared values. It directs executive action to remove content deemed divisive, ideological, or critical of core American principles from these institutions. Furthermore, the bill establishes new funding restrictions for the Smithsonian to prevent the promotion of narratives inconsistent with the Act's stated goals.

The PATRIOT Parks Act authorizes National Park Service superintendents to implement an additional surcharge on entrance fees specifically for international visitors. This new revenue is dedicated solely to maintenance, staffing, and visitor services at the park where it is collected. Additionally, the Act allows for a separate surcharge on National Parks passes purchased by international visitors, with those funds directed to the Legacy Restoration Fund for major system-wide projects.

The Weapons Resupply, Stockpile, and Alliance–Israel Act extends the Department of Defense's authority to manage war reserves stockpiles. This bill specifically pushes back the expiration date for this critical stockpile management authority by two years, from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2029.

The Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025 prohibits abortion providers from disposing of fetal remains in any publicly owned water system. Violators of this federal standard face significant criminal penalties, though the patient who received the abortion is explicitly protected from liability. This act does not supersede any stricter state or local regulations already in place.

The Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish an electronic communication system for education assistance benefits. This allows eligible veterans and beneficiaries to opt-in to receive important correspondence regarding their benefits digitally instead of solely through postal mail. The VA must clearly notify all eligible individuals about this new electronic option.

The REFOCUS DODEA Act mandates the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) to implement a strict policy banning student smartphone use during the school day. This new regulation requires students to secure their devices in lockers or approved pouches for the duration of the school day. Exceptions will be made only for documented medical needs or high-priority emergencies.

The Veterans’ Caregiver Appeals Modernization Act of 2025 aims to improve the VA's comprehensive assistance program for family caregivers. This bill mandates the creation of a single digital system for all caregiver applications and appeals, ensuring easier access to necessary documentation. It also clarifies that caregivers will receive stipends owed up to the date of a veteran's death, even if an appeal is pending. Finally, the Act standardizes training for employees reviewing caregiver appeals.

The Restoring Biological Truth to the Workplace Act amends federal employment law to prohibit employers from taking adverse action against employees based on their expression of views regarding the binary or biological nature of sex. This legislation also protects employees who request or use single-sex spaces, such as bathrooms or changing rooms. Furthermore, the Act expands anti-retaliation protections for employees who oppose these newly defined unlawful employment practices.

The Putting American Students First Act amends eligibility requirements for federally funded TRIO programs, such as Upward Bound. This legislation strictly limits participation to U.S. nationals and specific categories of legal residents. Furthermore, the bill explicitly prohibits any waivers of these new citizenship and residency standards.

The CURB Act, or Curtailing Unreasonable Remuneration at Banks Act, grants the Director authority to set reasonable and comparable compensation for executive officers at Federal Home Loan Banks. This new authority specifically overrides existing rules regarding executive pay under the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992. The bill renames the relevant section of law to clarify the focus on executive officer compensation.

The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 aims to significantly speed up the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and appeals process through new reporting requirements and procedural changes. It mandates increased transparency on claim processing times and requires the VA to establish clearer guidelines for expediting cases. Furthermore, the bill grants the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) new authority to group similar appeals and expands the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims' (CAVC) jurisdiction regarding class actions.

The Visa Overstay Penalties Act of 2025 significantly increases penalties for illegal entry into the U.S., including higher fines. This bill also establishes new criminal and civil penalties for nonimmigrant visa overstays exceeding ten days. Consequences for overstaying range from fines and up to six months in jail for a first offense, escalating for subsequent violations.

The ANTE Act, or Axing Nonmarket Tariff Evasion Act, grants the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) new authority to combat duty evasion by entities from nonmarket economy countries. This allows the USTR to impose remedial measures, such as new duties, on goods produced in a third country if a covered entity is using that location specifically to circumvent existing U.S. import duties. The process includes investigations initiated by the USTR, Congress, or interested parties, leading to potential penalties equal to the original evaded duties.