Legislative Activity

The Interstate Transport Act of 2025 establishes federal rules governing the interstate transportation of knives, overriding conflicting state or local laws for individuals legally permitted to possess them. This legislation dictates specific storage requirements for knives when traveling by motor vehicle or other means, ensuring they are secured and inaccessible. Furthermore, the Act provides protections against arrest for lawful transport and mandates the expungement of records for those who successfully defend themselves under these provisions.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. must include standard equipment capable of receiving AM broadcast signals within a few years of the law's enactment. This requirement aims to ensure drivers retain access to crucial emergency alerts, overriding conflicting state or local laws. The bill also directs the GAO to study the reliability of AM radio versus other emergency alert technologies in vehicles.

**Title I:** This bill seeks to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government by revoking prior directives, terminating DEI offices, and restricting DEI-related training and activities. **Title II:** This bill restricts federal training programs from including topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and protects employees from mandatory training on these subjects. **Title III:** This bill modifies federal contracting practices by prohibiting the use of federal funds for DEI-related activities and ensuring non-discrimination in federal programs. **Title IV:** This bill restricts the use of federal grant and cooperative agreement funds for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, while exempting certain offices and institutions. **Title V:** This bill aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within federal advisory committees by outlining specific prohibitions, enforcement mechanisms, and responsibilities for agency administrators and heads to ensure compliance. **Title VI:** This bill addresses accreditation standards for higher education institutions and restricts the use of federal funds by the Secretary of Education related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. **Title VII:** This bill eliminates certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and related requirements across various federal agencies and acts. **Title VIII:** This bill focuses on the enforcement and legal standing of the Act, ensuring individuals have the right to seek justice if they believe the law has been violated, and clarifies that the law remains effective even if parts of it are deemed unconstitutional.

The Fair Access to Banking Act aims to ensure equal access to financial services by preventing banks and credit unions from denying services to individuals or entities engaged in lawful activities based on subjective or politically motivated reasons. It sets requirements for banks with over $10 billion in assets, prohibiting them from denying services based on reputational risk and requiring them to justify denials with documented, risk-based standards. The act also allows individuals to sue financial institutions that violate these requirements, with the potential for treble damages and attorney fees awarded to successful plaintiffs. Furthermore, it restricts access to Federal Reserve lending programs and the Automated Clearing House Network for institutions that fail to comply with the Act.

This joint resolution disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule regarding waste emissions charges for petroleum and natural gas systems. The resolution utilizes the Congressional Review Act to prevent the rule's implementation.

The SHOW UP Act of 2025 requires Executive agencies to revert to pre-pandemic telework policies within 30 days. Agencies must conduct a study on the impacts of expanded telework during the COVID-19 pandemic and submit a plan for future telework use to Congress. Any expansion of telework beyond pre-pandemic levels requires certification from the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, ensuring positive impacts on agency performance, cost reduction, and adequate resources for teleworkers. The Act aims to address potential negative effects of telework on agency mission, costs, and resource allocation.

The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting. It empowers state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State if they believe the state or its residents are harmed by violations of immigration enforcement or visa granting. The bill aims to ensure that these aliens are detained throughout their removal proceedings and to provide states with legal recourse against perceived failures in federal immigration enforcement.

The Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2025 instructs the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a final rule delisting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife, as previously published in the Federal Register. This reissuance must occur within 180 days of the Act's enactment and bypasses standard regulatory considerations and judicial review.

This resolution designates January 26 through February 1, 2025, as "National School Choice Week," recognizing the importance of diverse educational options (public, charter, magnet, private, online, and homeschooling). It emphasizes the role of parents in choosing the best educational environment for their children and encourages awareness of the benefits of school choice. The resolution supports celebrating educational choice and acknowledges the contributions of students, parents, teachers, and school leaders.

The "Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2025" aims to protect the Crime Victims Fund by establishing a point of order in the House and Senate against legislative maneuvers ("CHIMPs") that reduce the fund's availability below a 3-year average. This fund, which supports victims of crimes like child abuse and sexual assault, is financed through federal crime fines and penalties. The point of order can be waived with a three-fifths vote, and it does not apply if the fund balance is within $2 billion of the prior year's balance. This bill seeks to ensure that funds intended for crime victims are not diverted for other purposes.

The "Freedom from Government Surveys Act" amends Title 13 of the U.S. Code to make the American Community Survey voluntary. It removes penalties for not participating and mandates that the survey includes a clear statement informing recipients that their participation is not required.

The "FAIR Act of 2025" aims to reform civil asset forfeiture laws by increasing protections for property owners, requiring the government to meet a higher burden of proof, and ensuring that forfeited assets are deposited into the Treasury's General Fund instead of being retained by law enforcement agencies. The bill also addresses structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements, adding stipulations to what constitutes a violation and requiring probable cause hearings for seized property. These changes apply retroactively to ongoing and future civil forfeiture cases.

This bill amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to expand eligibility and increase compensation for individuals affected by radiation exposure from Manhattan Project waste and uranium mining. It extends the claim filing period, allows for the use of affidavits as evidence, and establishes a grant program for studying the health impacts of uranium mining. The bill also addresses compensation for those present downwind of atmospheric nuclear testing, and directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a cooperative agreement to protect human and ecological health at the Amchitka, Alaska, Site.

This joint resolution nullifies a Department of Energy rule setting energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. By disapproving the rule, Congress prevents its enforcement.

The "Resiliency for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health Act" allows the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to provide temporary grazing land to permit or lease holders whose original land is unusable due to natural disasters. It outlines terms for these temporary permits, prioritizing ecological conditions and coordination between agencies. The bill ensures temporary use doesn't alter original permit terms or future grazing rights and requires the Secretaries to establish implementation guidelines and evaluate land health conditions.

The "PEACE Act of 2025" prohibits federal funds from supporting American History and Civics Education programs that promote divisive concepts related to race. Divisive concepts include race stereotyping, race scapegoating, or promoting the idea that one race is superior, the U.S. is fundamentally racist, or that individuals are inherently racist due to their race. The bill aims to prevent the teaching of concepts that assign fault or blame based on race, or that suggest meritocracy and hard work are racist.

The "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" ensures that infants born alive after an abortion receive the same medical care as any other newborn, mandating immediate hospital transport and requiring healthcare practitioners to report any failures to comply. Violators face fines, imprisonment, and potential prosecution for homicide or attempted homicide, while the mother of the child is protected from prosecution. The bill also allows the woman on whom the abortion was performed to file a civil action against anyone who violated the requirements if a child was born alive.

The "Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act" (CURD Act) defines "natural cheese" to differentiate it from processed cheese, setting specific criteria for its production and composition. It restricts the use of "natural cheese" on labels to products meeting these standards, while allowing "natural" or "all-natural" claims as per existing regulations. The Act amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include this new definition in labeling regulations.

The Northwest Energy Security Act directs the Secretaries of Interior, Energy, and Army to manage the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) according to the guidelines in the Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision, dated September 2020. It also establishes a process by which the Secretaries can make changes to the operation of the FCRPS. Finally, the bill prohibits actions that would reduce electricity production at FCRPS dams or limit navigation on the Snake River without explicit congressional approval.

The "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025" seeks to prohibit the use of federal funds for abortions and for health benefits coverage that includes abortion coverage, with exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. It clarifies that premium credits and cost-sharing reductions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cannot be used for health plans that include abortion coverage, allowing for separate purchase of abortion coverage without federal tax credits. The Act also requires health plans to transparently disclose the extent of abortion coverage and any related premium surcharges to enrollees.