Legislative Activity

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.

The Biological Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2025 aims to safeguard U.S. biotechnology by controlling the export of sensitive synthetic DNA and RNA sequences to foreign adversaries, particularly those identified as national security threats. The bill establishes a mandatory licensing requirement managed by the Secretary of Commerce for transferring digital sequences of synthetic biology data to designated "foreign entities of concern." This action is taken in response to concerns that foreign laws compel cooperation with state intelligence, risking the theft of U.S. intellectual property for military modernization.

The COMPETE Act establishes a federal definition for short-term limited duration health insurance plans, setting a maximum initial duration of 12 months. Crucially, it mandates that these plans must offer a renewal guarantee, allowing policyholders to repurchase coverage without facing premium increases based on new health underwriting. This aims to promote transparency and affordability in this segment of the insurance market.

This bill, the AGRITOURISM Act, establishes an Agritourism Advisor within the USDA to promote and encourage agritourism activities nationwide. It recognizes the significant financial, educational, and cultural benefits that agritourism provides to rural communities and their agricultural enterprises. The Advisor will coordinate efforts within the USDA and with external partners to share best practices and improve access to federal resources for these businesses.

The Back the Blue Act of 2025 establishes new federal crimes and harsher penalties for killing or assaulting law enforcement officers and other public safety officials. The bill also creates specific aggravating factors for the federal death penalty in such cases and places new restrictions on federal habeas corpus relief for related state convictions. Finally, it expands federal protections allowing active and retired law enforcement officers to carry firearms in various federal locations.

The Investing in All of America Act of 2025 amends the Small Business Investment Act to redefine "private capital" for Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) by excluding direct government funding when calculating leverage. The bill also adjusts the maximum leverage amounts available to single and commonly controlled SBICs. Finally, it expands the ability for SBICs to exclude certain investments in targeted areas, such as low-income or rural businesses, from their leverage calculations.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 enhances the FDA's authority to require pediatric investigations for new molecularly targeted cancer drugs. It also extends the priority review voucher program designed to incentivize the development of treatments for rare pediatric diseases until September 2030. Furthermore, the bill mandates studies to assess the effectiveness of these new drug investigation requirements and the existing voucher program.

The Liquid Cooling for AI Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive review of liquid cooling technologies for data centers supporting growing AI demands. This review, conducted by the GAO and supported by an advisory committee, will assess the technological, market, and regulatory landscape of these cooling methods. The resulting reports will inform federal decisions on deployment, research priorities, and best practices to ensure the U.S. maintains its competitive edge in AI.

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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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.