Legislative Activity

The MAWS Act of 2025 establishes a three-year pilot program to support watermen by funding businesses to purchase blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This initiative requires setting a minimum purchase price based on market conditions and stakeholder input. Following the program, a comprehensive report will be submitted to Congress detailing ecological and economic impacts, along with policy recommendations.

This Act officially prohibits the construction of a golf course at the Greenbury Point Conservation Area at Naval Support Activity Annapolis, Maryland. It amends existing law to explicitly forbid the Secretary of the Navy from using funds for such development or restricting public access. Exceptions are made only for activities essential to national security, safety, or environmental restoration.

This act establishes a dedicated mental health support initiative for personnel within the U.S. Cyber Command's Cyber Mission Force. It mandates the assignment of appropriately cleared behavioral health professionals directly to these duty locations to address work-related stress and occupational challenges. Furthermore, the Department of Defense must provide annual progress reports to Congress on the initiative's implementation and effectiveness for three years.

This Act mandates that the Secretaries of the military departments develop comprehensive master plans for each Service Academy to address critical infrastructure needs. These plans must detail failing infrastructure, propose replacement or renovation within five years, and assess risks from various threats. The Secretaries are required to submit these plans to Congress by December 1, 2027.

This Act modifies the eligibility requirements for enlisted service members participating in the Judge Advocate General's Corps program. Specifically, it increases the maximum obligated service time from eight to ten years for service members whose law school expenses are funded by a military department. The bill also makes technical corrections to cross-references within the relevant statute.

The NOAA Data Preservation Act aims to ensure the uninterrupted storage of critical National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data sets. This legislation restricts the Secretary of Commerce from canceling cloud storage contracts unless a comprehensive plan for seamless data transition and protection is established in collaboration with NOAA. The bill focuses on maintaining continuous access to vital environmental data.

The THRIVE Act of 2025 mandates the establishment of an Interagency Task Force on Complementary and Integrative Health within the VA. This task force will assess and develop a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of various integrative therapies, such as acupuncture, yoga, and peer-led programs, for treating conditions like PTSD and depression. Its goal is to determine how the VA can best expand access to these proven complementary approaches to improve veteran mental health and well-being.

The Shutdown Student Loans for Feds Act provides relief for federal employees and certain contractors during government shutdowns lasting at least 14 days. During these periods, the bill suspends all federal student loan payments and stops interest accrual for affected individuals. Furthermore, these suspended months count toward loan forgiveness eligibility, and payments must be reported positively to credit agencies.

The Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns Act (Help FEDS Act) ensures that essential, non-paid federal employees working during a government shutdown can receive state unemployment compensation for the weeks they are actively working. This legislation mandates that the federal government fully reimburse states for all benefits paid out, plus administrative costs, directly from the Unemployment Trust Fund. Any employee who receives retroactive pay for a period they were also paid unemployment must repay those benefits to the state.

This resolution formally recognizes and celebrates the 180th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy. It honors the institution's history, its mission to instill honor and courage in future leaders, and the significant achievements of its distinguished alumni. Congress reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Academy as it continues to prepare leaders for the Navy and Marine Corps.

The Protect Our Probationary Employees Act resets the probationary period for certain federal employees who were involuntarily separated between January 20, 2025, and January 20, 2029. If these employees are rehired into a similar role at the same agency, their new probationary period will be reduced by the time they already served previously. This provision is temporary and will expire on January 20, 2029.