Legislative Activity

The STRATEGIC Minerals Act aims to secure the U.S. supply chain of critical minerals and rare earth elements by authorizing the President to negotiate and enter into free trade agreements with countries that meet specific requirements. It sets negotiating objectives to reduce trade barriers, improve international trade rules, and foster economic growth while promoting sustainable practices and protecting worker rights. The Act also expands the definition of "domestic source" under the Defense Production Act to include businesses in free trade agreement countries, subject to restrictions on foreign ownership and ties to entities of concern, and requires the Secretary of Defense to determine mineral supply deficiencies. The Act seeks to ensure a stable and secure supply of minerals essential for advanced technology, economic growth, and national security.

The "Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025" amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to enhance the national response to harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. It directs the creation of a national monitoring and forecasting network, promotes research and technology development for prevention and control, and ensures collaboration among federal, state, and local entities. The Act also authorizes appropriations for these activities and allows for waivers of non-federal share requirements under certain conditions, as well as providing definitions for Indian tribes and other organizations.

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.

The Hearing Protection Act seeks to deregulate firearm silencers by treating them like firearms, preempting state laws, and changing the tax structure. It mandates the destruction of existing silencer registration records and modifies the definition and marking requirements for silencers under federal law. The bill also imposes a 10% tax on firearm silencers or mufflers.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include innovative multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. These tests, which use genomic sequencing to detect multiple cancer types, will be covered for eligible beneficiaries with age and frequency limitations. The payment amount for these tests will initially align with that of multi-target stool screening DNA tests. This new coverage aims to improve early cancer detection without affecting existing Medicare-covered cancer screenings.

The "Hindering Oppressive Nations from Obtaining Revenue Act" or "HONOR Act" denies foreign tax credits for taxes paid to the Russian Federation, starting 30 days after enactment, and disallows deductions for these taxes, effective 90 days after enactment. These measures will end when normal trade relations with Russia are restored. This act overrides any existing treaty obligations of the United States.

The "SHUSH Act" seeks to deregulate firearm silencers by removing them from the definition of firearms under federal law, thus treating them as firearm accessories. It preempts state laws that impose taxes, marking, registration, or record-keeping on silencers, and removes silencers from regulation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Act also eliminates additional penalties for using a firearm with a silencer during a crime and removes silencer restrictions for law enforcement officers.

The "African Diaspora Heritage Month Act of 2025" directs the President to annually proclaim a month as African Diaspora Heritage Month, recognizing the significant contributions and heritage of the approximately 50 million people in the U.S. who are part of the African diaspora. It encourages state and local governments, as well as the people of the United States, to observe the month with relevant programs and activities. The act highlights the economic, cultural, and social impact of the African diaspora, emphasizing their role in shaping government policy and fostering cross-cultural engagement. It also recognizes their commitment to family, community, and work ethic, as well as their right to access Federal resources and participate in civil life.

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.

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 "Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025" introduces a federal tax credit for individuals and corporations who donate to scholarship granting organizations that provide educational scholarships to eligible elementary and secondary students. These scholarships can be used for tuition, books, tutoring, and other qualified education expenses. The bill sets a volume cap on the total amount of donations eligible for the tax credit and includes provisions to prevent government control over scholarship organizations and non-public schools. It also exempts these scholarship amounts from gross income.

The "Improving Veterans Experience Act of 2025" establishes a Veterans Experience Office within the Department of Veterans Affairs, led by a Chief Veterans Experience Officer, to improve customer service and veteran satisfaction. The office will collect data, coordinate efforts, and provide guidance to enhance the veteran experience with VA benefits and services. It also requires annual reports to Congress on customer service feedback and veteran satisfaction. The Government Accountability Office will also be required to analyze the VA's methods for using veteran feedback.

The "Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act" seeks to restrict federal funding to foreign and domestic organizations that perform or promote abortions, furnish abortion-related items, or support entities involved in such activities. It expands existing policies to include a broader range of organizations and activities, including counseling, lobbying, and training. The bill also requires domestic organizations receiving federal funds to maintain complete separation from abortion-related activities. The goal is to codify these restrictions to ensure consistent application across different presidential administrations.

The "Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025" expands benefits and protections for public safety officers and their families. It presumes certain cancers are line-of-duty injuries for officers with at least five years of service, updates the list of cancers covered, and broadens confidentiality protections for information provided to the Office of Justice Programs. The act also clarifies the definition of "line of duty" to include actions officers are directed, authorized, or obligated to perform. Finally, the bill allows a three-year window for filing claims based on these amendments, regardless of other legal provisions.

The Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act, or ACEQUIA Act, aims to support farmers and ranchers who rely on acequia systems by ensuring they have access to drought and disaster assistance. It amends existing legislation to provide aid for all losses when the Secretary of Agriculture makes a disaster determination. Additionally, the Act exempts acequias from needing special use permits for routine maintenance and minor improvements on Federal land and requires the Department of Agriculture to report on assistance provided to these producers.

The "Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to change how intangible drilling and development costs are calculated for adjusted financial statement income, specifically regarding depreciation and depletion expenses. It allows companies to deduct these costs, aligning financial statement income calculations more closely with taxable income calculations. These changes apply to taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

The MEDAL Act of 2025 seeks to honor Medal of Honor recipients by increasing their special monthly pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs from $1,406.73 to $8,333.33, recognizing their extraordinary heroism and inspiration to the Armed Forces. The bill maintains the surviving spouse's special monthly pension at $1,406.73, subject to periodic adjustments.

The PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act of 2025 mandates sanctions on foreign individuals, entities, and financial institutions found to be supporting terrorism through the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA). These sanctions target those involved in the PLO and PA's system of compensation for terrorists and their families. The Act requires the President to impose these sanctions, including blocking assets, visa restrictions, and prohibiting U.S. bank accounts for foreign financial institutions involved. The Act will be terminated if the Secretary of State certifies that the PLO and PA have ceased all payments to terrorists and their families.

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.

The CONTAINER Act allows border states to place temporary structures on federal lands along the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico, without needing special permits, to enhance border security. These structures can remain for up to a year, with possible extensions if border control is not achieved, as determined by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Act streamlines the process for states to implement immediate, temporary border security measures on federal land.