Legislative Activity

The COUNTER Act enhances the Department of Defense's authority to neutralize threats from unmanned aircraft systems targeting U.S. assets. This legislation delegates specific response powers and updates mitigation rules for drone threats. Crucially, it exempts sensitive information regarding these counter-drone technologies and procedures from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill also adjusts several deadlines and clarifies the applicability of certain federal laws when operating overseas to counter these threats.

The State Border Security Assistance Act establishes two new federal grant programs to support state and local efforts along the southern border. The first fund provides billions for physical barriers, surveillance technology, and border reinforcement activities. The second fund allocates resources for the investigation, prosecution, and detention of criminal non-citizens. Both programs offer reimbursement for eligible expenses dating back to January 20, 2021, and are scheduled to sunset in January 2029.

This resolution formally honors law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, specifically recognizing the 345 officers whose service ended in 2024. It reaffirms support for all active officers and emphasizes the need to ensure they have the proper resources and training to perform their duties safely. The bill serves as a formal expression of gratitude and remembrance for their ultimate sacrifice.

The Conscience Protection Act of 2025 aims to strengthen federal protections for healthcare providers and entities that refuse to participate in abortion, sterilization, or assisted suicide based on moral or religious objections. It prohibits discrimination against these entities by any recipient of federal funding, including state and local governments. Furthermore, the bill establishes stronger enforcement mechanisms within HHS and grants individuals and entities a private right of action to sue for violations of these conscience laws in federal court.

This bill seeks to formally reject a recent rule submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) concerning new energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. By invoking congressional disapproval, the legislation immediately cancels the DOE's proposed efficiency standards. In essence, Congress is overriding the DOE's attempt to implement these specific new regulations for tankless gas water heaters.

This bill disapproves of and nullifies the Department of Energy's rule on energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers.

The Pregnancy.Gov Act establishes a new national public website, Pregnancy.gov, to serve as a centralized hub connecting pregnant women with local resources. This site must offer tailored resource matching based on location and ensure listed providers have a consistent three-year service history. Crucially, the Act prohibits any organization that performs, refers for, or counsels in favor of abortion from being listed or receiving associated state grants.

This resolution formally honors mothers and recognizes the vital role they play in raising the next generation, coinciding with Mother's Day. It reaffirms that motherhood is defined by women and strongly rejects alternative terminology that diminishes this role. Ultimately, the bill encourages the nation to celebrate the invaluable contributions of mothers to families and the country.

The CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025 aims to overhaul how veterans receive assistance with their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit claims. It establishes new rules for the recognition, fees, and conduct of agents and attorneys who represent veterans. The bill also mandates increased transparency regarding available assistance and requires a review of the entire representative recognition process.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act restricts the Department of Veterans Affairs from automatically sharing a veteran's information with the DOJ for national background checks solely based on the appointment of a fiduciary. This bill prohibits the VA from classifying a veteran as a "mental defective" based only on an administrative finding of incompetence or the need for a fiduciary. Furthermore, the VA must notify the Attorney General if previously shared information based on fiduciary status is no longer valid.

The ACES Act mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academies to investigate the prevalence and mortality rates of various cancers among active duty fixed-wing aircraft crew members due to potential service-related exposures. This legislation also extends the expiration date for certain limitations on veteran pension payments by one month. The study will analyze specific cancer types and utilize data from the VA, DoD, and other federal sources.

This Act prohibits the use of federal funds for gender transition procedures across major public health programs, including Medicaid, CHIP for minors, and Medicare. It also removes the tax deductibility for expenses related to these procedures, defining them broadly as medical interventions intended to change physical appearance to match an identity different from biological sex. The legislation provides specific medical exceptions for conditions like Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) and life-saving care. Finally, it bans gender transition procedures from being classified as an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating the month of May as "Fallen Heroes Memorial Month." It honors the more than 1.3 million service members who have died protecting American liberty throughout history. Furthermore, the bill urges the President to issue a proclamation encouraging all Americans to reflect upon and honor the ultimate sacrifice made by these heroes.

The Emergency Care Improvement Act officially brings qualifying Freestanding Emergency Centers (FECs) into the standard Medicare and Medicaid coverage systems. This legislation ensures that these state-licensed facilities, which operate as full emergency departments, are reimbursed for providing specified emergency services. Furthermore, the Act explicitly includes FECs under the requirements of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

The Fresh Start Act of 2025 incentivizes states to adopt automatic criminal record expungement laws by tying them to federal gun violence prevention grants. This legislation requires states receiving these funds to automatically clear or seal eligible criminal records without requiring individual action or payment of outstanding fees. Recipients must also annually report detailed data on the process, broken down by race, ethnicity, and gender, which the Attorney General will then make public.

The BRIDGE Production Act of 2025 mandates an aggressive schedule for offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of America and Cook Inlet, requiring at least 26 new sales over the next decade. It streamlines environmental reviews and judicial processes to accelerate lease issuance and speed up production approvals. Furthermore, the bill establishes automatic backup leasing schedules if future five-year plans fail to meet minimum sale requirements.

The Streamlining Critical Mineral Permitting Act aims to expedite the permitting process for facilities handling critical energy resources. It introduces a new definition for "critical energy resource," determined by the Secretary of Energy based on national necessity and supply chain vulnerability. This change specifically modifies how interim hazardous waste permits are handled for facilities processing these vital resources under the Solid Waste Disposal Act.

The Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act of 2025 temporarily modifies the physician self-referral prohibition (Stark Law) to allow physician practices to dispense certain Medicare Part D prescription drugs directly to their patients between 2026 and 2030. This exception is subject to specific conditions regarding prescribing, patient history, and dispensing location. The bill also mandates a GAO study to examine trends in physician office drug dispensing and makes a minor adjustment to the allocation for the Medicare Improvement Fund.

The Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act of 2025 amends federal law to classify the distribution of fentanyl that results in death as first-degree felony murder. This change subjects offenders to the death penalty or life imprisonment if they distribute specific quantities of fentanyl or its analogues, knowing the substance contained them, and that distribution caused a fatality. The bill specifically targets distributors of two grams or more of fentanyl mixtures or half a gram or more of fentanyl analogue mixtures.