Legislative Activity

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 620 East Pecan Boulevard in McAllen, Texas, as the "Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Post Office." The legislation ensures all official records are updated to reflect this new memorial name for the post office.

The SHOPP Act of 2025 expands nutrition incentives under the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) by allowing states to include fresh or fresh frozen fruits and vegetables as eligible items for year-round matching funds. This legislation also broadens the definition of "produce" within the program to explicitly include legumes alongside fruits and vegetables. The goal is to increase access to a wider variety of healthy food options for program participants.

The "United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act" aims to combat illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere by developing a comprehensive strategy to disrupt connections between illegal actors and artisanal mining, counter illicit financing, and build law enforcement capacity. It requires the Secretary of State to create a multi-year plan, brief Congress on Venezuelan illicit gold activities, and conduct international financial investigations. The act also promotes responsible gold mining practices through public-private partnerships and authorizes appropriations to support the implementation of the strategy.

The "CATCH Fentanyl Act" mandates pilot projects to evaluate advanced technologies, including AI, for detecting contraband, illegal drugs, weapons, and human smuggling at U.S. land ports of entry. These projects aim to enhance inspection efficiency, reduce wait times, and improve existing detection equipment. The Act requires reports to Congress on the effectiveness, impacts on privacy and civil liberties, and recommendations for implementing new technologies, while forbidding new funding appropriations.

The American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act aims to increase financial support for victims of state-sponsored terrorism by transferring forfeited funds and penalties into the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. It mandates the distribution of these funds to eligible claimants through additional, pro-rata payments, and requires regular reporting on the Fund's activities and balances. The Act also allows for the use of Department of Justice personnel to assist with the administration of the fund, and ensures remaining funds from prior payments are used for additional compensation.

The Small Business Investment Act of 2025 incentivizes investment in small businesses by increasing the exclusion for gains from qualified small business stock and reducing the holding period requirement to three years. It also allows the holding period of convertible debt instruments to be included when calculating the holding period of acquired stock. Additionally, the Act broadens the types of corporations that can qualify for certain tax benefits related to small business stock, including S corporations.

The Promoting Resilient Buildings Act amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to modernize hazard mitigation standards and streamline existing loan programs. Most notably, it establishes a FEMA-led pilot program that provides grants to states and local governments to help individuals retrofit their homes against natural disasters. This initiative prioritizes financial need and aims to reduce future disaster damage through improved, hazard-resistant building practices.

The Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs conduct periodic reviews of the maximum coverage amounts for Servicemembers’ and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance. Beginning in 2026, these reviews must occur every five years to compare current coverage against inflation-adjusted benchmarks. The findings will be reported to Congress to help ensure that life insurance benefits remain aligned with economic changes for military families.

The Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to commission an independent review of the current tick eradication program. This study will evaluate the program's effectiveness, funding, and impact on cattle producers to identify potential improvements. The resulting report will provide Congress with recommendations to optimize program operations while reducing the compliance burden on the agricultural industry.

The Public Safety First Act mandates the detention of noncitizens who enter the country without authorization and are subsequently charged with or convicted of crimes such as theft, burglary, or assault on law enforcement. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to issue immigration detainers and take these individuals into custody to ensure public safety.

This bill designates the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Dallas, Texas, as the "Eddie Bernice Johnson VA Medical Center." This renaming honors the late Congresswoman’s distinguished career, including her 16 years of service as a psychiatric nurse at the facility and her decades of legislative advocacy for military veterans.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 establishes a national standard allowing individuals to carry concealed handguns across state lines, provided they are legally authorized to carry in their home state. Under this act, visitors must adhere to the host state’s operational laws regarding where and how firearms may be carried. The legislation preserves each state's authority to regulate its own internal permit-issuing processes while ensuring nationwide recognition of valid carry rights.