Legislative Activity

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 300 Macedonia Lane in Knoxville, Tennessee, as the "Reverend Harold Middlebrook Post Office Building." It mandates that all references to this facility in any legal or official documents of the United States will now refer to it by this new name.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of members of Congress. Representatives would be limited to three terms, while Senators would be limited to two terms. The amendment would not apply to members of Congress serving when the amendment is ratified and must be ratified within seven years.

The "No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act" aims to prevent U.S. taxpayer money from supporting the Taliban by requiring the State Department to actively oppose financial support to the Taliban from foreign countries and NGOs, especially those receiving U.S. aid. It mandates reports to Congress on entities supporting the Taliban, the status of direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan, and the status of the Afghan Fund, including measures to prevent Taliban access to these funds. The Act also requires the development and implementation of a strategy to discourage support to the Taliban, utilizing U.S. foreign assistance as a deterrent.

The "Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2025" mandates increased transparency by requiring the TVA Board to hold at least four annual public meetings with a minimum of six days' notice. It also requires the TVA to make meeting minutes and summaries accessible to the public, ensuring greater accountability. Exceptions are made for emergency meetings called by the Board chairman.

The "No In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants Act" aims to restrict states from offering in-state tuition rates to individuals not lawfully present in the U.S. by amending the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. States that violate this provision would lose federal financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The terms "Federal financial assistance," "institution of higher education," and "State" are defined by references to existing sections in the U.S. Code and the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The American Genetic Privacy Act of 2025 prevents commercial DNA testing services from selling or disclosing individuals' genetic information to the People's Republic of China or entities under its control. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce this law.

The Pilot Certificate Accessibility Act allows pilots to use digital copies of their airman certificates, including mobile certificates issued by the FAA, for FAA inspections. This provides pilots with more flexibility by allowing them to use electronic devices or cloud storage to present their credentials. The FAA must update its regulations within one year to reflect these changes.

The Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2025 grants the President the authority to propose cancellations of specific dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority, items of direct spending, or targeted tax benefits within a limited timeframe after a bill's enactment. Congress then has an opportunity to approve or reject these proposed cancellations through an expedited legislative process. The Act also includes provisions for presidential deferral authority, identification of targeted tax benefits, and reports by the Comptroller General, and it will expire after October 1, 2031. Finally, the Act expresses that the President should not use the threat of cancellations to influence congressional votes.

The Defense Against Drones Act of 2025 permits individuals to shoot down drones flying under 200 feet over their property using a legally obtained shotgun, as long as it complies with state firearm laws. Individuals are not required to return the drone, but must report the incident to the FAA within 60 days, including the location and drone registration number if available. The FAA will issue regulations to implement this law. This act does not override state laws regarding liability for actions taken under it.

The "End Congressional Stock Trading Act" prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading stocks, bonds, commodities, futures, and other securities, with certain exceptions like diversified investment funds and U.S. Treasury securities. Current and new members, along with their families, must divest prohibited assets within specified timeframes, with extended periods for complex investments. Violators may face civil penalties up to $100,000 per violation, and the bill allows for deferred capital gains taxes on required asset sales reinvested in permissible assets.

The "Cartel Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act of 2025" grants the President authority to commission private individuals or groups to seize cartel members and their assets outside the U.S. through letters of marque and reprisal. This aims to combat cartels that pose a threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy. A security bond is required to ensure operations adhere to the terms of the letter. The term "cartel" refers to organizations designated in a specific executive order or defined as transnational criminal organizations.

The UAP Transparency Act mandates the declassification and public release of all U.S. government documents related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) within 270 days. It requires the President to oversee and report on the progress of this declassification to Congress. This aims to increase transparency and public access to information regarding UAPs.

The "Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal for Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, honoring his courageous actions during World War II when he saved approximately 200 Jewish-American soldiers from Nazi persecution by defying direct orders to segregate them. This medal recognizes Edmonds' extraordinary heroism and will be presented to his son or next of kin. The Act also permits the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to commemorate his bravery.

The BLOCK Act repeals several Elementary and Secondary Education Act grant programs, replacing them with block grants to states starting in fiscal year 2026. The amount of the block grants will match the amount the state received in fiscal year 2025 under the repealed programs. This change aims to provide states with more flexibility in using federal education funds. "State" is defined as the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

The SANE Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to employ at least one sexual assault nurse examiner at each of its hospitals and urgent care facilities or contract with other qualified health care providers to conduct sexual assault forensic examinations. Following an examination, the health care provider must verbally refer the individual to mental health care services offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary must ensure these new responsibilities do not negatively impact the existing patient care duties of Department employees. It also defines "sexual assault nurse examiner" and "sexual assault forensic examination" as defined in section 304(a) of the DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2004.

The Trailer Safety Improvement Act aims to improve trailer safety by creating trailer safety programs. These programs will focus on preventing unsafe trailer use and educating the public on safety equipment and maintenance. The goal is to reduce accidents related to improperly loaded or maintained trailers.