Legislative Activity

The "Protecting Our Courts from Foreign Manipulation Act of 2025" aims to increase transparency regarding foreign funding in U.S. civil litigation by requiring parties to disclose the identities of foreign entities financially involved in lawsuits. It prohibits foreign states and sovereign wealth funds from funding litigation based on its outcome. The Act also mandates the Attorney General to report annually to Congress on the extent of foreign third-party litigation funding in federal courts. These changes apply to both ongoing and future civil cases.

The "No Union Time on the Taxpayer's Dime Act" eliminates the practice of "official time," which allows federal employees to conduct union activities while being paid by taxpayers. Under this bill, all labor organization business must be conducted during an employee's non-duty status, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used to fund union activities.

The "End U.N. Censorship Act" prohibits the use of federal funds to support the United Nations' iVerify tool, initiatives that label speech as disinformation, or contributions to international organizations involved in similar censorship efforts. Funds withheld will be rescinded and deposited into the Treasury's general fund.

The "Federal Grant Accountability Act" limits indirect costs for federal research awards to higher education institutions, aligning them with the average indirect costs of private research awards. It directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to determine the private research award rate annually, using existing federal guidelines. Additionally, the Act mandates a study by the Comptroller General to assess and compare indirect cost rates, including those funding administrative staff focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and requires a report to Congress with recommendations for improvement.

The "No Subsidies for Wealthy Universities Act" aims to limit federal research funding to higher education institutions based on the size of their endowment funds. It prohibits the use of federal research award funds to cover indirect costs for institutions with over $5 billion in endowment funds and sets caps on indirect cost rates for institutions with endowments between $2 billion and $5 billion, as well as for all other higher education institutions. The Act also mandates annual reporting on endowment funds and requires the Comptroller General to submit annual reports to Congress on indirect costs reimbursed to higher education institutions for federal research awards.

The "Protecting America From Spies Act" expands the reasons for denying entry into the United States, including involvement in espionage, sabotage, illegal export of goods/technology, unlawful activities, or attempts to overthrow the U.S. government. It also makes the spouse or child of someone inadmissible due to the above activities inadmissible themselves, if those activities occurred within the past 5 years. The bill also amends Section 212(d)(3)(A) to update the specific inadmissibility reasons that cannot be waived.

The "No Welfare for the Wealthy Act of 2025" amends eligibility requirements for food and nutrition benefits. To qualify, households must meet specific income and resource criteria outlined in the bill. The act takes effect one year after enactment and applies to certification periods beginning after that date.

The Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act aims to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses by clarifying and expanding the scope of rules covered under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, requiring more detailed analyses of the impact of regulations on small entities, and enhancing the role and powers of the Small Business Administration's Chief Counsel for Advocacy. It also includes provisions for periodic review of rules, judicial review of compliance, and waiving fines for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses. Additionally, the Act mandates agencies to prepare plain language guides for small businesses to understand regulations and requires a Comptroller General report on the capacity of the Chief Counsel for Advocacy.

The "Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act" mandates that all federal agency rules must be issued and signed by a Senate-confirmed appointee. It requires that the rulemaking process be initiated by a senior appointee. The head of each agency is responsible for ensuring rules comply with the Act, while the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will offer guidance and monitor compliance. This act aims to increase accountability in federal agency rulemaking.

The Hearing Protection Act seeks to remove silencers from the purview of the National Firearms Act, treating them more like regular firearms under federal law. It preempts state laws that impose additional taxes or regulations on silencers, and mandates the destruction of existing federal silencer records. The Act also revises the definition of firearm silencers and mufflers under federal law, and imposes a 10% tax on these devices. These changes aim to simplify the process for legal acquisition and possession of firearm silencers.

The "One Agency Act" consolidates federal antitrust enforcement by transferring the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) antitrust functions, staff, assets, and funding to the Department of Justice (DOJ). This aims to streamline antitrust enforcement, eliminate overlap, and improve efficiency. The Attorney General is granted authority to restructure the Antitrust Division and manage ongoing investigations, consent decrees, and information gathering related to antitrust matters. The FTC is prohibited from initiating new antitrust actions without the Attorney General's approval during a transition period.