Legislative Activity

The LOCOMOTIVES Act amends the Clean Air Act to prevent states from creating emission standards for locomotives and engines used in locomotives that engage in interstate commerce. This ensures consistent regulations for the railway industry across different states, specifically those providing common carrier railroad transportation.

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that allowed California to set its own vehicle emissions standards under the Advanced Clean Cars II Waiver. By disapproving this rule, the bill prevents California from implementing stricter emission standards and effectively maintains federal control over vehicle emission standards.

This bill nullifies the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that designated the San Francisco Bay-Delta population of Longfin Smelt as an endangered species. By disapproving the rule, the bill removes the protections and regulations associated with the endangered species status for this specific population of Longfin Smelt.

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that allows California to set its own pollution control standards for motor vehicles, engines, and nonroad engines. The bill prevents the implementation of the EPA's rule outlined in the Notice of Decision (90 Fed. Reg. 643).

This bill disapproves and nullifies an EPA rule that allows California to set its own stricter pollution control standards for heavy-duty vehicles and engines. The rule covers emission warranties, maintenance, advanced clean truck standards, zero-emission airport shuttles, and powertrain certification. By disapproving the rule, the bill aims to prevent California from implementing these specific environmental regulations.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act" aims to combat the rise in organized retail theft and related crimes by amending Title 18 of the U.S. Code to include provisions that target the theft, fraud, and illegal redistribution of goods. It also establishes an "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" to coordinate federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts, share information, and track trends related to organized retail crime. The center will work to support training and technical assistance to combat organized retail crime and organized supply chain crime. Finally, the Act requires the evaluation of existing federal programs to identify ways to expand support for state, local, and tribal law enforcement.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The "Election Results Accountability Act" amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002, setting deadlines for states to count ballots (90% within 72 hours) and certify federal election results (within 2 weeks), with exceptions for emergencies. States that fail to meet these deadlines may face withheld election administration funds unless a compliance plan is approved. These changes apply to elections held more than 90 days after the Act's enactment.

The Earthquake Resilience Act requires a national risk assessment to identify communities' progress and remaining gaps in earthquake resilience. It amends the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to include post-earthquake recovery objectives, develop standards for lifeline infrastructure, and incorporate real-time global navigation satellite system data. This aims to improve the nation's ability to recover and reoccupy after earthquakes.

The "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act" enables individuals with valid concealed carry permits or the legal right to carry concealed firearms in their home state to do so across state lines, provided they are not federally prohibited from possessing firearms and carry a valid photo ID. This law respects private and state/local government restrictions on firearms, protects individuals from unwarranted arrest, and allows legal action for violations of these rights. It also permits concealed carry in National Parks and other federal lands open to the public and clarifies that handguns include magazines and ammunition.

The "Innovative FEED Act of 2025" amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to regulate zootechnical animal food substances—additives that affect digestion or gut health, but are not intended to treat animal diseases. It classifies these substances as food additives, requiring FDA approval based on safety and intended effect, with specific labeling requirements. The FDA retains authority over approval and can reject substances that do not achieve their intended effect. This act does not authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require the use of any zootechnical food substance or food additive.

The HELPER Act of 2025 amends the National Housing Act to establish an FHA mortgage insurance program for first responders, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and teachers. This program allows the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to insure mortgages up to 100% of the appraised value for eligible first-time homebuyers, waiving down payment requirements but requiring an up-front mortgage insurance premium. Mortgagors must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being a first-time homebuyer, completing a housing counseling program, and meeting employment and good standing requirements as a first responder. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2032 and requires reauthorization of the program after 5 years.

The FISH Act of 2025 transfers authority over anadromous and catadromous fish species from the Secretary of Commerce to the Secretary of the Interior. It redefines anadromous and catadromous species within the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The Act allows for reconsideration of certain past administrative decisions and addresses administrative and legal details related to the transfer, ensuring continuity in existing legal documents, proceedings, and lawsuits. It also defines key terms like "function" and "office" to clarify the scope and implementation of the transfer.

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 "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.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.

The "Freight RAILCAR Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit for modernizing freight railcars, encouraging investments in newer, more efficient railcars. Taxpayers can claim a credit equal to 10% of their freight railcar fleet modernization expenses, with a limit of 1,000 qualified freight railcars per year. The credit applies to railcars that increase capacity, improve fuel efficiency, or meet updated performance standards, and is available for three years after the Act's enactment. The Secretary of the Treasury is required to submit a report to Congress detailing the credit's usage and impact on railcar modernization and scrapping.

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 Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 ensures that monetary penalties from False Claims Act cases are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. This excludes payments to whistleblowers and reimbursements to the government. This will increase the amount of money available to help victims of crimes.