Legislative Activity

The Forced Abortion Prevention and Accountability Act establishes a new federal crime for knowingly forcing an abortion on a woman using drugs, carrying penalties up to 25 years in prison. This legislation also allows victims to file civil lawsuits seeking substantial damages, including compensation for physical and psychological injuries. The bill strictly defines terms like "abortion-inducing drug" and "informed consent" to ensure clear enforcement of these protections.

This resolution expresses Congressional support for designating September as "Dystonia Awareness Month" to promote public understanding of this painful neurological movement disorder. The measure aims to increase awareness about dystonia, which affects hundreds of thousands of Americans, leading to involuntary muscle contractions and significant disability. By supporting this designation, Congress encourages greater public education, supports ongoing research efforts, and commends healthcare professionals working to improve the lives of those affected.

The American Tech Workforce Act of 2025 aims to reform the H-1B visa program by raising the minimum required salary to $150,000 (adjusted for inflation) and imposing stricter rules on third-party worksites. This legislation also terminates the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, immediately ending work authorization for F-1 students upon course completion. The overall goal is to prioritize higher-paying jobs and discourage the use of foreign labor to replace American workers.

The Freight RAILCAR Act of 2025 establishes a new 10% tax credit for businesses that modernize or replace aging freight railcars, encouraging investment in updated equipment. This credit is capped annually and requires the scrapping of older railcars to qualify for new replacements. The Treasury Department is mandated to report on the utilization and impact of this three-year incentive program.

The Save Our Safety-Net Hospitals Act of 2025 modifies how states calculate Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments under Medicaid by updating eligibility and factoring in payments received from Medicare or private health plans. This legislation also allows states the option to use unspent federal DSH funds from recent years to increase payments to hospitals retroactively. These changes aim to ensure hospitals treating vulnerable populations receive appropriate support under the Medicaid program.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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.