Legislative Activity

The "DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act" restricts institutions of higher education with ties to Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese entities of concern from receiving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funds, unless they terminate such relationships. The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive these restrictions under certain national security conditions, and must provide Congress with justification for any waivers. The Act also requires the DHS to offer guidance to help institutions comply with the law and to submit annual reports to Congress on its implementation.

The "Critical Minerals and Manufacturing Support Act" amends Section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code to increase tax credits for advanced manufacturing of batteries, particularly for electrode active materials, and introduces sourcing requirements for critical minerals and battery components to be extracted/processed in the U.S. or countries with free trade agreements. It also excludes components produced by "foreign entities of concern" from receiving the credit and broadens the definition of electrode active materials to include precursor materials. This aims to incentivize domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign entities for critical minerals and battery components.

The "State Energy Accountability Act" mandates that state regulatory authorities evaluate the impact of intermittent energy policies on the reliability of their state's electric grid, including assessments of resource availability, emergency response capabilities, rate effects, and the need for out-of-state energy supplies. These evaluations must be conducted and made public within a year of determining whether to implement the standard or adopting an intermittent energy policy. The goal is to ensure grid reliability and affordability while transitioning to new energy sources.

The Uniform School Mapping Act prohibits federal funding for emergency response maps that do not meet specific digital, accuracy, and accessibility standards beginning in fiscal year 2026. It mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to create a strategy for procuring and distributing compliant maps for critical federal sites to public safety agencies. The strategy must be submitted to congressional committees. The Act defines key terms related to emergency response mapping and public safety agencies.

This bill mandates the United States Postal Service to assign unique ZIP Codes to specific communities across 22 states within 270 days of enactment. This aims to provide these communities with distinct postal identities.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The SOAR Act of 2025 aims to improve access to supplemental oxygen therapy for Medicare beneficiaries by removing oxygen equipment from competitive bidding programs, establishing fair payment rates, and ensuring access to respiratory therapists. It mandates specific service standards for oxygen suppliers, requires electronic templates for documenting medical necessity to prevent fraud, and restores clinical inference in claim reviews. The act also establishes a series of beneficiary rights, including the right to choose suppliers, receive clear communication, and have faulty equipment repaired or replaced promptly. Finally, the Act requires annual and monthly notices to beneficiaries regarding their benefits and cost-sharing responsibilities.

The "Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025" amends the Food Security Act of 1985, updating the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program to allow landowners more flexibility in payment allocation. It standardizes payment rates for water right retirements and dryland agricultural uses based on irrigated acre values and requires the Secretary to update existing agreements with lower rates to match the new standards. Additionally, rental payments received under these agreements are exempted from payment limitations.

The "CATCH Fentanyl Act" directs the Department of Homeland Security to launch pilot projects at land ports of entry to test new technologies, including AI, for detecting contraband, illegal drugs, weapons, and human smuggling in vehicles and cargo. It requires detailed reports to Congress on the technologies' effectiveness, costs, and impact on privacy and civil liberties, while also outlining plans for broader implementation and protecting personal data. The Act emphasizes using existing resources, prohibiting new funding appropriations for these activities.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025 establishes a working group within the Department of Homeland Security to monitor and counter transnational repression activities, such as harassment and intimidation, targeting individuals in the U.S. by foreign governments. The working group will coordinate with intelligence agencies, review information from various partners, and provide annual reports to Congress on its findings and efforts. The Act also directs research and development into technologies to counter transnational repression, ensuring all activities comply with constitutional and privacy protections.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of the Interior to remove the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife, as previously established in the 2020 rule. This action must be completed within 60 days of the Act's enactment. The Act explicitly prohibits any judicial review of this reissuance.

The "Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Counter Transnational Repression Act" amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to bolster law enforcement's ability to counter transnational repression and related terrorism threats. It mandates the development of a training program for state, local, and tribal law enforcement to identify, record, and share information on transnational repression, as well as to protect potential targets and victims. The Act also calls for research and development of technology to enhance participation in these training programs and requires a report to Congress on its implementation. Transnational repression is defined as actions by a foreign government or its agents intended to coerce, harass, or threaten individuals in the U.S.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 aims to increase affordable housing options by updating state housing credit formulas, refining tenant eligibility rules, and improving credit eligibility and determination. This includes adjusting income verification processes, modifying student occupancy rules, and protecting domestic abuse victims. The bill also focuses on Native American and rural assistance by addressing housing needs in Indian areas and streamlining income eligibility for rural projects. Additionally, it revises rules for exempt facility bonds and renames the "low-income housing tax credit" to the "affordable housing tax credit" while encouraging data sharing and discouraging discriminatory land use policies.

The "CBO Scoring Accountability Act" requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to analyze major legislation for the first 10 years after enactment, including estimates of costs, revenue changes, and comparisons against previous estimates. It mandates a report to Congress if discrepancies between actual costs/revenue and prior estimates exceed 10 percent, ensuring transparency and accountability in legislative financial impacts. Federal departments and agencies are required to provide the CBO director with the information necessary to conduct these analysis. "Major legislation" is defined as any bill projected to result in mandatory spending or federal revenue changes equal to or greater than 0.25 percent of the current projected gross domestic product of the United States for that year.

The Military Installation Retail Security Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Defense from entering into or renewing long-term concession agreements with retailers controlled by countries that pose a national security risk, with a waiver option if essential goods or services are not otherwise available. It mandates retailers to disclose relationships with these countries and requires review and potential termination of existing agreements. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is directed to investigate and provide determinations on national security implications. The Act defines key terms to clarify the scope and enforcement of these provisions.

The "Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025" aims to impose significant sanctions on Russia if it refuses to negotiate peace with Ukraine, violates a peace agreement, or initiates further military action against Ukraine. The bill mandates the President to determine and impose sanctions on individuals, entities, and financial institutions affiliated with the Russian government, targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, and restricts trade and financial interactions with Russia. It also increases import duties on goods from Russia and countries purchasing Russian energy products, while providing limited exceptions for humanitarian aid and intelligence activities. The President has the authority to terminate and reimpose sanctions based on Russia's actions.

The Iranian Terror Prevention Act mandates the Secretary of State to designate specific organizations as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) within 90 days. It directs the President to determine and potentially impose sanctions on these organizations and associated entities within 60 days. The Secretary of State must also regularly report to Congress on new entities that could be designated as FTOs or sanctioned. Finally, the President is required to report to Congress justifying any decisions not to sanction a listed organization.

The "Hot Foods Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP benefits to be used for hot and ready-to-eat foods. It broadens the scope of eligible food items under SNAP and modifies retailer eligibility requirements, permitting more stores to accept SNAP if hot food sales do not exceed 50% of their gross sales. This change also updates the language regarding where SNAP-eligible food can be consumed to include "home or immediate consumption".

The "Trucker Bathroom Access Act" ensures commercial truck drivers have access to restrooms at businesses where they are delivering or waiting to load goods. It also requires terminal operators to provide adequate restroom facilities for drayage truck operators at ports and intermodal rail yards. The bill aims to address the challenges faced by truckers in finding safe and accessible restroom facilities during their work. This access does not require businesses to make any physical changes to their restrooms.