Legislative Activity

The Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act updates the required update frequency for the National Advanced Manufacturing Program's strategic plan. This legislation mandates that the strategic plan be updated at least every four years. The key goal is to align this update cycle directly with the planning cycle for the broader National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing.

Kate's Law increases penalties for illegal entry into the U.S. by individuals who are later convicted of serious crimes. The bill mandates a minimum five-year sentence for illegal entry if the person is subsequently convicted of a crime punishable by over one year in prison. Furthermore, it significantly increases prison sentences, including mandatory minimums, for aliens who illegally reenter the U.S. after being previously removed.

This resolution urges all NATO members to commit to spending a minimum of 5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense, clarifying the breakdown between traditional and non-traditional defense expenditures. It emphasizes that failing to meet current spending goals reflects a lack of political will rather than financial inability. Ultimately, the resolution reaffirms the U.S. Senate's strong support for a unified and robust NATO alliance.

The National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act grants the Secretary of the Interior the authority to extend certain existing National Park System leases without adhering to standard regulatory procedures. This exception applies only if the original lease is at least five years old, the lessee is in compliance, and the extension is deemed beneficial for park management. The Secretary must update the relevant regulations within 90 days to reflect this new authority.

The Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025 aims to reform how Medicare pays for emergency air ambulance services. It requires the Secretary of HHS to update the payment system using newly collected cost and usage data from providers. Furthermore, the bill mandates the timely finalization of data collection rules and directs the GAO to study the true costs of these essential emergency transports.

This resolution formally honors the significant economic and cultural contributions of small, domestic firearm manufacturers to the United States. It recognizes these businesses as vital to supporting American manufacturing, job creation, and the traditions of recreational shooting sports. Furthermore, the resolution designates August 2025 as "National Shooting Sports Month."

The Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) from issuing any new direct loans under its primary Section 7(a) loan program. While the SBA can no longer originate these loans directly, it must continue to manage and service any existing direct 7(a) loans. This change shifts the focus of the program away from direct government lending.

This Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act, enhances protections for servicemembers and recent veterans against abusive debt collection tactics. It specifically prohibits debt collectors from threatening adverse military actions, such as rank reduction or security clearance revocation, to coerce payment. Furthermore, the bill mandates a GAO study to assess the law's impact on military readiness and national security.

The LEAD Act of 2025 revises U.S. arms export controls for specific advanced, reusable unmanned aircraft systems. This legislation mandates that these covered drones be treated identically to manned aircraft systems under export regulations, including those related to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The goal is to separate the export review of these sophisticated drones from that of missile technology. The President is required to update relevant regulations within 180 days to reflect this new treatment.

This Act, the Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act, establishes stricter federal penalties for non-citizens convicted of murder if they were inadmissible or deportable at the time of the crime. Specifically, first-degree murder committed by such individuals will carry a mandatory sentence of death or life imprisonment. This legislation amends federal criminal sentencing guidelines based on the offender's immigration status.

This Act, the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act, aims to accelerate housing development by modernizing and simplifying the environmental review process for certain HUD housing-related activities under NEPA. It reclassifies numerous common housing and supportive service activities into categories requiring less extensive environmental review, such as exemptions or categorical exclusions. The Secretary of HUD is required to report annually to Congress for five years on the resulting reductions in review times and administrative costs, particularly within the affordable housing sector.

This bill proposes amending federal law to explicitly include the crime of arson and bombing threats within the definition of "racketeering activity" under the RICO Act. By adding this offense to Title 18, U.S. Code, the legislation makes it easier to prosecute individuals involved in such acts under federal racketeering statutes.

This bill, the PROACTIV Artificial Intelligence Data Act of 2025, directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to create voluntary guidelines for detecting, removing, and reporting child pornography found in datasets used to train AI systems. It establishes definitions for key industry roles and provides limited legal liability protection to AI developers and data collectors who follow these new guidelines when handling such illegal material. The legislation also mandates federal support for research into better detection methods for this harmful content.

The Ending Lending to China Act of 2025 establishes a new U.S. policy opposing further financial assistance to the People's Republic of China from multilateral development banks. Citing China's status as a high-income economy with massive foreign reserves, the bill directs the Treasury Secretary to use U.S. influence to block new loans to China. Furthermore, the Secretary must advocate for ending assistance to all countries that have surpassed the established income threshold for graduation. The Treasury Department is also required to submit annual reports detailing compliance and U.S. actions taken.

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 establishes penalties against foreign governments that nationalize or expropriate U.S.-owned port infrastructure in trade partner nations. It mandates the identification of such "prohibited property" seized by foreign governments after January 1, 2024. Once identified, vessels that use these prohibited ports will face strict bans on docking, unloading, or receiving services in the United States. Furthermore, the Act expands the definition of unfair trade practices to include the arbitrary seizure or discriminatory treatment of U.S. assets abroad.

The Restoring Equal Opportunity Act seeks to eliminate the use of "disparate-impact liability" in federal law. This bill specifically prohibits lawsuits claiming employment or housing discrimination based on disparate impact, meaning challenges against seemingly neutral policies that disproportionately harm protected groups are no longer permitted. Furthermore, the Act nullifies specific prior Presidential approvals of regulations related to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Collision Avoidance Systems Act of 2025 legalizes the use of specific pulsating or flashing brake light systems on motor vehicles to potentially reduce rear-end collisions. This system allows the high-mounted stop lamp to flash rapidly a few times upon braking before remaining steady. The Secretary of Transportation is tasked with establishing the necessary performance standards and updating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 within 180 days of enactment.

The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025 officially designates the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates, including Hamas, as terrorist organizations under U.S. law. This act imposes strict prohibitions on their operations within the United States and mandates visa and entry bans for their members. Furthermore, the legislation requires the Secretary of State to annually report on all Muslim Brotherhood branches globally, compelling the President to impose sanctions on those identified.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 2025 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month" and June 27, 2025, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day." The goal is to raise public awareness, combat the stigma surrounding Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), and encourage timely treatment for service members and veterans. It recognizes the significant impact of combat stress and supports ongoing efforts by the DoD and VA to educate the public and improve care.

The Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act of 2025 establishes a voluntary Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, allowing employers to self-audit and quickly resolve unintentional Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations regarding minimum wage and overtime. This program aims to efficiently recover back wages for employees while providing employers with a structured path to compliance and protection from future litigation over settled claims. Approval is contingent upon accurate self-audits, good faith compliance, and the employer correcting all identified wage violations before settlement. The Act also explicitly prohibits employers from retaliating against workers for participating in the settlement process.