Legislative Activity

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a comprehensive plan for identifying, testing, and deploying emerging and innovative technologies to enhance U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations. The plan must detail how CBP will integrate new tools, assess their impact on privacy and civil liberties, and establish clear metrics for success. It also formalizes the role of CBP Innovation Teams in rapidly adapting commercial technology to address border security gaps.

The Pacific Partnership Act affirms the U.S. commitment to the Pacific Islands region, recognizing its strategic importance and deep historical ties. The bill mandates the President to develop a comprehensive "Strategy for Pacific Partnership" by 2026, detailing U.S. goals, threat assessments, and action plans for the region. Furthermore, it enhances coordination with allies on aid programs and grants diplomatic immunities to the Pacific Islands Forum. The Act also requires annual reporting on transnational crime affecting the islands.

The Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act modifies the maximum funding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can provide for necessary home improvements and structural alterations for disabled veterans receiving home health services. This bill increases the maximum benefit amount to $\$10,000$ for new applicants and establishes an automatic annual adjustment based on construction cost inflation. The law also limits any single veteran to a total of three such structural alterations under this specific benefit.

The Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2025 extends critical Medicare payment provisions for ambulance services. This bill delays the expiration of special payment rules for "super rural" areas until January 1, 2028, while also implementing temporary payment increases for both super rural and standard ground ambulance services during that transition period. The goal is to ensure continued financial stability and access to essential ground ambulance care.

The Supporting NEW BUSINESSES Act establishes an annual awards program to recognize state and local governments that successfully streamline the process for starting a new small business. These awards will be given to governments that reduce paperwork, consolidate resources, and simplify confusing requirements for new entrepreneurs. The awards are tiered based on the population size of the community served.

The Tribal Access to Electronic Evidence Act amends the Stored Communications Act (SCA) to formally recognize Tribal courts as entities capable of issuing warrants for electronic evidence. This ensures that Tribal governments can access stored electronic communications under the same legal framework applied to federal and state entities. The bill clarifies definitions and mandates that Tribal warrants adhere to specific existing statutory procedures.

The Help Hoover Dam Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to use non-reimbursable funds recovered from the Boulder Canyon Project for the operation, maintenance, and capital improvements of the Hoover Dam. This allows for flexible spending on project needs, provided the Secretary consults with relevant Boulder Canyon Project contractors before expenditure.

The Affordable Housing Bond Enhancement Act revises rules governing private activity bonds and mortgage revenue bonds to increase housing finance flexibility. It establishes new annual reporting requirements for bond usage while easing restrictions on refinancing and significantly increasing the limit for qualified home improvement loans. Furthermore, the Act adjusts tax recapture periods and extends deadlines related to mortgage credit certificates.

The Federal Home Loan Banks' Mission Activities Act aims to strengthen the Federal Home Loan Bank System's support for housing, farming, and small business needs, particularly in underserved areas. The bill expands the tools available to Banks to assist members, clarifies existing support mechanisms like grants and subsidized financing, and ties executive compensation directly to achieving these community development goals. Furthermore, it broadens the definition of community financial institutions to include more credit unions and CDFIs, and mandates increased annual funding for the Affordable Housing Program.

The Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025 significantly expands and makes permanent the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for workers without qualifying children by lowering the minimum age, substantially increasing the credit amount, and raising income thresholds. It also allows taxpayers to elect to use higher prior-year earned income to calculate their current EITC benefit. Furthermore, the bill permanently extends current EITC application rules for U.S. territories like Puerto Rico.

The Supporting American Allies Act exempts goods imported from Israel and Ukraine from specific reciprocal tariffs previously imposed by Executive Order. This legislation ensures that trade with these key allies is not subject to duties intended to address broader U.S. trade deficits.

The "Mining Regulatory Clarity Act" amends mining laws to allow operators to locate multiple mill sites on public land for mining-related activities, sets a 5-acre limit for each site, and specifies that these sites do not grant mineral rights. It establishes an "Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund" using claim maintenance fees from mill sites to support abandoned mine cleanup, and makes clerical updates to existing fee regulations. The bill clarifies the use of mill sites for waste disposal and mineral development, while preserving existing claimant rights and government regulatory authority.

The Ruby Mountains Protection Act withdraws approximately 349,000 acres of federal land within the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the National Forest System and the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge from mineral leasing. This action aims to protect these specific areas in Nevada from future mining operations. The withdrawal respects any valid mineral rights that legally exist prior to the Act's enactment.

The Combatting Money Laundering in Cyber Crime Act of 2025 expands the U.S. Secret Service's authority to investigate cyber-related financial crimes, including money laundering and structured transactions. The bill also modifies information exchange deadlines for FinCEN and extends the review period for North Korea sanctions compliance by international financial institutions. Finally, it mandates a GAO study on the effectiveness of current anti-money laundering efforts against cybercrime.

The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act significantly raises the resource limits for individuals and couples to qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), starting in 2025. This legislation increases the individual savings limit to \$20,000 and the couple's limit to \$20,000 total. Furthermore, these new resource limits will automatically adjust annually for inflation beginning in 2026.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates the rich heritage, culture, and significant contributions of Latinas across the United States. It highlights their achievements in diverse fields while acknowledging ongoing disparities, such as the wage gap. Ultimately, the measure calls for continued investment in the future of Latinas as a vital part of the nation's growth.

The Lower Drug Costs for Families Act updates how prescription drug inflation rebates are calculated to ensure they apply more broadly to drugs on the commercial market. This bill modifies the rules for both Medicare Part B and Part D to adjust the unit counting methods used in rebate calculations. Key changes include excluding certain units, such as those covered by Medicaid, and shifting the base reference years for these calculations.

The Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act establishes a new "Circuit Rider Program" managed by the Secretary of Agriculture. This program will deploy cybersecurity experts to assist rural water and wastewater systems with assessing and improving their defenses against cyber threats. The initiative is authorized to receive $10 million annually from fiscal year 2025 through 2029 to protect these critical public health systems.

The Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act establishes a new program to provide technical assistance and grants to help rural water and wastewater systems prepare for and recover from disasters. This assistance will be delivered by experienced nonprofit organizations to aid in emergency response, planning, infrastructure repair, and securing federal aid. The program is authorized with $20 million annually from Fiscal Year 2025 through 2029.

The Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act is a comprehensive bill that addresses land management across Southern Nevada through multiple titles. It focuses on transferring federal lands into trust status for three Native American tribes, establishing significant new protected wilderness areas, and adjusting land management rules within Clark County, including creating large Special Management Areas. Furthermore, the Act conveys specific parcels to local governments for public purposes, modifies boundaries for development in Henderson, and establishes new designated areas for off-highway vehicle recreation.