Legislative Activity

This joint resolution seeks to invoke the Congressional Review Act to disapprove and nullify the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent rule regarding the phasedown and management of hydrofluorocarbons. If enacted, the rule would have no force or effect, effectively blocking the EPA's regulatory framework for these substances.

The Litigation Transparency Act of 2025 requires parties in civil actions to disclose the identity of any third party entitled to payment contingent on the outcome of the case, along with the relevant agreements. This disclosure aims to increase transparency in civil litigation by revealing who financially benefits from the lawsuit's outcome. Certain payments, such as loan repayments and attorney's fees, are exempt from this disclosure requirement. The Act applies to both ongoing and future court cases.

The "Unemployment Integrity Act of 2025" aims to reform unemployment compensation by requiring claimants to participate in reemployment services and interviews, and by enabling employers to report noncompliance. It also mandates a study and potential increase in random audits to improve the administration of state unemployment compensation laws. Additionally, the Act limits funds transfers for extended unemployment compensation to states that meet specific work search requirements.

The "Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to exclude the net value of a family farm (on which the family resides) or a small business (with no more than 100 employees and owned/controlled by the family) from consideration as an asset when determining financial need for federal student aid. This change aims to make higher education more accessible for students from family farm and small business backgrounds.

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 savings accounts to include expenses related to postsecondary credentialing programs. This allows 529 funds to cover costs like tuition, fees, books, supplies, and testing fees for recognized programs and credentials, as defined by the bill. These changes would apply to distributions made after the bill is enacted.

The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl (HALT Fentanyl) Act permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances to strengthen enforcement and penalties against their trafficking. Additionally, the bill streamlines registration processes for researchers to facilitate legitimate scientific study of these substances. It also includes technical corrections and mandates updated federal rulemaking to ensure effective implementation.

The Love Lives On Act of 2025 ensures that surviving spouses of veterans and service members retain their earned benefits, including dependency and indemnity compensation, educational assistance, and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities, regardless of remarriage. Additionally, the bill expands TRICARE eligibility to include widows and widowers whose subsequent marriages have ended. This legislation protects the financial security and healthcare access of surviving families by removing penalties associated with remarriage.

The Fair Access to Banking Act prohibits large financial institutions and payment networks from denying services to law-abiding businesses based on subjective, politically motivated, or reputational criteria. The bill mandates that financial institutions use impartial, quantitative, risk-based standards to evaluate customers rather than category-based exclusions. To ensure compliance, the legislation establishes enforcement mechanisms through federal regulators and provides a legal pathway for businesses to sue for damages if they are unfairly denied access to financial services.

The "No User Fees for Gun Owners Act" prohibits state and local governments from imposing special taxes, insurance requirements, or user fees as a condition for owning, manufacturing, or transferring firearms and ammunition. The bill ensures that firearms are only subject to standard, generally applicable sales taxes, preventing discriminatory financial barriers to gun ownership.

The Banning SPR Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act prohibits the sale or export of petroleum from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, or entities controlled by these nations. This legislation aims to protect national security by ensuring that emergency oil reserves are not diverted to foreign adversaries. The Secretary of Energy may only waive this prohibition if it is certified to be in the national security interest of the United States.

The Dismantle DEI Act of 2025 aims to immediately rescind diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates across the federal government, including shutting down related offices and banning specific ideological training for federal personnel and contractors. The bill prohibits the use of federal funds for DEI activities by grant recipients and mandates that federal advisory committees cease all such practices or face termination. Furthermore, it establishes strong enforcement mechanisms, allowing individuals to sue violators and seek financial penalties for non-compliance.

The Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 establishes federal tax credits for individuals and corporations that contribute to scholarship-granting organizations. These organizations provide K–12 education scholarships to students from lower- and middle-income households to cover tuition, tutoring, and other qualified educational expenses. The bill also protects the autonomy of participating schools and scholarship organizations from government interference while ensuring that scholarship funds remain tax-free for recipient families.

The "Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act" increases consumer protection in the household goods shipping industry by allowing the Secretary to enforce penalties for violations, enabling states to use grant money for enforcement and retain penalties, and setting requirements for registration. This includes defining "principal place of business," requiring disclosure of relationships within the transportation industry, and allowing the Secretary to withhold or revoke registration for non-compliance.

The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025 aims to support healthcare providers by extending Medicare payment adjustments through the end of 2025. Specifically, the bill provides a 6.62 percent payment increase for services rendered between April 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, to help practitioners adjust to evolving Medicare payment policies.

The PROTECTS Act of 2025 prohibits the use of federal funds to provide, refer, or reimburse gender transition procedures—including surgeries, hormone therapies, and puberty blockers—for individuals under the age of 18. The bill includes specific exceptions for medically necessary treatments related to genetic disorders of sex development or other physical health conditions.

The Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 establishes a federal tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations, which provide financial assistance for K-12 educational expenses. This initiative aims to expand school choice by helping eligible families cover costs such as tuition, tutoring, and educational therapies. The bill also includes robust protections to ensure the autonomy of participating private and religious schools and the freedom of parents to direct their children's education.

This bill recognizes the significant historical and ongoing contributions of tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies to communities across the United States through charitable activities, volunteer work, and financial support for members. It expresses the sense of Congress that these societies are a valuable support system that addresses unmet needs and generates substantial returns to the U.S. through their tax-exempt status. The bill also advocates for the continued promotion of fraternal benefit societies.

The CBO Show Your Work Act mandates that the Congressional Budget Office publicly release the models, data, and computational details used to estimate the fiscal and economic impacts of legislation. By requiring transparency and replicability, the bill ensures that outside parties can independently verify CBO findings. It also establishes clear protocols for handling confidential data to maintain privacy while maximizing public access to information.

The "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" ensures that infants born alive after an abortion receive the same medical care as any other newborn, mandating immediate hospitalization and requiring healthcare practitioners to report any failures to comply. Violators face fines, imprisonment, and potential prosecution for homicide or attempted homicide, while the mother of the child cannot be prosecuted. The bill also allows the woman who had the abortion to file a civil action against anyone who violated the act. It defines abortion and attempts at abortion, and renames "Partial-Birth Abortions" to "Abortions" in relevant sections of the U.S. Code.

This bill expresses support for designating January 26 - February 1, 2025, as "National School Choice Week" to recognize the importance of diverse K-12 education options and the role of parents in choosing the best learning environment for their children. It encourages raising awareness about the benefits of educational choice and congratulates those involved in education.