Legislative Activity

The Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act of 2025 exempts specific, clearly defined less-than-lethal projectile devices from standard federal firearm restrictions under Title 18 of the U.S. Code. This exemption applies only to devices incapable of firing standard ammunition and designed to minimize the risk of serious injury or death. The bill also establishes a process for manufacturers to seek official confirmation from the Attorney General regarding a device's classification.

This bill extends combat zone tax benefits to members of the Armed Forces serving in Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad. It treats these locations as "qualified hazardous duty areas" for tax purposes, applying the same favorable rules used for official combat zones. This change impacts filing deadlines, income exclusions, and tax liability for service members in these specific regions.

The Fair and Open Competition Act of 2025 ensures fair competition on federally funded construction projects by prohibiting the government from requiring or penalizing bidders based on union agreements. This legislation aims to keep federal agencies neutral in labor relations while promoting cost savings and opening opportunities for all businesses. Exceptions to this neutrality rule are strictly limited to specific public health, safety, or national security emergencies.

The Major Richard Star Act ensures that military retirees with combat-related disabilities can receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation concurrently without reduction. This law removes previous restrictions that caused military retirement pay to be offset by VA disability payments for these specific cases. The changes take effect on the first day of the month following the Act's enactment.

This resolution recognizes and honors teachers who have achieved or maintained National Board Certification as of March 2025, acknowledging their positive impact on student learning and potential lifetime earnings. It encourages the growth of new National Board Certified Teachers by urging educators, administrators, school districts, and States to provide candidates with incentives and support.

The Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2025 bans all federal funding or support for research utilizing human fetal tissue obtained specifically from an induced abortion. The bill permits federal research on tissue derived from miscarriages or stillbirths, provided it adheres to updated Public Health Service Act guidelines. Furthermore, it prohibits the solicitation or knowing acceptance of human fetal tissue donations if the donor knows the tissue resulted from an induced abortion or was procured for that purpose. This legislation also repeals an existing law concerning NIH revitalization.

The Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act of 2025 restricts the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from using emergency declarations to enact gun control measures. This bill specifically prevents the use of the National Emergencies Act and the Public Health Service Act for imposing new firearm restrictions. Furthermore, it amends disaster relief law to prohibit federal disaster declarations from banning the possession, sale, or transfer of firearms, ammunition, or related accessories.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 620 East Pecan Boulevard in McAllen, Texas, as the "Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Post Office Building." The legislation ensures that all official records and documents reflect this new memorial name for the building.

The James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to James Earl Jones, honoring his contributions to the United States and his work promoting inclusion in film and theatre. The Secretary of the Treasury will create the gold medal, and bronze duplicates will be made available for sale to the public.

This resolution censures Representative Al Green for disrupting President Trump's address to Congress, violating decorum, and bringing disrepute to the House. It mandates that Representative Green present himself to the House for a public reading of the censure resolution by the Speaker.

The "Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2025" increases penalties for stealing firearms from licensed dealers. It sets stricter punishments, including up to 20 years in prison, for violating laws related to firearm theft. The act also mandates minimum prison sentences of 3 years for burglaries and 5 years for robberies targeting licensed firearm businesses.

The "Timely and Accurate Benefits Act" mandates states to implement an Enhanced Income Verification Platform to receive federal funding for benefit programs. This platform will use real-time data matching and analytics to verify income, including wages, self-employment earnings, and other sources, ensuring accurate eligibility determinations. The goal is to reduce improper payments and ensure timely benefit distribution. The act defines key terms such as "Enhanced Gross Income" and "Enhanced Income Verification Platform" to provide a clear framework for implementation.

The Justice for Vaccine Injured Veterans Act of 2025 presumes service-connection for certain diseases, such as myocarditis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome, for veterans who were required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine between August 24, 2021, and January 10, 2023. It also requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to track and report on compensation claims related to COVID-19 vaccines and make these reports publicly available.

This bill expresses support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear republic, while condemning the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, support for terrorism, and attempts to develop nuclear weapons. It affirms the right of the Iranian people to self-determination and supports continued sanctions against the current regime. The bill also calls for the protection of Iranian political refugees in Albania.

The "Making the CFPB Accountable to Small Businesses Act of 2025" requires covered agencies to consider the impact of proposed rules on small entities and provide detailed justifications if alternatives aren't adopted. It also requires agencies to describe steps taken to minimize credit costs for small entities.

The "ALYSSA Act" amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require all elementary and secondary schools to install silent panic alarms for use during school security emergencies. To receive federal funding, local education agencies must equip each school with at least one panic alarm, defined as a silent security system for signaling life-threatening emergencies to law enforcement. This ensures schools have a direct and immediate way to alert law enforcement during critical situations.

The American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act amends the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act to increase funding for victims of state-sponsored terrorism by redirecting forfeited assets and penalties into the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. It mandates specific deposit timelines for forfeited funds, requires annual pro rata payments to eligible claimants beginning in 2026, and enhances transparency through detailed annual reports on fund activity. The Act also allows for the use of Department of Justice personnel to aid in the administration of the fund and ensures a supplemental payment to those already approved for fifth-round payments.

The "Protect America's Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act of 2025" establishes a CCP Initiative within the Department of Justice to combat Chinese Communist Party (CCP) espionage and theft of U.S. intellectual property. This initiative will focus on enforcement, identifying threats, protecting critical infrastructure, and investigating Chinese companies. The Attorney General is required to submit annual reports to Congress on the initiative's progress and impact. The initiative is set to expire six years after enactment.

The Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act prevents Congress from imposing new performance fees on local radio stations for playing music. It emphasizes the mutually beneficial relationship between broadcasters and the recording industry, where radio provides free publicity that boosts music sales and supports artists. The act recognizes local radio's crucial role in communities by providing news, weather updates, and public service announcements. Ultimately, this bill aims to protect local radio stations and businesses from economic harm, ensuring they can continue serving their communities without additional financial burdens.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, effective from the date of enactment. It adjusts gift tax calculations by setting the lifetime gift exemption at $10,000,000, with inflation adjustments after 2011. The Act also includes transitional rules for applying certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code during the enactment year.