Legislative Activity

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 500 Sergeant Gonzales Drive in Fort Davis, Texas, as the "Sergeant Manuel Sillas Gonzales Post Office." This change ensures all official records and documents will use the new name for the facility.

This resolution honors the heroic military service and sacrifices of Texas veterans, who represent the largest veteran population in the nation. It acknowledges the significant challenges they face, such as accessing mental health care and securing employment after service. The document expresses the House's appreciation and commits to ensuring veterans receive timely care and benefits. Ultimately, it reaffirms the commitment to supporting veterans in their successful transition back to civilian life.

This bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Major Thomas D. Howie for his extraordinary bravery and leadership during the Battle of Normandy. The medal will be presented to his next of kin before being permanently displayed at The Citadel Museum. The Treasury Secretary is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal.

This resolution honors the service and sacrifice of America's veterans on Veterans Day, 2025, recognizing the history of the observance from Armistice Day. It affirms the nation's deep commitment to supporting the over 15 million veterans and their families. The resolution calls upon the public to observe Veterans Day and ensure veterans continue to receive the services they deserve.

The Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act ensures that essential firearm-related government operations continue without interruption during a federal shutdown. This legislation specifically mandates the continuation of the FBI's NICS background check system and related processing at the ATF, Department of Commerce, and Department of State. By deeming these functions essential for protecting life and property, the bill prevents delays in firearm transfers and export licensing during lapses in appropriations.

The Safer Supervision Act of 2025 aims to reform federal supervised release by requiring individualized assessments for imposing supervision and establishing a presumption for early termination when defendants meet certain compliance and public safety criteria. The bill also addresses workload concerns by mandating a proposal for law enforcement availability pay for probation officers and allowing prisoners without imposed supervision to apply earned time credits for early release. Finally, it directs the GAO to study the federal supervision and reentry system.

This resolution formally recognizes and honors the 11 crew members—six U.S. Air Force service members and five civilian contractors—who tragically died in the TORQE 62 crash in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on October 2, 2015. Congress expresses its deep gratitude for their bravery and service in support of Operation Freedoms Sentinel. The bill ensures their sacrifice is remembered as a reminder of the dangers faced by military and civilian personnel alike.

This resolution formally honors the life and legacy of Charles "Charlie" James Kirk, who was tragically assassinated at Utah Valley University. It condemns political violence and calls upon all Americans to reject extremism in favor of civil debate. The bill expresses deep sympathy to his family and urges a renewal of commitment to the values of faith, family, and freedom he championed.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

The Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2025 aims to increase attorney accountability in federal court by making sanctions mandatory for filing improper or frivolous paperwork. If a violation of court rules is found, judges **shall** require the attorney to reimburse the opposing party for reasonable expenses and attorney fees. This measure is designed to curb abusive litigation practices without hindering the development of new legal arguments or claims.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act ensures that essential U.S. Border Patrol Agents and Customs and Border Protection officers who must work during a government shutdown in fiscal year 2026 will receive their salaries. This legislation appropriates necessary funds from the Treasury to cover these payments during the lapse in appropriations. The goal is to guarantee that critical border security personnel are paid even if the government temporarily closes.

The SAVES Act establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, up to $\$2,000,000$ each, will fund the training and provision of service dogs for veterans with qualifying conditions like PTSD or TBI. The bill also extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until February 2033.

This bill, the STUDENT Act, seeks to fundamentally alter the federal charter and operations of the National Education Association (NEA). It imposes strict new requirements on the organization's political activities, membership dues collection from government employees, and governance structure. Furthermore, the Act prohibits the NEA and its affiliates from engaging in strikes or promoting specific controversial ideological beliefs within schools.

The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act establishes federal standards for student-athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, allowing athletes to profit from endorsements while setting specific rules for agents and institutional compensation. The bill mandates enhanced support services, medical guarantees, and scholarship protections for athletes at high-revenue institutions. Furthermore, it grants states enforcement power over NIL violations and shields compliance actions from antitrust liability, while clarifying that student-athletes are not automatically considered employees.

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's recently submitted rule on the "Barred Owl Management Strategy." By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the proposed management strategy, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is rejecting the USFWS's plan for managing Barred Owls.

The Modern Firearm Safety Act preempts state and local governments from imposing handgun design or feature requirements beyond existing federal law. This bill prevents jurisdictions from mandating specific features, such as loaded chamber indicators or magazine insertion sensors, on handguns sold or shipped across state lines. The goal is to standardize federal requirements and limit local restrictions on firearm manufacturing and commerce.

This bill amends federal law to explicitly include violations related to rioting within the definition of "racketeering activity." By adding this specific crime to the list under Title 18, Section 1961(1), the legislation makes participation in such activities subject to serious federal racketeering charges. This change treats rioting violations similarly to other established offenses like bribery or extortion for the purposes of federal prosecution.

This bill establishes a new State judicial threat intelligence and resource center to enhance the security of state and local judges and court staff. The center will provide training, monitor threats, standardize reporting, and create a national database for incidents against the judiciary. It also requires annual reporting to Congress on the number and severity of threats received.