Legislative Activity

The HBOT Access Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. Eligibility requires veterans to have previously pursued at least two evidence-based treatments for their condition. This bill aims to provide veterans with alternative treatment options.

The "Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act" amends existing law to require updated threat analysis reports on the northern border every three years, starting in 2025, and updates to the Department of Homeland Security’s Northern Border Strategy every five years, starting in 2026. It also mandates classified briefings to Congress after each threat analysis and directs the development of performance measures for Air and Marine Operations. The bill stipulates that no additional funds will be allocated for its implementation.

The "Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act of 2025" (ACRE Act) aims to bolster rural economies by excluding interest earned on qualified real estate loans made by qualified lenders from their gross income. These loans must be secured by rural or agricultural real estate, with specific provisions for single-family residences and exclusions for loans involving foreign adversary entities. The Act requires a report to Congress on its impact and applies to taxable years following its enactment.

This resolution supports the Local Radio Freedom Act, opposing any new performance fees on local radio stations for playing music. It emphasizes the mutually beneficial relationship between the radio and recording industries, where radio provides free publicity and essential local services. The resolution warns that new fees would harm local radio stations, small businesses, and the communities they serve. Ultimately, it asserts that Congress should not impose any new charges on local radio for broadcasting sound recordings.

The "Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act" directs the Secretary to establish a program for research, development, and demonstration to improve data collection, plugging, remediation, and repurposing of abandoned wells, as well as strategies to mitigate their environmental impacts. The program aims to enhance technologies for identifying wells, understanding methane emissions, improving the efficiency of plugging and repurposing wells, and assessing impacts on groundwater quality. The Act authorizes appropriations totaling \$162.5 million over five years for this program.

The Guarding Readiness Resources Act allows the National Guard Bureau to credit funds received as reimbursement from states for the use of military property to the original or a currently available appropriate account. These funds can only be used by the Department of Defense for the repair, maintenance, replacement, or similar functions directly related to assets used by National Guard units operating under State active duty status.

The Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025 ensures that surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) receive increased dependency and indemnity compensation. This benefit is provided regardless of how long the veteran had ALS before passing away. The Act applies retroactively to veterans who died from ALS on or after October 1, 2022.

The Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act modifies permitting requirements for oil and gas leases under the Mineral Leasing Act when the federal government owns a minority of the mineral rights in a drilling unit or when wells on non-federal land access federal mineral estates. It limits the Secretary of the Interior's authority to require permits to drill, bonds, land access, mitigation, or surface reclamation approvals in certain situations. The Act requires lessees to notify the Secretary of the Interior when submitting state drilling permits and provide access agreements for inspections. This act does not apply to Indian lands and does not affect royalty payments.

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 "Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act" aims to enhance cooperation between federal and local law enforcement by allowing state and local officers to act as agents of the Department of Homeland Security and protecting them from liability when complying with immigration detainers. It defines "sanctuary jurisdictions" as those that restrict information sharing or compliance with federal detainment requests, and it makes these jurisdictions ineligible for certain federal grants, reallocating those funds to non-sanctuary jurisdictions. This act does not protect individuals who knowingly violate civil or constitutional rights.

This resolution supports designating February 15-22, 2025, as National FFA Week, celebrating the National FFA Organization's role in developing future leaders through agricultural education. It also recognizes the 90th anniversary of New Farmers of America and the 75th anniversary of the Future Farmers of America federal charter.

This resolution designates March 7, 2025, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day" to recognize the importance of speech and debate in education. It highlights the role of educators in developing crucial communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. The resolution encourages schools, businesses, and communities to celebrate and promote speech and debate education.

The "Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude broadband grants from gross income. This exclusion applies to grants from programs like the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program and other federal and state broadband initiatives. It prevents grantees from receiving a double benefit by disallowing deductions or credits for expenditures covered by these grants and requires a reduction in the property's adjusted basis by the grant amount. This change is effective for taxable years ending after March 11, 2021.

The MERIT Act of 2025 aims to reform federal employment practices by modifying performance-based actions, adverse action procedures, and employee appeal processes. It extends probationary periods for new employees, changes furlough procedures, and allows for the recoupment of bonuses for misconduct. Additionally, the act reduces annuity benefits for employees convicted of felonies related to their official duties and prohibits grieving certain adverse actions and reductions in force. These changes intend to streamline the disciplinary process and enhance accountability within the federal workforce.

The "Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Museum Artifacts Act" authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant up to $50,000,000 to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation for establishing the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. The grant is contingent upon the Foundation securing $100,000,000 in matching funds from non-federal sources. The Act also allows the Secretary to loan federal artifacts and objects to the Foundation for use in the Library.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 requires the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ensuring consistent enforcement against antisemitism in federally funded programs. This bill aims to increase awareness and improve the safety of Jewish communities by codifying the use of the IHRA definition. The Act does not expand the Department of Education's authority, change harassment standards, reduce existing rights, or diminish First Amendment rights.

The Water Infrastructure Subcontractor and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2025 amends the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 to protect taxpayers and subcontractors. It mandates payment and performance security for construction projects receiving federal financial assistance. The Act ensures that either state/local laws provide sufficient security or the Secretary/Administrator enforces federal bond requirements.

The "Safe Home Act of 2025" aims to protect children by addressing unregulated custody transfers, which are defined as the abandonment of a child without ensuring their safety or transferring legal rights. It directs the Secretary to improve public awareness to prevent adoption disruption and dissolution, including unregulated custody transfers of adopted children, by updating federal resources and websites to educate state, local, and tribal child welfare employees and prospective adoptive families on preventing and addressing these transfers, and on accessing adoption support services. The Act also requires a report to Congress on the causes, methods, and effects of unregulated custody transfers, along with recommended policies for prevention and response.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, while also modifying gift tax laws. It adjusts gift tax calculations, addresses transfers in trust, sets an initial $10,000,000 amount for calculating tentative tax, and adjusts for inflation. These changes apply to estates of decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers occurring, and gifts made on or after the enactment date of this Act.

The "Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture from banning or regulating lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands and waters open to hunting and fishing. An exception is allowed in specific areas where lead is scientifically proven to be the primary cause of wildlife population decline, but any restrictions must align with state laws or have the approval of the state's fish and wildlife department. The reasoning for any such prohibition or regulation must be published in the Federal Register.