Legislative Activity

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 Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act of 2026 ensures that essential Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees, including law enforcement and critical support staff, continue to receive pay and allowances during a government shutdown. This automatic funding remains active until a new budget is passed or until January 1, 2027. The goal is to maintain critical national security operations even without full appropriations.

The FIREARM Act aims to protect licensed firearm dealers from overly harsh penalties for minor or self-reported mistakes. It establishes new standards requiring the government to provide notice and an opportunity for dealers to correct violations before license revocation. Furthermore, the bill retroactively applies these protections to licenses previously revoked under a specific 2021 enforcement policy, allowing affected individuals a path to reapply.

This act establishes two key initiatives to improve the District of Columbia: a temporary program for beautification and maintenance of public spaces, and a new federal commission focused on public safety and immigration enforcement. The program directs the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate federal and local efforts to clean up areas, remove graffiti, and restore monuments. Concurrently, the Commission will review and recommend actions related to crime reduction, law enforcement support, and monitoring D.C.'s compliance with federal immigration law. Both the program and the Commission are set to terminate in early 2029.

The Protect LNG Act of 2025 aims to streamline and stabilize the permitting process for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities. It ensures that existing facility approvals remain valid even if challenged in court over environmental reviews, requiring courts to remand violations to agencies for correction rather than invalidating permits. Furthermore, the Act centralizes legal challenges to these covered applications exclusively in the U.S. Court of Appeals with geographic jurisdiction over the facility, subject to a strict 90-day filing deadline.

The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2025 extends crucial federal funding for programs supporting law enforcement officers in crisis. This bill specifically reauthorizes existing support and treatment initiatives for an additional five years, running from 2025 through 2029. It ensures continued resources are available for officers needing mental health and wellness assistance.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act limits how consumer reporting agencies can share a consumer's report when it is requested in connection with a residential mortgage loan. Reports can only be shared with entities directly involved in the consumer's current mortgage or those providing a firm offer of credit or insurance. The Act also mandates a study by the GAO regarding the use and impact of "trigger leads" derived from credit checks.

The BOP Release Card ID Act of 2025 mandates that the Bureau of Prisons issue a REAL ID-compliant photo identification card to all departing federal prisoners, valid for at least 18 months. This federal release card must be accepted for identity verification when accessing major federal benefits like Social Security, Medicaid, and SNAP. Furthermore, the BOP must establish agreements with states to help former inmates use this card to obtain standard state identification. The Attorney General will also issue guidance to states on creating similar release ID programs for state prisoners.

The Empower Parents to Protect their Kids Act mandates that schools receiving federal funding must obtain explicit parental consent before taking any action supporting a student's gender transition that differs from their biological sex. This legislation prohibits school staff from encouraging students to keep secrets from parents regarding gender identity or from hiding information about a student's transition plans. Parents are granted the right to sue schools directly for violations of these parental notification and consent requirements.

The PRICE Act, or Protect and Respect ICE Act, aims to increase penalties for individuals who assault, resist, or impede officers or employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This legislation specifically doubles the maximum jail time and corresponding fines for committing such offenses against ICE staff.

This resolution commemorates the 20th anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, recognizing the immense devastation and loss suffered across the Gulf Coast. It honors the heroic efforts of first responders and the resilience of the affected communities. Furthermore, the resolution reaffirms the commitment to supporting the ongoing rebuilding, renewal, and restoration of the vital Gulf Coast region.

The Create Accountable Respectful Environments (CARE) for Children Act officially recognizes and integrates "cottage family homes" into federal foster care regulations. This allows these specialized homes to receive federal maintenance payments if they meet strict standards focused on family connection, trauma-informed care, and prohibiting harmful restraints. The bill ensures states maintain flexibility in utilizing these placements while upholding high standards for child well-being.

The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act establishes federal crimes for knowingly transporting a minor across state lines to circumvent her home state's parental involvement laws for an abortion. It also mandates that physicians performing out-of-state abortions on minors must provide at least 24 hours of actual or constructive notice to a parent, unless specific exceptions apply. The law protects the minor and her parents from prosecution under the transportation provision and includes civil remedies for parents harmed by violations.

The Rare Earth Solutions and Carbon Utilization Enhancement Act of 2025 (RESCUE Act) streamlines the permitting process for projects recovering critical materials from sources like mine waste and coal byproducts. This amendment expands eligibility under the FAST Act's expedited review to include the extraction of rare earth elements and specific forms of carbon from these secondary sources. The goal is to accelerate the development of domestic supplies of these vital resources.

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.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act strictly prohibits the Federal Reserve from directly or indirectly issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to individuals. This legislation prevents the Fed from developing, testing, or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, Congress asserts that any authority to create such a digital asset must explicitly come from Congress itself.

This resolution formally condemns the severe, ongoing persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries worldwide. It documents specific instances of violence, discrimination, and legal restrictions faced by Christian communities across numerous nations. The bill urges the President to prioritize the protection of these religious minorities in all U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic engagement.

The Restoring Equal Opportunity Act aims to eliminate "disparate-impact liability" across major federal laws. This bill prohibits lawsuits claiming discrimination based solely on the unintended, disproportionate negative effect of a rule or practice. Consequently, it removes the ability to challenge employment and housing practices unless discriminatory intent can be proven. The Act also nullifies specific prior regulatory approvals related to civil rights enforcement.

The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act generally prohibits federal agencies from banning the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal lands and waters open to hunting or fishing. Exceptions are allowed only for specific federal units where scientific data proves lead use is causing wildlife decline, and the restriction aligns with state law or policy. This legislation aims to maintain traditional hunting and fishing practices across most federal domains.

This resolution formally condemns the violent attack on the U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, on July 7, 2025. It expresses support for the injured agents and reaffirms Congress's strong backing for the dedicated men and women of the Border Patrol. The bill emphasizes that such violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and undermines national security efforts.