Legislative Activity

The Sturgeon Conservation and Sustainability Act of 2025 provides an exemption from certain Endangered Species Act protections for legally held captive sturgeon and their offspring. This exemption remains in effect unless the fish are intentionally released into the wild. Holders of these captive sturgeon must maintain and provide documentation proving their legal status upon request.

This joint resolution expresses Congressional disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule regarding California's "Advanced Clean Cars II" vehicle pollution standards. By rejecting this rule, Congress is effectively canceling the EPA's decision to grant California a waiver allowing it to set stricter emission standards than federal law typically permits. Consequently, the approved California standards will not take effect.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding California's stringent motor vehicle and engine pollution control standards, known as the "Omnibus Low NOX Regulation." By exercising disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, this measure prevents the EPA's decision on waiving federal preemption for these California standards from taking legal effect. If passed, the EPA's rule will be entirely canceled.

The FIGHT Act of 2025 significantly strengthens federal prohibitions against animal fighting ventures, specifically targeting the sponsorship, exhibition, and gambling associated with these events. This legislation clarifies the definition of a rooster for legal purposes and bans the interstate transport of roosters for fighting. Furthermore, it empowers private citizens to file lawsuits against violators, allowing for civil penalties and the potential seizure of property used to facilitate illegal animal fighting.

The American Flags to Honor Our Veterans Act of 2025 specifically authorizes the placement of the U.S. flag directly next to the gravesite of any individual who served in the Armed Forces or is a veteran. This provision ensures that flags can be displayed securely and upright next to individual graves, regardless of other existing flag display regulations.

The Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2025 addresses the funding and administration of the federal bankruptcy system. This bill primarily increases the compensation for Chapter 7 trustees to address decades of stagnant pay while adjusting various bankruptcy fees to ensure the U.S. Trustee System remains self-funded. Additionally, it extends the term limits for certain temporary bankruptcy judge offices.

The FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025 repeals the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which prohibits certain actions that obstruct or interfere with access to reproductive health services. This repeal would apply to both ongoing and future prosecutions that begin on or after the date this Act is enacted.

This bill officially renames the Department of Veterans Affairs women's health clinic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The clinic will now be known as the Anna Mae Robertson VA Well Woman Clinic. This change ensures all official records reflect the new designation.

The ADINA Act mandates that prescription and over-the-counter drugs must clearly label if they contain ingredients derived from major food allergens or gluten-containing grains. This new requirement aims to protect consumers by ensuring transparency regarding potential allergens in medications. Drugs failing to include this specific warning will be considered misbranded under federal law.

The Emergency Spending Accountability Act establishes automatic spending sequestration to offset future emergency appropriations approved by Congress. This system mandates multi-year spending cuts, applied only to the same category of spending (discretionary or direct) as the original emergency funds. The bill also requires detailed justifications from Congressional committees whenever emergency spending is included in legislation. Certain critical programs, including Social Security and VA benefits, are explicitly protected from these automatic cuts.

This bill, the Preventing the Abuse of Immigration Parole Act, aims to drastically restrict the Secretary of Homeland Security's authority to grant immigration parole. It mandates that parole decisions must be made strictly on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Furthermore, the legislation imposes an annual cap on parole grants starting in FY 2029 and grants states the authority to sue the Secretary over perceived misuse of this authority.

This resolution supports designating a "Family Month" to emphasize the importance of the traditional married mother and father family structure as the foundation of a healthy society. It criticizes current policies and cultural trends for discouraging marriage and notes the decline of the nuclear family. Ultimately, the bill calls for a national rededication to strengthening this specific family unit.

The Protecting Children from Experimentation Act of 2025 establishes a new federal crime prohibiting healthcare professionals from performing specific gender transition procedures on minors under 18. This bill imposes criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for violations connected to interstate commerce. Minors subjected to these procedures are explicitly protected from prosecution and granted the right to sue those involved. The Act broadly defines banned procedures, including the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and various surgeries, while carving out exceptions for certain medical conditions and life-saving measures.

The Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program managed by the FAA for law enforcement to test drones equipped only with non-lethal tools during active shooter events. This initiative aims to assess the safety, training, and effectiveness of using these specialized drones to keep officers at a safer distance. Following the testing phase, the FAA must create a formal rulemaking process to allow agencies nationwide to seek approval for using these domestically manufactured, non-lethal drones.

The Financial Integrity and Regulation Management (FIRM) Act prohibits federal banking agencies from using "reputational risk" as a factor in supervising, examining, or rating financial institutions. This legislation aims to ensure that bank oversight focuses strictly on financial safety and soundness, rather than public perception or political considerations. Agencies must remove all references to reputational risk from their guidance and report back to Congress on their compliance within 180 days.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2025 significantly lowers the standard of proof required for employment discrimination claims under major federal laws like the ADEA, Title VII, and the ADA. It establishes that an illegal factor only needs to be a "motivating factor" in an employer's decision, rather than the sole cause. While this makes it easier to prove discrimination, remedies like damages are limited if the employer can prove they would have made the same decision regardless. These new standards apply immediately to all pending claims upon enactment.

The Insurance Data Protection Act aims to adjust federal regulatory authority over insurance data by limiting the subpoena power of the Office of Financial Research against insurance companies. It also strengthens confidentiality protections for data shared with and held by the Federal Insurance Office and other financial regulators. Furthermore, the bill mandates that financial regulators must seek existing data from other sources before directly collecting information from insurance companies, ensuring data privacy is maintained.

This bill seeks to formally reject a recent rule submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) concerning new energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. By invoking congressional disapproval, the legislation immediately cancels the DOE's proposed efficiency standards. In essence, Congress is overriding the DOE's attempt to implement these specific new regulations for tankless gas water heaters.

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act mandates that group health plans and insurance policies provide comprehensive coverage for medically necessary treatment related to congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This coverage must include services needed to restore normal function and appearance, including necessary dental and orthodontic support. Plans must apply cost-sharing rules no more restrictive than those for other medical benefits, excluding purely cosmetic procedures.