Legislative Activity

The State Border Security Assistance Act establishes two new federal grant funds to support state and local efforts regarding immigration enforcement. The first fund provides resources for physical border barriers, surveillance technology, and relocation costs along the southern border. The second fund is dedicated to assisting states with the costs of arresting, prosecuting, and detaining undocumented individuals, particularly those who have committed crimes. Both programs are authorized through 2029, with remaining funds returning to the Treasury.

The Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act revises federal grant management for high-quality charter schools to enhance technical assistance and oversight for authorizing agencies. The bill establishes new experience and planning requirements for educator-led groups applying for pre-charter planning grants. It also adjusts the required percentages for how states must allocate these federal grant funds across various authorized activities.

The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates and extends key federal efforts to combat child exploitation. This bill revises the National Strategy to focus on emerging technology trends and mandates detailed resource planning for law enforcement. It also modifies the operations of Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces, clarifying their duties, expanding partnerships, and providing liability protections for lead prioritization decisions. Finally, the Act adjusts grant funding allocations and authorizes specific funding levels through fiscal year 2028.

The STOP Screwworms Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and operate facilities for rearing and releasing sterile New World screwworm flies to control infestations. This legislation dedicates $300 million to build these modular rearing facilities in at-risk areas and mandates annual public reporting on the threat level and control efforts. The goal is to actively combat the spread of screwworm flies threatening U.S. agriculture.

The Mission to MARS Act allocates **\$1 billion** to significantly upgrade and modernize facilities at NASA's Johnson Space Center. This funding is dedicated to improving astronaut training, updating Mission Control for deep-space missions, and enhancing infrastructure supporting commercial space activities. The goal is to prepare the center for future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Safeguarding Transit Operations to Prohibit China Act (STOP China Act) aims to prevent U.S. taxpayer funds from supporting transit vehicle manufacturing tied to the People's Republic of China (PRC). The bill specifically prohibits federal funding for the purchase of covered vehicles, such as buses or trains, produced by entities controlled by or based in designated foreign nations. To enforce this, the Act mandates the creation and regular updating of a public watchlist identifying these restricted manufacturers.

The Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act introduces a new aggravating factor for federal death penalty consideration. This factor applies when an individual who is illegally present in the U.S. is convicted of killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a United States citizen. This measure aims to provide justice for victims of crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants.

The SHIELD Against CCP Act establishes a new Working Group within the Department of Homeland Security dedicated to countering threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This group will investigate CCP exploitation across immigration, economic misconduct, drug trafficking, and financial crimes. The Act mandates annual reporting to Congress on these threats and requires the group to coordinate efforts and identify gaps in current DHS security measures.

The United States Research Protection Act of 2025 aims to strengthen national security by clarifying restrictions on malign foreign talent recruitment. This bill updates the definition of a "foreign country of concern" within existing research and innovation laws. It also broadens the scope of prohibited involvement in restricted programs to include both direct and indirect participation.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating April 2025 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It emphasizes the critical need to prevent adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) due to their lifelong negative impacts on health and society. The bill backs efforts to increase public awareness, support evidence-based prevention programs, and aid survivors of childhood abuse and neglect.

The Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act mandates the transfer of the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian's Udvar Hazy Center to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, within 18 months of enactment. This legislation requires a joint plan between NASA and the Smithsonian detailing the move and its costs. Upon arrival, the shuttle must be placed on public display within five miles of Johnson Space Center for STEM education purposes before a final transfer to a designated nonprofit owner.

The Public Safety Officer Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Health Act of 2025 directs the CDC to collect and share vital information regarding concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among first responders. This includes developing best practices for prevention, treatment, and protective gear for public safety officers. The information gathered must be disseminated widely to medical professionals, employers, and officers themselves to improve safety and care.

This resolution officially honors the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of the late George Foreman. It celebrates his historic achievements as an Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer. Furthermore, the resolution recognizes his profound commitment to ministry, community service, and remarkable success as an entrepreneur. This tribute serves to formally recognize Foreman's positive impact on the world and his dedication to the city of Houston.

The Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections and rights for small businesses dealing with the IRS. This legislation modifies standards for awarding legal costs, significantly increases civil damages for reckless IRS misconduct, and establishes new procedural safeguards during appeals. Furthermore, it enhances taxpayer access to alternative dispute resolution and limits the IRS's ability to place liens on principal residences.

The SAFE Supply Chains Act mandates that the Department of Defense (DoD) must purchase covered technology products only from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or an authorized reseller one year after enactment. This restriction aims to secure the DoD's technology supply chain against untrusted sources. The Secretary of Defense may grant exceptions only for critical mission functions or specific research, provided Congress is notified and the product is not sourced from a foreign adversary. The DoD must also report annually on waiver usage and develop guidelines to help new vendors become authorized resellers.

The Driving Forward Act permanently extends an existing exemption allowing certain school bus drivers to bypass the "under-the-hood" portion of their skills test. This change codifies the rules previously established in a 2024 Federal Register notice. States utilizing this exemption must still report annually on the number of drivers who qualify under these permanent terms for the next six years.

The Drug Competition Enhancement Act aims to prevent pharmaceutical companies from unfairly blocking cheaper generic and biosimilar drugs from entering the market through "product hopping." This new rule prohibits manufacturers of original drugs from taking specific actions, such as discontinuing the original product while promoting a slightly altered version, to impede competition. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to enforce these provisions, seeking injunctions and remedies like disgorgement of unfair profits.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends the crucial nationwide program that unites federal, state, and local partners to combat violent crime using community-focused strategies. This bill reauthorizes funding for the program through fiscal year 2030 and updates grant provisions to explicitly cover new personnel, overtime costs, and technology for crime reduction. Furthermore, it mandates annual transparency reports detailing fund usage, community outreach, and specific violent crime statistics for every participating district.

The Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act modifies patent infringement litigation between brand-name biologic drug makers and companies developing biosimilar versions. This bill specifically limits the number of patents a brand-name sponsor can assert in a lawsuit against a biosimilar applicant to 20, with further restrictions on newer patents. These changes aim to streamline patent disputes related to the introduction of lower-cost biologic alternatives into the market.

The Feral Swine Eradication Act officially upgrades the existing federal feral swine initiative from a "pilot program" to a permanent "program," establishing clear definitions for eligible eradication areas. This legislation allocates \$75 million through fiscal year 2030 to support these efforts and mandates post-eradication monitoring to prevent reinfestation. Furthermore, the Act requires federal agencies to submit detailed progress reports to Congress regarding eradication success and financial expenditures.