Legislative Activity

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.

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 SAFE KIDS Act addresses concerns that foreign entities of concern are exploiting U.S. surrogacy laws, potentially risking national security and human trafficking. This bill voids surrogacy agreements involving citizens from these designated foreign entities and establishes criminal penalties for brokers who facilitate such arrangements. Custody of any resulting child will be determined by state law based on the child's best interests, disregarding the voided contract.

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 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 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 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 Pay Our Military Act of 2025 ensures that members of the Armed Forces, along with essential Department of Defense civilian personnel and contractors, continue to receive pay and allowances in fiscal year 2026 if regular appropriations are not enacted. This measure provides temporary, continuing funding to support active service members. This authority automatically terminates upon the enactment of a new appropriations law or by January 1, 2027.

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.

The Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2025 expands the federal authority for qualified current and retired prosecutors and Federal judges to carry concealed firearms across state lines. This authority mirrors that currently granted to law enforcement officers. To qualify, individuals must meet specific identification and ongoing firearms training certification requirements set by their former agency, state, or a certified instructor. The bill also provides definitions for who qualifies as a "qualified prosecutor" or "qualified Federal judge" under these new provisions.

This resolution formally condemns the brutal Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel of October 7, 2023, and supports Israel's right to self-defense. It further condemns antisemitic and destructive protests within the United States. Ultimately, the resolution calls for an outcome that ensures Israel's survival, eliminates Hamas's ability to operate, and secures the release of all remaining hostages.

The Extending Expired Cybersecurity Authorities Act ensures the continuation of vital cybersecurity information sharing between the government and private industry. This bill extends the authority for sharing cyber threat information for an additional ten years, pushing the expiration date from 2025 to 2035. Furthermore, it retroactively applies this extension to prevent any lapse in coverage and officially renames the program to the "Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act."