Legislative Activity

The Cut the Burden, Keep the Benefits Act establishes a dedicated hotline for small entities to report on burdensome government actions. Operated by the Small Business Administration's Chief Counsel for Advocacy, this system will collect information on rules, executive orders, and proclamations affecting small businesses, organizations, and governments. The Chief Counsel must then consider regulatory alternatives to minimize burdens and submit annual reports detailing the most frequently reported actions and their associated benefits and costs.

The Corporal Fernando Ruiz Baltazar Posthumous Citizenship Act of 2025 expands eligibility for posthumous U.S. citizenship. This bill specifically grants citizenship to noncitizens who served honorably in the U.S. military and died from service-related injuries or disease. It particularly focuses on those who enlisted in the Philippines between September 1, 1939, and December 31, 1946. The relevant military department will determine eligibility for these posthumous benefits.

This Act mandates that the Small Business Administration (SBA) implement recommendations from a GAO report concerning risks in their newly deployed IT system. The SBA Administrator must submit a detailed plan within 180 days outlining how they will establish robust policies and procedures for all future IT modernization projects, focusing heavily on comprehensive risk management. Following submission, the Administrator must brief relevant Congressional committees on this plan.

The Affordable Housing for Our Troops Act mandates that the Secretary of Defense brief Congress on strategies to improve off-base housing affordability for service members. This briefing must detail efforts to partner with local governments and private landlords to address high-cost areas. The report will outline current agreements, potential incentives for landlords, and recommendations for new policies to reduce housing insecurity near military installations.

The Servicemember Retention and Education Advancement Act mandates a study by the Secretary of Defense regarding the feasibility and advisability of providing tuition assistance to all active-duty servicemembers after one year of service. This report, due to Congress within one year of enactment, must detail the findings and identify any potential obstacles to implementing such a policy.

The SBIR Commercialization Improvement Act aims to boost the transition of technologies developed under the SBIR/STTR programs into full government use. It mandates new federal training for acquisition staff on utilizing Phase III awards and streamlines the process for securing these final contracts. Furthermore, the bill requires government representatives to actively advocate for small businesses to receive Phase III awards based on their prior research.