Legislative Activity

The Stop Fraud by SOMALIA Act establishes strict penalties for child care providers who commit fraud involving federal funds, including mandatory permanent debarment from all federal child care assistance. The bill also imposes severe immigration consequences, such as inadmissibility and deportation, for non-citizens who commit such fraud or are associated with terrorism. Furthermore, it streamlines the implementation of these rules by exempting certain agency actions from standard administrative rulemaking procedures.

This bill, the "Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act," amends immigration law to classify certain drunk driving offenses resulting in death or serious injury as an aggravated felony for non-citizens. Conviction of this new aggravated felony would make an alien inadmissible to the United States. These changes apply immediately upon enactment, even for prior convictions that trigger the new inadmissibility rules.

This comprehensive bill authorizes funding and sets policy across the entire Department of Defense for Fiscal Year 2026, covering everything from military procurement and research to personnel benefits and base construction. Key provisions include modernizing defense acquisition, reforming military healthcare, strengthening cybersecurity, and authorizing significant construction projects for all service branches. Additionally, the bill includes authorizations for the Department of Energy's national security programs, the Coast Guard, and the State Department, while also establishing new oversight for outbound U.S. investments in China.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the tax-exempt status of organizations designated as "terrorist supporting organizations." It defines such organizations as those providing material support to designated terrorist groups within the last three years. The legislation establishes a process for designation, including prior notice and an opportunity for the organization to cease support and avoid losing tax-exempt status.

The Comprehensive Outbound Investment National Security Act of 2025 seeks to safeguard U.S. national security by restricting American investments in sensitive technology sectors within adversarial nations, primarily China. The bill establishes a framework for the Treasury Department to prohibit or require notification for U.S. capital flowing into foreign military, surveillance, or human rights-related technologies. It also authorizes targeted financial sanctions against specific foreign entities tied to these critical sectors. Ultimately, the legislation aims to prevent U.S. expertise and funding from inadvertently strengthening foreign adversaries.

The ENFORCE Act aims to strengthen federal laws against child exploitation. It clarifies the crime of producing child pornography and significantly enhances enforcement against obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse. Key provisions include removing the statute of limitations for related offenses, requiring sex offender registration for those convicted, and establishing a presumption of detention before trial.

The Growing University Artificial Intelligence Research for Defense Act of 2025, or GUARD Act of 2025, establishes the National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institute program. This legislation authorizes the Secretary of Defense to create AI research institutes at eligible U.S. universities to focus on national security challenges. These institutes will foster partnerships, drive innovation, and support workforce development in critical AI disciplines. Awards will be made competitively for five-year periods, ensuring all funding supports domestic research and development.

The Enduring Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act introduces a mandatory **\$5,000 special assessment** for non-indigent individuals or entities convicted of specific federal offenses related to trafficking. This additional fee is intended to provide further resources or support for victims.

The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act comprehensively reforms mental health care by strengthening Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) across Medicaid and Medicare programs. It establishes new, cost-based payment systems and expands required services, including specialized veteran care, to ensure comprehensive community access. Furthermore, the bill creates a new federal grant program to fund and support these clinics nationwide. Finally, it extends federal liability protections to clinicians working within these certified centers.

The Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization Act addresses the growing threat of transnational cyber-enabled fraud originating from criminal operations, often involving human trafficking victims in Southeast Asia. This bill mandates the creation of a comprehensive U.S. strategy to counter these scam compounds and hold the responsible criminal organizations accountable. Furthermore, it establishes new authorities for imposing sanctions on facilitators and requires a review of legal tools to ensure victims can receive financial redress from seized assets.

The Back the Blue Act of 2025 establishes new federal crimes and harsher penalties for killing or assaulting law enforcement officers and other public safety officials. The bill also creates specific aggravating factors for the federal death penalty in such cases and places new restrictions on federal habeas corpus relief for related state convictions. Finally, it expands federal protections allowing active and retired law enforcement officers to carry firearms in various federal locations.

The More Homes on the Market Act aims to encourage homeowners to sell by significantly increasing the tax exclusion on profits from the sale of a principal residence. This bill raises the maximum exclusion from $250,000 to $500,000 for single filers and from $500,000 to $1,000,000 for married couples filing jointly. Furthermore, these new thresholds will be adjusted for inflation annually starting in 2026.

This bill establishes a State judicial threat intelligence and resource center to enhance the security of state and local judges and court staff. It directs the State Justice Institute to provide support for creating this center, which will offer training, conduct security assessments, and proactively monitor threats. The center will also develop a national database for sharing threat information across law enforcement agencies. Finally, the Institute must submit an annual report detailing the scope and seriousness of threats against the judiciary.

The Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act exempts from federal income tax any restitution, civil damages, or other monetary awards received by survivors of human trafficking through court orders. This legislation aims to ensure that financial relief intended for survivors is not reduced by federal taxation.

The Space RACE Act establishes the National Institute for Space Research within NASA to coordinate and support U.S. microgravity research and development across government agencies and non-governmental entities. This Institute will help transition in-space research from the International Space Station to next-generation platforms. It is authorized to issue grants and provide technical assistance to ensure the continuity and advancement of American space-based scientific exploration.

The Restricting Ex-Vetted Officials from Knowledge Exploitation (REVOKE) Act prohibits former Department of Defense personnel from holding security clearances if they lobby for specific Chinese military companies identified by the Department of Defense and Treasury. This measure aims to prevent the exploitation of sensitive knowledge by individuals working on behalf of foreign adversaries. The Secretary of Defense retains a limited waiver authority based on national security interests.

The END Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act amends federal law to explicitly mandate the destruction of any imported tobacco products found to be adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit. This legislation strengthens the ability of the FDA to stop illicit Chinese tobacco products at the border.

This resolution supports the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week, observed annually from October 23rd through 31st, to promote drug prevention education. It recognizes the ongoing national drug crisis, particularly the dangers of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The bill encourages all Americans to wear red ribbons and participate in activities that promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles.

The HUD Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide annual testimony to Congress. This testimony must detail the office's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, assess HUD program effectiveness, and evaluate the agency's resource needs. The goal is to enhance public accountability and oversight of HUD operations.

This bill mandates the Administrator for Nuclear Security to develop and present a comprehensive plan to modernize and accelerate the Material Staging Capabilities within the nuclear security enterprise. The plan must outline modernization phases, estimate total costs, and aim to speed up key milestones for fiscal year 2026. The modernization effort must proceed concurrently with infrastructure upgrades for high explosives capabilities.