Legislative Activity

The **PROTECT USA Act of 2025** aims to shield U.S. companies integral to national interests—especially those in energy, manufacturing, and resource extraction—from foreign sustainability regulations. It generally prohibits these key entities from complying with foreign due diligence rules that conflict with U.S. interests. Furthermore, the bill provides legal protections and penalties against any adverse action taken against these companies for adhering to U.S. law over foreign mandates.

The Expanding Access to Lending Options Act directs the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) to prioritize the safety and soundness of federally chartered credit unions. This legislation primarily amends the Federal Credit Union Act by extending the maximum holding period for certain real estate assets from 15 to 20 years. It also clarifies the eligibility language for property involved in these real estate loans.

The Stopping Proxy Advisor Racketeering Act establishes new rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to ensure proxy advisory firms provide unbiased voting recommendations to shareholders. This bill prohibits firms from issuing advice if they have conflicts of interest, such as simultaneously consulting for the company being advised upon or actively working with one side of a shareholder proposal. The legislation grants the SEC authority to impose civil penalties on firms that violate these new standards.

The Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2025 requires courts to independently decide all legal questions, including interpreting laws and agency rules, when reviewing agency actions. This changes the standard of judicial review, ensuring courts do not defer to an agency's interpretation but make their own judgment. This applies to all agency actions unless explicitly exempted by law.

The Halting Uncertain Methods and Practices in Supervision Act of 2025 (HUMPS Act) aims to increase objectivity and consistency in how banks are rated by regulators. This bill mandates the update of the CAMELS rating system to establish clear, measurable standards for each component. The goal is to ensure that bank supervision focuses strictly on core financial health rather than subjective examiner judgment.

The Insurance Data Protection Act aims to adjust federal regulatory authority over insurance data by limiting the subpoena power of the Office of Financial Research against insurance companies. It also strengthens confidentiality protections for data shared with and held by the Federal Insurance Office and other financial regulators. Furthermore, the bill mandates that financial regulators must seek existing data from other sources before directly collecting information from insurance companies, ensuring data privacy is maintained.

The Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2025 seeks to re-establish state and federal courts as the sole regulators of attorney conduct during litigation. This bill explicitly prevents federal agencies from supervising or enforcing rules on lawyers' litigation activities. Furthermore, it bars private lawsuits in federal court against opposing counsel based solely on their actions within a case. Finally, it amends existing law to exempt attorneys engaged in litigation for debt collection from being classified as "debt collectors."

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.

This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to formally disapprove the Federal Trade Commission’s recent rule regarding premerger notification, reporting, and waiting period requirements. If enacted, this measure would nullify the rule, rendering it without legal force or effect.

The Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to permanently classify a broad range of fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances. By streamlining the scheduling process and establishing strict penalties for these substances, the bill aims to enhance enforcement against the distribution of dangerous synthetic opioids.

The Interstate Commerce Simplification Act of 2025 updates federal law to clarify the definition of "solicitation of orders." By broadening this term to include business activities that serve multiple purposes, the bill aims to streamline regulatory compliance for companies operating across state lines.