Legislative Activity

The "Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act" allows the Secretary to postpone federal tax deadlines, similar to federal disaster declarations, upon a written request from a state governor for a qualified state-declared disaster. It defines a "qualified state-declared disaster" as a natural catastrophe, fire, flood, or explosion, as determined by the Governor, that causes significant damage. This act also extends mandatory tax deadline extensions from 60 days to 120 days.

The Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act requires the Secretary of Energy to obtain consent-based agreements from the governor of the state, affected local governments, any neighboring local government if nuclear waste will be transported through it, and affected Indian tribes before spending Nuclear Waste Fund money on repository activities. These agreements must be written, signed, binding, and can only be changed with everyone's consent.

The Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025 aims to bolster wildfire management through enhanced preparation, detection, suppression, and post-fire recovery efforts. It focuses on improving financial transparency, integrating local resources, deploying advanced technology, and supporting long-term ecosystem rehabilitation. The act also seeks to address challenges such as drone incursions and invasive species management. By implementing these measures, the act strives to protect communities, infrastructure, and natural resources from the devastating impacts of wildfires.

The Advanced Border Coordination Act of 2025 mandates the creation of Joint Operations Centers along the southern border to enhance coordination between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. These centers will serve as hubs for sharing information, coordinating operations, and tracking personnel to combat criminal activities. The Department of Homeland Security is required to report annually to Congress on the centers' operations, resources, and any communication issues, as well as recommendations for improvement.