Legislative Activity

The PROTECT Military Families Act establishes a new parole program to allow certain immediate family members of U.S. service members and veterans to enter the United States. This program specifically targets spouses, widows/widowers, parents, and children of active duty or honorably discharged military personnel. Parole decisions require joint approval from the Secretaries of Homeland Security, Defense, and Veterans Affairs for any denial.

This act requires the Secretary of Defense to brief Congress on the feasibility and cost of consolidating key prevention services—such as those addressing sexual assault, suicide, and domestic violence—into a single facility at each U.S. military installation. The goal is to enhance the delivery of these critical support services across the military health system.

The Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act mandates the Secretary of Defense to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to improve mental health services and address suicide among service members. This plan requires establishing uniform protocols for the self-initiated mental health referral process and implementing standardized mental health training for all personnel. The goal is to ensure service members are fully aware of and can easily access mental health support.

The Return on Investment for Military Occupational Specialties Act requires the Department of Defense to brief Congress on promotion opportunities for enlisted service members in specific critical job fields, such as cyber and intelligence. This briefing must detail promotion rates, time in service, and any identified advancement challenges for these specialties over the last three promotion cycles. The goal is to provide transparency regarding career progression in these key military occupational specialties.

The GAP for Military Service Act mandates that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a feasibility study on establishing a one-year active duty service program within the U.S. Armed Forces. This study will analyze suitable military roles, training requirements, international examples, and the potential costs and barriers to implementation. The GAO must submit its findings to the relevant Congressional committees within one year of the Act's enactment.

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.