Legislative Activity

The Strengthening Oversight of DHS Intelligence Act enhances oversight of how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shares, retains, and disseminates intelligence information. This legislation specifically mandates that these intelligence activities must protect privacy rights, civil rights, and civil liberties. To ensure compliance, the bill requires coordination with the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis and mandates specialized training for relevant personnel on these protections.

The PILLAR Act reauthorizes and modifies the CISA State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program through 2033. This legislation expands the program's focus to explicitly include operational technology and artificial intelligence systems in cybersecurity planning. It also updates definitions, adjusts federal cost-sharing requirements, and restricts grant use for technology from foreign entities of concern.

This Act establishes mandatory participation for all relevant Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Intelligence Community Civilian Joint Duty Program. This ensures DHS intelligence elements engage in rotational assignments within the broader intelligence community.

This resolution officially expresses support for National Public Lands Day, recognizing the vast spiritual, cultural, and economic value of America's public lands. It encourages all citizens to visit these lands on the designated fee-free day. The measure highlights the significant acreage managed by various federal agencies that support recreation and the national economy.

The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act extends the operational deadlines for key federal programs designed to strengthen water infrastructure. Specifically, this bill pushes the expiration dates for the Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program and two Drinking Water System Resilience and Sustainability Programs from 2026 to 2031. This extension ensures continued funding and support for community projects aimed at improving water system toughness against severe weather and environmental challenges.

This resolution formally honors the life and legacy of Charles "Charlie" James Kirk, who was tragically assassinated at Utah Valley University. It condemns political violence and calls upon all Americans to reject extremism in favor of civil debate. The bill expresses deep sympathy to his family and urges a renewal of commitment to the values of faith, family, and freedom he championed.

This bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to all Peace Corps Volunteers who served between August 28, 1961, and December 31, 2026, to recognize their distinguished service and promotion of world peace. The medal will be awarded to the Director of the Peace Corps for display at the agency's headquarters. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs.

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.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

This resolution formally condemns the tragic act of violence at Evergreen High School on September 10, 2025, which resulted in injuries to two individuals. It expresses the deepest condolences and support from Congress to the victims, survivors, families, and the entire Evergreen community. Furthermore, the bill honors the swift and heroic actions of first responders, law enforcement, school staff, and medical personnel who responded to the crisis. Ultimately, it affirms the fundamental belief that every child deserves a safe environment in which to learn.

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 resolution officially designates the week of September 15 through September 19, 2025, as "National Clean Energy Week." It recognizes the vital role of the growing clean energy sector in creating American jobs and advancing national environmental and economic goals. The bill encourages public and private entities to promote affordable, low-emission energy solutions across the country.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

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 Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 directs the FAA to update regulations to encourage aviation workers to seek mental health support without fear of stigma. The bill mandates annual reviews of the medical clearance process and allocates funding to hire more Aviation Medical Examiners. Furthermore, it requires the FAA to implement recommendations from a recent mental health task force and launch a public awareness campaign to reduce stigma.

The Empower Parents to Protect their Kids Act mandates that schools receiving federal funding must obtain explicit parental consent before taking any action supporting a student's gender transition that differs from their biological sex. This legislation prohibits school staff from encouraging students to keep secrets from parents regarding gender identity or from hiding information about a student's transition plans. Parents are granted the right to sue schools directly for violations of these parental notification and consent requirements.

The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act establishes a new program to support local food producers and strengthen regional food security. This initiative requires the Secretary of Agriculture to fund agreements that ensure nutritious, locally sourced food is purchased and distributed widely, prioritizing small and beginning farmers. Funds must be used to buy minimally processed local products and provide technical assistance to producers. The program is backed by mandatory funding starting in Fiscal Year 2026.

The Cutting LNG Bunkering Red Tape Act clarifies that transferring Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to a ship for marine fuel is generally not considered an "export" under the Natural Gas Act. This exemption applies regardless of the vessel's flag, provided the refueling occurs within U.S. waters. The bill aims to streamline the process for using LNG as ship fuel within the United States.

This bill directs the United States Postal Service (USPS) to assign a single, unique ZIP Code to 66 specific communities across numerous states. The USPS is required to complete this designation process within 270 days of the law's enactment. This measure aims to ensure these designated towns and areas each have their own distinct postal code.

The Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection Act (HELP Act) exempts commercial drivers transporting livestock, insects, or aquatic animals from federal electronic logging device (ELD) requirements and hours of service regulations. This exemption applies whether the vehicle is loaded or traveling empty to pick up or return from a delivery. The goal is to provide flexibility for those involved in the transportation of live animals.