Legislative Activity

The Hemp Enforcement, Modernization, and Protection Act establishes a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for cannabinoid hemp products under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This bill defines various cannabinoid types and product categories (oral, inhalable, topical) while setting strict standards for manufacturing, labeling, and testing. It also prohibits certain products, mandates facility registration with the FDA, sets a minimum age of sale at 21, and grants the FDA enhanced enforcement and recall authority.

The Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act of 2025 aims to streamline air permitting for critical manufacturing and mineral facilities. It allows the President to issue national security waivers for emission offset requirements for these vital facilities. Additionally, it provides states with flexibility to approve alternative offset measures or impose emissions fees for qualifying advanced manufacturing and critical mineral projects.

The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act ensures that service-connected disability compensation received by veterans is excluded when calculating income for eligibility in certain federal housing programs. This change aims to increase access to affordable housing for disabled veterans. The bill also mandates a report to Congress reviewing how HUD currently treats this compensation across its programs.

This bill establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research program to study innovative and emerging therapies, such as psychedelic-assisted treatments, for conditions like PTSD and chronic pain. The program will facilitate clinical trials and compassionate access protocols for eligible veterans. The VA Secretary must report on the program's progress and outcomes within one year of enactment.

The Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress and their immediate families from purchasing new securities issued by publicly traded companies. It requires advance public disclosure for any sale of existing covered investments, with a mandatory 7-to-14-day notice period before the transaction. Violations result in significant financial penalties, including disgorgement of any net gains, payable by the Member personally.

This bill, the Hemp Planting Predictability Act, seeks to amend the Agriculture Appropriations Act of 2026. Specifically, it delays the implementation of recent amendments affecting hemp production under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The delay for these changes is extended from one year to three years.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

This Act mandates enhanced southbound inspections at the Southern Border to interdict weapons, currency, and drugs being smuggled out of the U.S. It requires the deployment of new inspection technology and the hiring of 200 new Homeland Security Investigations agents focused on outbound smuggling. Furthermore, the bill establishes a minimum mandatory inspection rate of 10% for all southbound traffic by 2027 and requires regular reporting on inspection resources and seizure statistics.

The Protect Children’s Innocence Act establishes federal criminal penalties for performing genital or bodily mutilation or chemical castration on individuals under 18 years old. This law applies when the act involves interstate commerce or occurs in U.S. territories. It explicitly prohibits procedures intended to change a minor's body to correspond with a different sex, with narrow exceptions for specific medical necessities.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and financial processors from creating or requiring special merchant category codes specifically for firearm retailers. This legislation aims to prevent the singling out of businesses that sell firearms, ammunition, or related components through transaction coding. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcement and reporting annually to Congress on the law's implementation.

The Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act of 2025 amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to prevent deceptive environmental marketing on consumer packaging. It establishes strict standards for "recyclable," "compostable," and "reusable" claims, requiring third-party certification and clear consumer disclosures. The bill aims to increase transparency by ensuring that environmental claims are backed by scientific evidence and actual infrastructure availability.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The High-Capacity Grid Act mandates that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) establish a "best-available transmission conductor" standard based on capacity, efficiency, and sag mitigation. This legislation requires FERC to presume that using these advanced conductors in covered transmission projects is prudent and cost-justified. Conversely, using anything less than the best-available conductor will be presumed imprudent in rate cases.

This bill, the American Border Story Memorial Act, authorizes The American Border Story (TABS) to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C. This memorial will honor U.S. citizens and legal residents killed in crimes committed by individuals unlawfully present in the United States. The establishment must adhere to federal regulations for commemorative works, but crucially, no federal funds can be used for its creation or maintenance.

The Freedom to Heal Act of 2025 establishes a special registration process for physicians to administer certain unapproved, experimental Schedule I investigational drugs to terminally ill patients under existing "Right to Try" laws. This process, overseen by the Attorney General, requires physicians to meet specific criteria regarding state compliance, manufacturer agreements, and drug handling to prevent diversion. The Act mandates a swift approval timeline for these applications, enabling terminally ill patients greater access to promising treatments.

The Energy Choice Act places federal restrictions on state and local governments, preventing them from enacting regulations that prohibit or limit energy service based on its type or source. This means local governments cannot ban or restrict access to energy services sold in interstate commerce. The legislation aims to ensure consistent access to various energy sources across jurisdictions.

The American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025 aims to rapidly expand wireless and wireline internet infrastructure by streamlining government approval processes at the state, local, and federal levels. It establishes strict deadlines for permit decisions, mandates automatic approval if deadlines are missed, and limits excessive fees to accelerate deployment. The bill also expedites environmental reviews for certain projects to reduce bureaucratic delays in building out modern communications networks.

The Equal Representation Act of 2025 mandates the inclusion of a citizenship question on the decennial census starting in 2030. This legislation requires that the population counts used for apportioning seats in the House of Representatives and determining electoral votes exclude non-citizens. The bill ensures that representation is based solely on the count of U.S. citizens within each state.

The HUD Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide annual testimony to Congress. This testimony must detail the OIG's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, and assess HUD's efficiency and resource needs. The goal is to enhance public accountability and oversight of HUD programs.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.