Legislative Activity

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.

The "Hire Veterans Act" establishes a pilot program to help veterans find jobs within Federal land management agencies. This program includes skills assessments, training, and potential noncompetitive appointments for veterans. The goal is to match veterans' skills with positions in areas like outdoor recreation and firefighting, while also requiring annual reports to Congress on the program's progress. The program will last for five years.

This bill repeals the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, eliminating the requirements for the President to report to Congress on decisions to withhold or delay spending of appropriated funds. This removes the process by which Congress can approve or disapprove of these presidential actions.

The "HALT Fentanyl Act" permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, streamlining research registration processes while maintaining controls. It also updates penalties for trafficking, importing, and exporting fentanyl-related substances, treating them similarly to fentanyl analogues. Additionally, the Act addresses technical errors in previous legislation and mandates the Attorney General to issue rules for implementation.

The "Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act" repeals the inclusion of Social Security benefits in gross income, effectively ending the taxation of these benefits for taxable years beginning after the enactment of this law. The Act mandates the allocation of funds each fiscal year to the Social Security Act or the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, ensuring these programs are not negatively impacted by the tax elimination. The amount allocated must equal the reduction in transfers to these funds because of the change. Congress intends to offset the revenue reduction without raising taxes.

The "Educators Expense Deduction Modernization Act of 2025" increases the tax deduction for eligible educators' expenses from $250 to $1,000. This extension of benefits is applicable through 2026 and is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act" amends Title 36 of the United States Code to define "female" and "male" based on reproductive systems. It stipulates that individuals whose sex is male are prohibited from participating in amateur athletic competitions designated for females.

The "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025" requires the Department of Transportation to mandate that all new vehicles include AM radio receivers as standard equipment, ensuring continued access to AM broadcasts for drivers. The Act directs the Comptroller General to study the role of AM radio in emergency alerts and allows manufacturers producing fewer than 40,000 vehicles in 2022 at least four years to comply. The rule will sunset 10 years after the enactment of this Act.

The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 ensures that monetary penalties from False Claims Act cases are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. This excludes payments to whistleblowers and reimbursements to the government. This will increase the amount of money available to help victims of crimes.

This bill terminates the Department of Education, effectively eliminating the department on December 31, 2026.

The "Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act" increases consumer protection in the household goods shipping industry by allowing the Secretary to enforce penalties for violations, enabling states to use grant money for enforcement and retain penalties, and setting requirements for registration. This includes defining "principal place of business," requiring disclosure of relationships within the transportation industry, and allowing the Secretary to withhold or revoke registration for non-compliance.

The SHUSH Act removes firearm silencers from the definition of firearms under the National Firearms Act, thus eliminating federal regulations, registration, and transfer taxes on silencers. It ensures that legal acquisition of a silencer under federal law satisfies any NFA registration or licensing requirements. The Act also preempts state and local laws that tax, mark, record, or register silencers involved in interstate or foreign commerce.

The "Stop Illegal Reentry Act" increases the penalties for individuals who illegally reenter the United States after having been deported or removed. It raises the maximum prison sentence for general illegal reentry to five years. Repeat offenders or those with prior felony convictions could face up to 10 years, and aggravated felons or repeat re-entrants could face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison.

The "Securing America's Land from Foreign Interference Act" prohibits members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and entities under CCP control from purchasing public or private real estate within the United States and its territories. This includes the 50 states, Washington DC, and US territories.

This bill requires the President to review and report to Congress on whether sanctions should be imposed on specific individuals, including Hong Kong officials and judges, based on their actions related to human rights and democracy. The review will assess if these individuals meet the criteria for sanctions under existing laws and executive orders, such as the Global Magnitsky Act and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act. Individuals to be reviewed include those previously sanctioned like John Lee Ka-chiu, and other officials such as Paul Lam Ting-kwok. This bill aims to ensure accountability for actions undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and human rights.

The "National Constitutional Carry Act" aims to protect the Second Amendment rights of individuals to carry firearms in public for self-defense, as affirmed by Supreme Court decisions. It prevents state and local governments from restricting the carrying of firearms by legal U.S. citizens, whether residents or non-residents, in any public place, with exceptions for private property where firearms are prohibited and places with firearm screening. This act asserts that any state or local laws conflicting with this provision will be rendered ineffective.

The "Main Street Tax Certainty Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the deduction for qualified business income. This removes the previous expiration date, providing long-term tax certainty for eligible businesses. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Heartbeat Protection Act of 2025" prohibits abortions if a fetal heartbeat is detectable, with exceptions only to save the mother's life or in reported cases of rape or incest. Physicians must check for a fetal heartbeat before performing an abortion and document the findings. Violators may face fines and/or imprisonment, but the mother cannot be prosecuted. The act does not override stricter state laws or create a right to abortion.

The "Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act" redirects federal funds away from Planned Parenthood to other eligible entities that provide women's health services such as well-child care, prenatal and postpartum care, immunizations, and cancer screenings, particularly in underserved areas. This ensures continued access to comprehensive healthcare for women without reducing overall federal funding for women's health initiatives. The bill codifies that Planned Parenthood, including its affiliates, subsidiaries, or clinics, will not be eligible for these federal funds. It does not alter existing abortion-related funding restrictions.

The Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025 nullifies previous presidential actions that withdrew unleased offshore lands from mineral leasing and limits the president's authority to withdraw such lands in the future. It sets acreage and time limits on withdrawals, mandates resource assessments and congressional notification, and establishes a process for Congress to disapprove withdrawals. The Act prioritizes resource assessments of withdrawn lands, emphasizing economic, energy, and national security value, and ensures withdrawals do not conflict with scheduled lease sales.