Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses support for designating May 5, 2025, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, acknowledging the ongoing crisis and need for increased awareness, resources, and updated research. It calls on the public to remember the lives lost and support the victims' families, while also urging the Department of Justice to conduct a new study to update statistics on this critical issue.

The "America the Beautiful Act" reauthorizes and expands the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through 2033, increasing its funding to $2 billion. It prioritizes projects with private donations, mandates annual project lists to Congress, and allows fund allocation even without full-year appropriations. The act also focuses on promoting donation opportunities, managing cash donations, disposing of unneeded assets, and improving preventative maintenance.

This resolution designates the week of April 19 through April 27, 2025, as "National Park Week" to recognize the importance of national parks for recreation, education, and economic contributions. It encourages people to visit and support these parks while acknowledging the role of the National Park Service in protecting these resources for future generations.

This bill authorizes the mining of federal coal reserves on approximately 800 acres of federal land in Musselshell County, Montana, under Federal Coal Lease MTM 97988. It mandates the Secretary of the Interior to approve the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification within 30 days of the bill's enactment, facilitating mining operations on the specified land without alterations or delays.

The Small County PILT Parity Act amends title 31 of the United States Code, section 6903(c), to provide adjustments for low-population units of local government. It changes the population threshold for certain payments from 4,999 to 999 in paragraph (1), and from 5,000 to 1,000 in paragraph (2)(A). Additionally, it replaces the existing table in paragraph (2)(B) with a new one, affecting how these payments are calculated for eligible small counties.

The GAZA Act would prohibit individuals with passports issued by the Palestinian Authority from receiving visas, being admitted to the United States, or being paroled into the United States. It would also prevent them from receiving any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

This bill permits the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to grant extensions, up to six years, for commencing construction on hydropower projects licensed before March 13, 2020. These extensions, in increments of up to two years, are available to licensees who demonstrate good cause. The bill also allows FERC to reinstate expired licenses under certain conditions, with the extension period calculated from the original expiration date.

The "Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025" amends the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010, modifying how funds are used for water projects and related activities. It establishes the "MRI Projects Account" and the "Crow CIP Implementation Account" to support water infrastructure development and clarifies the Tribe's control over these projects. The Act also extends provisions related to Yellowtail Dam and updates cross-references within the original Act for accuracy.

This bill resolves water rights claims for the Fort Belknap Indian Community in Montana by ratifying a water rights agreement, authorizing funding and land transfers to implement the agreement, and rehabilitating and expanding the Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project. Additionally, the bill authorizes \$250 million for water and wastewater facilities for the Blackfeet Tribe in Montana.

The Stop Russian Market Manipulation Act bans the import of platinum, palladium, nickel, and copper from Russia to the United States, 90 days after enactment. This ban will end once the President certifies that Russia has ceased hostilities against Ukraine, but will be reinstated if hostilities resume within three years. The President does not have the authority to waive this prohibition. "Russian entity" is defined as an entity organized under Russian law or subject to Russian jurisdiction.

The "Telehealth Expansion Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow more flexibility for health plans covering telehealth services. This act ensures that offering telehealth services without a deductible does not disqualify a health plan as a high-deductible health plan. These provisions aim to expand access to remote healthcare services by reducing financial barriers. The changes will take effect for plan years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025" allocates $150 million from 2025-2029 to improve public access to private lands for recreational purposes. A portion of the funds, $3 million, will be used to specifically enhance access to land covered by wetland reserve easements through agreements with state and tribal governments.

The "Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture from banning or regulating lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands and waters open to hunting and fishing. An exception is allowed in specific areas where lead is scientifically proven to be the primary cause of wildlife population decline, but any restrictions must align with state laws or have the approval of the state's fish and wildlife department. The reasoning for any such prohibition or regulation must be published in the Federal Register.

The "Restoring State Mineral Revenues Act" eliminates an administrative fee charged under the Mineral Leasing Act, which will likely increase the amount of revenue states receive from mineral leasing on federal lands. It also makes necessary technical and conforming changes to other related laws, such as the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 and the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982, to reflect the elimination of this fee.

The "Supporting Made in America Energy Act" mandates the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a minimum number of oil and natural gas lease sales annually for both onshore and offshore lands, including specific requirements for the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska regions. It extends the moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico until December 31, 2035, and sets deadlines for preparing subsequent oil and gas leasing programs. The Act also restricts the President's authority to pause or impede Federal energy mineral leasing processes without congressional approval.

The New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act of 2025 permanently extends the New Markets Tax Credit, originally set to expire after 2025, to encourage investment in low-income communities. The bill also adjusts the credit amount for inflation after 2025 and provides alternative minimum tax relief for credits on qualified equity investments made after December 31, 2024. These changes aim to incentivize ongoing investment in economically distressed areas.

The "A PLUS Act" allows states to submit a declaration of intent to the Secretary of Education to consolidate certain federal education funds, excluding those under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to improve academic achievement. States must ensure transparency and accountability in the use of these funds, focusing on enhancing educational opportunities for disadvantaged students. The Act limits administrative expenses and requires equitable participation of private schools in funded activities. This aims to provide states and local communities more flexibility in deciding how to improve academic achievement and implement education changes.

The "Next of Kin Collections Protection Act of 2025" modifies how the Department of Veterans Affairs handles benefit payments after a beneficiary's death. It ensures that benefit reductions or discontinuances due to death are effective at the end of the month in which the death occurs. This act clarifies payment procedures for the month of the beneficiary's death, applying to deaths occurring on or after the Act's enactment.

This bill, named the "Crow Revenue Act," facilitates land and mineral interest exchanges involving the Bull Mountains Lease, the Hope Family Trust, and the Crow Tribe of Montana. It mandates the Secretary of the Interior to accept the relinquishment of the Bull Mountains Lease, transfer mineral interests to the Tribe, and convey U.S. rights in the Bull Mountains Tracts to the Hope Family Trust. The conveyed mineral interests to the Tribe will be held in trust by the United States and are exempt from state taxation, ensuring that the Tribe's federal benefits remain unaffected by this Act.

The "Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act" prohibits abortions performed because of a belief or diagnosis that an unborn child has Down syndrome, and establishes criminal penalties and civil remedies for violations. This bill also requires medical professionals to ask pregnant women about any knowledge or evidence concerning the unborn child having Down syndrome and informs them of the prohibitions of abortion under this section. Additionally, the bill specifies that violations will be considered discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act, potentially resulting in a loss of federal funding.