Legislative Activity

The Reliable Power Act mandates that the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) conduct annual long-term assessments of the bulk-power system's ability to meet future energy demand. If the ERO identifies a risk of generation inadequacy, it must notify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC then reviews any pending agency actions that could affect generation resources, requiring agencies to modify or justify actions that might negatively impact grid reliability before finalizing them.

The Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act of 2025 mandates that all commercial driver's license (CDL) tests must be administered exclusively in English. Furthermore, the bill establishes a mandatory one-year waiting period before an individual can upgrade from a standard driver's license to a CDL. Finally, it grants the Secretary of Transportation the authority to revoke a state's permission to issue out-of-state commercial licenses if that state fails to comply with federal regulations.

The Fair Sentencing Act prohibits federal judges from considering a defendant's perceived gender identity as a mitigating factor when determining a sentence. This legislation amends federal sentencing statutes to ensure gender identity is not used to lessen a sentence or influence rehabilitation considerations. The U.S. Sentencing Commission is required to update the Sentencing Guidelines Manual to reflect this new restriction within 30 days of enactment.

The Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2025 expands the federal authority for qualified current and retired prosecutors and Federal judges to carry concealed firearms across state lines. This authority mirrors that currently granted to law enforcement officers. To qualify, individuals must meet specific identification and ongoing firearms training certification requirements set by their former agency, state, or a certified instructor. The bill also provides definitions for who qualifies as a "qualified prosecutor" or "qualified Federal judge" under these new provisions.

The American Workforce Act establishes a new federally supported program managed by the Commerce Department to create formal, on-the-job training contracts between businesses and qualified U.S. citizens without a bachelor's degree. These contracts require employers to provide paid work, structured education, and aim for specific wage outcomes, supported by government education subsidies and hiring bonuses. The Act mandates rigorous reporting on program success, compliance monitoring, and includes a sunset provision, causing the program to automatically expire after ten years unless reauthorized.

The American Medicine Safety and Security Act establishes strict employment conditions for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning individuals with ties to designated foreign countries of concern (China, Russia, or Iran). This bill prohibits nationals of these countries from working at the FDA and mandates that current employees report immediate family ties to these nations or face termination. Furthermore, it imposes a 10-year ban on former FDA employees working for entities based in these countries and restricts access to sensitive drug and device data for employees with such foreign ties.

The Preventing Violence Against Female Inmates Act of 2025 mandates that federal and state prisons use an inmate's biological sex for housing assignments to ensure separation between sexes. This law requires the Bureau of Prisons to adhere to biological sex standards and conditions federal funding for states on their compliance with similar housing restrictions. The goal is to prevent violence by ensuring inmates are housed according to their biological sex, with limited exceptions for temporary situations.

The Visa Cap Enforcement Act aims to tighten the rules surrounding the annual numerical limit for H-1B nonimmigrant visas. This bill mandates that H-1B visa holders be recounted against the annual cap upon reaching their third anniversary in status. Furthermore, it eliminates existing exemptions for H-1B workers employed by colleges and research institutions. The legislation ensures that every approved H-1B job change is counted toward the annual visa limit.

The OPT Fair Tax Act amends tax law to specifically subject income earned by F-1 visa holders during Optional Practical Training (OPT) to Social Security and Medicare taxes. This change removes the current exemption for OPT employment, treating those earnings as standard employment for federal tax purposes.

The Nonprofit Governance Integrity Act prohibits citizens or nationals of designated "covered nations" from serving on the boards of specific tax-exempt organizations, including charities and social welfare groups. If a covered national serves on the board, the organization risks losing its tax-exempt status. This measure aims to ensure the integrity of certain nonprofit entities by restricting foreign national influence on their governance.

The No Bail Post-Jail Act allows judges to deny pretrial release for individuals currently charged with a felony if they have a prior felony conviction for a crime of violence that resulted in at least 30 days of actual prison time. This measure focuses on preventing the release of repeat offenders with a history of violent crime while they await trial on new felony charges.

The Protecting American Research and Talent Act prohibits the use of federal funds for fundamental research collaborations between U.S. universities and "covered entities." Federal agencies can only waive this restriction if necessary for U.S. national security, provided the university meets strict international student enrollment caps. The bill mandates annual reporting to Congress detailing compliance and any granted waivers.

The CAP Act of 2025 eliminates the special exemption that allowed institutions of higher education to hire H-1B visa holders outside of the annual numerical cap. Under this new law, H-1B workers employed by colleges and universities will now be subject to the same annual numerical limits and lottery system as all other H-1B applicants. This change standardizes the process for foreign nationals seeking employment in higher education roles.

This bill prohibits camping on any public property within the District of Columbia, defining "camping" as establishing a temporary living space using items like tents or sleeping bags. Violators of this new ban face criminal penalties, including fines up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both.

The Neonatal Care Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that hospitals and obstetric providers publicly disclose their specific policies regarding life-saving care for extremely premature infants, including any minimum gestational age limits. This information must also be provided to expectant parents by their doctors at their first prenatal appointment. Hospitals and providers failing to comply with these new transparency requirements risk losing federal Medicaid and CHIP funding 180 days after the Act is enacted.

The HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to allow eligible employees to take leave following the spontaneous loss of an unborn child. It also establishes new leave entitlements for federal civil service employees experiencing such a loss. Furthermore, the Act creates a new refundable personal tax credit, equivalent to the Child Tax Credit amount, for individuals who suffer a stillbirth.

The LEAD Act of 2025 revises U.S. arms export controls for specific advanced, reusable unmanned aircraft systems. This legislation mandates that these covered drones be treated identically to manned aircraft systems under export regulations, including those related to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The goal is to separate the export review of these sophisticated drones from that of missile technology. The President is required to update relevant regulations within 180 days to reflect this new treatment.

The Safe Baby Formula Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study on the health effects of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead in infant formula. Following the study, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must establish clear limits for these toxic heavy metals within 90 days. This legislation aims to ensure the safety of the nation's baby formula supply.

The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 establishes funding for federal intelligence activities and mandates significant structural reforms across the Intelligence Community (IC). Key provisions include tightening security protocols, streamlining agency leadership structures, and increasing oversight on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and biotechnology. The bill also enhances whistleblower protections and demands greater transparency regarding foreign threats, particularly from China and Russia, and the origins of COVID-19.

The Constitutional Citizenship Clarification Act of 2025 seeks to amend federal law regarding birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. It codifies existing exceptions, stating that automatic citizenship does not apply to children born in the U.S. to parents who are unlawfully present, present solely for diplomatic purposes, or engaged in hostile operations. This legislation aims to clarify that U.S. citizenship at birth is contingent upon allegiance, not solely physical location.