Legislative Activity

The HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination Act mandates that the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs formally agree to share relevant housing research and market data. This legislation requires the three agencies to submit a joint report to Congress detailing plans for improving interagency coordination on housing programs. Before submission, the proposed coordination plan must undergo a 30-day public review period.

The Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act ensures that essential U.S. Border Patrol Agents and Customs and Border Protection officers who must work during a government shutdown in fiscal year 2026 will receive their salaries. This legislation appropriates necessary funds from the Treasury to cover these payments during the lapse in appropriations. The goal is to guarantee that critical border security personnel are paid even if the government temporarily closes.

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 2025 expands existing federal whistleblower safeguards to cover nearly all contracts, grants, and agreements funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This ensures that individuals reporting wrongdoing on HUD-funded projects receive standard federal whistleblower protections. These protections apply retroactively to existing agreements.

This Act mandates a comprehensive review of the Federal Reserve's discount window operations to ensure it effectively provides liquidity to banks, especially during crises. The review must cover technology, cybersecurity, interagency communication, and ways to reduce the stigma associated with using the facility. Following the review, the Board of Governors must develop and report to Congress a formal remediation plan with clear deadlines for improving efficiency and transparency.

This resolution formally condemns the violent attack on the U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, on July 7, 2025. It expresses support for the injured agents and reaffirms Congress's strong backing for the dedicated men and women of the Border Patrol. The bill emphasizes that such violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and undermines national security efforts.

The Bracero Program 2.0 Act aims to modernize the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program by streamlining employer processes through a new online portal and setting a guaranteed minimum wage plus $\$2.00$ per hour for workers. It also establishes a six-year pilot program allowing certain returning H-2A workers to move between approved farms within the same state for greater job flexibility. Finally, the bill expands H-2A eligibility to include greenhouse and indoor farm workers and mandates several oversight reports by the GAO.

The HUD Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must provide annual testimony to key Congressional committees. This testimony will detail efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, assess the effectiveness of HUD programs, and offer recommendations for improving efficiency and accountability. This ensures regular, direct oversight of HUD operations by Congress.

The New World Screwworm Preparedness Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study on the United States' readiness to combat the reintroduction of the New World screwworm, a devastating parasite of warm-blooded animals. This study, led by the Secretary of Agriculture, must assess current threat levels, sterile fly production capacity, surveillance systems, and emergency response plans. The resulting report will provide Congress with critical recommendations to strengthen national preparedness against this costly agricultural and wildlife pest.

This bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Sergeant Alfredo 'Freddy' Gonzalez for his extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War. The medal will be struck by the Secretary of the Treasury and ultimately presented to the Museum of South Texas History for permanent display. The Act also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with all proceeds returning to the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

The Healthy Babies Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of the WIC program to update regulations within one year to include "infant food combinations and dinners" as eligible supplemental foods. This change expands the variety of prepared food options available to infants participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

The Selena Commemorative Coin Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue special $5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar clad coins honoring the late Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla. These collector coins, which must feature her image, will be available for sale only during the calendar year 2029. All surcharges collected from the sales will be directed to the Friends of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History to support its operations, including a Selena exhibit. The Treasury must ensure the program fully covers all production and issuance costs before any surcharge funds are distributed.

This resolution expresses strong support for diplomatic efforts to ensure Mexico fulfills its annual water delivery obligations to the United States under the 1944 treaty concerning the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande Rivers. It highlights the negative impact of Mexico's current practice of delaying deliveries until the end of five-year cycles, which causes shortages for South Texas farmers. The bill encourages the Administration to secure timely deliveries and pursue new agreements for a guaranteed minimum annual water transfer.

The VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025 mandates the addition of a disclaimer on standard mortgage applications, informing applicants who indicate military service that they may qualify for a VA Home Loan. This ensures veterans and service members are immediately directed to explore their VA loan eligibility when applying for a mortgage. The bill also requires the GAO to study the effectiveness of this new disclaimer requirement among lenders.

The SPEAK Act of 2025 directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue updated guidance on ensuring meaningful language access during telehealth services. This guidance must establish best practices for incorporating interpreters, improving access to technology, and providing multilingual patient materials for individuals with limited English proficiency. The goal is to ensure equitable care delivery across virtual health platforms.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 620 East Pecan Boulevard in McAllen, Texas, as the "Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Post Office Building." The legislation ensures that all official records and documents reflect this new memorial name for the building.

The "Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act of 2025" ensures that U.S. Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers are paid during any government shutdown in fiscal year 2025. The bill appropriates the necessary funds to cover the salaries and expenses of these essential employees, guaranteeing they continue to receive paychecks even when the government is shut down.

The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act ensures that veterans' service-connected disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs is not considered when determining income eligibility for housing assistance programs. This change aims to make housing more accessible for disabled veterans. Additionally, the Act requires a report to Congress reviewing the impact of disability compensation on eligibility for HUD programs, identifying inconsistencies, and suggesting improvements to better assist veterans and underserved communities.

This bill condemns the Government of Mexico for its failure to meet its annual water delivery obligations to the United States, as stipulated in the treaty governing the use of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers, and the Rio Grande.

The "Southern Border Farmers and Ranchers Protection Act" establishes a Southern Border Initiative within the Food Security Act of 1985. This initiative directs the Secretary to provide payments to agricultural producers in specific Texas counties along the southern border. These payments will support conservation practices aimed at repairing damage to agricultural land and infrastructure, addressing natural resource issues in the region with contracts lasting one year.

The Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act requires a review of the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program to assess its effectiveness, benefits, and burdens on cattle producers. The review will also look at treatment methods and fund allocation. Following the review, a report will be submitted to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees with recommendations for program improvements, particularly focusing on reducing compliance burdens for cattle producers.