Legislative Activity

The MONARCH Act of 2025 addresses the critical decline of the western monarch butterfly population, which has dropped by over 99% in recent decades due to habitat loss and climate change. This bill establishes the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund to provide grants for habitat restoration projects led by local and Tribal entities. Furthermore, it mandates the implementation of the existing Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan through a partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Finally, the Secretary of the Interior must submit an annual report to Congress detailing the status of the butterflies and the effectiveness of funded conservation efforts.

The Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025 amends existing federal law to significantly enhance collaboration on ocean acidification research and monitoring. This bill mandates increased input from diverse stakeholders, including industry, coastal networks, and Indigenous groups, in guiding federal research priorities. Furthermore, it restructures the Advisory Board to ensure stronger representation from Tribal entities and requires the development of specific coordination policies with affected Tribes. The legislation also directs NOAA to prioritize collaboration with State, local, and Tribal governments when conducting vulnerability assessments.

The Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies Act of 2025 prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from changing the names of naval vessels currently honoring eight specific individuals. This legislation ensures that ships named after figures like Cesar Chavez, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Harriet Tubman retain their designations. The act immediately prevents any renaming of these protected vessels.

This resolution officially designates the week of September 14 through September 20, 2025, as "National Truck Driver Appreciation Week." It recognizes the vital role of the nation's 3.5 million professional truck drivers in supporting the economy by safely moving over 70 percent of all freight. The bill serves as a formal acknowledgment from Congress of the essential sacrifices and dedication of these drivers to the American supply chain.

The FIGHT Act of 2025 significantly strengthens federal prohibitions against animal fighting ventures, specifically targeting the sponsorship, exhibition, and gambling associated with these events. This legislation clarifies the definition of a rooster for legal purposes and bans the interstate transport of roosters for fighting. Furthermore, it empowers private citizens to file lawsuits against violators, allowing for civil penalties and the potential seizure of property used to facilitate illegal animal fighting.

The Small Business Liberation Act exempts qualifying small businesses from special duties or fees imposed by the President following a national emergency declaration. This provision ensures that small businesses are not burdened by extra import costs triggered during times of national crisis.

This Act temporarily suspends certain duties on imported bicycle parts for a 10-year period to encourage domestic assembly and manufacturing. Importers must declare their intent to use the parts for building complete bicycles in the U.S. to qualify for this duty exclusion. The law also mandates a report to Congress evaluating progress toward specific annual domestic production targets.

The My Body, My Data Act of 2025 establishes strict federal protections for personal reproductive and sexual health information held by regulated entities. This law limits data collection and sharing to only what is strictly necessary for providing requested services. It grants individuals the rights to access, correct, and delete this sensitive data, and requires clear public privacy policies detailing data handling practices. Finally, the Act prohibits retaliation against individuals who exercise these new privacy rights and grants enforcement authority to the FTC while allowing individuals to sue violators.

The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2025 aims to provide lasting protection for inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System. This legislation codifies existing federal regulations, known as the "Roadless Rule," which generally prohibits the construction of new roads or the cutting of timber in these sensitive zones. The purpose is to safeguard critical ecological benefits, clean water sources, and wildlife habitats while maintaining the Forest Service's multiple-use management mission.

The ACERO Act directs NASA to leverage its technology and expertise to enhance aerial wildfire response capabilities through research and development. It aims to improve aircraft technology, data sharing, and coordination among wildfire response teams, establishing a platform for real-time situational awareness. The Act generally prohibits NASA from procuring drones from covered foreign entities, with a national interest waiver option, and requires annual reports to Congress on its progress. Fifteen million dollars is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 to carry out the act.

The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2025 reforms federal firearm background check procedures, establishing a formal petition process for buyers when the system delays a decision beyond 10 business days. This bill removes the previous 10-day time limit on background checks under the Brady Act while mandating extensive reporting from the GAO and FBI on the effectiveness and outcomes of these delayed transfers. Furthermore, the Attorney General must report on the law's impact on domestic violence victims within 150 days of enactment.

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025 aims to strengthen existing federal background check systems to prevent prohibited persons from acquiring firearms. This bill primarily mandates that most private firearm transfers must be facilitated through a licensed dealer who will conduct a background check. The legislation includes specific exceptions for family gifts, law enforcement, and temporary transfers under emergency circumstances.

The Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025 updates Medicare rules to ensure comprehensive coverage for mental and behavioral health services delivered via telehealth. This legislation clarifies and expands the scope of telehealth coverage under Medicare for these essential services. Furthermore, it removes previous restrictions, making the expanded coverage effective retroactively to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

The AADAPT Act reauthorizes the Project ECHO Grant Program and establishes new, dedicated grants to support technology-enabled collaborative training for healthcare professionals in underserved areas. These new grants specifically focus on improving the early diagnosis and quality of care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The bill outlines funding levels and reporting requirements to track the impact of these specialized training models on provider retention and patient outcomes.

The Farmers Feeding America Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) by updating funding rules based on 2030 data and mandating $500 million in annual funding from 2026 through 2030. The bill doubles funding for food storage and distribution costs to $200 million and extends infrastructure grant eligibility until 2030. Furthermore, it establishes new flexibility for geographically isolated states, allowing them alternative methods for receiving or purchasing necessary food commodities.

The Pride In Mental Health Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program to improve mental health and substance abuse outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth through culturally competent care and resource development. These grants strictly prohibit funding for conversion therapy practices. The bill also mandates federal data collection on LGBTQ+ youth mental health and requires a report on the needs of those in foster care.

The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program to combat dangerous urban heat islands, which disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities. This program will fund eligible entities for projects like tree planting, installing cool pavements, and establishing cooling centers. At least 75% of the annual funding must target designated low-income census tracts, ensuring resources are directed to the most vulnerable areas. The Act authorizes $30 million annually through fiscal year 2033 to support these essential mitigation efforts.

The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025 repeals key provisions of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. This legislation allows federal gun trace information to be discoverable and admissible as evidence in civil lawsuits and administrative hearings. The bill aims to provide victims of gun violence with greater access to relevant data in legal proceedings.

This resolution formally expresses the House of Representatives' grave concern over the severe humanitarian crisis and widespread suffering of civilians in Gaza, alongside the plight of hostages. It urgently calls on the Administration to use all diplomatic tools to secure the release of all hostages. Furthermore, the bill demands the immediate delivery and secure distribution of essential humanitarian aid to address the catastrophic hunger crisis in Gaza.

The Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2025 significantly updates existing fair housing laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This legislation broadens protections to cover discrimination based on association or perceived association with protected groups. Furthermore, it strengthens anti-intimidation measures related to these newly defined protected characteristics in housing matters.