Legislative Activity

This Joint Resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concerning the Miles City Field Office's Resource Management Plan Amendment. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action immediately nullifies the BLM's decision and prevents it from taking effect.

The SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act amends existing law to extend the statute of limitations for fraud-related crimes concerning the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant and Restaurant Revitalization Grant programs. This legislation establishes a 10-year window for filing criminal prosecutions or civil enforcement actions related to fraud and false claims for these COVID-19 relief funds.

The Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act aims to promote ecosystem restoration projects in floodplains by streamlining regulatory processes. This bill exempts such projects from certain map change fees and allows for conditional approval within regulatory floodways under specific engineering and safety criteria. Ultimately, it directs FEMA to issue guidance to facilitate these beneficial restoration efforts.

The National Cemetery Access Act mandates that all national cemeteries managed by the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the National Park Service must remain open to the public on all federal legal public holidays. This ensures continuous access for visitors to honor veterans and their families throughout the year.

The Retirement Investment Choice Act aims to permanently establish the rules set forth in Executive Order 14330 into federal law. This action codifies the executive order, which focuses on democratizing access to alternative assets within 401(k) retirement plans. By enacting this into statute, the bill ensures these investment options remain available to plan participants regardless of future executive actions.

The IMAGES Act of 2025 significantly updates the National Flood Mapping Program to enhance the accuracy and detail of flood rate maps. It mandates the inclusion of property-level data like roads and parcel information on these maps and requires regular accuracy checks. Furthermore, the bill establishes a public data repository for raw flood modeling information and dedicates a portion of insurance fund revenue specifically for map maintenance.

The Crow Revenue Act facilitates the transfer of certain mineral rights and land to the Crow Tribe of Montana. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to accept the relinquishment of the Bull Mountains Lease, convey mineral and surface rights in the Bull Mountains Tracts to the Hope Family Trust, and transfer mineral rights from the Hope Family Trust to the Tribe. The Act ensures these mineral interests will be held in trust for the Tribe's benefit and are exempt from state taxation, while also protecting the Tribe's eligibility for other federal benefits.

The Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act mandates that regulatory bodies explicitly include rural-area small businesses when considering advisory roles and consultations related to capital access. This amendment ensures that the unique needs of rural businesses are recognized alongside other specific small business categories, like women-owned businesses. The goal is to improve capital access for job creators in rural America.

The Protecting Private Job Creators Act addresses the application of an SEC rule (Rule 15c2-11) originally designed for stock markets to the fixed-income (bond) markets. This bill formally creates an exception, ensuring that this specific SEC regulation does not apply to quotations for fixed-income securities. This action aims to protect the vital financing mechanisms used by businesses in the debt markets.

The COAL POWER Act, officially the Combating Overregulation And Limitation of Proven, Operable, Working Energy Resources Act, directly repeals a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule concerning emission standards for coal- and oil-fired power plants. This legislation effectively nullifies the specified EPA regulation, removing its legal standing.

The SEC Modernization Act enacts significant internal restructuring within the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by realigning several key offices, including moving them under the General Counsel and into the Division of Corporate Finance. This legislation streamlines reporting structures by consolidating the offices of Public Affairs and Legislative Affairs, and merging investor education functions under the Investor Advocate. While mandating these initial organizational changes, the Act retains the Commission's future flexibility to reorganize offices if deemed necessary for investor protection.

The CFPB Budget Integrity Act limits the amount of unspent funds, or "unobligated balances," the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) can retain to no more than 5% of a specified statutory amount. Any excess savings must be transferred to the Treasury general fund. This legislation also enhances reporting requirements to provide greater transparency regarding the CFPB's retained balances.

The Safeguarding American Property Act of 2025 expands mandatory detention requirements for certain non-citizens who commit specific property crimes. This legislation adds offenses like trespassing, vandalism, and arson to the list of crimes that require immigration authorities to detain an individual during removal proceedings. The bill also clarifies language related to violent offenses to ensure comprehensive grounds for detention.

The Stop Russian Market Manipulation Act prohibits the import of platinum, nickel, and copper ores from Russia, with the ban beginning 90 days after enactment. This prohibition will end once the President certifies that Russia has ceased hostilities against Ukraine, but it can be reinstated if hostilities resume within three years. The President does not have the authority to waive this prohibition.

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

The "Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025" amends the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to improve water infrastructure and management for the Crow Tribe. It refines the use and management of settlement funds, prioritizing water projects and environmental compliance, and extends the period for water storage allocation. The Act establishes new accounts for MRI projects and CIP implementation, clarifying tribal control over related projects and adjusting funding based on construction costs.

The Federal Insurance Office Elimination Act eliminates the Federal Insurance Office and the position of its Director within the Department of the Treasury. It transfers certain responsibilities and authorities previously held by the office to other entities, such as the Secretary of the Treasury and the Board of Governors. The act also makes related amendments to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act to reflect these changes. This bill does not repeal or limit the Secretary of the Treasury's authority over insurance-related matters.