Legislative Activity

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.

This bill amends District of Columbia law to lower the minimum age at which a minor can be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses from sixteen to fourteen years old. It modifies the jurisdiction of the Family Court, allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to potentially face adult criminal proceedings for specified crimes. These changes only apply to offenses committed on or after the law's effective date.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council Improvement Act of 2025 revises the authority of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) regarding nonbank financial companies. It requires the FSOC to first determine that other actions are impractical or insufficient, in consultation with the company and its primary regulator, before voting to designate a nonbank firm as systemically important. This aims to ensure that designation is a measure of last resort for addressing significant financial threats.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

This bill primarily focuses on extending the authorization for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs by one year. It pushes the expiration dates for the core programs and several related pilot activities from fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2026. This ensures continued federal research and development funding opportunities for small businesses.

This resolution condemns the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and extends condolences to his family. It honors his life and legacy, recognizing his founding of Turning Point USA and his commitment to encouraging civil discourse on college campuses.

The FIREARM Act aims to protect licensed firearm dealers from overly harsh penalties for minor or self-reported mistakes. It establishes new standards requiring the government to provide notice and an opportunity for dealers to correct violations before license revocation. Furthermore, the bill retroactively applies these protections to licenses previously revoked under a specific 2021 enforcement policy, allowing affected individuals a path to reapply.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act limits how consumer reporting agencies can share a consumer's report when it is requested in connection with a residential mortgage loan. Reports can only be shared with entities directly involved in the consumer's current mortgage or those providing a firm offer of credit or insurance. The Act also mandates a study by the GAO regarding the use and impact of "trigger leads" derived from credit checks.

The GRACE Act prohibits federal education funding for any school or agency that mandates vaccinations unless they provide a religious exemption based solely on an individual's stated sincerely held religious beliefs. This exemption cannot require any proof or documentation to support the religious objection. Consequently, institutions requiring documentation for religious vaccine exemptions risk losing federal education funds.

The Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025 mandates that the Departments of HUD and Agriculture create a joint agreement to speed up environmental reviews for federally funded rural housing projects. This partnership aims to designate a lead agency and streamline the acceptance of environmental documentation between the two departments. The Act also establishes an advisory group composed of diverse stakeholders to guide implementation and requires a final report to Congress suggesting further efficiency improvements without compromising resident safety or environmental standards.

The Rare Earth Solutions and Carbon Utilization Enhancement Act of 2025 (RESCUE Act) streamlines the permitting process for projects recovering critical materials from sources like mine waste and coal byproducts. This amendment expands eligibility under the FAST Act's expedited review to include the extraction of rare earth elements and specific forms of carbon from these secondary sources. The goal is to accelerate the development of domestic supplies of these vital resources.

This bill would require the District of Columbia to recognize valid concealed carry permits or the legal right to carry a concealed firearm held by Members of Congress from their home states. Specifically, it allows Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners to carry a concealed firearm in D.C. provided they meet federal eligibility requirements and carry proper identification.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Agriculture, via the Forest Service, to aggressively suppress wildfires on National Forest System lands, prioritizing rapid response and resource utilization. It restricts the use of fire as a resource management tool to only prescribed fires and limits backfires during wildfires to emergency situations. The bill focuses on areas with high drought levels, elevated wildfire preparedness levels, or significant wildfire exposure.

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act strictly prohibits the Federal Reserve from directly or indirectly issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to individuals. This legislation prevents the Fed from developing, testing, or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, Congress asserts that any authority to create such a digital asset must explicitly come from Congress itself.

The Equal Shot Act of 2025 prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) from denying financial assistance to otherwise qualified applicants solely based on their involvement in the firearms industry. This legislation ensures that businesses defined as "firearm entities," their affiliates, or trade associations are not unfairly rejected for SBA loans or guarantees. The Act clearly defines these terms to prevent discrimination against businesses involved in manufacturing, selling, or servicing firearms and related accessories.

The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act generally prohibits federal agencies from banning the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal lands and waters open to hunting or fishing. Exceptions are allowed only for specific federal units where scientific data proves lead use is causing wildlife decline, and the restriction aligns with state law or policy. This legislation aims to maintain traditional hunting and fishing practices across most federal domains.

The Grizzly Bear State Management Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2017 rule delisting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population within 180 days. This reissuance must occur without regard to other applicable laws governing final rules. Furthermore, the reissued 2017 rule is explicitly shielded from judicial review.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that any public performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" must adhere strictly to the original English lyrics written by Francis Scott Key. It affirms the importance of preserving the historical integrity and unifying symbolism of the national anthem. The bill strongly encourages adherence to the original text as written in 1814.

The Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025 amends immigration law to address driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI/DUI) offenses. This legislation establishes that a conviction for, or admission to the underlying acts of, a DWI/DUI offense makes a non-citizen inadmissible to the United States or deportable if already present. This applies regardless of whether the offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under local law.