Legislative Activity

The VA Data Transparency and Trust Act mandates significant, detailed annual reporting from both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for five years. This new law requires comprehensive data on veteran care, demographics, benefit recipients, and claims processing times to be made public. Furthermore, it establishes secure, anonymized data-sharing systems to allow approved researchers access to detailed VHA and VBA information.

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.

This bill establishes a new category, "Foreign Financial Threat Organizations," allowing the Treasury Secretary to designate foreign entities engaged in fraud against U.S. persons. Once designated, these organizations face immediate asset freezes and penalties equivalent to those imposed on global terrorist organizations. The legislation also mandates reporting on enforcement actions and the return of funds to victims.

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 Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to protect and restore private and Tribal forest lands through conservation easements. This program offers two types of easements—Forest Land and Forest Reserve—with federal cost-share assistance available to eligible entities and landowners, prioritizing working forests and species recovery. The Act also allocates $100 million annually for this new program from 2026 through 2030 while simultaneously repealing the existing Healthy Forests Reserve Program, ensuring existing contracts remain honored. Finally, Congress stipulates that the costs associated with implementing this Act must be offset by savings or new revenue.

The LEOSA Reform Act updates federal laws to better align concealed carry rights for qualified active and retired law enforcement officers with existing school zone restrictions. This legislation modernizes the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) by expanding qualification standards for retired officers and clarifying where they may carry firearms, including in certain lower-security federal facilities. The bill ensures that LEOSA-authorized carriers are not inadvertently violating federal school zone prohibitions.

The STOP Screwworms Act mandates the establishment of facilities to rear and release sterile New World screwworm flies in high-risk areas to combat infestations. The Secretary of Agriculture must build these modular facilities within 180 days of enactment and provide annual public reports on the threat and control efforts. The bill authorizes up to $300 million to fund these necessary actions.

The MOMS Act aims to support expecting and new mothers through three main initiatives. It establishes a centralized federal resource website, Pregnancy.gov, to connect mothers with local support services and adoption agencies. The bill also creates grant programs to fund organizations offering positive alternatives to abortion and expanding access to at-home prenatal and postnatal telehealth care in underserved areas. Finally, it allows states to establish and enforce child support obligations against biological fathers for unborn children upon the mother's request.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

The No Vaccine Mandates in Higher Education Act prohibits the federal government from providing funds to colleges and universities that require students or employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This measure ensures that institutions of higher education cannot mandate vaccination for enrollment, employment, or access to services without risking the loss of federal funding.

This resolution officially recognizes the vital and dangerous work performed by power linemen who maintain our electrical infrastructure and ensure public safety. It highlights their crucial role as first responders, often working in hazardous conditions after disasters. Furthermore, the resolution supports the designation of April 18, 2025, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day" to formally honor their service.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act establishes a new federal tax credit designed to close the financing gap hindering the construction and rehabilitation of affordable starter homes in distressed communities. This credit incentivizes developers to build or substantially renovate housing in specific low-income census tracts and sell it affordably to qualified moderate-income homeowners. State agencies will manage the allocation of these credits, ensuring projects meet affordability standards and promoting revitalization in struggling neighborhoods.

The CATCH Fentanyl Act mandates the Department of Homeland Security to establish pilot projects at land ports of entry to test advanced inspection technologies, including those utilizing Artificial Intelligence. These tests aim to improve the detection of contraband like fentanyl while increasing inspection efficiency. The Secretary must report on the effectiveness of these technologies and provide recommendations for nationwide deployment within five years of enactment.

The Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025 establishes a working group within the Department of Homeland Security to monitor and counter transnational repression activities, such as harassment and intimidation, targeting individuals in the U.S. by foreign governments. The working group will coordinate with intelligence agencies, review information from various partners, and provide annual reports to Congress on its findings and efforts. The Act also directs research and development into technologies to counter transnational repression, ensuring all activities comply with constitutional and privacy protections.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes federal criminal penalties for the intentional sharing of both real and digitally forged nonconsensual intimate images, with stricter penalties for images involving minors. It mandates that covered online platforms create a clear process for victims to request the removal of such content within 48 hours. Failure by platforms to reasonably comply with these removal requests will be treated as an unfair or deceptive practice enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 updates federal housing tax credit allocations to reflect current economic realities and boosts minimum state allotments. It reforms tenant eligibility rules to stabilize tenancy and enhance protections for vulnerable residents, including victims of abuse. The bill also provides disaster relief for property owners, increases incentives for housing the extremely low-income, and directs greater resources toward Native American and rural housing needs. Finally, it streamlines administrative processes and signals a future focus on data transparency and discouraging restrictive local zoning.

The Servicewomen and Veterans Menopause Research Act directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate current research on menopause and mid-life health issues specific to servicewomen and veterans. This evaluation must identify knowledge gaps, including the impact of military exposures on these conditions. Following the review, both departments must submit reports and strategic plans to Congress outlining recommendations for improving provider training and future research priorities.

This resolution expresses strong Congressional support for the President's recent actions to designate transnational criminal organizations, like Tren de Aragua, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. It affirms the President's executive authority to detain and deport non-citizens affiliated with these groups under the Alien Enemies Act. Furthermore, the bill endorses the recent deportations and the agreement with El Salvador to confine these individuals. Ultimately, this measure backs the complete removal of these threats to safeguard U.S. national security.

The No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act eliminates the practice of "official time" for federal employees engaged in union business. This means that any work performed for a labor organization must now be conducted while the employee is in a non-duty status, not while being paid by the government. The bill updates federal law to ensure union activities are not subsidized by taxpayer funds.

The 1071 Repeal to Protect Small Business Lending Act aims to eliminate the mandatory data collection and reporting requirements for small business loans previously established under Section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. Proponents argue that these regulations impose unnecessary compliance costs on lenders, potentially hindering small business access to credit. This bill repeals those specific reporting mandates to reduce regulatory burdens on financial institutions.