Legislative Activity

This bill, the Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act, amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to enhance transparency in lobbying activities. It mandates that lobbyists must disclose the names and addresses of any foreign governments or political parties, beyond the direct client, that are involved in directing or controlling their lobbying efforts. This new requirement ensures greater visibility into the ultimate sources of influence directing lobbying work.

The SAFE Act directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and update federal sentencing guidelines for offenses involving child sexual abuse material. This update must account for the actual harm to victims, modern technology, and the spectrum of offender culpability. The Commission is required to develop new guidelines that specifically address factors like the use of multiple online channels, involvement in prohibited sexual conduct against a child, and the impact on the victim. Importantly, the Act prohibits lowering the existing base offense level for these crimes.

The Stop Sextortion Act criminalizes threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material, even if the material does not exist, to intimidate or coerce victims. This legislation establishes severe penalties for making such threats, mirroring those for actual distribution. Furthermore, the Act increases maximum prison sentences by ten years for crimes involving the use of child sexual abuse material to threaten or harm an individual.

The ECCHO Act establishes a new federal crime for intentionally coercing a minor under 18 to commit harmful acts, including self-harm, violence against others or animals, arson, or specific online offenses like swatting. This legislation defines coercion broadly to include manipulation, threats, and intimidation used to force a child into these prohibited actions. Penalties vary based on the severity of the coerced act, with life imprisonment possible for coercing suicide or homicide. The Act also updates existing federal laws to incorporate this new offense and ensure comprehensive enforcement.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Treasury Secretary, to conduct and submit an annual fraud risk assessment of Obamacare premium tax credit determinations starting in 2025. The assessment must detail current fraud prevention controls and adhere to established government risk management standards. This report will be submitted to relevant Congressional committees and the HHS Inspector General.

The SIMSA Act of 2025 establishes a new Schedule A within the Controlled Substances Act to specifically target synthetic analogues that are structurally or functionally similar to existing controlled substances. This legislation grants the Attorney General authority to temporarily or permanently schedule these substances, imposing strict penalties for trafficking and mandatory labeling requirements. Furthermore, the Act outlines specific registration processes for handling Schedule A substances and provides a mechanism for sentence review if a substance is later descheduled.

The PROTECT Act of 2025 mandates that the Director of the United States Secret Service must be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. This legislation also establishes a single, non-renewable ten-year term limit for the Director position. These changes aim to increase oversight and transparency within the Secret Service leadership.

The Stop Pills That Kill Act aims to combat the distribution of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl or methamphetamine by expanding prohibited acts related to these substances. The bill mandates the DEA to develop a comprehensive operational plan focusing on investigation, seizure, and youth education efforts. Furthermore, it requires the Attorney General to submit an annual report to Congress detailing seizures, prosecutions, and prevention strategies targeting these dangerous counterfeit substances.

The Gang Activity Reporting Act of 2025 mandates the Attorney General, in collaboration with DHS and the FBI, to submit comprehensive annual reports on gang activity to Congress. These detailed reports must cover trends in gang membership, criminal enterprises, and enforcement efforts over the preceding decade. The goal is to provide accurate, consistent data to inform effective, evidence-based policymaking against rising violent crime.

This resolution officially designates the week beginning October 19, 2025, as "National Character Counts Week." It emphasizes the critical role of families, schools, and communities in teaching foundational ethical values like trustworthiness and responsibility to young people. The designation encourages nationwide activities and programs focused on strengthening the character of America's youth.

The H–1B and L–1 Visa Reform Act of 2025 significantly overhauls temporary work visa programs to protect U.S. workers and increase transparency. This bill establishes stricter wage requirements, imposes anti-displacement rules, and grants enforcement agencies greater authority to audit and penalize employers for fraud and abuse. Ultimately, it aims to prioritize highly skilled workers and prevent the over-reliance on foreign labor in the U.S. workforce.

The Fertilizer Research Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive, year-long study of the U.S. fertilizer industry. This report will detail market size, pricing trends over 25 years, import volumes, and supply chain dynamics. A key focus is evaluating industry concentration and recommending whether a new system for transparent fertilizer price reporting should be established.

The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by licensed pharmacists. These covered services must be delivered to patients in designated health professional shortage or medically underserved areas. The bill establishes a specific reimbursement structure for these pharmacist services, effective beginning January 1, 2027.

The Open Payments Expansion Act mandates that pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, as well as Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs), must annually report all direct and indirect payments made to qualifying patient advocacy organizations. This new reporting requirement aims to increase transparency regarding financial relationships between industry and patient support groups. These reports must detail the recipient organization's name and the exact dollar amount of the payment.

This resolution officially designates August 21st as Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day to honor victims and recognize the devastating impact of the illicit fentanyl crisis. The day aims to raise public awareness about the extreme dangers of fentanyl poisoning and encourage communities to promote drug prevention efforts. It calls upon the public to commit to healthy, drug-free living and support educational initiatives against this deadly substance.

The Psychiatric Hospital Inspection Transparency Act of 2025 mandates the public release of accreditation and inspection survey results for psychiatric hospitals on the CMS Care Compare website. This ensures consumers can easily access standardized information to make informed healthcare choices. The Secretary must develop a standardized reporting form while strictly protecting patient and individual provider privacy under HIPAA guidelines.

This resolution officially designates July 30, 2025, as "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day." It honors individuals who report waste, fraud, and abuse, recognizing their vital role in government accountability. Furthermore, the bill directs federal agencies to use this day to educate employees and the public about whistleblower rights and acknowledge the importance of their service.

This bill updates the standard for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to share information regarding suspected intellectual property rights violations in trade. It lowers the threshold for sharing sensitive, nonpublic data about merchandise to include cases where there is only a "reasonable suspicion" of infringement. This allows CBP to provide details to a broader range of interested parties involved with the potentially infringing goods.

The FBI Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2025 significantly strengthens protections for FBI employees who report wrongdoing, explicitly prohibiting retaliation for protected disclosures. It mandates the Attorney General to actively prevent prohibited personnel actions and ensure staff are fully informed of their rights. Furthermore, the Act establishes clearer standards and conflict-of-interest safeguards for handling whistleblower retaliation claims.

The Biochar Research Network Act of 2025 establishes a national network to rigorously research the use of biochar for improving soil health, enhancing crop resilience, and sequestering carbon. This network will test biochar production methods and applications across various climates and soil types to develop science-based recommendations. The goal is to provide practical guidance to farmers and land managers while informing federal conservation standards. Congress authorized $50 million annually through 2030 to fund this research.