Legislative Activity

The Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2025 aims to increase attorney accountability in federal court by making sanctions mandatory for filing improper or frivolous paperwork. If a violation of court rules is found, judges **shall** require the attorney to reimburse the opposing party for reasonable expenses and attorney fees. This measure is designed to curb abusive litigation practices without hindering the development of new legal arguments or claims.

The PERMIT Act aims to streamline and clarify federal regulations governing infrastructure and water quality projects. It focuses on making the permitting process more efficient by setting deadlines, factoring in the cost and availability of treatment technology, and clarifying judicial review timelines. The bill also revises definitions under the Clean Water Act, particularly regarding agricultural runoff and navigable waters, to reduce regulatory burdens on industry and agriculture.

The Streamlining NEPA for Coal Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to promptly identify existing and potential categorical exclusions under NEPA that could accelerate coal production and export activities. This action requires the Secretary to report specific environmental review exemptions that could speed up coal-related projects to relevant Congressional committees within 30 days of enactment.

The Clarifying Federal General Permits Act amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify the EPA Administrator's authority for issuing general permits for water pollution discharges. This legislation ensures continuity of coverage for existing discharges if the EPA fails to issue a timely notice regarding the expiration or renewal of a general permit. Essentially, existing permit terms remain in effect until a new permit is issued or a specific wind-down period concludes.

The Water Quality Technology Availability Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to base national water pollution limits on technology that is currently commercially available in the United States. This change ensures that effluent limitation guidelines reflect practical, accessible pollution control solutions. The bill amends existing law to clarify the standard the EPA must use when setting industry discharge rules.

The Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and share neutral, practical resources to help small businesses understand and adopt artificial intelligence. These resources, which include standards and best practices, will be distributed in coordination with the Small Business Administration (SBA). The utilization of these materials by small businesses will remain entirely voluntary.

The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act of 2025 establishes a new federal crime targeting individuals who intentionally stage motor vehicle collisions involving commercial motor vehicles. This act sets significant penalties, including up to 20 years in prison for staging an accident, with mandatory minimum sentences for crashes resulting in serious injury or death. The legislation also includes provisions to prevent federal prosecution if the individual has already been tried in a state or local jurisdiction for the same incident.

The Aviation Workforce Development Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow expenses for aviation maintenance and commercial pilot courses to be considered qualified higher education expenses for qualified tuition programs. This change applies to distributions made after the enactment of this law, aiming to support workforce development in the aviation sector.

The SAFE for America Act of 2025 eliminates the Diversity Visa Program, which makes visas available to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. This is achieved through repealing subsection (c) of Section 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Act also makes corresponding technical amendments to other sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act to reflect this change. These changes would take effect beginning October 1, 2025.

The "Safe Passage on Interstates Act of 2025" aims to prevent the obstruction of interstate highways. It establishes penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for individuals who knowingly disrupt traffic flow or endanger vehicles on these highways. Increased penalties are applied if emergency vehicles are obstructed or if a death occurs as a result of the obstruction.

The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting. It empowers state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State for failing to enforce immigration laws, including those related to detention and removal. The bill defines grounds for legal action and requires expedited court proceedings.