Legislative Activity

The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to drastically increase the use of controlled burns on federal lands to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk and restore ecosystems. It achieves this by establishing new funding mechanisms, mandating annual acreage increases for prescribed fire treatments, and streamlining implementation through expanded partnerships. The bill also enhances support and liability protection for federal fire staff and non-federal partners executing these burns, while requiring robust reporting on progress.

This Act, the Hershel ‘Woody' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, designates a specific location for the National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington D.C. It overrides standard placement rules to ensure the monument is situated within the "Reserve." This action supports the immediate honoring of Medal of Honor recipients, whose numbers are rapidly declining.

The ROTOR Act focuses on enhancing aviation safety and transparency, primarily by reforming exceptions that allow aircraft to disable their ADS-B Out tracking systems. It mandates that the FAA require most aircraft to install and use ADS-B In technology for improved situational awareness. Furthermore, the bill establishes new coordination offices and requires comprehensive safety reviews of airspace operations, particularly around major airports, involving both civil and military aviation.

The Disaster Assistance Simplification Act aims to streamline the federal disaster recovery process by establishing a single, unified intake system for all disaster assistance programs. This system will allow survivors to submit one consolidated application, track their status, and enable agencies to share necessary data securely. The goal is to reduce applicant burden and speed up the delivery of aid following a declared disaster.

The PORCUPINE Act amends the Arms Export Control Act to include Taiwan in specific certification and reporting requirements. It also mandates a feasibility assessment for expediting the licensing process for allies transferring military equipment to Taiwan. The legislation is intended to enhance security cooperation while affirming existing U.S. policy as established by the Taiwan Relations Act.

This Act, the Conscience Protections for Medical Residents Act, amends Medicare rules to prohibit residency programs from requiring participation in abortion training. Programs that mandate abortion training or discriminate against residents who opt out or refuse to participate will no longer qualify as "approved" under Medicare. This ensures medical residents are not forced to perform, assist, or refer for abortions as a condition of their training.

The Putting American Workers First Act amends the National Labor Relations Act to prohibit employers and labor organizations from employing or representing unauthorized aliens. This measure establishes these actions as unfair labor practices, though it includes a good-faith exception based on using established employment verification systems. Furthermore, discharging an unauthorized alien cannot be used as evidence of animus against an employee's protected labor rights.

The Biomanufacturing Excellence Act of 2025 aims to bolster U.S. biotechnology capabilities by establishing a National Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Center of Excellence. This center will advance domestic manufacturing science, support quality standards, and develop the necessary skilled workforce. The legislation authorizes funding to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains and accelerate the transition of innovations from the lab to commercial production.

The Halo Act establishes new federal criminal penalties for individuals who obstruct immigration enforcement activities. Specifically, it prohibits knowingly approaching or remaining near a federal immigration enforcement officer after being warned, threatening the officer with physical harm, or harassing the officer while they are performing a lawful duty. Violators of this new offense could face fines or imprisonment for up to five years.

The Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that essential government employees, military personnel, and supporting contractors who must work during a lapse in appropriations receive their guaranteed pay. This bill automatically sets aside necessary funds from the Treasury to cover the salaries and benefits of these "excepted employees" for the duration of the shutdown. These special appropriations remain available until a full-year budget is enacted, at which point the payments are reconciled against the new funding law.

This Act strengthens prohibitions against foreign nationals donating to specific voter activities, including registration and get-out-the-vote efforts. It also clarifies that state and local ballot initiatives are included in the definition of an election for these purposes. Furthermore, the bill restricts the federal government from collecting or publicly releasing the identity of donors to most tax-exempt organizations, with strict penalties for unlawful disclosure.

The Increase Support for Life-saving Endocrine Transplantation Act (ISLET Act) clarifies that human cadaveric islets are specifically excluded from the regulatory definitions of "drug," "biological product," and HCTPs. This action aims to streamline the process for life-saving endocrine transplantation procedures. The Secretary of HHS is required to update relevant regulations within one year of enactment.

This resolution officially designates the week of November 3 through November 7, 2025, as National Veterans Small Business Week. It recognizes the significant contributions of the over 1.65 million veteran-owned small businesses to the U.S. economy. The bill supports creating a business-friendly environment and expresses appreciation for veterans' continued service through entrepreneurship.

The Kayla Hamilton Act revises the standards for placing unaccompanied alien children in federal custody to prioritize child safety and prevent trafficking. It mandates enhanced screening, consultation with law enforcement, and stricter criteria for placement settings and sponsors. This legislation ensures that placement decisions are made only after comprehensive safety checks are completed for the child and potential sponsors.

The Pay Our Military Act of 2025 ensures that active duty and reserve military personnel continue to receive pay and essential allowances if Congress has not passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026 by the start of that year. This legislation provides automatic continuing appropriations to cover military salaries, support staff, and necessary contractor payments during any funding lapse. The authority granted by this Act is set to terminate on September 30, 2026, or sooner if a comprehensive budget is enacted. Furthermore, the provisions of this Act are made retroactively effective as of September 30, 2025.

This Act mandates the immediate preparation for sanctions against any entity supporting People's Republic of China (PRC) aggression against Taiwan, including actions like invasion or blockade. It establishes an interagency PRC Sanctions Task Force to identify potential targets and develop comprehensive strategies for imposing and coordinating economic measures with allies. The Task Force must also brief Congress and submit annual reports detailing sanctions plans, economic impact assessments, and coordination efforts.

This resolution commemorates the 74th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, affirming the strong bilateral security alliance between the two nations. It strongly condemns the escalating aggression and unlawful territorial claims by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea. The bill urges the President to continue actions that support Philippine defense modernization and enhance deterrence against coercion. It reaffirms that an armed attack against Philippine public vessels in the region would invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty.

This bill mandates a feasibility study to determine if the Benton MacKaye Trail should be designated as a National Scenic Trail. The study will assess the 287-mile scenic, nonmotorized route spanning Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The Secretary of Agriculture must complete and submit this report to Congress within one year of enactment.

The Stratton Ridge Air Force Memorial Act authorizes the relocation of a memorial honoring nine Air Force crew members lost in a 1982 crash to the Stratton Ridge rest area in North Carolina. This relocation requires agreement from the current private landowner and approval from the Secretary of Agriculture. All costs associated with the relocation, installation, and maintenance must be covered by the requesting party, not the federal government.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates the 250th birthday of the United States Navy, honoring its long history since the Continental Navy. It expresses deep appreciation for the courage and service of all Navy personnel, past and present, who have defended the nation. Furthermore, the resolution reaffirms Congress's commitment to supporting the Navy's vital role in global security, humanitarian aid, and technological advancement.