Legislative Activity

The Border Patrol Recruitment Enhancement Act grants the CBP Commissioner temporary authority to waive certain hiring requirements for experienced state/local law enforcement, federal officers, and military personnel to speed up recruitment. This flexibility is limited to five years and requires strict vetting criteria for applicants seeking the waiver. The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress and future reviews by the GAO to assess the program's impact and effectiveness.

The Postpartum Lifeline Act mandates that pregnant individuals enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP receive continuous, full health benefit coverage for a full 12 months postpartum. This legislation removes previous state options to restrict coverage only to pregnancy-related services for certain income-qualified groups. The goal is to ensure comprehensive healthcare access for new mothers throughout the critical postpartum year.

The Wildfire Coordination Act establishes a permanent Wildfire Science and Technology Advisory Board to bridge the gap between wildfire research and practical application by federal agencies. This diverse board, composed of federal leaders and external experts, will prioritize research implementation and disseminate best practices to improve wildfire management. The Act authorizes $10 million to fund the Board's operations over time.

The Wildfire Risk Evaluation Act mandates a recurring, comprehensive review of the national wildfire environment every four years. This review requires federal agencies to analyze changes in landscapes and public health impacts related to wildfires. The resulting report must project future challenges and recommend necessary legislative or administrative actions to improve long-term wildfire management strategies.

The Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2025 updates requirements for community water systems regarding security and resilience planning. It revises the timeline for mandatory risk assessments to focus on the period between 2026 and 2031. Furthermore, the Act mandates that security training and materials must specifically address preparation for and response to cyberattacks.

The Housing Affordability Act significantly raises the maximum loan limits for various types of multifamily housing projects under the National Housing Act. It replaces outdated dollar figures with substantially higher baseline amounts across several key sections. Furthermore, starting in mid-2025, annual loan limit adjustments will be tied to the percentage change in the Bureau of the Census's Price Deflator Index for Multifamily Residential Units Under Construction.

The USTR Inspector General Act of 2025 establishes an independent Office of the Inspector General (IG) within the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This new IG will be appointed by the President to provide independent oversight of the USTR's operations and the administration of U.S. trade policy. The Act reinforces Congress's constitutional authority over trade by ensuring dedicated accountability for how the USTR carries out its responsibilities.

The Housing Vouchers Fairness Act aims to provide additional rental assistance funding to public housing agencies (PHAs) serving the fastest-growing, high-population areas in the U.S. This new funding mechanism addresses situations where existing voucher allocations have not kept pace with rapid population growth between 2012 and 2022. Congress authorizes \$2 billion to ensure these eligible PHAs can adequately cover local housing costs for their residents.

The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to combat dangerous urban heat islands, which disproportionately affect low-income communities. This program will fund eligible entities for projects such as planting trees, installing cool roofs, and creating cooling centers. A minimum of 75% of the funds must be directed toward designated high-need census tracts, emphasizing community engagement and environmental justice in project selection.

The Social Security Overpayment Relief Act limits the government's ability to recover Social Security and SSI overpayments. Specifically, the government cannot seek repayment or reduce future benefits for overpayments discovered ten or more years after the overpayment occurred. This provides relief by preventing the collection of very old benefit overpayments.

This resolution condemns the United States' rejection of a United Nations resolution that condemned Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. It reaffirms the illegality of Russia's actions in Ukraine, dating back to 2014. The resolution supports the UN's call for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the region.