Legislative Activity

The Banning SPR Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act prohibits the sale or export of petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and entities controlled by these nations. This legislation aims to protect U.S. national security by ensuring that domestic emergency oil reserves are not diverted to adversarial countries.

This resolution affirms that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is vital to advancing American national security interests. It highlights the agency's role in promoting global stability, mitigating foreign threats, and maintaining U.S. leadership in an era of strategic competition.

The Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025 aims to restrict the flow of firearms to criminal organizations by banning the future sale of .50 caliber rifles and expanding federal background check requirements to include designated foreign narcotics traffickers. The bill also removes legal immunity for firearm manufacturers and sellers who knowingly conduct business with these sanctioned individuals. Additionally, it mandates that federal firearms licensees report the sale of multiple rifles to the same person within a five-day period.

The Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025 streamlines vegetation management for electrical utilities operating on National Forest System land by allowing them to remove hazardous trees near power lines without a separate timber sale. The bill ensures that if utilities sell any removed vegetation, the proceeds—minus transportation costs—are remitted to the U.S. Forest Service. This legislation aims to improve fire safety while maintaining environmental compliance and fiscal accountability.

The Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025 amends the tax code to exclude state-sponsored catastrophe mitigation payments from an individual's gross income. This legislation ensures that homeowners receiving financial assistance to harden their properties against natural disasters like wildfires, floods, and earthquakes are not unfairly taxed on those funds. The provision is retroactive to the 2022 tax year, allowing eligible taxpayers to claim the exclusion on past returns.

The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act amends the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage for FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection (MCED) screening tests starting in 2028. This legislation establishes a formal coverage and payment framework for these innovative blood-based tests while ensuring they complement, rather than replace, existing cancer screening protocols.

This resolution designates the week beginning February 3, 2025, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week," recognizing the vital role of TCUs in providing culturally relevant education to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and other students. TCUs serve over 230 federally recognized Indian Tribes by offering high-quality postsecondary education and workforce preparation. The resolution encourages the public to participate in activities and programs that support these institutions.

The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting. It empowers state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State if they believe the state or its residents are harmed by violations of immigration enforcement or visa granting. The bill aims to ensure that these aliens are detained throughout their removal proceedings and to provide states with legal recourse against perceived failures in federal immigration enforcement.

The Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to support community-based mentoring initiatives for at-risk youth. These programs provide structured guidance from trained mentors to help young people develop social-emotional skills, improve academic outcomes, and prepare for postsecondary education and the workforce. The legislation prioritizes underserved communities and mandates a federal study to evaluate the effectiveness of these mentoring strategies in fostering long-term career and educational success.

The Coordinated Federal Response to Extreme Heat Act of 2025 establishes a government-wide interagency committee to develop a unified strategy for mitigating heat-related health risks. The bill also creates the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) within NOAA to improve data collection, forecasting, and public access to actionable heat-health information. Together, these measures aim to enhance national preparedness and resilience against the growing dangers of extreme heat.

The Charitable Act renews and expands tax incentives for charitable giving by allowing individuals who do not itemize deductions to claim a deduction for charitable contributions during the 2026 and 2027 tax years. Under this provision, non-itemizers can deduct contributions up to one-third of their standard deduction amount. Additionally, the bill removes specific accuracy-related penalties associated with these deductions.

This resolution expresses disapproval of any pardons granted to individuals convicted of assaulting Capitol Police officers. It serves as a formal condemnation of such pardons.

The Global Health, Empowerment and Rights (Global HER) Act ensures that foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) remain eligible for U.S. foreign assistance regardless of the legal health services or advocacy they provide using their own non-U.S. funds. By overriding restrictive policies, the bill protects the autonomy of these organizations to deliver comprehensive care and engage in advocacy, provided their activities comply with local laws and would be legal if performed in the United States.

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act expands financial and medical support for individuals impacted by U.S. nuclear testing, uranium mining, and Manhattan Project waste. This legislation broadens eligibility criteria, increases compensation amounts, and simplifies the claims process for affected workers and downwind communities. Additionally, it mandates environmental monitoring and research to protect public health in areas historically exposed to nuclear radiation.

The Extending Limits of United States Customs Waters Act of 2025 expands the jurisdiction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection from 12 to 24 nautical miles from the coast. This extension aligns U.S. law enforcement authority with international standards, providing agents more time and reach to intercept vessels attempting to violate customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws.

The United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act aims to reduce double taxation for residents of Taiwan and the U.S. by lowering withholding rates on cross-border income and establishing clear tax residency rules. Additionally, the bill authorizes the President to negotiate a formal tax agreement with Taiwan, ensuring congressional oversight and public transparency throughout the process. This legislation seeks to boost bilateral trade and investment while ensuring reciprocal tax benefits for both nations.

The Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive federal assessment of how transnational criminal organizations utilize social media and digital platforms to recruit individuals for illicit activities. The bill directs the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Department of State to develop and implement a national strategy to counter these recruitment efforts while prioritizing civil rights and privacy protections. This initiative aims to improve interagency coordination and international collaboration without granting new regulatory authorities or requiring additional federal funding.

The Wildland Firefighters Congressional Gold Medal Act honors the courage, sacrifice, and essential service of the nation’s wildland firefighters. This legislation authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded collectively to these frontline responders in recognition of their dedication to protecting our communities and natural resources. The medal will be housed at the National Interagency Fire Center, with bronze duplicates made available for public purchase.

The VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025 mandates that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac include a disclaimer on residential loan applications to inform veterans that they may be eligible for a VA home loan. Additionally, the bill requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study to ensure lenders are effectively implementing this disclosure.

The Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 expands access to premium tax credits by removing the current income eligibility cap, allowing more households to qualify for financial assistance. The bill also introduces a new sliding scale for premium contributions to ensure health insurance costs remain more manageable for families. These changes are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.