Legislative Activity

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 "Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act" aims to allow the mailing of concealable firearms by repealing the existing prohibition in title 18, section 1715 of the United States Code. Additionally, it prevents the Postmaster General from establishing rules that would ban or hinder the mailing of firearms, ammunition, or firearm components, or require the disclosure of sales records or firearm serial numbers.

The "No Vaccine Mandates in Higher Education Act" prevents federal funding from going to colleges or universities that require students or employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. This prohibition applies to enrollment, employment, or receiving any benefit, service, or contract from the institution. The bill references the Higher Education Act of 1965 to define "institution of higher education."

The "PROTECT the Second Amendment Act" ensures that residents of federally assisted rental housing are not prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms within their dwelling or while transporting them in common areas. This applies to housing programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture. The bill aims to protect the Second Amendment rights of tenants in federally subsidized housing.

The "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" mandates that individuals provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to include these requirements and directs states to reject applications lacking such proof. The Act also outlines acceptable forms of documentation, verification processes, and penalties for non-compliance, while allowing provisional ballots under certain conditions. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security must notify state election officials when an individual becomes a naturalized citizen.

The DRIVE Act prohibits the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from requiring commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds to use speed limiting devices. This prevents the agency from mandating a maximum speed setting for these vehicles.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of the Interior to remove the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife, as previously established in the 2020 rule. This action must be completed within 60 days of the Act's enactment. The Act explicitly prohibits any judicial review of this reissuance.

The "Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act" prohibits Federal Reserve Banks from offering financial products or services directly to individuals, maintaining accounts for individuals, or issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) directly or indirectly. It also blocks the Federal Reserve from testing, creating, or implementing a CBDC, or using it to implement monetary policy, without explicit congressional authorization. The bill clarifies that these restrictions do not apply to digital versions of the dollar that are open, permissionless, and private, like physical currency.

The "No Partisan Radio and Partisan Broadcasting Services Act" prohibits federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). This includes direct funding, indirect support, or purchasing programming. The prohibition extends to any successor organizations of NPR and PBS.

The "Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today Act" or "SHORT Act" modifies firearm regulations by redefining "firearm" under the National Firearms Act, removing short-barreled rifles and shotguns from certain restrictions, and preempting state laws that tax, mark, record, or register these weapons. The Act also mandates the destruction of records related to these specific weapons held by the Attorney General.

The "Reorganizing Government Act of 2025" amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to streamline executive branch operations. It allows for the elimination of unnecessary government functions, prioritizes reducing the federal workforce, and aims to decrease regulatory compliance costs. The act extends executive reorganization authority through December 31, 2026, while preventing increases in federal employees or spending due to reorganization plans.

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 Firearm Due Process Protection Act aims to protect individuals' Second Amendment rights by ensuring due process in firearm-related matters. It allows individuals affected by Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act violations to take legal action, shifting the burden of proof to the government to justify denying firearm ownership. Additionally, it mandates the FBI to provide annual reports to Congress on the challenges to the accuracy of NICS records. The Act reinforces the importance of due process in protecting the right to bear arms.

The "End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act of 2025" prohibits the use of federal funds for gender transition procedures and health plans that cover them, extending this prohibition to premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It defines key terms like "gender transition procedure" and clarifies exceptions, such as treatments for medically verifiable disorders of sex development. The bill allows individuals and employers to purchase separate coverage for gender transition procedures using non-federal funds, ensuring no federal subsidies are applied to such coverage. These changes would apply to taxable years ending one year after the law's enactment, but only for plan years starting after that date.

This bill mandates that higher education institutions report students on F1 or J1 visas to SEVIS if they endorse or support a foreign terrorist organization. Upon confirmation, the student's visa will be revoked, and deportation proceedings will commence.

The "Fair and Open Competition Act of 2025" seeks to ensure open competition and government neutrality in federal construction projects by preventing requirements for or bans against agreements with labor organizations. It prohibits discrimination based on labor affiliation, reduces construction costs, and expands job opportunities. The Act mandates revisions to regulations and allows exemptions only in special circumstances like public health or national security threats.

The "Reimbursing Border Communities Act of 2025" establishes a grant program for local governments within 200 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border to reimburse security-related expenses, including wages for local law enforcement. To be eligible, communities must apply, provide required information, and not be sanctuary jurisdictions. Grant amounts are capped at $500,000 per fiscal year and cannot be used for certain purposes, such as funding nonprofits or providing resources to aliens. The Act requires annual reports to Congress and authorizes \$25 million in appropriations per fiscal year from 2026 through 2036.

The "Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2025" prohibits federal funding and support for research using human fetal tissue obtained from induced abortions, while allowing for the development of new cell lines not derived from such tissue. The bill permits research on fetal tissue from miscarriages or stillbirths and amends the Public Health Service Act to redefine related terms and conditions. It also prohibits the solicitation or acquisition of human fetal tissue when the pregnancy was initiated to provide the tissue or the tissue was obtained pursuant to an induced abortion.

**ESA Amendments Act of 2025 Summary:** The ESA Amendments Act of 2025 seeks to modify and update the Endangered Species Act of 1973 by prioritizing conservation efforts, incentivizing private land stewardship, and increasing transparency and accountability. The act focuses on streamlining regulations, limiting legal challenges, and ensuring that decisions are based on sound science and economic considerations. These changes aim to balance species protection with the needs of private landowners and state management, while also addressing international trade regulations.

The TREAT PTSD Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to provide stellate ganglion block (SGB) to veterans and members of the Armed Forces diagnosed with PTSD who elect to receive it after being fully informed of its risks and benefits. It allows the treatment to be furnished through VA or military medical facilities, or qualified healthcare providers. The bill also requires updating the VADOD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD management to include SGB as a therapy option.