Legislative Activity

The "State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act" amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, mandating that electric utilities incorporate measures into their integrated resource planning to guarantee reliable electricity for a 10-year period. This includes maintaining or securing power from "reliable generation facilities" capable of continuous operation and essential grid services. State regulatory bodies and nonregulated utilities must consider and determine these new reliability standards within two years of the Act's enactment, with exemptions for states that have recently addressed similar standards.

The "Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act" establishes an interagency strike force to prioritize and expedite the review of requests for communications use authorizations on federal lands. This strike force will set goals, monitor agency performance, and ensure accountability in processing these requests. The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information must report to Congress on the strike force's effectiveness. The aim is to speed up broadband deployment by streamlining the authorization process on public lands and National Forest System lands.

The Law Enforcement Support and Counter Transnational Repression Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to create a public service announcement campaign educating the public and international allies about transnational repression and related terrorism threats, including resources for victims. It also requires research and development of technologies to support law enforcement in countering transnational repression while protecting constitutional rights. "Transnational repression" is defined as actions by a foreign government or its agents to coerce, harass, threaten, or retaliate against a person or their family in the U.S. or against a U.S. person.

This bill expresses support for designating April 6-12, 2025 as "National Water Week". It encourages Congress and the executive branch to support water utilities in protecting public health and the environment while fostering local economic growth. This includes addressing challenges related to aging infrastructure, rising costs, water quality, and ensuring climate resilience and security.

The Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2025 aims to enhance U.S. economic competitiveness and security by promoting foreign investment from trusted countries while addressing barriers and security concerns, particularly those posed by entities influenced by the Chinese Communist Party. It directs the Secretary of Commerce and the Comptroller General to conduct an interagency review of U.S. competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment, focusing on the economic impact, trends, challenges, and the influence of protectionist policies and state-directed economies. The review will result in a report to Congress with findings and recommendations to increase foreign investment in a way that strengthens U.S. protections.

The "UPLIFT Act" aims to enhance cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities to combat transnational crime and drug trafficking. It amends existing laws to prevent sanctuary policies that hinder immigration enforcement, clarifies the authority of ICE detainers, and protects jurisdictions that comply with detainers from liability. The act also allows victims of crimes committed by released aliens to sue non-complying jurisdictions.